Trailer deck question

jon f mn · Nov 4, 2015

I'm going to be building myself a trailer soon I hope. Lol. Anyway, the floor will be aluminum and I can
save $400.00 +/- if I use flat sheet rather than diamond plate. I've used flat on dump beds and trailers
but never on a flat deck. I am wondering just how slick it might get. Anyone else have a trailer with a
flat floor? If so how slick is it?

RayP(MI) · Nov 4, 2015

Slippry when wet. Slippry when oily. 'Nuff said!

TGP · Nov 4, 2015

Dangerously Slick!

Not a smart move, besides the diamond plate is stronger.
Tom

Lazy WP · Nov 4, 2015

I wouldn't use flat Jon. I have never used flat on a trailer, but in a cow trailer, when the diamond tread wears down you can't keep a critter upright.

jon f mn · Nov 4, 2015

Diamond plate is actually weaker, but that part is irrelevant in this case.

Greg K · Nov 4, 2015

From the way it sounds, you wouldn't have to worry about anyone wanting to borrow it. Just trying to look at the bright side

Blackhole49 · Nov 4, 2015

My 18' "tractor/car" hauler has a flat steel deck. I have never had to load or unload it in the rain. I have certainly hauled in the rain with no problems. Even my skidsteer stay's put, once it is strapped down, in the rain. When I put the removable sides on it for hauling landscape supplies, it makes unloading easier.

Billy NY · Nov 4, 2015

Value engineering, reduction in cost of raw material by switching to the non diamond plate, with the savings, can you still pull off some kind of non slip surface or something on or over it? Might be possible, but if it won't work... its money well spent on the diamond plate. I kind think of all kinds of scenarios where that kind of surface is not worth a dollar in savings.

I found some home made ramps in a hedge row with nice steel ends and made of CCA P.T. lumber. On the wood is a very stout sandpaper like anti slip material, I wonder if you could bond, fasten or "adhese" (sp) that kind of material to the aluminum plate. Its really rough like #6 open coat sand paper, thick backing too, looks industrial.

ditchwitch · Nov 4, 2015

Its metal its going to get slick. Rain, snow, mud. Not only that i would think more expensive than a wood deck.

D beatty · Nov 4, 2015

Wood decks can be as slick metal decks when wet or snow on them. This summer we had several tractor pulls that got rained out after we got half way through pull. The guys with wood covered beaver tails on their trailers had trouble loading tractor in rain.

johndeere720GA · Nov 4, 2015

I have flattened expanded metal decking on a couple of trailers and it can be pretty slick.
Since Aluminum is fairly soft I wonder if you could sand blast the surface and get enough 'texture' to aid when wet? Obviously snow and ice present a challenge to almost any material chosen.

johndeere720GA · Nov 4, 2015

I am curious as to how diamond plate is weaker? All of the diamond plate I have seen, the diamonds are made into the surface not pressed through so the base material is the same through out the sheet.

Bobl1958 · Nov 4, 2015

I think you would grow to hate it in time. If all you haul is rubber tired tractors diamond plate would be fine. Being a trucker I'm sure you know that hauling metal on metal is tough to do. I would personally use wood, as wood will keep things from moving a little better.

Certainly yours to do as you please, but myself, I would absolutely not use flat metal sheets. Good luck, I'm sure it will be nice when you are completed. I saw the pics of the little trailer for your kids. Bob

ss55 · Nov 4, 2015

I've used 3M traction strips on boat trailer fenders, pickup bumpers and running boards. It's basically about a 200 grit industrial sandpaper with a heavy duty adhesive backing. It works well on small areas and wears well. Is something like that available in wider strips? Maybe apply it on your normal wheel tracks?

jon f mn · Nov 4, 2015

The most common aluminum diamond plate is Bright Tread which is 3003 alloy, the flat I priced was 5xxx alloy.

johndeere720GA · Nov 4, 2015

oh, ok, that makes sense.

