Salvaged Aluminum for Trailer Deck

[poyjas]

I have a 12ft all-aluminum trailer I use for hauling my B7100HST around. Works great but have been concerned the stock 3/8" plywood deck flexes badly under the tractor's weight. My new (even heavier) B2650 TLB is coming this week. My fantasy of a more sturdy but still light deck had run aground on the very high (for me) cost of aluminum planking. Wandering a local metals recycler last week, I stumbled onto two sets of scrapped small bleachers, somewhat boogered from rough handling but mostly there. It had steel under-structure but aluminum seat/walk boards, and cross braces. I scored (15) 9-1/2"W x 1-1/2"D x 176"L planks and an armload of 1-1/4" x 73" angle (x-braces). Pulled off the old plywood deck, attached some angle flush with the cross-deck supports, trimmed and fitted (8) of the best planks, and screwed them to the angle from below with 1-1/4" coated hex-head self-tapping screws. There's some more trim out needed yet but am really pleased with it so far! I'm trying to send photos, we'll see how it goes...

 

[mendonsy]

NICE !! That probably would have cost you about $5k as a factory installed option!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That looks really good, huge improvement over the plywood.

If it get slippery, you could put down some traction tape.

 

[poyjas]

Wolfman, the planks' surface seems to already have some traction treatment but what is not obvious. So far wet has not shown up as slippery, makes sense as a bleacher. Wise cautionary words though, I'll be stepping delicately especially after one of those north Idaho special winter morning ice/slime treatments! I'm too old for doing face plants over the edge.

Mendonsy, thanks. Yeah, those planks new would about double the trailer cost!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yea I was thinking about where you would step off.
You can get some at HD or Lowes for fairly cheap if you need it.

 

[live_roll]

I did kind of a similar overhaul to a trailer that I purchased, I removed all of the old deteriorating planks, had the trailer blasted and painted. I was over at my neighbours and he deals in rebuilding / scrapping old heavy trucks and trailers and bought about a 14 ft, section of an old refrigerated van floor. It consists of a corrugate type of aluminum flooring, screwed to hardwood beams then spray-foamed to a thickness of about 8 inches for insulation, I hauled it all over to the local Hutterite Colony and their crew basically stripped the beams and foam off. and cut the floor to fit and we just screwed it on in one piece. Zero maintenance, very strong and light and it looks pretty sharp plus doing my part for re-cycling.

Cheers

Roger

 

[Lil Foot]

Very nice!
Any scraps left over? If it were mine, I'd also deck the "A" frame between the hitch & front rail. Good step area.

 

[D2Cat]

Nice, and creative thinking. There is not much more rewarding then finding something someone throws away and make something out of it that was better then when you started!

 

[poyjas]

Roger, I know what you're talking about. I had a 4x8' piece of the same aluminum reefer-trailer floor some years back and had it in mind for this trailer if I could get a suitable piece. Came in the bed of a '64 Chev stepside pickup. I let it go eventually but sure envy you a having a source. No luck yet for me though I've asked around. Salvage guys don't seem to answer calls from flakes (like me!).

Bill & Wolfman, good ideas on the step. I may work it around a someday trailer strap/tool box.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Wonder if all them tubes howl when running down highway at 60 mph....
Looks awesome! Huge salvage score if you ask me. Nice job.

 

[poyjas]

Today I hauled the brand new B2650 to its N Idaho home. The trailer did great! I was worried the tractor would be too heavy for it, somewhat north of its 4000 lbs gross. What I found was the aluminum planks had hugely stiffened up the deck. Should have figured that out ahead of time but am not complaining. Plenty of suspension play left, bearings & tires stayed cool, and solid braking. I'd beefed up the ramp back a few years, turns out it's good enough for the new orange toy too. This whole "plan comes together first time" thing is novel for me, enjoying while I can! Gonna mess up some dirt and bushes tomorrow. Putting thought to arranging some good tie down points for the tractor.

 

[skeets]

What a great score!!!! If I may ask what did you give for those bleachers?

 

[Lil Foot]

If I may ask what did you give for those bleachers?

I'd be interested in that myself. Got a 10'x6' trailer that needs new 2x6 decking soon. Hmmmm...

 

[poyjas]

Skeets, the bleacher planks measured 9-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 15' & 30lbs each. The scrap yard charged me $1/lb plus the dusty, sweaty, and yellowjacket-infested job of pulling them off. I used the 8 straightest planks, trimmed to 12' for the trailer Deck. I also got the bleachers' 1-1/2 x 1/4" x 75" aluminum angle cross-braces, about 28lbs total, and used them to attach the planks to the trailer deck cross-beams. So, damage for the trailer deck was just south of $300 incl tax and fasteners. I got 7 more planks but all were buggered a bit from prior rough handling. Figured I might use or barter them someday. I was SO lucky to find those when I did. I saw something similar years ago in Spokane WA at a recycle yard. I passed as they'd wanted over a grand for 11 planks. Some days, if you can't be good, it's enough to be lucky!