Dump trailer foor steel gauge.

[fried1765]

I don't think I'd go for anything lighter than 10ga, slightly thicker than 1/8", a lot would depend on the spacing of the bunks also. I wouldn't even consider 16ga for anything. ..........Mike

^^^^^^ AGREED !!!

 

[BrkMstr]

Load Trail makes a nice trailer - BriMar / BWise also make a nice unit their units have a 10ga floor - PJ as well as BigTex also are 10ga floors - I like the SureTrac it has nice powder coat also 10ga floor - but they use Lippert axles and I'd rather have Dexter - you've got some decent dealers in CT so I'm sure you'll find one......

 

[fried1765]

Load Trail makes a nice trailer - BriMar / BWise also make a nice unit their units have a 10ga floor - PJ as well as BigTex also are 10ga floors - I like the SureTrac it has nice powder coat also 10ga floor - but they use Lippert axles and I'd rather have Dexter - you've got some decent dealers in CT so I'm sure you'll find one......

"nice powder coat" ????
Powder coat is only "nice: when it is sitting on a showroom floor!
As soon as the powder coat chips, it becomes a home for ever creeping rust.
I have a 14K trailer with powder coat.
Never again!
With your salted roadways in NE, powder coat is a terrible choice!
Maybe not bad in Texas, or Florida though.

 

[BrkMstr]

"nice powder coat" ????
Powder coat is only "nice: when it is sitting on a showroom floor!
As soon as the powder coat chips, it becomes a home for ever creeping rust.
I have a 14K trailer with powder coat.
Never again!
With your salted roadways in NE, powder coat is a terrible choice!
Maybe not bad in Texas, or Florida though.

Interesting statement - I work in the trailer industry - Dexter distributor working with OE's - with all the testing I've seen, all the dealers I service - I've always leaned to the assumption that most issues with steel is paint, most issues with paint is application - same goes for powder coat. Proper application does wonders for durability / longevity - sorry to hear your having issues - although my unit is not powder coated I would not hesitate to buy one that has been properly applied...

 

[Redlands Okie]

Proper application of products is extremely important as BrkMstr pointed out. Going to agree with fried1765 though. At least with paint if and or when the trailor needs some touch up work I can do it with paint. If you get a powder coat that has been damaged or improperly applied its a heck of a chore to do anything with it.

 

[Hay Dude]

"nice powder coat" ????
Powder coat is only "nice: when it is sitting on a showroom floor!
As soon as the powder coat chips, it becomes a home for ever creeping rust.
I have a 14K trailer with powder coat.
Never again!
With your salted roadways in NE, powder coat is a terrible choice!
Maybe not bad in Texas, or Florida though.

Powder coating is awful when applied over anything but the cleanest steel. Unfortunately, the trailer manufacturers build steel trailers and they sit around unpainted, absorbing moisture, dust & dirt, then they paint over it.
Like Fried said, once the paint seal is broken, its over. The powder coat falls off revealing a surface rust spot. With primer and paint, you can continually touch it up as needed. Powder coating is difficult to blend with touch up paint.
Im having a trailer built thats primered and allegedly 2 finish coats of paint. I hope its a better situation than my previous powder coated trailer. I got 5 years out of it, even with indoor off season storage. Still looked good enough to sell easily, but if I waited one more year, I think it would have devalued considerably

 

[RichM752]

I'm on my 3rd Lamar dump trailer, and I believe they have good method of powder coating. I tweeked my trailers with additional steps, tie down hooks, and d rings. Feather the edges, treat bare metal, prime and paint to match. Never had a problem with material chipping off. Oh......and 7 ga,one piece deck is a standard feature.

 

[JDGreen1025]

I saw this thread from a couple years back…I’m looking at that exact trailer. Debating between that and a 77”x12’ Lamar. How has the LT held up for you?

View attachment 661018View attachment 661022

I just picked up this one - it's a 10K 6X12 - 10ga floor and sides - I wouldn't want anything less to haul compacts - I went with the 10K to stay under cdl and use with my ½ ton - it's just homeowner so more than enough - some trailers were tough to get due to factory shut downs - but are starting to show up.

 

[lostcause]

i'm sure that poor prep is the cause of a lot of the peeling powder coat issues, but i wonder how much flexing metal impacts it? i see a lot of issues with snowplows too. both of those seem to peel in sheets. i've been threatening to get a dump trailer, and as much as i hate the price, i'm considering galvanized.