Rebuilding old 16 ft utility, couple questions?

[skipmarcy]

I built some heavy sideboards for an old Ford LN600 dump truck I used to have and used sawmill oak - approx. 2" thick and 8"x12'. I sprayed it twice real heavy with Thompson's with a days' drying between coats and it held up very well. It stayed in the weather year 'round and had many.many loads of wet creek gravel and other wet stuff hauled in it. That lumber was still in A-1 shape when I sold it 3 years ago. Sawmill poplar would be good too and a little lighter weight-wise than oak.

 

[Flywheel]

No reason the deck should not last a long time - I just use std lumber. The biggest thing tha kills floor is keeping stuff stored on it - the moisture underneath will just rot it away...

 

[jjcc246]

I had to rebuild my trailer floor. It had plain pine on it and the tractor wheels went right through the floor. I called every trailer place in my area and asked about pressure treated lumber and the corrosive factor. Every one of them recommend and use themselves, pressure treated lumber. The same stuff you buy at home depot or lowes. I asked about hemlock, they said it rots to fast and white oak is hard to get in this area and will rot faster than pressure treated. They also said by the time pressure treated rots the steel the trailer will probally be passed on to my heirs, and their heirs. I did my floor a year ago and it looks like the day i put it on. i didn't use any treatment on it. when i park it i angle it up in front so the water doesn't lay on it and it works out great. hope this helps.

 

[gemini5362]

I use pressure treated lumber on my trailer and have not seen any problems with the metal parts of the trailer. Everyone I know that buys a new trailer the manufacturer puts non treated on because of the price. When that rots out in a few years they go back with pressure treated lumber and that lasts for a very long time. I have the pressure treated lumber on mine for 10 years and have not seen any problems with the trailer other than the one the backhoe caused when it bent the frame as it was being taken off the trailer. I am pretty sure that the pressure treated lumber did not cause that.

 

[shvl73]

I use pressure treated lumber on my trailer and have not seen any problems with the metal parts of the trailer. Everyone I know that buys a new trailer the manufacturer puts non treated on because of the price. When that rots out in a few years they go back with pressure treated lumber and that lasts for a very long time. I have the pressure treated lumber on mine for 10 years and have not seen any problems with the trailer other than the one the backhoe caused when it bent the frame as it was being taken off the trailer. I am pretty sure that the pressure treated lumber did not cause that.

The treated lumber of 10 years ago was CCA not the ACQ of the recent years. ACQ is A LOT more corrosive and is not reccomended to contact raw or painted steel. Heavy galvanization will help prevent the corrosion for some time.

 

[CATMAN]

I do not for the life of me understand why all the trailer manfactures I have seen weld the lumber in and you have to cut something to get it out.

Well Bob, I guess you have never been good friends with a professional welder. My good friend, in Omaha, is a welder and he basically never wants to drill holes for anything. He justs welds stuff in place, because he knows he can torch it out whenever the "next time" comes around. I have to admit that welding is faster.

 

[crbr]

The new trailers of today do not have the lumber welded into a set place. Most now use screws (at the front) for anchoring a set plate.

 

[tazz01]

Bob,I was given a trailer in about the same condition.After rebuilding,I used treated pine. The pine has been on the trailer for two years and still appears to be in good shape,no problem with the steel. I use the trailer to haul my L2800 Kubota,FEL and box blade.I clean any mud that is on the trailer after use.

 

[elad]

Don't forget about the wheel bearings on your rebuild.
Pack with proper grease and keep nuts torqued to
proper setting. Just offering my thoughts from past
experience. Looks and sounds like a fun project.
Good luck on your choice of lumber. Prefer pressure
treated myself. 4X8x3/4" served me well.

 

[George2615]

Bob,
If the trailer has 3500# axles you register it for 7K. Then you take it to a weigh station and get the empty trailer weighed. Lets say it weighs 1700# empty and you register it for having 2 - 3500# axles or 7K. Subtract 1700 from 7K and you can haul up to 5300#. Most states will require trailers over 3000# have brakes on at least one axle.

One of my trailers came with a PT wood deck with screws holding the boards in place. This makes for easy replacement if needed. The deck is ACQ pressure treated wood and has a lifetime limited warranty for decay, rot, or termite damage. The metal frame it is mounted on has a 10 year warranty. The entire trailer was also undercoated from the factory.

George