Thread: Cleaning up the trailer

While I'm waiting for my suspension to return from Thermosman, I'm getting everything else ready for Putnam next weekend (hopefully) and Grattan next month.

This weekend's project is replacing the weathered trailer floor (and make it more sturdy).

Last summer I had to return my friend's trailer to him on short notice just prior to going on a road trip to deliver my wife's bike to her so I bought a 5x10 utility trailer from TSC to move the bikes around. It's a decent trailer for moving lawn mowers and such but needed a little bit of work to be able to move the two bikes. (The whole story about how quickly this moves is long so unless someone asks, I won't tell it.)

Fast forward to today and it's time to make the trailer right by my standards. Started off by cutting off the plate that holds down the front end of the floorboards so I can get them out. That's when I found out just how awesome the nails TSC used were. After removing the plate, I was trying to use my claw hammer to remove one of the nails and the whole board moved. I reached under the trailer to push it up and the board came out. All the nails had rusted through and been severed over the last year. Out of all 7 floor boards (28 nails), there was only one nail left intact. Funnily enough, I couldn't get that nail out and had to grind it off. So basically, the only thing holding the floorboards down were the welded in plates on the front and rear of the trailer and the bolted in tie down points I installed. No big deal as far as transport as the wood was more than adequate to hold the load and the plates were more than adequate to keep the boards not held by tiedowns.

So here's where the cleaning up starts. Measured all the new boards needed and I'll have (6)six 2"x10"x10' and (1)one 2"x6"x10'. (For you math geniuses, yes that's more than 5' wide but wood is measured funny and the boards are just short of the stated measurements.) I'm building from the center and working my way out so that the lengthwise cuts needed to fit the boards perfectly will be on each side of the trailer instead of in the middle. I'm bolting the boards down with 3"x1/2" carriage bolts for a clean appearance and to provide a solid mounting surface for when my new flushmount tiedowns arrive.

Here's what it looks like with center board laid in:DSCN1075.JPG

Here's what it looks like now with all the boards cut and in place:DSCN1078.JPG

Tomorrow, I'll finish drilling and bolting the boards down and replace the plate up front that holds down the boards. I'm going to bolt it through the boards and frame instead of welding it so it's easier to replace the floor in the future.

As the week progresses, I'm going to a small tongue toolbox and the flushmount tiedowns. If I have time, I'm going to add a small pan to hold my fuel cans.

And if my suspension doesn't get back in time to get to Putnam on Saturday, next weekend, I'll go ahead and add a mount for my NoMar Tire Changer.

Originally Posted by quick26

what kind of tie downs are you using? i am looking for something to install in my enclosed trailer to hold the bike down that is removable and has fluch mounts. at the moment i have rings that are recessed in the floor, but i think i need some kind of a removable wheel chock to keep the bike from dancing about. so i guess i have the tiedowns covered, any suggestions for a removable wheel chock?

I'm using Baxleys and hardmounted recessed ring tiedowns.

Unfortunately, I learned on the way to Putnam last weekend that I jacked up the location and had too much tongue weight. Had to shift everything over the past week to shift the weight distribution.

I have to take some more pics but it's been hectic trying to get ready for Grattan and getting the house sorted to move next month.

Unfortunately, the big plans for the finished product will have to wait a bit. But they'll definitely get done this year.