Dump Trailer Flooring.

[gclark]

I recently inherited a 6x10 dump trailer that has been sitting for a couple of years. While sitting the bed had not been elevated, it had been parked under some trees for a couple of years. After getting the trailer home and checking the operation (seems to dump fine with a couple of scoops of wet Georgia red clay). I have found the metal flooring is rusting out in some areas around the edges where it is welded in at, some of these rusted out areas are large ( approx. half the size of my hand). There is also 2 places in the center of the trailer that is the same way. I believe it is rusted this way due to sitting for a long period of time not elevated and wet leaves piling in it and sitting wet. I was wondering if any one has used or has seen pressure treated 2 buys used as flooring after removing the existing flooring?

 

[4570Man]

I'd probably use 1/4 steel. It would be expensive, but last way longer then 2x6s.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Short term, put a plastic floor in available from places like Teksupply. You could have a weld shop lay in a new metal floor right over the old but it would add to the empty weight. Least costly way to go would be to cut away the old floor yourself with a torch and/or a grinder then have the weld shop lay in a new floor. Better yet, just weld in some patches over the bad spots. If this trailer sat long enough to rust through, you probably have other issues to deal with.

 

[George2615]

For a dump trailer I would think you'd want to replace the rusted floor with metal to make the load slide out easier when dumping. 1/8" metal sheets would be cheaper than pressure treated wood. If using P.T. wood you'd need at least 1/2" or 3/4". I think my dump trailer floor is 1/8" steel which isn't that expensive per sheet. When not in use I keep the back doors open and the deck elevated about 12" so water and snow can run out. If not too bad you could just weld in some new steel patches and repaint.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Do it right. Cut it out and new floor through out.

Chris

 

[farmer2009]

You want the metal floor. As things slide out cleaner. You'd get a lot more stuck material with wood and leakage while transporting.

10ga steel is about $100-150 a 4x8 sheet here or last I bought. 3 sheets and you have new floor.

Dump trailers are very handy to have around. A quick wash down after use and it'll last a lot longer.

 

[GManBart]

You want the metal floor. As things slide out cleaner. You'd get a lot more stuck material with wood and leakage while transporting.

10ga steel is about $100-150 a 4x8 sheet here or last I bought. 3 sheets and you have new floor.

Dump trailers are very handy to have around. A quick wash down after use and it'll last a lot longer.

Agreed....metal is the only way to go.

It certainly won't be terribly expensive to do it the right way. I haven't bought any 10ga steel lately, but have bought some 12 and 14ga a few times in the past couple of months and it seems like the price dropped noticeably the last time. Around the same time, scrap steel dropped from $.07/lb to $.01/lb, so it kind of makes sense.

 

[4570Man]

You haven't seen me load things. 3/4 thick pine is a joke. It might hold up if you were loading screened topsoil. I want to drop stumps and large rocks in it. The gentlest I get is loading large firewood rounds with the grapple.

 

[gclark]

Thanks for all of the reply's, after reading thru them I will be replacing it with steel.

 

[Mysfyt]

Another vote here for replacing the floor with metal. Right now it's as cheap as I've seen it in 20 years. Just bought some new HRPO 11ga for .28 cents a pound. Great timing for this project!