Got a new trailer ..but..

[Digger 66 3,478]

Hey fellas .

I just scored this little gem yesterday and I will be going all over it shortly .

The thing's in immaculate shape :

-Dexter torsion type axle 

-(Lockable) Stow-able on-board  ramp for rear or side-loading 

(Lockable) spare tire and carrier 

-Bearing Buddies

-Tongue jack

-Rigid tie-downs at front & rear and adjustable anchor points along the side rails

All welds are in great shape and trailer measured out perfectly square 

 

The question I have is when I am replacing the decking , what screws can be used to eliminate the reaction of dissimilar metals ( galvanic corrosion ) ?

Everything I'm reading says Aluminum screws into an Aluminum frame are best but , I'm worrying that the heads may be too soft and strip when it comes time to remove them again .

Stainless seems to be the best other option but will still encourage galvanic corrosion to some degree .

The Aluminum screws are as expensive as heck ( though I'm not really worried about the $ factor ) and I can't seem to find them with a wide enough head .

 

Calling all would-be metallurgists ! 

What would you do ?

Thanks all !

 

Here's a pic a snapped while at the sellers house .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Digger 66

[ebinmaine 67,279]

Nice find on that!

 

What material are you using for the decking?

 

Is there a specific time period until you remove the screws again or just whenever the need?

 

[Digger 66 3,478]

8 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Nice find on that!

 

What material are you using for the decking?

 

Is there a specific time period until you remove the screws again or just whenever the need?

 

 

> Thanks bud 

> Not really sure , maybe pressure treated ?

> Not really a specific time period 

[ebinmaine 67,279]

10 minutes ago, Digger 66 said:

pressure treated

That's likely the way I'd go as well.

And why the fastener material matters.

 

Pressure treated wood is NOT compatible with certain materials.

 

If you have a trailer dealer nearby that does their own repair work they may be helpful.

 

[Digger 66 3,478]

13 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

That's likely the way I'd go as well.

And why the fastener material matters.

 

Pressure treated wood is NOT compatible with certain materials.

 

If you have a trailer dealer nearby that does their own repair work they may be helpful.

 

 

Yeah I thought about the reaction between the Zinc  in the Pressure Treated laying on the Aluminum too .

Maybe just regular plywood , dry fitted then removed and coated with polyurethane on both sides , then reassembled ?

[ebinmaine 67,279]

18 minutes ago, Digger 66 said:

coated with

I don't know enough about weather resistant coatings to answer.

Perhaps others could throw in...

 

I like the stiffness and flatness of engineered wood like advantech.

Not sure what the lifetime would be compared to standard plywood.

 

[Digger 66 3,478]

18 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I like the stiffness and flatness of engineered wood like advantech.

 

 

Ditto ^^ but PRICE ?

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,308]

Thinking outa the box here....maybe look into an aluminum diamond plate deck? Or something made of aluminum if not diamond plate.

  Probably a bit pricey but you’ll only have to buy it once 

[Digger 66 3,478]

Just now, Sparky said:

Thinking outa the box here....maybe look into an aluminum diamond plate deck? Or something made of aluminum if not diamond plate.

  Probably a bit pricey but you’ll only have to buy it once 

 

Thickness would be too shallow unless I built up the channels with something .

Thanks though !

[ebinmaine 67,279]

9 minutes ago, Digger 66 said:

Ditto ^^ but PRICE ?

It'll vary a little by region.

 

5/8 or 3/4 plywood should be $20 - $25 per sheet.

 

5/8 or 3/4 Advantech should be $30 - $38 or so.

 

I'd ABSOLUTELY USE THE 3/4 if it'll work on the trailer.

 

Remember that Advantech is not quite a full 4 x 8 size due to the T & G edges.

 

 

You'll pay for nearly a another sheet of plywood but you'll have a better surface.

 

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,308]

Off topic here but just noticed the WVU decal, my daughter is there. 

