Trailer side boards

[CaseyForrest]

So I got the dump trailer sold and replaced it with this.

I'm feeling less than satisfied with what I put on there for sides. I'm not getting the creative juices flowing like I normally do. I don't think I need them much higher than this, but I am not opposed to going up to 2'. I do think I am going to add a couple stake pockets and rub rails so I can have a slightly more versatile foundation for sides and bunks for logs.

Ive done an internet search and a few hits came back to AS.... But I didn't really see anything beyond the "norm".....

Lookin for ideas....... I wonder if 3/4 pressure treated plywood or decking would be better suited than the 2x12 I have on there now...

Sent from a field

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

My big dump truck is a flatbed with homebuilt sides. I used 6ft 1.5x3.5 box tube for the uprights and screwed 3/4" ply to it.
The sides are a bit under 6ft tall, truck holds 5.5 cords.

Small truck same setup, but wood 2x4s for the uprights. That one has about 3ft tall sides, 1/2" plywood.

If you are hauling logs, make a set of bunks that drop into the stake pockets. Just using the pockets with a 2by upright (metal) will bend or rip them out pretty quickly, and wood will just break.

 

[Circle B MN]

Not really but a couple of different ways to skin this cat. I setup a trailer in a similar fashion with 2' sidewalls. Can use either 2x4 or appropriately sized steel c-channel in the pockets and then bolt on 2x6 lumber or the likes. I used mine a lot and the lumber got roughed up in the process. As such I chose untreated wood over treated, and it kept the price down.

 

[Sandhill Crane]

make a set of bunks that drop into the stake pockets.

By 'bunks' you mean something with a bottom cross tie on the uprights? Seems that would be good for getting forks under the logs too for unloading.

 

[Circle B MN]

If you are hauling logs, something like this would be easy enough to weld up and set in your existing stake pockets. Remove when not in use. Height proportional to capacity of trailer, and if you did a lil cypher'n I bet you could fashion a bracket on the outside to hold boards if you cared to use the trailer to haul split wood that day.


**not my pic**

 

[sb47]

I have never been a fan of wood sides on a trailer. However it does make it more versitel then fixed sides.
My reasons are because I feel the wood stakes holding the sides are weak and there are usually not enough of them to make me feel there safe.
They also weather and can sometimes be hard to put on and remove because of swelling and shrinkage.
They just make a trailer look cheap and home made.
I don't even like seeing trailers with metal rails and plywood fillers to close in the gap.
My trailer has metal rails (angle iron) and I filled in the gap with sheet metal.
The down side is you no longer have a flat bed trailer with open sides.
Perhaps using metal stakes and metal sides that are removable would work better for you.
It would look better, be stronger and still be removable. If I were to go that way, I would also have more stake pockets then just the 3 you have on that trailer.
I have seen some with fold down metal sides that looked promising but I've never used one.
Wood is cheaper and easier to replace and easy to install.
Look at the gap between the fenders on your trailer, Like most there are no stake pockets in that section. Your trailer looks to only have 3 stake pockets on each side. One in the front and 2 near the back, but none in between the fender.
I can't see from the picture but what is holding the front head board on? Are there stakes in the front as well or is the head board just nailed onto the sides?
Not much protection if you load slides forward if you have to stop quick.
There are pros and cons to both approaches.
This is how I did mine.

 

[Mustang71]

I used that pressure treated 5/4" deck board. It ends being an inch thick and 5-1/2" tall by 8, 10, 12, or 16 feet.

 

[rwoods]

Not sure of your goals so my set-up may be way off for you. I spent a lot of money making my fenders removable so I could parbuckle. I spent very little making removable sides out of hog panels. Other than hitting stumps, I have yet to attempt to remove the fenders. I found it easier to change my cutting length. I load with my little Deere that I haul on the trailer. Unloading is easy.

Ron

 

[Tiewire]

Welded on some stake pockets and made some sides. Don't overthink it just do it. This works great for me.

 

[CaseyForrest]

Lets see if I can hit all points in 1 post.

@MNGuns posted the picture of what I would consider bunks. I wouldn't need them to be that high, I'm not hauling for a living and I'm only 20 minutes from my wood supply. That being said, I highly doubt I would haul more than 2-3 layers of logs on the trailer, so the uprights would only need to be about 2-3' tall.

@sb47 I am partial to wood because its more forgiving. I do agree that metal sides look more finished, but they also require more work to fabricate and repair. I only need to sides for hauling loose material such as mulch, sand, etc. And even if I choose to leave the wood sides on to haul logs, I still have access to the D rings and wouldnt need to rely on the wood sides to secure a load.

There are 4 pockets per side. 3 in front of the fender and 1 behind. The fenders are removable and if/when I add a rub rail to the existing pockets, I will likely modify the fender and add a pocket centered between the axles. The picture I took showing the passenger side has one of the existing pockets being used for the spare tire mount. I am looking into relocating the spare under the tongue.

Here is what the front of the trailer has on it... The front board is secured to the corners of the side boards using some 2x4 blocks to screw into.

@Mustang71 I like the idea of using deck boards, I would have to find them in 18' lengths as I don't currently have the capacity for a decent joint in the middle. I haven't even looked to see if they come in 18' lengths.

@rwoods and @Tiewire I am more interested in sides to contain loose material. Thats why I don't need to go up so high. I don't haul split firewood and I don't sell so I don't need to contain split wood or rounds.

 

[muddstopper]

Everytime I have used decking boards, they have split, broke, warped. Last side boards redo I used 2x6's. The 2x6's hold up much better and if I bust the top board loading and unloading, I just have to replace one board.
I have a set of bunks like the ones Mnguns is using. Bought them with hauling logs in mind. Have never used them. Just easier to raise the dump (10ft) and slide the wood off.

 

[CaseyForrest]

Good point on the smaller dimension lumber.


Sent from a field

 

[JeffHK454]

Why did you switch to a car/equipment trailer with a wood floor to haul firewood.... I think I remember reading that you didn't like the difficulty of loading/unloading & working from your dump due to the height?

Before I had my dump truck I used a steel deck car trailer with removable sides , the sides where C- channel into the stake pockets with two course of 12" rough sawn Oak planks bolted from the inside. I hauled wood, scrap cars ..just about anything and I never could hurt them.

My dump truck had Pine boards on it when I got it and they didn't last one firewood/scrapping season...replaced with Oak and they're still going strong after 10 years.

 

[CaseyForrest]

I found that unless I was hauling dirt or sand home... something that I could dump and spread where it lays, I was having to handle whatever I was dumping after it hit the ground. i.e. Id haul a load of logs home, dump them and then have to pick them up to stack them. I figure I might as well save the step of dumping and lift them right off the trailer. We have been hauling stone home to do some landscaping.... Dumping it on the ground was swell, till we had to pick it back up to place it and then hand pick all the stones out of the yard. Ended up shoveling it right off the trailer into the tractor bucket.

Driveway is done, 200tons of crushed asphalt. Pool is almost finished, sand, stone and top soil. Pole barn is done..... I simply don't have a place in my repertoire that requires the ability to dump. Sure it'll be missed on occasion... But having a flat deck suits us better. If I have to get a load of loose material, I can bucket it right off the trailer by driving up the ramps.

Then there was the ancillary issue of me regretting not getting up and walking out on the shysters I purchased it from. Ever have a large purchase that you look at and regret? Mine was that dump trailer.

That and I put just under $1000 back in my pocket.