Replacing wood trailer decking w/ metal

Okay, as promised (threatened), I finally got around to replacing the wood decking on my open trailer. The 1/8" diamond plate was a little pricey, so I skimped and put flat in the middle. I was thinking of putting in a below-deck box but decided against it. I also considered converting the back to a dove tail but decided the trailer would be better off without it, given the general things I'll continue to do with it.

Old wood decking. Even in the dry out here, the wood kept splitting and rotting. Time to go...


The bracing materials: 1/8", 2" angle and 1 1/2" 10 gauge box tubing for the ends.


Adding bracing. My good friend Michael helped out with the fitting. Usually it's just me, so it was good to have a help with the heavy lifting and stooping.


Bracing detail. We put the angle on the existing cross pieces to bring the level up to the outside railings and added new cross pieces in between.


Extra supports for tie downs.


Tacked on one side, welded solid on the other.


I drilled holes for rosette welds.


The rosette welds on the diamond plate.


Center flat plates fitted.


More rosettes in the middle. Ready for final seem and end welding.


Tie downs welded in.


Finished product.


Aside from all the gorilla welds, it came out pretty well, I thought. I'm hauling the Heap out to the circle track this week for a three-day Spring Car show, so we'll see how it holds up. I still need to add a spare tire mount and a front tool box. Maybe even a winch someday.

 

Nice work...I actually bought a wood deck trailer on purpose due to all the road salt up here in the northeast...a metal deck wouldn't last half as long up here.

 

Dang nice Bruce.

 

Thanks, gentlemen. I was going to clean up all the tiny bits of welding splatter but wear and tear will mostly do that in short order. I don't think I'll paint for a while, either. On the last open trailer I painted, the sun pretty much trashed the paint within a few years anyway. A little patina will look good when it gets wet a few times.

 

You certainly did a nice job.
Be aware that some items will slide easier on a steel deck. Sometimes that is better, sometimes a lot worse. That's what side rails are for. I have an old cast iron hand crank winch on mine, so much better than a come-a-long. Mounted it to the right front facing the center. Have a pulley mounted to bend the wire rope to the back, or front to retrieve the trailer. I can also pull to either side and have room to stand and crank out of the way.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I know what you mean. I've had other diamond plated trailers and have been on many a slippery trailer surface. There's nothing like water on oil-soaked sheet metal. Good advice on the angled winch.