Coverting to steel Trailer bed

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Hay guys,I have a 16 foot trailer and am going to convert the wood bed to metal my question is what gauge steal should I use? it will be supported every 15 inches and I will be carrying cars not more than 5000 pounds though. thanksBrandonLincoln Tombstone 225 A/C Steel StickerOld Victor O2/Acetylene setupMiller Syncrowave 250 Tig/PC-300 PulserMiller Millermatic 212 Mig HTP Invertatig 201 Giant Teck D50 Plasma cutterLots of HF grinders
Reply:went to a trailer store this morning and they we using 1/8 diamond plate. looked a little thin but they had cross members welded between the slats so the bed support looked like a grid. That looked like overkill. So what do you guys think?BrandonLincoln Tombstone 225 A/C Steel StickerOld Victor O2/Acetylene setupMiller Syncrowave 250 Tig/PC-300 PulserMiller Millermatic 212 Mig HTP Invertatig 201 Giant Teck D50 Plasma cutterLots of HF grinders
Reply:Most vehicles will have a fairly standard track width on the tires and a limited amount of space on the trailer that track will fall on. I'd be sure that you have good support bracing under this portion of the floor. Small narrow vehicles will be less of an issue over large heavy ones, so most of the extra reinforcing needs to be towards the outside of the trailer spanning the 15" centers. If the underframe can keep the span down, thin plates will have no issues.
Reply:I can weld in lateral bracing between the slats, I am using 2 by 3 by 1/8 tubing as slats so it is plenty strong.  Is 1/8 normally used for the bed in a car trailer?Lincoln Tombstone 225 A/C Steel StickerOld Victor O2/Acetylene setupMiller Syncrowave 250 Tig/PC-300 PulserMiller Millermatic 212 Mig HTP Invertatig 201 Giant Teck D50 Plasma cutterLots of HF grinders
Reply:My entire trailers have been built with 2x3x1/8" tube and an 1/8" deck.  Just get a support tube under where the tires run and you're good to go.  I can put up some pics of what I've done if you want.
Reply:Great that is what I wanted to know. Thanks . I will run a couple extra tubes round the wheels.Thank YouBrandon .Lincoln Tombstone 225 A/C Steel StickerOld Victor O2/Acetylene setupMiller Syncrowave 250 Tig/PC-300 PulserMiller Millermatic 212 Mig HTP Invertatig 201 Giant Teck D50 Plasma cutterLots of HF grinders