Replacing trailer floor

[cloudy18]

I have a '99 Featherlite, 3h slant with a really bad floor. DH is handy, and a welder, so he can probably do any repairs necessary. I just need to have them done correctly.

The floor is aluminum planks. Do these need to be cut out/removed or can he put aluminum sheets over the top of the existing floor? If the old floor is left in place, will it cause the new one to corrode more quickly? Or cause more damage to the frame and beams underneath? He says removing the old one is going to be a PITA…which makes me think it’s probably necessary. Or do the planks have to be replaced with planks, which he says is going to cost a lot more? Or can we put wood over the top of the crappy aluminum?

I’m dumb about this stuff, but not so dumb as to take DH’s word on everything.

[goodhors]

If you are facing heavy corrosion issues on the floor (salty winter roads?), you PROBABALY will want to pull up the planks, look at the walls and cross pieces of the floor. I am not quite getting the picture idea of aluminum planks, but know that with salt on the roads, aluminum needs attention to prevent severe corrosion. You can’t see what those planks are resting on, without taking planks up. I EXPECT that trailer will probably need cross pieces repaired, replaced, along with some parts of the walls along the floor, because those locations hold moisture, so it has longer to work on the metals.

If you feel that trailer is unsafe now, there is no way I would just add another layer on top of the bad floor. Driving bigger trucks, we saw the corroded aluminum pop the rivets off walls, fracture the long pieces holding sidewalls in place so wall was OPEN, not just rust out like steel or rot out like wood.

You might take trailer to a welding shop, ask them to go over it to make you a list of needed repairs, replacements, what they would cost to be fixed. You probably should expect to pay for such an evaluation, but listing would give husband an idea of TOTAL number of things needing fixing, where exactly the bad places were, before he just jumps in or tries to shortcut things. Maybe even how many hours the Expert Metal Workers need to fix it up.

Then you can talk, see if he REALLY wants to tackle the job, is willing to do ALL the steps needed for a good repair to the trailer. Will/can he get it done soon or be unhappy using up all his spare time fixing?

Sometimes it is EASIER, faster, to use the Professionals, and get things done in a timely fashion, to suit you. Just pay for it so you can go back for fixes if you are not happy. Husbands get testy when you are not happy with the job they slaved over, may be get sick of working on it, never get done. Then both of you end up unhappy.

Depending on his skill levels, workshop set-up for ease in repairing things, fabricating new parts, this still not going to be a quick fix for even a good welder or repair person.

[Jim_R]

What is wrong with floor?

[Jim_in_PA]

Relative to welding…welding aluminum is a whole 'nuther ballgame as I’m sure your better half will tell you.

I agree that if the floor is corroded, it needs to be replaced, not covered over and careful inspection of the underlying frame is essential…including where the floor contacts it.

[cloudy18]

DH is a pipefitter, so welding isn’t a problem. I called a trailer dealer/repair shop and they told me they would acid wash the old floor and put aluminum over it. So if they are going to do the same thing, I might as well have DH do it. I’m calling another trailer place to see what they recommend.

[airhorse]

@Jim_in_PA;8221650

Relative to welding…welding aluminum is a whole 'nuther ballgame as I’m sure your better half will tell you.

This X10.

Might be best to get the manufacturers input as well as you could end up changing the structural integrity of the trailer.

[goodhors]

I would STILL go see the local welding shop. Though dealers are usually equipped to repair trailers, they may not have as much experience, training, in dealing with metals as a shop will.

Sad to say, I know Trailer Dealers who do lots of short cuts, just to get a job done. Not the best way, the CORRECT way to repair things, but trailer is back to work for the customer. And if it fails in service due to poor repairs? Oh Well…

[Jim_R]

[QUOTE=cloudy18;8222263]
DH is a pipefitter, so welding isn’t a problem. I called a trailer dealer/repair shop and they told me they would acid wash the old floor and put aluminum over it. So if they are going to do the same thing, I might as well have DH do it. I’m calling another trailer place to see what they recommend.[/QUOTE]
What is wrong with floor that just covering up will fix? Something does not sound right. At best that does not sound like the correct fix. I threw some plywood over a bad deck on one of the haywagons , that made it work but I don’t call that fixing it.
Is it structurally sound but just decking is bad?

[cloudy18]

It’s sound, but the aluminum floorboards, which are laid in “planks” and welded in, are full of holes. It’s from age, urine, salt (WI winters are hell on vehicles), lack of washing.

I don’t even know who the local welding shop would be. If I head 60 miles south, DH’s place of employment IS local welding shop. He tried to call Featherlite today but kept getting voicemails. We’ll try getting in touch with someone there.