Bolting floor to trailer

[blk05m6gto]

Hello all. I am about to bolt my floor down in the next few days. My question is should I use carrage bolts or should I just counter sink regular ones in? I am using the 8' cubby plans and it is going to be a 4x8. Also should I only bolt it around the permiter or should I bolt it along the cross braces too? thankx a lot. Bill

[Mary K]

Hello Bill, I am at the same stage in my build. I am going to countersink reg bolts and then use wood putty to fill in over them.

I suggest you got to TomS 's site. http://www.tomswenson.com/teardrop/

He did a great job documenting his build !!!

I plan on using the holes already in the trailer for bolting the floor down. and I might have to add more holes.

Hope this helps.

Mk

[Steve_Cox]

Hi Bill,

I counter sunk the holes and used 1/4" stainless carriage bolts with flat washers and nylock nuts on the bottom. Also put a few on the cross members as well as the perimeter. Just one of many variations on how to do this.

[blk05m6gto]

well thats what I was thinking of doing I just wanted some advice before i messed it up!!! he he. Thankx again for all your feedback. Bill

[forestfrog]

I used 3/8" carriage bolts with washers and nylock nuts...on the perimeter and crossbraces...5 I countersunk and puttied over, the other 5 I left exposed in case they ever needed tightening in the future.

[Tripmaker]

I countersunk the bolts as well but had a different problem. With the floor sitting on the Red Trailer frame at 58.5" on the 60" frame I did not have enough room for holes in the frame without being extreemly close to the edge of the floor. I bolted the floor to the and rear cross members through the frame then drilled through the floor right next to the frame on the sides. I then used strong oversized washers and nylock nuts on the bottom to clamp the frame to the floor. Or is the floor clamped to the frame? In any event I hope it is adequate. I'll have to post a close up of it.

[Gerdo]

I used 3/8" Carrage bolts with large washers under the heads (the hole in the washer is bigger than the square on the bolt). I used 12 thru the main frame and finished them off with Nyloc nuts. My frame is a welded homemade one and the main frame is inset from the edge.

[Gage]

I put carrage bolts everywhere with lock washers and nuts against the steel frame/cross braces.



Have a good day.

I have no idea what I was doing. It just felt right.

[Miriam C.]

Mines removable. I used T nuts, carrage bolts and washers on the edges. There are also carriage bolts and nyloc washers, where I can reach them in the middle.

[blk05m6gto]

What exactly a T-nut? I know what a wing nut is but have neve herd of a t-nut. Hopefully it's not the same thing so i don't feel stupid.... thanks Bill

[mikeschn]

I used T nuts on the sides of my EH. That's what I screw my bolts with knobs into... since it's too dark to take a photo, lets see if there's anything on the web..

ah, here's a decent shot...



Mike...

[blk05m6gto]

wow i get it now... thanks a lot. Bill

[bdosborn]

Well, just to throw a little gas on the fire: I hate carriage bolts. I couldn't find graded ones and they strip through the wood deck too easily for me. I threw them all away after I stripped through in two places. Replaced them with grade 5 hex heads, proper washers and nyloc nuts. I like being able to use a wrench on both ends of a bolt.
Bruce

[Juneaudave]

Just a little more gas on the fire....I really like the idea of using a series of self-threading trailer deck screws, as opposed to bolts. I believe some others have used them with good success.

[Nitetimes]

Mine has about 20-25 1/4" self tapping deck screws in it, it's not going anywhere.