[BILTIT]

I have a trailer built very similar to this one. I am redecking and rewiring. I noticed while i had the deck off, the frame does not seem very rigid. I can wiggle one corner and the other corner of the deck wiggles, wondering if i should brace it up?

I believe the frame is 6x6 angle and the supports are 2x2 angle.

My trailer is dual 3500# axles and i haul my 3750# car but would like to start hauling my 5500#? 3/4T mud truck.

Was thinking about triangulating braces from each corner to the middle between each support brace.

Also thinking of putting some wide, thick flat bar over the axles between cross braces as mine has a larger gap between them.

Also, my cross braces are welded underneath the outside frame angle iron, not on top.

Any thoughts?

I will try and get pics of my trailer tonight.

[ponjohn]

Where you can I would put "C" channel in. This will provide the most rigidity.

Is it a wood deck?

[BILTIT]

Yup, 2x10 treated wood plank deck. So your saying i should add c-channel or replace the angle supports with c-channel?

I was thinking of using box steel for the triangulation supports, say 1x2 welded in flat with 45 angles on each end welded to the angle supports.

[PLAY400]

Looks like an old camper trailer frame.

Mine is all channel and rectangular tubing and my neighbor who builds them says it just a cheap "Made in USA" trailer. He's got a point as I have to re-deck and re-wire it, needs fenders & brakes, under carriage needs a good blasting and re-paint. But it does not jiggle, twist or flex and pulls easy and straight. What do you want for $2500.

[BILTIT]

Mine pulled just fine but the wood rotted out so i figured i would do some upgrades while i was at it. Maybe it does not need to be touched but more bracing cannot hurt except for more weight.

I even hauled a 6300# bobcat and 1000# trencher on this thing, it was too much and i would never do it again, lol.

I only paid 1500CAD and it has lasted 1-1/2 years so far. I am replacing the deck, wiring, putting in LED lights, new springs, one axle does not have brakes so its getting new ones, a blast/paint, and new tires. Figure i will put 1200 into it.

I dont need to do all this but figured i will do it now and never touch it again.

[BILTIT]

Some pics of mine before i started rewiring. In the process of rewiring and adding all new LED's, breakaway kit, brakes to one axle and then new wood deck.

I backed out on stiffening, sandblasting and paint due to time. I need this trailer to go pick up my new tow rig and going racing in a month and havn't touched the car yet.

Next years project.

[Jim Scites]

How about replacing the wood with diamond plate steel? You would have to cut and raise the cross braces but it would stiffen it up nicely.

[BILTIT]

The price is the biggest deterrent. Wood cost me 200CAD for pressure treated 2x10's, not sure what the steel would be but probably alot more.

I may revisit that next year though.

[PLAY400]

Originally Posted by BILTIT

Wood cost me 200CAD for pressure treated 2x10's,

How come soo cheap? Costing me over $320 for fir to replace the original crappy spruce and my trailer only has a 18' deck.

A friend was making some trailers for the guys before he sold his business and was using what looked like heavy gauge metal lath. Just ran them where the wheels were with 2 ramps that slid out the back. I'd go that way but I also haul crap on my trailer so need the deck

[BILTIT]

I get abit of a discount but not much. My friend has a deck building business so i put all my wood purchases on his company account.

My deck is 18ftx 6'11'' i think.

[SRR]

If you treat the heck out of the wood it will last a long time. I built some sides for my flatbed truck and used a lot of Thompson's water seal before I assembled all the pieces. Five years later they were still in great shape.

[BILTIT]

Originally Posted by PLAY400

How come soo cheap? Costing me over $320 for fir to replace the original crappy spruce and my trailer only has a 18' deck.

A friend was making some trailers for the guys before he sold his business and was using what looked like heavy gauge metal lath. Just ran them where the wheels were with 2 ramps that slid out the back. I'd go that way but I also haul crap on my trailer so need the deck

I used to borrow a guys trailer like that, was allright except i found myself falling in the gapping holes all the time. Solid deck=better health for me and being able to haul crap.

The trailer worked real well for him because he ran mud drags, all the mud would fall off as he drove down the rode, haha.

[sleepy]

By the time you get the 2X10 decking bolted down it should stiffened up pretty good. You could also overlay the deck with plywood and screw it down for added strength.

[Me Notyou]

I would use oak for the trailer decking. As for stiffening up the structure you can use metal X bracing between the beams. to make it really stiff id bolt it on then weld it up. It won't move an inch once everythings braced and the deck is on.

[BILTIT]

Originally Posted by sleepy

By the time you get the 2X10 decking bolted down it should stiffened up pretty good. You could also overlay the deck with plywood and screw it down for added strength.

I was hoping not to bolt them down, was going to let them float and see how it works.

[sleepy]

Originally Posted by BILTIT

I was hoping not to bolt them down, was going to let them float and see how it works.

I wouldn't. There is a good chance that a board can come off on the highway(you do NOT want that to happen).

[BILTIT]

There will be angle iron on each end of the boards so they cannot come off. I may have to put a few fasteners in though.

[PLAY400]

Derek drill then screw them all down. My neighbor builds trailers and except for government trailers which get a bolted down oak planking everything else gets a screwed down douglas fir deck.

He's going to help me redo mine as soon as I finish hauling the rest of my scrap away from storage sites and I am not looking forward to it. BTW my old deck is spruce and we would mop it down regularly with diesel and it still rotted.

[BILTIT]

My old deck was spruce, was very rotted. The new stuff is pressure treated so it should hold up for many years, if not then i will go to a metal deck.

I will need to find some fasteners that will be easy to screw it down with.

[BILTIT]

So i got the deck on and all new LED's wired including a back up light. Screwed the deck down as was suggested and it seems pretty solid now.

Picked up my new trailer tires today and just waiting on two 5x5.5 drums for the brakes, should be here tomorrow.

I will get some pics later.