Expanded Metal Floor

[herd90]

Hello all,

Could anyone recommend a wood choice for covering a 5x13 expanded metal mesh floor? Just purchased a new to me '16 pioneer and need the added support and fastening options not available with the mesh. I'm thinking 5/4 decking and mounting the erickson e chock system. Lastly, where do you think I should fasten the pioneer on the trailer? All the way forward or centered over the axle? Appreciate your thoughts!

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[Admin]

 

[Tramguage1]

How far are the crossmember? Is the expanded metal welded to the trailer?
The 5/4 should be enough if the crossmember are no more than 24" a part.
The position of your machine depends on your tow vehicle and its towing capacity. I would load the machine on the trailer until the back of the tow vehicle starts to go down. Tie the machine down with ratchet straps and take it out for a test drive. Stop and move it back or forward and drive it again. Find out where the best place for your application. Remember if you add weight to your trailer the position of the Pioneer may need to change.

 

[herd90]

Crossmembers no more than 18" down to 14" apart. Thanks for the reply.

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[Tramguage1]

There is a screw called a trailer deck screw. You do have to predrill the holes but these are awesome screws. They have a Torx head and dont round off when installing.

 

[GWH]

How far are the crossmember? Is the expanded metal welded to the trailer?
The 5/4 should be enough if the crossmember are no more than 24" a part.
The position of your machine depends on your tow vehicle and its towing capacity. I would load the machine on the trailer until the back of the tow vehicle starts to go down. Tie the machine down with ratchet straps and take it out for a test drive. Stop and move it back or forward and drive it again. Find out where the best place for your application. Remember if you add weight to your trailer the position of the Pioneer may need to change.

Put ur rear tires directly on top of the trailer axle.you want tongue weight but not the whole machine.That looks like a fairly long trailer for a single axle.

 

[KYhillbilly]

Agree best to experiment with machine position once you get decking down. I borrowed a trailer to pick mine up and i could not get enough tongue weight and it swayed violently above 45mph. Had to go to a local Lowes and buy 4 bags of quickcrete to increase tongue weight so i could make the 120 mile interstate drive safely. Current trailer I pull it all the way to front and it pulls perfectly.

 

[DoubleDee]

I also have a 5x12 expanded metal floor trailer i use for my P500. It does the job and i like the light weight to take off and move around in those tight space situations. Also like mud washing through it. Less mess. I prefer it over a wood floor trailer and have no issues trailering all over the South East. That stated I’m buying a car hauler so i don’t have to load like this anymore when my boys ride with me but will keep the metal floor trailer when headed to hunting properties by myself.

 

[Lt_Dan]

I have 2 suggestions. If you plan to get bigger tires and therefore possibly wheel offsets, take that into account on your chock system placement. If it was mine, I would keep the mesh and take it to someone that can weld in some supports underneath between cross members to mount the chock system to.

 

[herd90]

Appreciate that advice. I do plan on upgrading tires to 26 but not larger due to the terrain I ride and storage limits. I thought about just adding one or two deck boards per track for attachments or consider something else besides the e track. Thanks again!

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[JimmyA]

What are you going to tow with? It looks as though, your tongue weight is going to take the most weight! I would look at other trailer options.

 

[herd90]

Toyota 4 runner

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[CID]

Typically, tongue weight should be 10%-15% of the total trailer weight. My trailer + Talon is 2500, so 250 - 375 pounds. My RV is rated at 350 pound tongue weight and I want a cushion so I set the TW at 250 pounds and it tows good that way. Too little tongue weight can cause violent tail wagging, you DO NOT want that. Search 'how to measure tongue weight', it shows how to use a bathroom scale, even if TW is higher than the scale's capacity.

I had to build fender steps for my narrow trailer before I could pick up the Talon, so I had to guess at its placement. With the engine in the rear, that meant the Talon would have to be pulled up tight to the fenders. But when I got the tongue weight measured it was over 350 pounds, higher than my scale would go so I moved it back about a foot to get to 250 pounds. I marked that position for easy duplication.

This shows it moved back from the fenders about a foot with the scale under the tongue at 250 pounds. Since I unhooked the trailer to measure, I put a jackstand under the rear so it wouldn't over-center and tip up. I also marked the balance point location.

 

[JimmyA]

Looking at the pic, you did well! Remember that Braking distance will be extended.