trailer bed.. wood or metal?

[MandDMetal]

What's up fellow scrappers? I'm redoing a trailer, its just a utility trailer for general scrap. I won't be hauling cars with it...at least I don't think... Haha. anyway it is about 5x10. What material would I want to use to surface it with? Some semi hefty gauge metal sheet or some 2x10 planks? I am confident enough in my welding to weld some sheet on there but which am I better off with?

[maxa]

That is good question my trailer bed is made from wood and i have had to problems with it. I think i would stick with wood beause i will not be as noisy with a load of scrap but thats just what i would do.

[EcoSafe]

my trailer is wood, but I covered the back 3/4 in sheet stainless. and cary a sheet to cover the other 1/4. this allows me to slide heavy stuff to the front but also allows me to haul stuff in the front 1/4 and not slide arround. Best of both worlds.

[KrazyJ]

I have redone several trailers and one thing I have found out in the scrap world (you can never over build) if it were me I would surface my trailer with steel. easy load, easy unload. And you may dent it but you will never destroy it as long as you use a good gauge of metal. My old man used to say "wood is for burning" just my 2 pennys
krazyJ

[AuntieCake]

The most durable one I have has 2x4s across the bottom, I fling heavier things such as refrigerators, stoves, etc. over the sides and haven't torn the bottom up yet.

**When I say fling I mean I'm propping it up on the sides and shoving it in there by myself. That poor trailer is very abused, but not intentionally of course!!

[Resourceful]

I would go with a wood plank deck because it's more economical, lasts a reasonable length of time and is relatively non-slip and easy to replace.

[mikeinreco]

my trailer is 18 ft of solid steel with a 9000lb winch and is indestructible.....I have had both and steel is the only way to go wood tears up easily and needs constant maintenance

[divapickers]

Never had to replace planks. I use my trailers full time scrapping. Mind you I get a different trailer every 5 years but always used.
hr2cents

[MandDMetal]

Wow thanks a lot for ask the input. What gauge steel? Looks like there's a cross brace about every foot.

[easyrecycle]

I like to use wood my self. If you cover the bottom of the wood with tar it would last a good time.

One thing I love about good is once I am done with the wood (as long its not to beat up) There are people who will buy it and use it to make tables or other items. They love the markings it gets from use...takes a nice stain as well....now the wood workers dont like the tar on the bottom...but they can remove it.

On avg by the time I sell the wood to them I can re-deck the trailer and still have some money on the side.

[Sprocket]

What about a compromise? Deck it with 2x(whatever) and then get a few pieces of steel to mount to the decking say, every other plank, that way it isnt as costly but yet things can still be slid on the metal planks? Just my $.02, what do you all think?

[Mechanic688]

For a utility tr. I would go with 3/4" or 1" plywood screwed down, that way if you had to replace it, just undo the screws.

[1956]

I have found that useing both a steel bed with 2*10's on top,I did this some years ago and never have had a proublem with the bed of any of my trailers costs a few more in the begining but well worth a extra few bucks.

[taterjuice]

I have a wood floor on my car trailer for two reasons, weight and cost. Plus wood doesn't let stuff slide round like steel does. Replaced my floor two years ago with pressure treated pine and Thompson weather sealed it six months after that. Still running strong 2 years later. Would've had to add more stringers running across to support even with 14 gauge tread plate, money, and several sheets of tread plate, more money, and bunch of welding to put it all together, more time and money. So I went with good old pine.

[taterjuice]

Wow thanks a lot for ask the input. What gauge steel? Looks like there's a cross brace about every foot.

Would go with at least 14 gauge, 11 gauge would be even better but would add a noticable amount of weight and cost. I used 11 gauge to plate the floor of my pickup bed trailer and I don't beleive it's got any dents in it at all