2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Need alum. refer floor planks for my FB project.

[geusterman]

Thinking I may have to build my flatbed as nothing comes real close to what I need. Anybody got or know where I can get some of those aluminum planks used in refer trailers? They will make up the durable bed of my flatbed. Need enough to do 8. 5x7 feet of bed. Near Seattle area best. Anybody? Thanks, George

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

A buddy of mine used some old aluminum benches off of bleachers. It is the coolest flat bed trailer I have ever seen. I think they are the right width too. Just cut them to length. .

 

[geusterman]

That would work! I wonder if the Mariners would miss em? George

 

[illflem]

I picked up some at the Alcoa aluminum recycling plant near Wenatchee, made them into sides for my GN flatbed. Worked excellent. They were sort of expensive though, 15¢ a pound. Not sure if they are still in business though, I know they shut down their main plant there but there may be something similar on your side of the hill.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Originally posted by geusterman

That would work! I wonder if the Mariners would miss em? George

This guy is the king of salvage auctions. I think he paid $20 bucks for the whole set of bleachers from a high school football stadium... .....

 

[geusterman]

illflem (what a name!) I will scout Wenatchee and Greg, who is this guy? Surely he did not use them all, right. Near Seattle? More excitement--I found my mechanical idle cable! New post coming. George

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

He is in Twentynine Palms, CA. As about as far south as you can go without leaving the USA

 

[geusterman]

Greg--thanks a lot. Get me all excited.....



Illflem -- ha! it's Fleming! Tell me what you have for a flatbed. I want folding sides to make it wide enough to sail through Missoula on the way to Cooke City with my sleds. May sled with ol Wimp Kemp there from Hamilton. George

 

[Steve Campbell]

George, south of Seattle...

Is the Boeing Surplus sales yard, near Renton. I think it is 212 south off of East Valley Highway (You have to take the 208 exit). They used to have some really neat stuff in there once in a while.

 

[geusterman]

Thanks Steve. Already checked. Things are pretty thin there. Used to have a blast back in the old days but Boeing running a leaner ship these days. GE

 

[illflem]

George, I have a 30', three axle FB mainly used for hauling apples, 24k lbs apples only! Occasionally use the 4' high sides for firewood, dirt, etc.

 

[geusterman]

Fleming--sorry--my FB is for my pickup. I want a flatbed (dump) for my HO that will haul all I want. Will have a lock-down for front, folding sides (for sleds) and a dump hoist. So I don't need more than 7x8. 5 feet of deck. Just want it tough. George

 

[QRTRHRS]

Keep in mind you may not want a slippery surface. My bed has diamond plated aluminum. Not as bad as steel diamond plate but slippery none the less. Any load needs to be secured even more so then say if it was a wooden bed.

 

[geusterman]

Great point. No response on the refer floors (they have fine no-slip lines. May just frame up the bed, bolt down plywood and Rhino the whole thing. George

 

[illflem]

I prefer a wood bed for the slip factor also, that's what my trailer has. We used to use wooden bins for hauling apples, no problem with a steel bed. When the slippery plastic bins first came out it wasn't unusual to see a metal bed truck pulled off on a curve with one side of the load on the ground. Most guys ended up welding a lip on the edge of the steel beds, kept the bins on the truck but played he!l with the fork lifts. What I learned the hard way - don't use planks wider than 8" for the bed surface, wider planks cup badly giving you an uneven surface. Most plywood beds I've seen don't hold up well, 2x planks are better.

 

[Steve Campbell]

I used what I had...

... (flat alum sheeting) knowing it would be slick. Then I bought some floor mats for a horse trailer and have a great non-skid surface.

 

[geusterman]

I use 2x's on my flatbed tractor hauler trailer (10K 20 footer) but I want my truck deck as low and reacheable as possible. Thinking about putting a dump hoist under it and found Venco are low mounting. I have a slide in dumper I could canabalize for a hoist and through the dump box away. We will see how the numbers come out.



PS Getting Kelderman, Rancho's and Gear Vendor in Great Falls MT this month. Oh boy. George