ObsoElitist · Nov 4, 2015

What will the trailer be used for? You can always install disposable plywood traction panels on top of the flat sheet, like on a snowmobile trailer.
I recently re-decked my Miller heavy hauler with surplus Marsden Mat, the stuff they built runways of in WW2. I will be using it for two more trailers. I wont be hauling pine needles with these trailers, and havent tried loading a tracked vehicle yet, but it works great with rubber tires.

jon f mn · Nov 4, 2015

It will be used mostly for farm type stuff and general freight. The design will look very much like
yours as the sheets will be cut and formed into C-channels and run crosswise like yours.

RBoots · Nov 4, 2015

Get a sheet of thick wire fine mesh aggregate screen. Thinking like 1" squares and 1/8" wire. Usually pretty cheap. They can usually fold the ends into a hook for you so it would hook over something on front of the trailer, or build something along the sides to slide it under and bolt it down. Then it is removable if you need it flat.

Ross

Tom OConnor · Nov 4, 2015

Jon,

I just bought a new trailer from PJ and they have a material called "BlackWood" that really looks like an answer to trailer flooring. It is six inch wood with about four inch grooves cut in it with a rubber strip inlaid in the groove. I think the rubber strip is made out of ground up used tires. The finished deck is very attractive and grips nearly anything that I can think of that you would put on it. They tested it by spinning a skid steer loader on a deck for several hours and it seems to be indestructible for common loads. The material is available from any PJ Trailer Dealer. If this would be any interest to anybody let me know and I will take some pictures of this trailer and post them. Tom

jon f mn · Nov 4, 2015

Wood is not an option on this trailer.

retired farmer · Nov 4, 2015

Something like a dance floor.

MARK ROBKE · Nov 4, 2015

It would not be pretty,but,you could weld 'traction' beads across your deck.Just turn down the welder maybe a little bit for less penetration;you can make your own patterns.I've made steps and done that before;it works well.Mark

MN Scott · Nov 4, 2015

I've seen stock and flatbed aluminum trailer floors made with interlocking extruded aluminum planks. Makes for a very slip resistant and strong floor. I suppose it would be on the spendy side tho but never-less would be worth looking into.

CenTex Farmall · Nov 4, 2015

My trailer has a flat steel deck and I've been using it for over a quarter of a century. It is steel however and oxidized steel has a bit more texture than oxidized aluminum. It had a dovetail and I've had tractor tires slip a little bit when it's wet but I've never been prevented from loading one. I just pay attention and proceed with care. It does have about a million little dents and dinks in the surface that no doubt help in some way.

The angle on the tail is not as steep as some. Picturing in my mind it's in the 15-20 degree range.

rrman61 · Nov 4, 2015

Rhino lining, you can get do it your self rough surface coating for about 50 bucks a gallon at auto parts stores or paint with sand already in it too.we use the latter on our rr equip. It lasts a loonnng time

w1ebb · Nov 4, 2015

I like Mark's advice about using the welder to make "traction beads." I've done that on steel steps I've built. You can also paint the floor and spread sand in the wet paint between the traction beads for more traction.

Good luck!

Scott

DR. EVIL · Nov 4, 2015

ss55 has the right solution, 3M non-skid adhesive tape. Do a quick Google search and you'll get hundreds of hits. Your trailer will be less slick than diamond treadplate, wood, steel expanded metal, you name it!

Not cheap, but effective, uline sells 6 inch x 60 foot roll for $104.

jon f mn · Nov 4, 2015

I've used those before but the price of those has skyrocketed! The floor alone would cost over $2500.00 for a 25' deck. That is well out of my price range.

37chief · Nov 4, 2015

The dog is thinking: I don't think so. Stationed at North Island in San Diego there was a parking lot that was lined with those landing mats. It sounded like driving over tin cans, driving on it. Stan

guido · Nov 4, 2015

Hello jon,

I second the 3M tape. Not indestructible, but long lasting. Just peal and stick!
You could go cheap and use paint with sand at strategic areas,
Guido.

CenTex Farmall · Nov 4, 2015

Here's another idea. They make a paint for aircraft that is for making non-skid walkways on wings and step areas. It's black and has gritty lumps in it. I can't remember if the aluminum is primed first or not.

Trailer deck question

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