what floor for HF trailer

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what floor for HF trailer

Postby Scooter » Sun Oct 13, 2019 6:18 pm

Getting back into the trailer scene and need a refresher on acceptable floor thickness for the new HF 1175 which I picked up yesterday. First purpose will be hauling a 400 lb motorcycle (maybe two occasionally). Teardrop bug has never left me, so at some point I foresee this trailer being the base for another build. :twisted:
Long story, short question: What thickness ply floor should I buy? And since I haven't bought any lumber in awhile, how much will I have to spend? Not opposed to planking, but since I was able to make plywood work in Tennessee's 50+ inches of annual rainfall, I'm quite sure it won't rot prematurely in the AZ desert, praise God!!
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Re: what floor for HF trailer

Postby pchast » Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:16 pm

I used a sheet of 3/4 for a utility trailer.
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Re: what floor for HF trailer

Postby Pmullen503 » Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:12 pm

The HF trailer is not very stiff, you can twist the bare trailer by lifting a corner. So 3/4 ply is a minimum on a flat trailer and I'd use 12 bolts (4 down each side and 4 down the center) to help stiffen it up. You can use eye bolts to provide hard points for tie downs.
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Re: what floor for HF trailer

Postby swoody126 » Mon Oct 14, 2019 8:05 am

agree w/ 3/4" ply

when outfitting a trailer for motorcycles or utility use(needing tiedown capabiities) i have found BED BOLTS to be GREAT

they are 5/8" bolts w/ 3/8" threaded hole down thru the center to accept a 3/8" forged eye bolt

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when using them on a plywood floor i position them over a metal frame component which allows me to "CRANK 'EM DOWN" pulling the head flush w/ the floor surface

i realize there will be some nay sayers about damaging the integrety of the plywood butt w/ the metal frame member under it i have had no issues over thousands of miles of use even when securing my old 1000# Ural

you can either order them from their site or from several online sources

https://www.bedbolts.com

3/8" and 1/2" options

https://www.amazon.com/PROGRIP-822820-T ... 75&sr=8-19

1/2" only

https://www.etrailer.com/Tie-Down-Ancho ... %20Anchors

i have found reasonable clones(3/8" & 1/2") at the local Tractor Supply(on the road from my home to the barn where the work happens) and keep a few sets on hand for ¿?¿?

sw
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Re: what floor for HF trailer

Postby Scooter » Mon Oct 14, 2019 6:46 pm

Thanks for the great input. 3/4 it is.

In the past I've cheaped out with thinner ply, knowing the teardrop shell would stiffen things up. But this trailer will see utility hauling as first and possibly only duty. Time will tell.

HF also has this motorcycle chock which I plan to mount with the good eyebolts as swoody describes, only long enough to run through the ply and front trailer crossmember. Should be plenty solid. Rear mounting points TBD.
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Re: what floor for HF trailer

Postby Scooter » Mon Oct 14, 2019 6:54 pm

Hmm...closer inspection of those bedbolt links...those things have possibilities! :thinking:
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