Trailer troubles

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Been tied up on a few trailers past couple days, new kingpins/plates running gear etc..Customer has now decided that he wants steel decks on them now (all flatbeds, couple 40's a 48 and a 53)They are currently wood, with one being aluminum over steel and pretty well trashed.  These trailers get abused loading and unloading.  Steel decks make sense, but heres the rub - customer insists that we just lay diamond plate over existing floor.  I will have to quite a bit of 'planing' to get everything smooth enough - but what should I do about the wood?My main concern is the wood holding water against the underside of the plates.  I would prefer to just get rid of the wood and add a few crossmembers.some options I am looking at:Thompsons water seal (flood application, but wood is pretty greasy)exterior paint - rolled on, but still - greasetar/oil - not sure how durable - an will be welding very close to the woodother suggestions?When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:maybe explain to the customer how much weight capacity he'll lose by keeping both wood and steel decking.  Make sure he understands that he'll have to treat the undersides religiously or the wood'll rot and not support the steel decking (more problems).But, if the wood's "greasy" you probably don't need to waterproof.  And you already know with welding right on top you're gonna have "issues"Also, I'd stay away from TWS....pure crap.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Originally Posted by SRO1911  I will have to quite a bit of 'planing' to get everything smooth enough - but what should I do about the wood?
Reply:I agree with  DSW a good coat of paint on underside of the plate and a floor sander to level the wood. Sounds like you get all the fun jobs.Do these trailers have floor tie downs? Or does he just use the rub rails for chaining?"Liberalism is a mental disorder" Dr. Savage
Reply:"plane" - to make smooth or level.  Been a long day.Metal is already in, plain jane tread plate (diamond pattern steel)Owner is realistically anticipating a year at the most of service life - getting 2-3 months on wood between complete overhauls, with lots of patches in between.I just want to make it as 'right' as possible - his thought is that the wood will add a little extra 'cushion'At least I managed to talk him out of full weld out on the plates - gonna stitch - 3"-4" in 12", give or take. Its going to have to flex a bit, these trailers dont have much flex left - but under 100k lbs, everything gives a little.When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:Just the rails, plates will stop at the edge of the actual deckThe rails are a bit heavier than typical on 3 of them (I had a surplus of 3/8 strap when they need replacement - made them a gooooood deal)When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:its been done before.   it will add a couple thousand pounds which takes that away from how much you can load on it.     Its not that big of a deal and i have done several POS flatbeds like this that were used to haul crushed car body's.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Got the first one about done today, just left the wood as it was - replaced a few boards.My new favorite LWS delivered the steel yesterday and brought me a new 'toy' to demo...  SteelMax 7 inch metal circular saw.I have used abrasive blades in my wormdrives to cut thin sheet, but this was my first experience with a dedicated metal saw and carbide blades.  I have to say, I'm impressed - once I got behind it instead of next to it (Im a lefty - DO NOT STAND ON RIGHT SIDE OF THIS SAW)He brought the saw and a handful of blades, I cut 10  4x 8 sheets of 1/8 diamond plate steel, trimming about 5 inches off the 4 ft side, and ripping one of them lenghtwise - all on the blade that came in it, I'm hooked.I had picked up an extra package of flap wheels planning on torching the plates - they will be saved for the next job When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:Nice. The right tool for the job makes things so much simpler..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yep us southpaws always get forgotten when it comes to tools... or design of just about anything else for that matter.Look at the 9" version if u cut a lot of tube or channel etc...   evolution makes one as I think steelmax does tooTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by SRO1911Got the first one about done today, just left the wood as it was - replaced a few boards.My new favorite LWS delivered the steel yesterday and brought me a new 'toy' to demo...  SteelMax 7 inch metal circular saw.I have used abrasive blades in my wormdrives to cut thin sheet, but this was my first experience with a dedicated metal saw and carbide blades.  I have to say, I'm impressed - once I got behind it instead of next to it (Im a lefty - DO NOT STAND ON RIGHT SIDE OF THIS SAW)He brought the saw and a handful of blades, I cut 10  4x 8 sheets of 1/8 diamond plate steel, trimming about 5 inches off the 4 ft side, and ripping one of them lenghtwise - all on the blade that came in it, I'm hooked.I had picked up an extra package of flap wheels planning on torching the plates - they will be saved for the next job
Reply:My brother bought a "southpaw" Skill saw but paid double for it.  That just ain't right.
Reply:Originally Posted by SRO1911Owner is realistically anticipating a year at the most of service life
Reply:because treated lumber only lasts for a load or two, then they have to stop and patch - DOT does not like holes in flatbed floors.if it goes a year with minimal maintenance then its a net win.   I am hoping that it will last quite a bit longer - with occasional re-welds in the high-flex areas.I need to get the pics pulled off my phone - but there are some coming.When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:SroIm glad you posted about the saw, as I posted in another section about something to cut with. I think you may have swayed me after doing some looking around, thanks. Most of the trucking Ive done has been on dove tail trailers hauling equipment. A few thousand lbs make a big deal. For me I like to have wooden floors as it gives some traction, where the stel ones dont, Im sure most of you already know that. I did have a tandum roll back with dimond plate on the floor over oak, that thing sucked! Real heavy, and with the incline even rubber tracks on a skid steer it would slide. I did have a truck with an all steel floor on it that wasnt too bad. What really sucked was it was all air to operate. I only slid one dozer off it in the mud. I still prefore wood over steel any day, but that is in the enviroment I was working in. And I would like to see any detach or dove tail that dosnt have a hole in the floor where the bucket hits on it. Attached ImagesLearning one rod at a time
Reply:All these trailers are hauling rough stone, typically running 90-120k lb loads.  The get loaded rough, sometimes forks, sometimes just big loaders.  when you drop a 5k-10k pound rock on a trailer - something has to give.  When you put 10-20 of them on a trailer, everything gives.The saw was a welcome surprise, i will be adding it to my arsenal but it definitely has its limitations.  For ripping sheet goods, I think its ideal - as fast as a torch with less clean-up and not as sensitive/fragile as a plasma.  I dont see it replacing anything I already carry, just filling a niche.  For someone that does a lot of light work (under 1/4) then in may be a good all around tool.When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives.
Reply:I've seen some unique ways to load a small trackhoe, but I think that one takes the cake. I'm a bit surprised they weren't loading it in the bed of a triaxle that way..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:DswIf you can see the pic its burned. Its a 314 that went to a dealer in Calf for a cert rebuild. sroI think you pegged me, a hobbest and under 1/4 inch, most of the time!Learning one rod at a time