Repair/Replace Trailer Floor

lakngulf · Nov 23, 2013

Diamondpilot said:
I would not cut the center ones shorter. Boards shrink over time.

It's a easy job. I can do a trailer in 30 minutes. You guys are over thinking this.

Chris

So the complete job in 20 1/2 hours:
10 hour drive up
30 minute fix
10 hour drive back

Diamondpilot · Nov 23, 2013

lakngulf said:
So the complete job in 20 1/2 hours:
10 hour drive up
30 minute fix
10 hour drive back

Bring the beer. I am a Coors Light Man.

Chris

TedBell · Nov 24, 2013

OK, we are talking about a 16' trailer here. Would the 'fat buddy'\bowing method work on a 10' trailer? There would be more stress on the lumber during bowing due to the shorter length.

lakngulf · Nov 24, 2013

TedBell said:
OK, we are talking about a 16' trailer here. Would the 'fat buddy'\bowing method work on a 10' trailer? There would be more stress on the lumber during bowing due to the shorter length.

I hauled in another load of top soil from the farm and shoveled it off this morning. The board that has broken is less than three inches wide and the others are a good 8 inches. I thought about the fat buddy method as I looked at it this morning. Put the narrow board in last and it will be easier to bow.

Diamondpilot · Nov 24, 2013

TedBell said:
OK, we are talking about a 16' trailer here. Would the 'fat buddy'\bowing method work on a 10' trailer? There would be more stress on the lumber during bowing due to the shorter length.

No problem. I have done 8' trailers this way. Just get wet lumber.

Chris

schmism · Nov 24, 2013

if your short a fat buddy and only have a skinny buddy or wife or kid for a helper

- start the board in the pocket in the front
- rest the end of the board ontop of the angle iron in the back its supposed to fit into.
- find a couple of scrap 2x4 and a section of angle iron (2x2 works well)
- clamp angle iron to rear of trailer (about an inch in) with 2x4 spacer between the top angle iron and the angle iron of the trailer (this should give you about a 1/4" clearance so your not clamping tight on the board your going to put in place).
- take bottle jack or floor jack and jack up the middle of the board your working on.
- youll watch the end of the board at the back get shorter.
- when board gets short enough to fit under the rear angle of the trailer wedge down with crow bar (that 1/4 inch gap or so)
- let jack down watch board go into place.

TLDR: if you dont have a "fat buddy" a jack and clamp system can be used

yelbike · Nov 24, 2013

Now how do you do the 24" section of beaver tail?

Diamondpilot · Nov 24, 2013

yelbike said:
Now how do you do the 24" section of beaver tail?

I have only done one. What I did was cut out a chunk of the top rail on the far right side big enough to pull a board out. Then lift the first board out, slide each other board over and out. Do the opposite to re install and weld or bolt back in a piece if steel to replace. I drilled and tapped the rail where I took out a 12" section. I then cut a 15" piece of flat stock with holes in it it match the threaded holes and bolted it over as a cap. Chris

Diamondpilot · Nov 24, 2013

schmism said:
if your short a fat buddy and only have a skinny buddy or wife or kid for a helper - start the board in the pocket in the front - rest the end of the board ontop of the angle iron in the back its supposed to fit into. - find a couple of scrap 2x4 and a section of angle iron (2x2 works well) - clamp angle iron to rear of trailer (about an inch in) with 2x4 spacer between the top angle iron and the angle iron of the trailer (this should give you about a 1/4" clearance so your not clamping tight on the board your going to put in place). - take bottle jack or floor jack and jack up the middle of the board your working on. - youll watch the end of the board at the back get shorter. - when board gets short enough to fit under the rear angle of the trailer wedge down with crow bar (that 1/4 inch gap or so) - let jack down watch board go into place. TLDR: if you dont have a "fat buddy" a jack and clamp system can be used

This is why I use my FEL for down pressure. Much quicker and on short boards the jack method lifts the entire trailer before bowing the board sufficiently.

Chris