blybrook PE said:

For example: using "X" for 2x8 beams and "s" for spacing with a four beam layout:
XsXsXsX or XXsXX or XXXX or XsXXsX or ?
When I framed in the carport to make it into a garage at my old house, I made the
header for the garage door with 1/2 ply sandwiched between a couple 2x8's wood
glued and screwed together. Trying to see if something similar would work in this
case although over ~20' vs 7'. If I want to get the lawn tractor across, the bridge
would have to be about 5' so with wood, I was figuring on 6 beams 12" apart.

pbrme said:
The steel beam is easy. Assuming 30ksi steel, the steel manual lists the HSS6x2x1/4
as having a section modulus (S) = 2.21(in^3), and 12.2 lbs/ft.
Where I found the steel, can't remember if it was FB market or Craigslist, they had
3 of them 20' long, $150 apiece. Sounds a bit steep, but probably not really when
you consider the cost of all the wood it'd take. The more I think about it, just
going ahead and getting all three steel beams and using those seems like it'd be an
easy no-brainer, but I need to make sure 20' would be long enough.

Doing a quick napkin calc on the wood bridge as you describe; Say for each beam you
sammich (2) - 20ft 2x8's w/ 1/2 sheeting between, and deck it the full 6' width
with 2x8's. A conservative estimate for the full bridge weight would be ~1,400 lbs
[beams (120 lbs/ea), decking (530 lbs), and 150 lbs misc. consumables]. After
considering the 1,400 lb dead weight, you would be at approximately 1300 lb
available capacity (I'll save you the math). Just checked the price of 20ft sticks
at big orange and they're $32/ea. You would need around (24) 20ft'ers to do this
version of the project, so yeah somewhere north of $700 just for wood.

Yeah Jeb, I would go with the 3 steel beams route IMO. You didn't mention if they
were new or used. If new, see if you can get an ASTM# if they have one on a
shipping label or bill of lading, so you can verify the grade and strength. Used,
and I would be majorly hesitant. $450 is a little steep, I'd bring them a case of
PBR and ask for the bundle price.

Obviously this is all just an informal observation on my part, user discretion is

advised.