Stake pocket boards

[juddspaintballs]

I built a very beefy 4x8 trailer a few months ago. It's made from 2x4 box frame with 16" OC cross members also of 2x4 box and a 3500# torsion flex axle. I made it with some fancy features specific to my needs such as slide out 1' extended tie-down points on the front so I can secure two motorcycles on it side-by-side and still be able to tie them down, removable pinned locations for wheel chocks, D-rings, stake pockets, bi-fold gate, Jeep fenders, inset LED tail lights, etc.

At any rate, I want to make sides and a front that are 4' tall. I have two stake pockets across the front (4' wide) and three stake pockets along each side (8' long). Should I source oak 2x4's for the uprights that fit into the pockets or will I be able to get by with standard fir stud boards? The plan is to haul one full cord of wood in the trailer. I'll use standard decking boards for the horizontals and get the corner kits for securing the sides to the front boards and I'll secure the gate to the sides as well.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If you can find a softwood 2x4 a few decades old, that would probably work. I can't believe what dimensional lumber has devolved to. The cheap light weight stuff they are selling nowadays breaks like a toothpick. It seems to have no strength at all!

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I too went with standard 2 x 4's for trailer stake pockets. Problem is wood swells when it gets wet and I can't get them out. Sand them down and when they dry out things are sloppy. If I had to do over I would use a rectangular tube.:2cents:

 

[oosik]

I found two very sound, solid 2"x4"x8' s made of Douglas fir that I made my stakes from. View attachment 413970 They have lasted 4 years in my stake pockets.

This is the 10 ton farm wagon I built four years ago.

 

[newbury]

I used standard PT 2x4's, I had to hand carve the ends to fit them in the pockets.




/edit - But I did pick from a big pile to ensure they were fairly knot free.

 

[muddstopper]

If you plan on putting a full cord of wood on the trailer, your stake pockets might be the least of your worries. A cord of red oak will weight around 5700lbs, and you flex axle is only rated for 3500lbs. Log Cord Weight Calculator

I used pressure treated pine for my stakes. I also used 5/4 decking boards for the sides. PT decking boards look nice, but dont hold up at all if you throw a large round against it. The pt is full of knots and will break out with very little pressure.. I havent broken the pt 2/4 stakes.