My flatbed trailer project.

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Greetings, newcomer here long time lurker, thought I would register and post since this is my first big project. I consider myself a novice welder, I might weld something ever couple months for my race car but never a large project like this. Lately I have been needing a flatbed trailer to move stuff around, like fixing riding lawn mower on side ect. My trailer is is car hauler with 2 separate ramps and open in the center. I saved up enough cash to flatbed it so here goes.The trailer metal was very dirty so it took allot of cleaning but here are some of my welds, I am self taught, my welder is a Lincoln Pro-Mig 140 and runs on 110v. After starting on the project I realized that I was pushing it with the thickness of metals with my machine since it was set on max heat and was barely enough, I started to preheat the metal with propane torch and that really helped. Is this acceptable to preheat?30 ft of 3/16's 1" 1/2x 1" 1/2 angle stock. Some of them I support underneath with 1x1 angle stock from the axle tubes. There is no suspension so the tubes don't move lolI wanted to get some 1/4" diamond plate aluminum that was crazy $$$$ then I looked in some 1/8" diamond stamped sheets of steel that was 200 plus, so I went with 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood for $30 lol.Test fittingThe last 4' is hinged, I will be welding up a large box that will act like a tool box to store ramps, straps, spare tire ect. Also I can open it all the way up, lay the lid flat and run my straps for my car to the D-rings that are welded to the trailer below the level of the deck.I have more to do and more pics to take I just ran out of daylight today, any comments on the fab work, tips, or advice on the welds is appreciated. I am here to learnThank you.
Reply:Nice looking welds.  Professional in appearance.  Self taught EH?I'm gonna hafta go back to welding school.  Yes I am Hey, I like the trailer design.  You gonna use it for welding or for car stuff?  I hafta build a trailer for my SA-200 and am looking over designs to get some good ideas.Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:I'm not so sure you have helped yourself any by supporting the mid-section from the axle tubes.  Those tubes are crowned up, and designed to flatten with a load.  By trussing them for a deck, they won't afford the flex they are designed for.  At very least, you may have trouble keeping your welds from stress cracking.
Reply:Originally Posted by NiteskyNice looking welds.  Professional in appearance.  Self taught EH?I'm gonna hafta go back to welding school.  Yes I am Hey, I like the trailer design.  You gonna use it for welding or for car stuff?  I hafta build a trailer for my SA-200 and am looking over designs to get some good ideas.
Reply:Not too bad. Here's a few suggestions for you. First I'd paint or poly the plywood. "Exterior" rated plywood WILL delaminate and warp from constant exposure to the elements, not so much from the glue failing, but from the wood absorbing water. "Marine" grade plywood will hold up to the elements. Also this will keep oil and such from soaking into the wood and getting over other things later.Second consider stake pockets rather than "D" rings. You can just drop the hook from the strap thru the pocket and hook on to the side to hold straps or chains, Or drop thru and hook back to itself. 4" C channel will work OK if you trim the 2x's a bit. The pockets will allow you to insert some 2x's and add plywood sheets for sides. This makes the trailer more versitile for brush, mulch, sand, gravel etc. as well as boxes or general junk. We have a set of plywood "sides" with 2x's that we frequently add and remove from my buddies small 2 axle trailer. The way the frame is you may have to pack out the C channel to make it work right. Either add a bottom bar to keep the 2x's from dropping thru or drill a few holes and attach with scrrews. We use screws to mount or sides as his trailer has a small side rail we attach to. Think about making the back pockets large enough for a 4x4 on each side. This will give you extra support to attach some hinges so the "back" pannels can swing or just screw the plywood to the posts. If you set it up right you can quickly set the sides up in under 5 minutes and pull them off just as fast.
Reply:In the future just put a roll of Fluxcore in the machine.Clean up isn't a big issue in this kind of project and you don't have to worry about the Jug o' gas- just pick up the welder and move freely all around the Trailer.Plus- open the door and look at the ChartEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I have a gallon of Rustoleum black paint for the trailer, and I havent decided what to coat the plywood with yet. There was a few very dark black deck stains at Home Depot, any thoughts on staining the wood? I would rather have something sink in since stuff will be dragged across the deck all the time.Thanks for the head on C channel, I may hold of and do that the same time I put new fenders on shortly its a work in progress.
Reply:Personally I'm not the biggest fan of exterior stains. One thing, they won't do jack to prevent oil and all from getting into the wood. Epoxy would be an excellent choice. I'm not thinking an epoxy paint, but an epoxy resin like West epoxy for boats. It will sink in to a limited degree and make it impervious to almost everything. It also lasts for a very long time. There are also some urethanes that would probably work OK, but you would have to go over a stain if you wanted a dark color. You would want to put some sort of grit like sand into the finish with either epoxy, urethane or paint to help reduce the slipperiness.Also remember that you want to do both sides if you can.You could always cover the painted plywood with steel or alum plate, but that gets to be big money quick.
Reply:I'd give thought to just using a couple of thick coats of linseed oil on it.                                MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:i like the modification, but with the welds to the axle does it allow for suspension travel and axle travel from possible overloading??I break things for a living...
Reply:Originally Posted by BigTuna Some of them I supported underneath with 1x1 angle stock from the axle tubes. There is no suspension so the tubes don't move lol