Replacing trailer deck?

[logdog]

Just picked up a new to me flat bed trailer. A couple of the boards could stand to be replaced but it isnt obvious to me how to do it. The boards fit in a groove around the frame and there are not any bolts holding them down. It almost looks like they stuck the boards in and then finished welding it together. Anybody have any insight?

 

[Haoleguy]

Check out thread a few weeks back on this subject. There were some great tips on how this is all put together which should give you some insight on how to approach a few board replacements..

 

[spruce Deere]

Diamondpilot is the king on replacing trailer decking.

I had to replace just a few boards due to a large unsplit round of firewood :confused3: dropped on the trailer deck. I did what he recommended..... just with a few boards instead of the whole deck.

I measured one good board for length and cut down a new board to match.

After cutting new board and removing busted old board, place one end of new board in the 'slot' one end of trailer.

Next with help of an assistant place a small, 4 inch or so block on one of the cross supports under the board and then push down on board to bow it and line up the board with the empty 'slot'.

When board is lined up with the slot, have assistant knock the block out from under board while 'bowed' and the board should be in the slot after all the banging of wood on metal

 

[logdog]

I dont know how I missed that thread when I was looking to see if anybody else had come across this. Makes total sense.

 

[two_bit_score]

Diamondpilot is the king on replacing trailer decking.

I had to replace just a few boards due to a large unsplit round of firewood :confused3: dropped on the trailer deck. I did what he recommended..... just with a few boards instead of the whole deck.

I measured one good board for length and cut down a new board to match.

After cutting new board and removing busted old board, place one end of new board in the 'slot' one end of trailer.

Next with help of an assistant place a small, 4 inch or so block on one of the cross supports under the board and then push down on board to bow it and line up the board with the empty 'slot'.

When board is lined up with the slot, have assistant knock the block out from under board while 'bowed' and the board should be in the slot after all the banging of wood on metal

I've read DP's suggestion several times and followed your thread and see that you had good success with it. So, maybe you can explain to this ole country boy how you 'knock the block out' without getting the 'knocker ' stuck under the bowed board.

I think it must be very obvious to everyone but me. :ashamed:

 

[bcp]

Using a jack:

Trailer Deck Replacement - YouTube

Bruce

 

[spruce Deere]

I've read DP's suggestion several times and followed your thread and see that you had good success with it. So, maybe you can explain to this ole country boy how you 'knock the block out' without getting the 'knocker ' stuck under the bowed board.

I think it must be very obvious to everyone but me. :ashamed:

Strike fast, strike hard..... Just use the edge of the block as the pivot, not the whole flat of the block.

I promise you, it will work

 

[bcp]

So, maybe you can explain to this ole country boy how you 'knock the block out' without getting the 'knocker ' stuck under the bowed board.

Support the block on the axle, not a crossmember, then reach under the trailer and knock it off the axle.

Bruce

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thinks for the kind words guys. I use about a 12-16" piece of 2x4, depends on the trailer, and place it on the rear axle then knock it out with a quick blow of a 8# sledge. On longer trailers we replace them with 2 guys. The FAT One:laughing: stands on the end and the other one swings the sledge. If doing it myself or on a shorter trailer I use the FEL of my tractor to apply the down pressure on the board then get off the tractor and knock it out.

This is only needed for the last few boards if you are replacing a entire deck. The first 2/3rds of the boards or so you can put them in a angle and knock them over strait then use this technique for the last few.

Glad it works for the guys who have tried it.

Chris

 

[logdog]

I got to think about this again. I completely understand how it works with the long boards but how to I replace the 2 foot dovetail boards? Some of those are in the worst shape.