LD1
Epic Contributor
Yea, impossible to calculate without knowing the diameter and wall thickness of the tubes.
That trailer....being a trailer.....is supported by axles. It isnt clear spanning the whole 30' you would need.
I agree, pipe isnt an efficient shape for a beam. But that doesnt mean it wont work either. Its just the end result is many more pounds of steel to accomplish the same thing that fewer pounds in an I or C shape will do.
Steel vs wood.......When you start talking about larger spans and special order lumber or laminated beams.....steel is gonna be cheaper.
Shorter spans that you could use standard dimensional lumber on....wood is probably cheaper and easier to work with.
But a 30' span.....no middle support.....and wanting something to possibly hold a mini-ex......thats above and beyond what I would want to use 2x12's for.....regardless of how wide you stack them. Simply not enough depth.
For reference....a W12x26 beam will span 30', support 4000# with a ~3.5 to 1 safety factor, and deflect a mere 5/8"
At 26# per ft....each beam is gonna weigh 780 pounds.
Steel pricing is regional.....and I havent priced steel since the new thing with china.....but new beams from my local place used to be around 65 cents per pound. That would put each beam at ~$500.
Regardless of wood or steel, proper lateral bracing, footings, decking, etc is all critical. But you'd probably have way more than $1000 in a pair of wood beams that would support 4000# each clear spanning 30'
That trailer....being a trailer.....is supported by axles. It isnt clear spanning the whole 30' you would need.
I agree, pipe isnt an efficient shape for a beam. But that doesnt mean it wont work either. Its just the end result is many more pounds of steel to accomplish the same thing that fewer pounds in an I or C shape will do.
Steel vs wood.......When you start talking about larger spans and special order lumber or laminated beams.....steel is gonna be cheaper.
Shorter spans that you could use standard dimensional lumber on....wood is probably cheaper and easier to work with.
But a 30' span.....no middle support.....and wanting something to possibly hold a mini-ex......thats above and beyond what I would want to use 2x12's for.....regardless of how wide you stack them. Simply not enough depth.
For reference....a W12x26 beam will span 30', support 4000# with a ~3.5 to 1 safety factor, and deflect a mere 5/8"
At 26# per ft....each beam is gonna weigh 780 pounds.
Steel pricing is regional.....and I havent priced steel since the new thing with china.....but new beams from my local place used to be around 65 cents per pound. That would put each beam at ~$500.
Regardless of wood or steel, proper lateral bracing, footings, decking, etc is all critical. But you'd probably have way more than $1000 in a pair of wood beams that would support 4000# each clear spanning 30'
