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Hello, I hope someone can advise me.
My trailer is getting past it's sell-by-date. The bed and sides are well rusty, with holes in them.
So I want to refurb it, because they're not cheap these days.
It's about 8ft by 4 ft, single axle. I think it is rated at about 750 Kg, But that's not important.
I would have liked to use sheet steel, but the last time I bought some steel, about that size I think I paid about £40. I think it was about 1.5mm or 2mm thickness.
I gather steel has shot up in price. and I'd need about 2 pieces for the bed and sides. The existing head and tail boards will serve again.
Questions:
What is recommended thickness for the bed and sides of the trailer. I will probably stiffen the sides with some channel iron. But the bed should be OK as is.
What is the average cost of such materials these days?
If the cost of steel is too great I'm thinking of using ply. What thickness would be recommended?
As money is tight at the moment, I'm even thinking of going with ply for now. I can easily use the bed ply as a sacrificial protector when I refurb with steel in the future.
I can cut off the tops of the old metal sides and fix to the ply. The ply I can reinforce with some 50mm X 25mm wood, e.g slate batten.
I can reuse the corner fasteners.
Thanks for any guidance.
My trailer is getting past it's sell-by-date. The bed and sides are well rusty, with holes in them.
So I want to refurb it, because they're not cheap these days.
It's about 8ft by 4 ft, single axle. I think it is rated at about 750 Kg, But that's not important.
I would have liked to use sheet steel, but the last time I bought some steel, about that size I think I paid about £40. I think it was about 1.5mm or 2mm thickness.
I gather steel has shot up in price. and I'd need about 2 pieces for the bed and sides. The existing head and tail boards will serve again.
Questions:
What is recommended thickness for the bed and sides of the trailer. I will probably stiffen the sides with some channel iron. But the bed should be OK as is.
What is the average cost of such materials these days?
If the cost of steel is too great I'm thinking of using ply. What thickness would be recommended?
As money is tight at the moment, I'm even thinking of going with ply for now. I can easily use the bed ply as a sacrificial protector when I refurb with steel in the future.
I can cut off the tops of the old metal sides and fix to the ply. The ply I can reinforce with some 50mm X 25mm wood, e.g slate batten.
I can reuse the corner fasteners.
Thanks for any guidance.