Expanded Metal Bed Replacement for Equipment trailer?

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:59:18 GMT

go to see Welding Machine for Expanded Metal Bed Replacement for Equipment trailer?

I need replace the bed on my 10 year old 16', 7,000 lbs, Holmes tandem axle equipment trailer.  Current bed is 2x6 treated.  Boards are rotting and one has broken the bolts and is curling.  Still in use and was just inspected.  This trailer sits in the open, which is tough on the treated wood available today. Without going overboard in costs, is there a suitable thickness of expanded metal or grate that might be preferred to weld in place versus more treated wood?  Supports are about every 24", front to rear.  Flat is 6'10" x 12'.  Sloped dovetail is 6'10" x 4'.  Typical load is my Kubota 3130 tractor with 6' 4-in-1 bucket and a 60" box blade or brush hog.  About 4,800-5,000 lbs.Any thoughts helpful.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:I have repaired a lot of expanded metal ramps ,the only thing that I found that works pretty well is to weld a piece of angle where the tires run .
Reply:http://www.argussteel.com/expanded-m...Qy4aArJe8P8HAQI don't know how close they are to you but they carry what you are looking for for what you wanna do. Look at the right bottom of the site page.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Expanded metal isn't good for large horizontal surfaces, it's too weak in the vertical axis and WILL sag if you put any weight on it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bls repairI have repaired a lot of expanded metal ramps ,the only thing that I found that works pretty well is to weld a piece of angle where the tires run .
Reply storeman - try Safety Tread at BMG in Richmond.  BMG is one of our key suppliers."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:You could  run heavy angle on the bed also
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterhttp://www.argussteel.com/expanded-m...Qy4aArJe8P8HAQI don't know how close they are to you but they carry what you are looking for for what you wanna do. Look at the right bottom of the site page.....zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by Bls repairYou could  run heavy angle on the bed also
Reply:Originally Posted by ManoKai@ storeman - try Safety Tread at BMG in Richmond.  BMG is one of our key suppliers.
Reply:Just a reminder, there is virtually no way to keep expanded from sagging between cross members.  And wirh that spacing and hauling a tractor it will be bad. I've never seen one fail, but they washboard badly. Things like to get caught in the holes and sliding anything is a real problem. I use regular untreated wood whenever I can for trailers that haul tractors. Buy good quality regular 2x8s and after the first year to season them,  paint them with used motor oil yearly and your deck will last 20 years.  JonYeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:i did considerable research on my last trailer.Wood is the lightest, strongest, cheapest thing I could find.Replacing every ten years inst' so bad.I'd use the cheap untreated wood.I tried linseed oil, but it all peeled off in the sun.If you're only ever putting tractors on and not moving boxes, or furniture, or stuff that would go into the house then paint the wood with used motor oil or antifreeze.EditAh hell, weldrj said exactly the same thing.Well we must both be right then.
Reply:I mean run extra angle under the expanded metal where the tires will run
Reply:BMG in Richmond used to let me run around in their warehouse and look for various dings and drops that I could use for our high school robotics team.   They had the largest band saw I've ever seen.  Later they got another warehouse out by the airport just for aluminum.  The John Tyler Community College welding program bought mainly from them because the quality was good."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Jerry, I had one that had diamond plate for runners and expanded sheet on the edges and down the center, it was a homebuilt. We used it as a spare circle track car hauler for travelling to places where a spare may be needed. It was extremely durable and easy to keep clean. We painted it with rustoleum every couple of years. Pretty easy to keep. It lived in the pine trees, so it was exposed to acid (pine needles) all the time.RegardsDave
Reply:I'd go back with rough sawn oak. If you're dead set on steel, c-purlins with 3/4 x #9 raised exp metal tacked to the purlins where the tires track. Then a gooey coat of paint, sand thrown out of a hand spreader, followed by a couple more coats of paint."You can't out puke a buzzard"
Reply:Thanks all.  Guess I'll re-look wood.  The untreated with motor oil sounds interesting.  I'll also talk to BMG and see what grate they have to offer.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:I didn't want to mention used motor oil (Al Gore frequents WW)  but rough sawn oak allowed to dry then coated with copious amounts of the aforementioned substance is as good as gold."You can't out puke a buzzard"
Reply:Jerry, I got some premium deck boards (6" x 5/4" nominal) from Siewars lumber in Richmond.  About a buck ten a foot and knot-free.  The rest of the deck is being treated with TWP 100 oil-based preservative stain. You can keep wood alive."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Check with area saw mills and see if they saw up telephone poles. It's gotten to be real popular around here. They do last a long time.
Replyipeliner, Dick and Bob,Thanks.  You have given me some ideas.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Another vote for BMG in Richmond. I have dealt with a salesman named Jake and he has been great to work with.Millermatic 252 MIGMiller Dynasty 200DX TIGMiller Spectrum 625 PlasmaAltas 12x36 Metal LatheBridgeport Milling Machinewww.psacustomcreations.com
