Trailer deck preference: wood or diamond plate?
My first trailer was steel, and the one advantage of it, is if you have something with no rolling stock, it MIGHT be easier to skid up on. For most of my life, before getting a winch on the present trailer, I used a pair of come-a-longs, modified with grab hooks instead of the useless slip hooks they came with, and just keep leap frogging them while loading.
The junk van, which the first 360 (which failed) and the 727 which I ran came out of, had a damaged/ locked rear axle I bought it on a hot summer day, and took dish soap and 5 gal of water to try and lube the trailer ramps and bed. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK!!!!
I do think that wood (2x) is inherently stronger overall. Or at least requires less under support than steel or aluminum.
I also doubt that diamond plate will help all that much in truly SLICK conditions, AKA oil and or oily water, or ice
I still carry the come-a-longs, by the way, just for extra rigging, or in case the winch dies!!!
This was my old trailer, with the little Cletrac. The trailer had been heavily hacked. It originally was very weak, with stamped tire channels the only real front/ rear support. I "cut in" an old pickup frame for strength, and added steel plate across the frame, so it was not truly a flatbed. Even so, I hauled a LOT of junk on that old girl
This was my Uncle Bill, RIP
Below, my newer trailer which has also been hacked. I removed the tongue and reworked / extended it to tilt the trailer. Horrid Freight engine hoist jack. One of my smarter moves. This winch is no longer used. It may not be obvious, but the winch mount is a hitch receiver so I can remove it, etc, and actually plug it into the pickup if I need. Present winch is a little HF 2000? 2500? Be careful choosing them. The drum is nowhere near large enough, and if you are not very careful when winding it in, the cable will pile up and bind inside of the drum cross ties.
My first trailer was steel, and the one advantage of it, is if you have something with no rolling stock, it MIGHT be easier to skid up on. For most of my life, before getting a winch on the present trailer, I used a pair of come-a-longs, modified with grab hooks instead of the useless slip hooks they came with, and just keep leap frogging them while loading.
The junk van, which the first 360 (which failed) and the 727 which I ran came out of, had a damaged/ locked rear axle I bought it on a hot summer day, and took dish soap and 5 gal of water to try and lube the trailer ramps and bed. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK!!!!
I do think that wood (2x) is inherently stronger overall. Or at least requires less under support than steel or aluminum.
I also doubt that diamond plate will help all that much in truly SLICK conditions, AKA oil and or oily water, or ice
I still carry the come-a-longs, by the way, just for extra rigging, or in case the winch dies!!!
This was my old trailer, with the little Cletrac. The trailer had been heavily hacked. It originally was very weak, with stamped tire channels the only real front/ rear support. I "cut in" an old pickup frame for strength, and added steel plate across the frame, so it was not truly a flatbed. Even so, I hauled a LOT of junk on that old girl
This was my Uncle Bill, RIP
Below, my newer trailer which has also been hacked. I removed the tongue and reworked / extended it to tilt the trailer. Horrid Freight engine hoist jack. One of my smarter moves. This winch is no longer used. It may not be obvious, but the winch mount is a hitch receiver so I can remove it, etc, and actually plug it into the pickup if I need. Present winch is a little HF 2000? 2500? Be careful choosing them. The drum is nowhere near large enough, and if you are not very careful when winding it in, the cable will pile up and bind inside of the drum cross ties.
