Scott_in_WVA
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Amen brother Amen...........
Spreader Painting wasteoil on manure spreaders
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Anonymous Poster
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Ozark....
There are 3 other guys telling you the same thing I am going to tell you....My trailer has straps welded across the planks,both ends.I looked under the straps at the end of the planks and there is not more than a quarter inch gap between the ends of the boards and the metal strap.Now do you think 4 different guys are all wrong and 1 guy that can't be wrong.I have built a few trailers myself and yes I have seen some that we are like the ones we are talking about....not including mine.
There are 3 other guys telling you the same thing I am going to tell you....My trailer has straps welded across the planks,both ends.I looked under the straps at the end of the planks and there is not more than a quarter inch gap between the ends of the boards and the metal strap.Now do you think 4 different guys are all wrong and 1 guy that can't be wrong.I have built a few trailers myself and yes I have seen some that we are like the ones we are talking about....not including mine.
I usually have to tweak a liberal to get this much knee-jerk reaction. No, I don't think any of you are wrong. Just hard headed and unable to accept that there is a way to replace your deck without cutting and welding no matter how it's built.
Again, it doesn't matter what the gap is. Loosen whatever is holding the boards to the crossmembers, push the board forward as far as you can and just pry it up and out the back. If it is too long for that or there is too much dirt between the end of the board and the head piece, use just a little common sense and cut the board. You are going to replace it anyway. A ten year old can tell you that cutting the board that you are going to replace is smarter than cutting the frame. And easier too.
Then cut the new boards so that you can push the front all the way forward and drop the back into the deck. Center it with an equal amount under both the front and back strap, and attach it. Exactly what seems to be complicated about that?
Or you can cut your frame if you want. I don't care. In fact, you could cut it in the middle and split the trailer like you do your tractor to put a clutch in. That will work as well. But don't embarass yourself by argueing that that is the only way to do it. What ever will make the four of you happy is just fine with me. But you four aren't the only people here and others may actually like to hear that there is a way to do it without cutting and welding the frame.
Don't you guys think it is silly to argure that the only way to get a wood deck out of a steel trailer is to cut the steel when a child can look at the trailer and tell you that if you cut across the deck with a circular saw it will probably fall out and hit you on the foot? I really don't care how your trailer is built If it has a wood deck, the wood can be replaced without cutting and rewelding the frame.
<font color=blue>I have built a few trailers myself</font color=blue>
a) We aren't talking about home builts and b) I took this into consideration when I used the term "as 99% of trailers are made" in my second post on this subject. There is no doubt that we will find a few fools out there who are welding in a cap after they put the boards in and before they prime and paint the unit, And maybe the four of you bought a trailer from one of those fools. Who knows?
But the ignorance and bad design of a couple of manufactures and a few home builders is irrevelent to the discussion of replacing the deck. Pry or cut the old boards out. Cut the new boards to slip in. It is really easy and shouldn't create such an uproar.
Again, it doesn't matter what the gap is. Loosen whatever is holding the boards to the crossmembers, push the board forward as far as you can and just pry it up and out the back. If it is too long for that or there is too much dirt between the end of the board and the head piece, use just a little common sense and cut the board. You are going to replace it anyway. A ten year old can tell you that cutting the board that you are going to replace is smarter than cutting the frame. And easier too.
Then cut the new boards so that you can push the front all the way forward and drop the back into the deck. Center it with an equal amount under both the front and back strap, and attach it. Exactly what seems to be complicated about that?
Or you can cut your frame if you want. I don't care. In fact, you could cut it in the middle and split the trailer like you do your tractor to put a clutch in. That will work as well. But don't embarass yourself by argueing that that is the only way to do it. What ever will make the four of you happy is just fine with me. But you four aren't the only people here and others may actually like to hear that there is a way to do it without cutting and welding the frame.
Don't you guys think it is silly to argure that the only way to get a wood deck out of a steel trailer is to cut the steel when a child can look at the trailer and tell you that if you cut across the deck with a circular saw it will probably fall out and hit you on the foot? I really don't care how your trailer is built If it has a wood deck, the wood can be replaced without cutting and rewelding the frame.
<font color=blue>I have built a few trailers myself</font color=blue>
a) We aren't talking about home builts and b) I took this into consideration when I used the term "as 99% of trailers are made" in my second post on this subject. There is no doubt that we will find a few fools out there who are welding in a cap after they put the boards in and before they prime and paint the unit, And maybe the four of you bought a trailer from one of those fools. Who knows?
But the ignorance and bad design of a couple of manufactures and a few home builders is irrevelent to the discussion of replacing the deck. Pry or cut the old boards out. Cut the new boards to slip in. It is really easy and shouldn't create such an uproar.
Anonymous Poster
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I usually have to tweak a liberal to get this much knee-jerk reaction. No, I don't think any of you are wrong. Just hard headed and unable to accept that there is a way to replace your deck without cutting and welding no matter how it's built.
Duh.....Because I seem to know a little bit about my trailer you have never seen it before and I disagree with what you say ...makes me a liberal..
Hard headed....seems to me your are unable to accept something might have been done/built in a different manner than you are accustomed to despite what 4 other people are trying to tell you.Talk about a jerk or I mean a knee jerk reaction....