[rjg854 11,350]

Strips of ice and water between the metal and the wood if you use pressure-treated plywood will help with any reaction , and use galvanized screws also.

[ebinmaine 67,279]

5 minutes ago, rjg854 said:

Strips of ice and water between the metal and the wood if you use pressure-treated plywood will help with any reaction , and use galvanized screws also.

Both good points.

 

Make SURE the screws are Hot Dip Galvanized and or buy them from the vendor of the PT if that's what you use.

 

 

[Digger 66 3,478]

13 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Off topic here but just noticed the WVU decal, my daughter is there. 

 

My favorite place to take the ATV .

The other sticker says HMT ( Hatfield McCoy Trails )

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Digger 66

[tunahead72 2,407]

1 hour ago, rjg854 said:

Strips of ice and water between the metal and the wood if you use pressure-treated plywood will help with any reaction , and use galvanized screws also.

 

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Both good points.

 

Make SURE the screws are Hot Dip Galvanized and or buy them from the vendor of the PT if that's what you use.

 

 

 

I'm confused...  @rjg854 What do you mean by "strips of ice and water between the metal and the wood"?

 

And are hot-dipped galvanized fasteners okay for PT lumber?  I was just using a box of electro-galvanized nails for a small project, and they specifically say not to use them with treated lumber.  But I can't remember (and too lazy to look it up on a Sunday morning), are hot-dipped okay?

 

[ebinmaine 67,279]

15 minutes ago, tunahead72 said:

 

 

I'm confused...  @rjg854 What do you mean by "strips of ice and water between the metal and the wood"?

 

And are hot-dipped galvanized fasteners okay for PT lumber?  I was just using a box of electro-galvanized nails for a small project, and they specifically say not to use them with treated lumber.  But I can't remember (and too lazy to look it up on a Sunday morning), are hot-dipped okay?

 

The strips of ice and water that is being referred to are ice and water shield like what would be used on a roof.

 

 

Ever since the chemicals used to pressure treat wood were changed about 15 years ago and adjusted since, there has been a lot of confusion about what can be used for fasteners. Putting PT on top of aluminum adds slightly to that confusion because of the corrosion rules and the laws of dissimilar metals.

 

 

I don't know the manufacturing process or chemical differences between electro galvanized and hot dipped galvanized. I do see online that there are places in the country that allow, by building code, the use of hot dipped galvanized nails through pressure treated wood. Not electro galvanized, for whatever reason.

 

[cafoose 3,354]

Here's what I did:

 

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

Know anyone that builds the aluminum framed docks and then adds cedar decking? I see them but don't know how they do it.

 

Garry

[Digger 66 3,478]

31 minutes ago, tunahead72 said:

What do you mean by "strips of ice and water between the metal and the wood"?

 

 

 

 

I thought I was the only one scratching the 'ol noggin .

[bc.gold 3,403]

Hope this helps.

 

[JoeM 7,871]

What is on it right now and how well has it held up? Might be looking right at the answer??

[JoeM 7,871]

6 hours ago, Sparky said:

Off topic here but just noticed the WVU decal

Worked with a bunch of folks from WV.....great people! WVU.....great school!

[tom2p 2,394]

I have a similar trailer 

 

Triton aluminum snowmobile trailer

 

it has marine grade plywood deck 

 

the trailer is almost 30 years old - sits outside - still has the original wood deck 

 

the trailer has sat near trees where it would accumulate a lot of leaves (which unfortunately due to neglect would sit on the deck too long and turn into mulch - and the wood is still in decent shape ... very good shape except for a few areas where there were large accumulations of wet mulch)

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

stainless fasteners (screws, nuts, bolts, etc) work best for me on products that sit outside 

 

worth the extra money 

 

quality stainless fasteners - not the crap I often see at the big box stores ...

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by tom2p

[Digger 66 3,478]

I have to say she cleaned up nicely with some aluminum wheel cleaner / Dawn and lots of elbow grease .

Time to give the back a break and cool it with a Pure Leaf Raspberry iced tea .