How many nailers should a deck have?

I like 4, but if on the outside 2 would work. I would not want just 2 if they were on the inside.

 

I had an aluminum step with no nailers.
I was never denied a load.

 

Depends on how much wheeled equipment you plan on hauling.

 

What all are you planning on nailing down?

From here on out I’m figuring to order my new wagons with all wood decking. N ain’t anybody gonna be hammering a ####ing nail anywhere in them while they’re mine either.

 

Well, in my over 4 years of company flatdeck driving, the only time I've used the nailers was on a load of grain vacs and train wheels.

The grain vacs were little two-wheeled drag-along units for behind a tractor (8 units on a 53 step deck). The shipper required a little 2x4 block of wood on either side of both wheels on each unit. Chains over the axles down the side of the trailer and a strap over the trailer hitch.

Literally this (surprised I found a pic searching "grain vac"):



(And that is totally the place in Winnipeg where they are made, I've picked them up a few times there with an old company, which I think that trailer belongs to, and I remember one time them taking pictures of the trailer I had, lol)

Train wheels they run a "track" of 2x4 down each nailer strip to roll the wheels on. Usually 16-18 wheels on the deck, strap groups of them together and roll. Very easy load typically with backhauls of fresh wheels.



Nailers on the outside of the deck will cover almost anything with a regular width track (car, van, pickup truck, etc) and that's if the shipper requires it. I am always watching other decks rolling down the road and I only once saw a trailer with nailers inside the frame being used for blocks on small coils (instead of a coil bunk) to hold the 8 foot boards in place.

They aren't super-common from my experience, but I haven't been around the block a lot yet, so don't take me at my word. I highly doubt missing the interior nailers will make or break anything huge for you.

 

I used 3 nailers and the middle was never used.

I remember loading glass at one place, loaded on frames. They would nail down a 2x4 to block the first frame from moving as they loaded it front to back with a forklift. It kept breaking... They were finally satisfied after the third try and finished loading the trailer. They didn't even bother to put a nail in the center strip. Yeah, I put a trip chain on it, lol.

I can't imagine any senerio where you would want a center nail strip. (3 nail strips). Unless you nail it yourself, everyone else loading is going to be too lazy to reach/climb that far to reach it. Easier for you to just throw more tiedowns instead.

I've had some odd articulated trailers loaded and they only used the two outside nailers. Not good enough... Coils and slinkeys the same way.

IMO 2 is good enough. Three is a waste, it might be useful once or twice. Four would be better but I doubt it would be worth it when you can just add more securement once in a blue moon.

IMO 2 is fine. Another tiedown will do alot more that a couple more nails.

 

I quit nailing and carried a screw gun instead, I can generally zip the screws out easier than pulling the nails anyway.