Through sheet metal, INTO Advantech. What fastener?

[ebinmaine 67,517]

I'd like to put a sheet of ¾ Advantech plywood type stuff into the floor of my black 17 cubic foot Ohio Steel trailer.

 

I was hoping to find a screw that I could put in from the bottom but NOT come all the way up through the Advantech.

Problem is I've never tried to screw anything INTO Advantech. I've always fastened that by going right straight through it into something else. 

 

Seems to me I would want a pretty coarse thread .....?

 

 

What say you, fine fastener aficionados?

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,318]

I would drill right thru and nut/bolt it myself. use carriage head bolts so they aren’t stickin up above the Advantech board.

 Pretty sure any kinda sheet metal or wood screw will work it’s way loose on something as flexible as a yard trailer…not to mention the rough terrain you’ll be using it on. 
 

[Handy Don 12,232]

I agree with through-bolt to resist "movement" but also because I wouldn't trust OSB, even Advantech, not to pull out.

 

Further, I would use an augur or spade bit to first cut a countersink for the bolt head and then drill the through hole.

 

I recently bought a set of elevator bolts for when I redo the deck on my trailer. These are similar to carriage bolts, but are flat topped so they nestle in nicely to a less-deep countersink and leave the surface almost smooth with smaller crevices where junk can accumulate.

https://www.boltdepot.com/Elevator_bolts_Zinc_plated_steel_1_4-20.aspx

 

Another possible method would be T-Nuts with screws underneath. Similar to elevator bolts but leaves the ends of the screws exposed.

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by Handy Don

[lynnmor 7,307]

I have a Wheel Horse/Ohio Steel trailer much like yours, I wonder what the benefits are by adding the heavy floor.  The added weight and the possibility of trapping water seems like a real issue.  Perhaps you could just leave it free and make some simple catches at the rear to keep it from sliding out and undo them when you want to clean or dry underneath.

[ebinmaine 67,517]

36 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

Perhaps you could just leave it free and make some simple catches at the rear to keep it from sliding out and undo them when you want to clean or dry underneath

The gentleman raises a valid point. 

 

🤔

 

Have to be good catches. I use it as a dump trailer.  

 

I do like the idea of a quickly removable piece.  

[Lee1977 6,662]

27 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

The gentleman raises a valid point. 

 

🤔

 

Have to be good catches. I use it as a dump trailer.  

 

I do like the idea of a quickly removable piece.  

Bolt a small angle to the front and slide the panel under. couple of bolt at the back to hold it in place.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,046]

Thought of using a T-nut or propel nut with a machine screw?

[ebinmaine 67,517]

14 hours ago, Handy Don said:

T-Nuts with screws underneath

 

33 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

T-nut or propel nut

 

I wasn't familiar with the term until you both brought it up although I've used these before. 

 

10 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

Bolt a small angle to the front and slide the panel under. couple of bolt at the back to hold it in place.

 

Perhaps combining Lee's idea with the T-Nuts would be a viable option.  

 

 

[Handy Don 12,232]

Is the floor integral to the structure of the cart? If not, then slide-in idea has strong appeal (and you could probably go down to ½" board).

If it IS, then you'll need to attach it accordingly to preserve that strength.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Handy Don

[ebinmaine 67,517]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

Is the floor integral to the structure of the cart? If not, then slide-in idea has strong appeal (and you could probably go down to ½" board).

If it IS, then you'll need to attach it accordingly to preserve that strength.

 

It's not in there now and that trailer reasonably beefy. 

Part of my issue is I keep bending the floor near the back where it hits the ground when being dumped. 

The other part is that being a basic big hollow metal bowl drum the firewood or larger rocks are VERY LOUD when hitting the sheet metal.  

 

I think leaving the Advantech mostly loose in the trailer bottom would be fine.  

 

 

[lynnmor 7,307]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

It's not in there now and that trailer reasonably beefy. 

Part of my issue is I keep bending the floor near the back where it hits the ground when being dumped. 

The other part is that being a basic big hollow metal bowl drum the firewood or larger rocks are VERY LOUD when hitting the sheet metal.  

 

I think leaving the Advantech mostly loose in the trailer bottom would be fine.  

 

 

 

Ohio Steel made both bolted and welded trailer beds, I have the bolted and only had some cracking where the bolts go thru the floor.  I added washers to spread the load but they do cause a bit of interference when dumping.  A solid piece of material would need to have some relief cut in to clear the bolts and washers.

 

Now about that VERY LOUD noise, train the BBT to PLACE the firewood or rocks, not throw them from across the road.  When I had grandchildren help they thought I was picky but you should see their dads pickup.