Reply:Originally Posted by BobCheck with area saw mills and see if they saw up telephone poles. It's gotten to be real popular around here. They do last a long time.
Reply:Good quality hardwood. White oak or similar with a good coating of oil every so often on a nice hot dayMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Only real trouble with a wood deck is that it's not strong between the supports.  A point load can literally break thru the floor.Steel is a good alternative because, although it will washboard with use, it still won't yield to the tear point when properly welded with, close spaced, small welds around the perimeter of the membrane.  And I mean regular solid diamondplate, not expanded metal."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/It is slick without putting something like expanded on top but c-purlins seem to be cheap and good for trailer floors. Diamond plate works good too. I hate wood it will always eventually need replaced. Rumber is a synthetic board that lasts forever but is not cheap. I had it in the floor of my livestock trailer and it is great.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammOnly real trouble with a wood deck is that it's not strong between the supports.  A point load can literally break thru the floor.Steel is a good alternative because, although it will washboard with use, it still won't yield to the tear point when properly welded with, close spaced, small welds around the perimeter of the membrane.  And I mean regular solid diamondplate, not expanded metal.
Reply:I have been watching a local bridge for the last couple of years. It was covered (decked) with about 2" plastic lumber This is two lane vehicular and pedestrian swing bridge crossing the Trent canal, in other words if it fails you are going to get your feet wet. I am amazed at the condition of the deck to date. I have wondered about this material for trailer decking myself. There is an unknown in that I am told there is a heat expansion factor of about 3% on 100' maybe not enough to be a concern if it is somewhat free floating captured in angle iron end caps with only minimal bolting. Weight is comparable on the heavy side with lumber but it does not rot and has permanent color.
Reply:Seems like you would want something more like grating to hold up in between the frame supports:http://www.mcnichols.com/products/grating/But I bet it's not cheap, and probably quite heavy which would take a big nick out of your load capacity.  But if you want steel that will hold up...-DaveXMT304 with: 22A Feeder, or HF251 Hi Freq DC TIG air cooled
Reply:I'm back to wood.  It will likely outlast me.  Thanks for the input.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Originally Posted by storemanI'm back to wood.  It will likely outlast me.
Reply:Jerry,Once the wood is seasoned a bit, slather it in something like TWP 100 preservative/stain for decks.  Oil-based and does provide some UV protection.  I just put some (Pecan color) on my old deck.http://www.twp-stain.com/twp-100-stains.html"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumJerry,Once the wood is seasoned a bit, slather it in something like TWP 100 preservative/stain for decks.  Oil-based and does provide some UV protection.  I just put some (Pecan color) on my old deck.http://www.twp-stain.com/twp-100-stains.html
Reply:Wooden Decks on Semi-Trailers and Wooden Decks on Construction Trailers. They drive Forklifts and Bulldozers on them!Truthfully "In My Opinion" a wooden Deck placed on a trailer running lengthwise is possibly adding to the Frame strength.I saw a farmer trailer one time that had wood lengthwise and when they re-decked it widthwise it bent in the middle between the two axles.
Reply:Mine is decked lengthwise, except for the dovetail ramp and will be redone the same way.  Preservative for sure when it weathers a bit.  The trailer was about 5 years old when I got it.  Don't believe it had ever been oil treated.  Could get by replacing about 5 boards but it seems to make more sense to do it all at once.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:I stopped putting boiled linseed oil on my hammer handles because they would get mildew indoors in an unheated garage.  Or maybe I had raw linseed oil.  Later I used McCloskey's Tung oil varnish.The TWP100 is registered as a wood preservative.  We'll see how it holds up. I think it would have been cheaper to replace all my deck boards than saving some and using 5 gallons of premium stain.  But some were in locations that would have involved significant reconstruction of a couple benches/railings.  I got some 16 foot premium deck lumber from Siewars lumber in Richmond for about a buck a foot.  Beautiful stuff. Only found one knot so far at the end of a board. They picked it, delivered it, carried it around the back of the house and neatly stacked it for $50.  Deal. 100 year old lumber companies are still around for a reason."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:We have a similarly aged lumber company in a rural area of Gloucester County called Fary Bros.  Am not familiar with Siewars, may check them out next time I get vaccinated to visit Richmond.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Yeah using expanded metal on a deck with 24" spacing cross member is no good. Stick with fir decking and it will outlast .
Reply:Originally Posted by storemanWe have a similarly aged lumber company in a rural area of Gloucester County called Fary Bros.  Am not familiar with Siewars, may check them out next time I get vaccinated to visit Richmond.
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerDo you have to get vaccinated just to be in Richmond???
Reply:I get vaccinated each time I have to cross the bridge over the York River into Newport News or over the bridge at West Point to go to Richmond.   We are kind of isolated out here in Mathews County and like it that way.  Inoculations protect against "citification".  30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press