Attaching Trailer Side Boards

[Daves3032E]

I bought a new trailer a few weeks ago and it has the slots in the front and rear of the trailer for side boards. I'm pretty sure I understand how the board just slides in, but what keeps them from bowing when loaded? I want to make them easily removable as my tractor is a bit small to reach over the sides depending on what I'm loading. does an additional board need to be lagged into it on the outside like a "T" on its side? It's a 16 ft long trailer.

Here was my trailer yesterday with 2 cords of split red oak.

 

[Redneck in training]

Here you go.

 

[Daves3032E]

I was trying to not take up volume inside the trailer. I'll come up with something.

 

[deerseeker001]

does it have outside stake pockets? that would do the trick.

 

[Stimw]

Some trailers/dump beds have a center stiffener. Others will use stiffener and 2- 8' boards.

 

[George2615]

You could weld a center tab on the outside so the board won't bow out. You trailer is set up like most dump trucks for adding in a board. I never see dump truck side added boards bowing out. Most are 2x8 or 2x10 boards.

 

[Daves3032E]

There are no stake pockets. At first I was thinking of a 2x12, but I could see adding two feet (4' total height) bring useful at times. I think I know the solution though. Get a C/U channel and screw it to the side meeting the factory side.

 

[bcp]

View attachment 374472

Here you go.

I was trying to not take up volume inside the trailer. I'll come up with something.

Do it like the illustration, but use a 1/8 x 4 inch steel strap instead of another board.

 

[hslogger]

You could cut out holes for your stakes in the top of the upper lip. Under the lip a few inches weld brackets to the side that would match what ever you are going to use for stakes that would be attached to your side boards. Make your side boards with the stakes attached. Might want two sets, one a foot and the other a couple or three feet. You could build them as heavy or light as you want. Lumber, steel, aluminum.