Trailer floor wood vs steel

Graveyard1984 · Jan 23, 2020

I just sold my equipment trailer.
It was a bumper pull diamond t brand. It was a very heavy built. Empty it weighed 3300 lbs.
I am gonna replace it with a lighter car hauler since I will be hauling a few rolls of hay or an 8n ford and the occasional a broken down vehicle.

All my other trailers have always had a wooden floor. I am considering a steel floor trailer. Ive always wanted a steel floor trailer.

I know wood and steel floor both will be slippery when wet.

A steel floor trailer you never have to replace the floor where you have to replace a wooden floor

Just looking for others thought and opinions
Thanks

SkipperII · Jan 23, 2020

They both have their advantages, and their drawbacks. I've hauled on both.

Adrian Billheimer · Jan 23, 2020

I have two bumper pull trailers, one 20 ft. equipment and the other a 12 ft. utility, both with wood floors, although I have no experience with steel floored trailers, I have heard they are a lot slipperier than wood and it would be a lot worse if trying to load on a frosty/icy morning. I have loaded onto my trailers with the floors wet with little trouble, and have seen friends have considerable trouble loading on wet steel floors.

kcm.MN · Jan 23, 2020

I saw a gooseneck trailer back in Texas that was really neat. While not made for machinery to drive onto, it had a steel decking that was like catwalk material. Was about 3/4" thick, with openings maybe 3/4" x 1.5". I'm sure it added to the weight of the trailer over what wood would have, but sure was nice!

old-9 · Jan 23, 2020

Consider a winch for loading and unloading. My friend has a goose neck with a winch and remote control, one man loading and safe also. joe

504 · Jan 23, 2020

Steel bends and dents,wood has some give in it. We have steel flat beds at work that are rusting through in 6 years. (F-450) I have 20 years on my flat bed with one new floor.

jon f mn · Jan 24, 2020

If your going to haul wheeled vehicles a steel floor will washboard over time. The concentration of weight will stretch the steel between cross members and you will have dips in the deck. If you live in the rust belt they will rust through as well.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 24, 2020

Graveyard1984,
My 14K implement trailer is 20 ft long wood. Very slick when wet and snow covered.
It too weigh around 3300#.
Car carriers are 7k some are 10K. They are only about 1000# lighter.
I had a 7k landscape trailer and bent the axle.
I saw people hauling round bales on trailer designed to haul hay. They have overloaded them and bent the trailer too.
I have a 10k dump trailer. Metal floor 6x10 ft. The metal is smooth, metal bends between supports, it rusts too. It weigh around 3K.
It's a brainer. Go big. You are only looking at 1000# more. Why run the risk of overloading and damaging trailer? There isn't that much difference in price.
Steel vs wood. How much you want to spend will make that decision.
geo

Mark-Ia · Jan 24, 2020

wood floor

Stephen Newell · Jan 24, 2020

I replaced the wooden deck on a trailer with pressure treated 11 years ago and it's still in great shape even though I've never treated it with anything. It's not slick when wet.

jeffcat · Jan 24, 2020

My little trailer has an expanded metal deck. I like it.

Bob Harvey · Jan 24, 2020

How about a wood deck with expanded metal on top. Not that much heavier and slip proof. Cleanup with pressure washer. HTH

Trailer floor wood vs steel

Graveyard1984

Member

SkipperII

Well-known Member

Adrian Billheimer

Well-known Member

kcm.MN

Well-known Member

old-9

Well-known Member

504

Well-known Member

jon f mn

Well-known Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

Mark-Ia

Well-known Member

Stephen Newell

Well-known Member

jeffcat

Well-known Member

Bob Harvey

Well-known Member

Similar threads