Utility trailer deck replacement

[CADplans]

Well,, there is a LOT of input on the negatives of a steel floor,,
but, I have owned a steel floor trailer since 1999,,

This dump trailer has never spent a night under cover,, and usually is filled with some leaves,,,
Contrary to popular belief, the steel is not slippery when wet,, probably because of the rust on the steel.
The thickness is 1/8" I believe,, I have never measured it,

The trailer hauled 100 loads of compost one summer,, 5,000 pounds per load,, (that is a half million pounds of compost!!)

If I were to replace the trailer today, I would get another steel floor trailer,,,

 

[Handloader109]

I replaced my wood bed with some free aluminum tread plate a few years ago. I screwed it down, didn't weld, so it has some slight gaps as it is pieced from two sheets. Great, not slick at all. Pt wood is slicker. Just wish I had enough
For the sides

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Well,, there is a LOT of input on the negatives of a steel floor,,
but, I have owned a steel floor trailer since 1999,,

This dump trailer has never spent a night under cover,, and usually is filled with some leaves,,,
Contrary to popular belief, the steel is not slippery when wet,, probably because of the rust on the steel.
The thickness is 1/8" I believe,, I have never measured it,

The trailer hauled 100 loads of compost one summer,, 5,000 pounds per load,, (that is a half million pounds of compost!!)

If I were to replace the trailer today, I would get another steel floor trailer,,,

Trust me, Steel is slippery when wet. Much more than when dry. I've seen rubber tired and steel tracked units slide off trailers or not load at all in the rain, when it would not happen in the dry. If you've ever load anything more than a glorified lawnmower on a trailer, when wet, without a side bodies, you would see and feel this. If you've got to make any corrections, hold on for the slide. Water is a lubricant, and if the deck is wet, it will slide if conditions are not perfectly flat from side to side.