Again, it doesn't matter what the gap is. Loosen whatever is holding the boards to the crossmembers, push the board forward as far as you can and just pry it up and out the back. If it is too long for that or there is too much dirt between the end of the board and the head piece, use just a little common sense and cut the board. You are going to replace it anyway. A ten year old can tell you that cutting the board that you are going to replace is smarter than cutting the frame. And easier too.
Then cut the new boards so that you can push the front all the way forward and drop the back into the deck. Center it with an equal amount under both the front and back strap, and attach it. Exactly what seems to be complicated about that?
Nothing is complicated about that.......The point here that I am making is the boards were not put in this way(the strap was welded after the planks were installed) when the trailer was built....no way...theyare too long to have been installed any other way....thats a fact Jack.....yes I could remove the boards by cutting the old boards in the center and quite possibly install the new ones without cutting the strap,but the new boards would not be as long because if I cut them the same length as the old ones there is no way they will simply slide into place with the straps in place......but my solution may be.....I can cut the new boards a shorter length and still have enough strap width to cover the ends of the boards.
Back to frame cutting....who said anything about cutting a frame?.....I am talking about a little metal strap on top of the boards.I am not cutting any frames....duh
Duh.....Because I seem to know a little bit about my trailer you have never seen it before and I disagree with what you say ...makes me a liberal..
Hard headed....seems to me your are unable to accept something might have been done/built in a different manner than you are accustomed to despite what 4 other people are trying to tell you.Talk about a jerk or I mean a knee jerk reaction....
Again, it doesn't matter what the gap is. Loosen whatever is holding the boards to the crossmembers, push the board forward as far as you can and just pry it up and out the back. If it is too long for that or there is too much dirt between the end of the board and the head piece, use just a little common sense and cut the board. You are going to replace it anyway. A ten year old can tell you that cutting the board that you are going to replace is smarter than cutting the frame. And easier too.
Then cut the new boards so that you can push the front all the way forward and drop the back into the deck. Center it with an equal amount under both the front and back strap, and attach it. Exactly what seems to be complicated about that?
Nothing is complicated about that.......The point here that I am making is the boards were not put in this way(the strap was welded after the planks were installed) when the trailer was built....no way...theyare too long to have been installed any other way....thats a fact Jack.....yes I could remove the boards by cutting the old boards in the center and quite possibly install the new ones without cutting the strap,but the new boards would not be as long because if I cut them the same length as the old ones there is no way they will simply slide into place with the straps in place......but my solution may be.....I can cut the new boards a shorter length and still have enough strap width to cover the ends of the boards.
Back to frame cutting....who said anything about cutting a frame?.....I am talking about a little metal strap on top of the boards.I am not cutting any frames....duh
looch
Veteran Member
Ozarker, your method makes a lot of sense to me (who doesn't own a trailer).
Guys, they're your trailers. Do what you think is best for you.
Anyone reading this thread who owns a trailer and is thinking about replacing the planks now has two options to consider. That's cool. The way they choose to do the repair may be because they're more comfortable working with wood or steel.
I would even consider cutting the "permanent" straps away and replacing them with something I can bolt on.
In any case, more ways to do one thing is good - not bad. There should be no hard feelings if one thinks his way is better than another's.
Guys, they're your trailers. Do what you think is best for you.
Anyone reading this thread who owns a trailer and is thinking about replacing the planks now has two options to consider. That's cool. The way they choose to do the repair may be because they're more comfortable working with wood or steel.
I would even consider cutting the "permanent" straps away and replacing them with something I can bolt on.
In any case, more ways to do one thing is good - not bad. There should be no hard feelings if one thinks his way is better than another's.
Scott_in_WVA
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Well said...
poorboy
Silver Member
I just completed the same project in the spring to my little 16 ft. tagalong. The strap they are talking about is just an inverted piece of angle spaced about an inch and a half from the rear frame angle and capped over the wood ends. Mine was only tacked in place and in fact the weld wasn't what it should have been but it worked for 10 years and outlasted the wood. The space between the cap angle and the frame is sometimes used to hold in ramps, but the actual reason was to allow the piece to be installed. I actual thought about bolting it back on but then I would be making another entrance for water and the heads would catch on everything as well.
I am not saying that all or most trailers are made this way but some are.
Patrick
I am not saying that all or most trailers are made this way but some are.
Patrick
Scott_in_WVA
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Thanks poorboy.
<font color=blue>Duh.....Because I seem to know a little bit about my trailer you have never seen it before and I disagree with what you say ...makes me a liberal.</font color=blue>
No cuz, I said I usually have to teak a liberal to get this type of response. Didn't say you were a liberal. In fact, a careful reading of my comment should lead you to the conclusion that I believe you are not a liberal.
No cuz, I said I usually have to teak a liberal to get this type of response. Didn't say you were a liberal. In fact, a careful reading of my comment should lead you to the conclusion that I believe you are not a liberal.
Yes, I know what you're talking about.
I should apoligize and be ashamed of myself for allowing this thread to go so far. But the fact is that I was having fun poking a stick at this sleeping bear.
The reality is that I was completely surprised that people would get so upset when I pointed out that a welder was not normally considered a wood working tool and was generally not required to complete a wood working task. Silly me.
I should apoligize and be ashamed of myself for allowing this thread to go so far. But the fact is that I was having fun poking a stick at this sleeping bear.
The reality is that I was completely surprised that people would get so upset when I pointed out that a welder was not normally considered a wood working tool and was generally not required to complete a wood working task. Silly me.