Questions about replacing equipment trailer deck wood and repainting trailer chassis.

[brkdrvr]

Hello, Looking for ideas in reducing my equipment trailer. It came with a treated SYP deck which started to rot after about 5 years. Now at 16 years its time to replace. I am pushing 60 so this will be the last time before its sold or i give it to a son in law. The trailer is a deck under beaver tail with hinged ramps, dual wheel, electric brakes and is in other wise good condition. I am thinking I might ba able to source some white oak from a local amish mill and seal it with some Penofin sealer or top coat it with non slip deck coating. The original lumber was attached with Torx drive, countersunk, self tapping screws which pretty much break off 50% of time when removing. My plan is to remove what I can break off the rest and clean up and rust seal the rest. I think the original screws were not ACQ and the treated wood ate them plus I never sealed the deck and am about 1/2 mile from the Atlantic ocean which doesn't help. I am wondering if anyone has ever done a similar project and if so what wood fasteners and rust converters and paints like POR15 chases paint. Any ideas welcome.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

I just did this last year. Bought the self tapping screws from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3NQW2T?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_R3A9XGVF7Q5QT1FTRRWY

I used a wire brush and rustoleum paint on the metal. I used treated 2x6 and then painted them a couple times with a 50/50 mix of diesel fuel and clean motor oil. It was much easier than I expected it to be. Most of the screws came out and the ones that didn’t twisted off. You’ll be drilling new holes so it doesn’t matter.

 

[brkdrvr]

Hey thanks, your unit is a little smaller but very similar I like the way the ramps store under the deck mine slide on a rod and flop down but I may just go back to Treated Pine because that what it was designed for 2" x 10" (actual 11/2" x 91/2" fits exactly) my problem is the proximity to the ocean, the screws reacted to the salt treating and really corroded I think finding better ACQ rated or SS fasteners, coating it like you did and maybe tarping it from the sun will solve most of my issues. Around here everything outside weathers at 3-4 X inland.

 

[jjeff]

Rebuilt my 16' two years ago. Stripped down to frame, replaced both axles/brakes and tires, wiring, new Led lights, primed with Rust-Oleum painted over with Rust-Oleum redecked with treated pine, rebuilt one ramp and beefed up the tailights with old c-channel plus I added a old pu crane I acquired lol. After running a wire wheel over the rusty frame cleaned with an airgun and wiped down with acetone. Sprayed it with a very cheap hf gun. It was better than rattle cans. Used tek screws there self tapping but I drilled pilot holes with a cobalt bit anyways. Added dot stickers to. Good luck

 

[brkdrvr]

Wow, that's almost exactly my trailer less the pintle hitch, tie down rail with stake pockets and crane davit w/hoist, which brings up some questions comments;
1. Did you add the rail down the side with what look like stake pockets for standoffs? if so what size stock did you use? i was planning on welding some on to use for material handling when we start building new house this year.
2. Did you fabricate or repurpose that swing arm hoist?
3. Where is your license plate mounted? mine was originally on back edge od beaver tail and is destroyed. I'm checking with Delaware DMV to see if sideways on rear of the left fender with light is officially legal.
4. Sorry I have to ask what are the to little posts/pipes one of which has the EMG brake cable clipped to?

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Wow, that's almost exactly my trailer less the pintle hitch, tie down rail with stake pockets and crane davit w/hoist, which brings up some questions comments;
1. Did you add the rail down the side with what look like stake pockets for standoffs? if so what size stock did you use? i was planning on welding some on to use for material handling when we start building new house this year.
2. Did you fabricate or repurpose that swing arm hoist?
3. Where is your license plate mounted? mine was originally on back edge od beaver tail and is destroyed. I'm checking with Delaware DMV to see if sideways on rear of the left fender with light is officially legal.
4. Sorry I have to ask what are the to little posts/pipes one of which has the EMG brake cable clipped to?

One of the little things I appreciate about Kentucky: Privately owned and operated trailers used for the transportation of boats, luggage, personal effects, farm products, farm suppliers or farm equipment do not require registration or license plate.

 

[jjeff]

#1 no it came with stake pockets I did add several drings before painting though.
#2 repurpose it's actually came in real handy several times so far and was previously lying around. It's rated at 2k fully retracted I almost fabricated a pinnable drop down leg for it but the trailer weighs enough, just have to be mindful, but may still do it.
#3 fender mounted sideways been that way for years never hassled about it so I remounted it there. Also no plate light for it.
#4 lol that's my yooper rigged spare tire carrier. Was in a bind but it works good so I left it but I carry the spare in truck bed now cause I have two trailers and only one spare.
Btw The tek brand screws I used are wood to metal and treated lumber rated. Also I had to grind half the old screws flush cause as you said they would snap at the heads usually. Also I learned over the years use pure copper stranded wire, not copper clad aluminum stranded wire. Lol just don't use Romex and wire nuts. Good luck it was a rewarding project for me.

 

[brkdrvr]

Yeah, Delaware's trailer tags, registration and inspection used to be cheap and easy & still some exemptions for farming & commercial fishing ( but you have to have proof) then @ 15 years or so ago our Governor Ruth Ann Minner AKA Broom Hilda (she was actually a tow truck driver, later owing the business) surveyed the surrounding communist states of Maryland , Pennsylvania and New Jerseys trailer tag regulation and rates and promptly trippled the costs and regulations. Then they outlawed Main trailer plates towed by Delaware cars four years later. 70% of people re tagged their trailers in main for $80.00 for 10 years and no inspection plus many fly by night contractors discovered when you ran the EZpass tolls Main did not reciprocate with Delaware 1 million a year in uncollectible tolls really upsets politicians who don't get to piss it away. Interestingly DE is one of the only States in the Mid Atlantic with no vehicle inspection on tow trucks .

 

[Fxfymn413]

One of the little things I appreciate about Kentucky: Privately owned and operated trailers used for the transportation of boats, luggage, personal effects, farm products, farm suppliers or farm equipment do not require registration or license plate.

Same in SC, but what you save in registration you spend on locks to keep the trailer from being stolen. Lots of folks have come back from a day on the water only to find their trailer unhitched and gone. I prefer Virginia's system of a one time payment for a permanent trailer tag and a title so a thief cannot register a stolen trailer.

I use Chassis Saver for jobs like this. It is a less expensive Por-15 clone. The nice thing about those types of coatings is you do not need to get down to clean metal and the manufacturer recommends that you leave any rust that is not loose or flaking to increase adhesion.

 

[Richard001]

I have used outdoor plywood on my trailer, but it's not a big as yours. However, I suggest, as others have, to use treated pine boards, but use oil based paint on the wood. I have had good luck with the oil based paint, I tried water based once, what a disaster !

Good luck with your re-flooring.