deck replacement???

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by MNdriver, Apr 29, 2012.

  1. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    so I have been "shopping" for a trailer to see what the cost will be. There isn't much to say other than if you are going to buy a used 8 year old trailer for $25-28K, you may as well buy a new one for about $5-8K more.


    With that in mind.

    I did see a couple of trailers listed for like $8-10K for a step and a couple flats. Looking at the pictures, the floors are shot on them.

    Near as I can tell, standard 53X102 trailer needs about 1000 board feet of true 2X6 rough cut timbers to re-deck the trailer.

    Talking with a guy I know who has a lumbermill, he could get me 1100 bd ft of oak (red and white mix) for about $4 / bd ft and just a bit less for white elm.

    Would it make sense to buy an $8K trailer, redeck and paint it and new brakes/tire than get a new trailer?

    I know I'd want to ensure the kingpin area would be solid. Maybe even re-wire with the deck off of it.
     
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  3. Mommas_money_maker

    Mommas_money_maker Road Train Member

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    I have a buddy that just did this as he was going through the same thing. He had the old trailer and kinda wanted a new one but then figured out it would cost him about 5 grand to get it completely redone so he went that route and is really happy with it.
     
  4. Shadowed

    Shadowed Light Load Member

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    I have a picture of one I did 2 years ago (will post if I can find it) But I will tell you right now there is a lot of man hours involved it it. The old deck does not come off easy and all the old screw head have to be ground down (they dont come out) then all the new screws will have to be pre drilled and you can not hit the old screws or you will go through a ton of drill bits. Would I do it again to save money.. Hell no.. The trailer ended up only lasting a year before other things went on it and I bought another one with an aluminum deck.
     
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  5. Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    If you have a good frame/suspension it would be a great project for winter.
     
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  6. JDP

    JDP Medium Load Member

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    Stay away from those trailers. There is no good or easy way to re-deck a trailer. I've done sections of a trailer but thankfully never the whole thing. I'm going to say you'd have at least 40 hours in the whole trailer. Cutting out the floor is tough enough but then you have to cut off all the old deck screws that are rusted in place it really sucks. You'd go through a hundred drill bits trying to go through rusty cross members to secure the new floor.

    The only semi-easy way to re-deck if you're in the mood to run a new wiring harness and air lines too is the set the floor on fire, once it's ash it'd be really easy to remove :biggrin_255:

    I assume you're looking in the upper midwest for trailers, we all know the salt and chemicals aren't easy on equipment. Anyways, on a steel or combo trailer of that age that the floor is shot you're likely to have the 5th wheel plate rusted out, $2000-$3000 repair. Additionally, the cross members are probably rusted out. And the wiring harness has probably been hacked up more times than you can count.

    If you decide to go this route, do it all at once. In my experience, you have to see the deck in person to know if it has to be replaced (all or just a section). A lot of times the deck screws snap off lifting the board and all that is required to fix it is to drill a new hole between the old ones.
     
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  7. SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    There is a place just south of Waxahatchie, TX that restores stepdecks and flatbeds. I know of several LS drivers who have purchased trailers from Ls (for $7,000 by the way) and taken them to this place and had the frames blasted and painted and a new deck put on for $10,000. They put the trailer on a rotisserie and do a #### good job.
     
  8. Katz

    Katz Medium Load Member

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    Personally I'd stay away from it, but if you decided to go with it, make sure you inspect the frame, crossmembers, and weld beads thoroughly.

    The deck structure accounts for good percentage of the lateral strength and rigidity of an open deck trailer. If you've ever pulled a coil or other heavy concentrated mass on a trailer with bad deck, then you know going around even a gentle curve makes the trailer bows in the middle laterally.

    Most trailers have crossmembers riveted to the outer rails (where winch rails attach to), but some older ones are welded, and those welds easily crack once the deck starts going bad. If it's an aluminum or a combo trailer, it's nearly impossible to fix it properly.
     
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  9. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Only worth it if you figure your time isn't worth anything. Then even with a new floor you still have an old trailer worth about $8k. Dealers/banks still classify it as an 8yr old trailer, new floor or not.
     
  10. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Do that and you may as well take it to the junk yard because the heat will destroy the main frame.
     
  11. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Sarcasm!!!
     
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