Metal deck trailer?

[Big Bri]

Is there any reason i would NOT want a metal deck trailer. . .am looking at one that has a metal deck instead of wood. other than weight i can't think of any thing. just wanted to make sure before i pulled the trigger.
thanks
brian

 

[Big Bri]

if it matters its a 22' goose with 7k axles and the deck is FULL metal not split on the sides.(center is NOT open)
thanks again

 

[Scooby074]

Besides added weight, about the only other issue would be slipperiness. Sometimes metal decks can be slipperier than a wood one especially if wet / oily. Also wood is easier to replace when damaged. which is one of the reasons its still used in heavy trailers.

I assume your talking about checker plate and not metal grating for the deck?

 

[Big Bri]

yes checker plate. . .thanks

there asking $2600 looks like a nice trailer i think it's a steel at that price

 

[Diamondpilot]

Like mentioned the metal is slick, especially after a little hydro fluid or oil is on it. I personally do not care for metal. All the trailers I now have are wood. Much easier to replace, does not weigh a ton, and not a slipping hazard.

Chris

 

[zukota]

For what it's worth, metal is much louder when chaining up a load. Not sure if that matters where you live, but a metal deck can be very noisy at 6am

 

[RollTideRam]

I had a metal deck car hauler. There were only a few things I did not like about it. It got hot, but that only mattered if I had to lay down on it while chaining up a car. Also chains and binders are very noisy on the metal deck. If you are hauling mulch on it, you can use your tractor to scoop it up without worrying about the deck like you do with wood. JC

 

[radman1]

I agree, that price is excellent for the size and capacity of the trailer. I also believe steel floors are slick to walk on. Even damp or wet shoes are a problem. They are also slick for anything put on them. Easy for things to slide off, even if moving a short distance. They can also gets dents from dropping stuff on the deck. The dents are a permanent reminder not to do that again - until the next time. Real heavy items can make a permanent bow in the steel between the cross members. Paint on steel is easily scratched.

Steel has advantages. If you put mulch, sand, gravel, etc on them, the stuff does not fall through or get wedged in the cracks. Steel is easy to sweep or wash off.

 

[George2615]

As other have said, metal decks can be very slippery when wet. Another bad thing with a metal deck trailer is hauling a metal tracked implement such as a dozer, excavator etc. They will slide even when chained and may be hard to load a metal tracked piece of equipment up onto a metal decked gooseneck.
In my area a metal deck trailer is double trouble in winter but I don't think you have too much ice or snow to worry about.

 

[QRTRHRS]

If you ever haul anything that needs blocking, you won't be able to nail into the floor deck like you can with wood.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Sounds like just about everyone here likes wood. Sure, steel and aluminum decks have there place. Wreckers, delivery trucks, specialty trailers, ect.

Chris

 

[MarkV]

Wonder how some of that spray on bed liner would work on a metal trailer deck?

MarkV

 

[Big Bri]

Well thanks for all the input, i let the trailer slip away. I'll keep looking for one but with a Wood deck. I love this site

 

[Diamondpilot]

Wonder how some of that spray on bed liner would work on a metal trailer deck?

MarkV

Probably ok but I have it in one of my trucks and its slick also. Nothing stays put.

Chris

 

[powerstroke444e]

I really like my steel deck trailers over the wood deck trailers we have. I have a gooseneck 30' and a 12' steel deck trailer that are great for everything but steel tracked equipment. Both of my trailers are over 10 yrs old & no problems just need a coat of paint. I have been known to for get something on them like a binder/spare tire/wrench and been amazed it was still there 60 miles later. If I was building/buying new equipment trailer I would spec a steel deck again. & the one you where looking sounded like a good deal.

 

[flusher]

Is there any reason i would NOT want a metal deck trailer. . .am looking at one that has a metal deck instead of wood. other than weight i can't think of any thing. just wanted to make sure before i pulled the trigger.
thanks
brian

I'm shopping for a GN about the size you're looking at to haul my parade tractors. My concern is traction when loading and unloading the tractors. Don't know if wood or checker plate is the better choice, especially if the deck is wet.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'm shopping for a GN about the size you're looking at to haul my parade tractors. My concern is traction when loading and unloading the tractors. Don't know if wood or checker plate is the better choice, especially if the deck is wet.

Wood is hands down. Dew on the grass and a metal deck and your nice John Deere A, or whatever you have, will lead to troble.

Metal decks have a place but for most of the guys on this site 90% of us wood is the best choice for many reasons including $$$$.

Chris

 

[PANHAPP]

Wood is almost as heavy as the steel. Steel wont burn. don't dump heavy things, set them down easy. I dont have any problem keeping things put or loading tractor. My 36 foot GN is smooth not tread plate. If I want to tourch something on it no problem. I don't have to watch where I step and hope I dont go through the floor.

 

[wushaw]

I picked up a 4X8X1/2" sheet of metal for my welding tables last month with my new wood deck trailer....instead of strapping/chaining the sheet down I used 8 short pieces of 2X4 wood and 3" wood screws and one cordless drill to keep the piece of sheetmetal from going anywhere.
I like wood for my flat deck trailers and metal for my dump trailers.

 

[Wis Bang]

I used to pull a Rodgers 'Croucher' low-bed trailer w/ a detatchable gooseneck hauling construction equipment. The leading edge of the deck was sloped a little and had these little, wedge shaped, flip over ramps made from diamond plate. The rest of the floor was 2" thick rough cut oak 'cept for the tops of the main beams and thinner edge beams.

The little ramps were no problem when loading rubber tire and tracked equipment BUT loading a steel wheeled street roller was a gigantic pain.

There were two tapered oak blocks to sit next to the ramps to provide a sloped ramp against the front ends of the beams where the gooseneck hooked on.

We had three rollers, an old trycicle that I had to back on so the rear wheels went up the ramps b/4 the steering wheel hit the wood ramps, a 10-ton tandem that needed the wood and ramps and a mini-tandem that just fit on the wood ramps.

Picking them up on a rainy day [when the jobsite was empty of workers] meant scouting around for a sand pile to spread some on the steel as it was the only way to load.

Just a little dew was enough to make the heavy roller wheels slide sideways off, usually just b/4 reaching the top of the ramps. You stand on top of a tandem roller to operate it and it would feel like you were going to tip over and be trapped under the roller...