Thread: Floor replacement

Hi,

This is my first post, I've been lurking in the background for a while. I have 9x5ft tandem trailer. The floor needs replacing and sides are rough. I've been thinking about getting the floor and sides folded from a single sheet (would actually work out to be 2/3 sheets with joins across the trailer). My theory being this would make for a much stronger trailer, and reduce the chance of rust getting hold in the floor-side corner.

Questions are:

1. is this possible/a good idea?
2. the trailer is 9x5(approx 3000x1500) if I get 2400x1200 I'd need 3 sheets to get the 3000 giving 2 butt welds across the trailer, is this feasible? pros & cons? can i get bigger sheets therefore less joins?
3. I would like to build in the capability to add a stock cage in future, any suggestions how to incorporate?

Attached is a pic of how I see the trailer/floor cross section.

Thanks Stephen

as for the stock crate, you could weld the base to some angle and fasten on top of the sides (a few different ways to orientate the angle depending on preference) and bolt thru.

or sit it in the trailer come to think it and fasten thru the sides. I'm sure there is other ways to do this that dont come to mind at 1045 PM.jatt

Hey Stephen, Welcome aboard.

Originally Posted by Claymore

Hi,

This is my first post, I've been lurking in the background for a while. I have 9x5ft tandem trailer. The floor needs replacing and sides are rough. I've been thinking about getting the floor and sides folded from a single sheet (would actually work out to be 2/3 sheets with joins across the trailer). My theory being this would make for a much stronger trailer, and reduce the chance of rust getting hold in the floor-side corner.

Questions are:

1. is this possible/a good idea?
2. the trailer is 9x5(approx 3000x1500) if I get 2400x1200 I'd need 3 sheets to get the 3000 giving 2 butt welds across the trailer, is this feasible? pros & cons? can i get bigger sheets therefore less joins?
3. I would like to build in the capability to add a stock cage in future, any suggestions how to incorporate?

Attached is a pic of how I see the trailer/floor cross section.

Thanks Stephen

is this possible/a good idea?

Yes, it's possible. It can be a good idea as long as the floor doesn't rust again (for whatever reason...) as it makes the job of replacing such a floor more than twice as difficult.

the trailer is 9x5(approx 3000x1500) if I get 2400x1200 I'd need 3 sheets to get the 3000 giving 2 butt welds across the trailer, is this feasible? pros & cons? can i get bigger sheets therefore less joins?

I'm fairly certain you can get 8x5 sheets (2440 x 1524), which would solve your problems.

I would like to build in the capability to add a stock cage in future, any suggestions how to incorporate?

My favourite is to utilise the four uprights in the corners. If you're replacing them while you're doing the floor, then cut one corner off at 45* before you attach them (so they don't hold water), making sure you use a wall thickness that allows the next sized RHS to slide into them, and you then have a system where you can slot in solid sides, cage sides, or ladder racks.

Another quick thought with your floor too. Seeing as you're paying for a full sheet, instead of cutting the 2400 down to suit, I would use the extra length to up your trailer sides to 14" from the standard 12".

Also, whoever you get to do the folding needs to be very accurate, otherwise the two halves wont line up, making it a PITA to join neatly.

A couple of ideas re cage. I have seen one with a one piece cage which stands on its back end when not in use. Tip it on to trailer where it has angle on bottom which sits on top edge of trailer sides to slide into position. The the other part of the angle fits inside the box pointing down. A couple of bolts secures it each side.

My trailer currently has sides and end all seperate. The sides have steel pins which fit into holes in the top edge of the side of the box. They sit there on an angle until held in vertical position by the front and back which are secured by steel pins thru tubing like a hinge at top and bottom. The sides are then secured by clips and washers to hold them in.

The advantage is I can lift it on myself and it is all stored on a rack on the wall of a shed. There is also the ability for the back to swing to one side as a gate and half of it slides as well to load stock from a narrow ramp. The hinges sit out from the frame at 45 deg to enable the gate to swing right back against the side when not needed or to secure out of the way when loading.

I am upgrading the trailer to larger size etc and have thought about making the cage in one piece and with removable legs so I can reverse up to it and slide it on. Front legs back from the front edge. May be able to make it auto loading so I just have to remove legs and fix in place.

One thing I have learnt. If you are carrying cattle, especially of the male gender, have a top available. A number of times I have tied an old farm gate to the top to keep them in.

Dean

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess I'll have to weigh up the pros and cons of replacing the floor in sides in one piece, I hadn't considered future replacement of floor being more difficult, although I'm inlcined to think that the new floor would out last the rest of trailer.