The Summer of the Trailer Repair

[Mark @ Everlast]

It'll dry down quick enough and lighten up. The trailer already has pine on it. It'll break under normal loading quite often and only last 2 or 3 years in exposed weather. If needed, he could cut down to simple 2 inch thickness. That would still shave weight as it dries down to 20%. You use green so it can be held in place and it won't warp as it dries. Kiln dried often becomes brittle, as well as pressure treated. They point is that it broke. It's probably a 7k trailer. But trailers like that are commonly overloaded so it doesn't hurt to have thicker lumber and better stuff on it if possible.

 

[GLyford]

Does it matter whether it's Red Oak or White Oak when it come's to longevity?

In the stuff I have worked on, red oak has much bigger pores than white and it rots much faster. My dad had a trailer made with a green roughsawn white oak frame sitting on the axle from a 64 falcon, holding a 4x4x1 metal box. It was stored outside and subject to new england winters, and was piled with 1/2 cord of firewood outside the back door as often as not. It was oiled with used oil at time of assembly and then largely ignored for the next 30 years. It was just starting to rot when he passed away. Any red oak I have that has not been covered has signs of rot within 2 or 3 years.

 

[jaxs]

In the stuff I have worked on, red oak has much bigger pores than white and it rots much faster.

That parallel's with what I've observed. I thought it important to ask since those recommending oak were not making the distention.

 

[Ritothebull]

I work on trailers from time to time but I don't take photos because the ones I get are nasty and I don't really want to remember them once their gone.

 

[strantor]

You do realize itç—´ a fairly light trailer not a semi trailer made to drive loaded forklifts on right? If my math is right that of green lumber would weigh 1600 pounds assuming itç—´ a 7x16 trailer and thatç—´ probably 1/3 of the trailers capacity.

It's a car hauler. 18ft or 20ft long and 8ft between the fenders if I remember correctly. Has two 3.5k axles under it. So slightly larger than your estimate but if you were to plug those numbers into whatever equation you used to calculate the weight, it would probably spell an even bleaker result.

Edit:
I did some math.
According to the internet, white oak (green) weighs 63lbs per cubic foot.
3" is 0.25 ft
8ft x 20ft x 0.25ft = 40 cubic
40cu.ft. x 63lbs = 2,520lbs.

If using 2" thickness instead, the weight would be 2/3 of that, or 1,680lbs

Meanwhile the 2" treated pine my trailer currently has @ 40lbs/cu.ft should weigh 1066lbs.

I would be willing to give up 600lbs capacity for a more robust deck, but giving up 1,500lbs is a lot.

 

[4570Man]

It's a car hauler. 18ft or 20ft long and 8ft between the fenders if I remember correctly. Has two 3.5k axles under it. So slightly larger than your estimate but if you were to plug those numbers into whatever equation you used to calculate the weight, it would probably spell an even bleaker result.

Edit:
I did some math.
According to the internet, white oak (green) weighs 63lbs per cubic foot.
3" is 0.25 ft
8ft x 20ft x 0.25ft = 40 cubic
40cu.ft. x 63lbs = 2,520lbs.

If using 2" thickness instead, the weight would be 2/3 of that, or 1,680lbs

Meanwhile the 2" treated pine my trailer currently has @ 40lbs/cu.ft should weigh 1066lbs.

I would be willing to give up 600lbs capacity for a more robust deck, but giving up 1,500lbs is a lot.

I used 60 pounds per cubic foot. And I figured the cubic footage the same way.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Getting back to the information promised. Having excessive hot weather and a hurricane and work related projects interrupt me, I am now back on the case.
Upon inspection, I found many cracks all around as well. Case of poor welding. And a prime case for those naysayers about the importance of proper welding techniques and welding rod handling to take note of.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Having trouble with photo uploads

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

This is the beginning of the repairs

 

[Stimw]

Hope you have a Needle Scraper?
I have had a couple of the HF smaller ones and they are perfect for those repairs.
I hate bird poo welds, especially on commercially sold equipment.