The ones I usually get are 2ft by 8ft and just over an inch thick.
Their construction is extremely strong. They fully support the weight of a Ford/New Holland tractor/back hoe with no fatigue or give.
My price down here is 40 bucks per panel new. Used ones in great shape go for 25-30 per.
I never have to change them out, ever. Only time there's repair work to be done to them is when a dumb wannabe operator slams the bucket onto them because he's stupid. Even then, I get a years use out of that panel that's getting beat on.
The reason used ones are available is because site inspectors get picky about the condition of the panels and make the concrete pourer use new ones so they rotate them out and they become "used" and cheaper to buy.
What are these things made of, some sort of plastic?
I put in a couple more cross members this morning....and beefed up the area that the front wheels of a car will sit.......I think she is strong enough now to support whatever I use as flooring.
Next I will need to hunt down some square metal tubing for railings.....and a couple of fenders. Princess Auto (Canada's Harbor freight) has them, will keep my eye out for them to go on sale.
Moved er inside I see,, looks like a bit of moisture up your way,,,,
They also make plywood panels, like tounge and groove' for decking that is 1 1/8 " thick,, but thye might be a little spendy,,, neighbor has a whole stack of em, that he took off a horse stable, his wifes horse kept trying to kick the walls down,,
-- Edited by Bad Rat on Friday 30th of October 2009 04:10:46 PM
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if I may, the only problem with tongue and groove is that it does not allow moisture to drain or dry except what is exposed or just run off when it is slanted and if moisture gets between the cracks and into the grooves it will rot much faster - - - this is considering it is sitting outside in the weather
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"If the women don't find ya handsome, at least let them find you Handy"
He could always re erect that HAM antennae and hang it up to dry..... The stem panels are laminated with about 8-10 layers of hard wood. Impressive construction to withstand the forces of wet concrete. I've used them on site to move heavy equipment across trench work with long spans. Only bowed, never cracked or broke.
-- Edited by nitrowarrior on Saturday 31st of October 2009 07:29:04 AM
He could always re erect that HAM antennae and hang it up to dry..... The stem panels are laminated with about 8-10 layers of hard wood. Impressive construction to withstand the forces of wet concrete. I've used them on site to move heavy equipment across trench work with long spans. Only bowed, never cracked or broke.
what's the purpose of an antennae on the hind quarter of a Hawg?
seriously those stem panels sound like some gooooooood stuff, eh?
-- Edited by Mello Yello on Saturday 31st of October 2009 07:56:59 AM
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"If the women don't find ya handsome, at least let them find you Handy"
A little update....started building the side rails and threw some primer on where I had welded....It will probably sit outside over the winter.
Not much luck on those stem panels....I did talk to a guy at a local sawmill....He said I should use hemlock boards.......I never thought to ask why....anyone know why, does it resist rot?
A little update....started building the side rails and threw some primer on where I had welded....It will probably sit outside over the winter.
Not much luck on those stem panels....I did talk to a guy at a local sawmill....He said I should use hemlock boards.......I never thought to ask why....anyone know why, does it resist rot?
Hemlock is kinda like cedar and redwood,, impervious to rot, straight grain, expensive,,[here anyway]
-- Edited by Bad Rat on Thursday 5th of November 2009 01:42:03 PM
Trouble with that stuff is that it is super heavy...The plant I used to run sent our scrap to one of those guys......They sent us a park bench made of it.....You could hardly lift that sucker......lol
The guy at the sawmill said I could cover my trailer with full 2" (rough planed) Hemlock for about $180.....I'm going to find out if it comes in thinner boards, maybe 1 1/4-1 1/2......Don't think I need a full 2"...would save cost and weight
-- Edited by Bad Rat on Thursday 5th of November 2009 01:42:03 PM
Trouble with that stuff is that it is super heavy...The plant I used to run sent our scrap to one of those guys......They sent us a park bench made of it.....You could hardly lift that sucker......lol
The guy at the sawmill said I could cover my trailer with full 2" (rough planed) Hemlock for about $180.....I'm going to find out if it comes in thinner boards, maybe 1 1/4-1 1/2......Don't think I need a full 2"...would save cost and weight
Never thought about that,, probably right,, probably would cost alot more to have him plane it down,,, lots more,
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It was nice on the weekend, so I threw some paint on the trailer....It will likely be sitting like that for the winter. I need some more steel for railings and wood for the floor.......Wife is Xmas shopping already, so dough is tight......Retirement doesn't pay much BTW....lol
I spent yesterday wiring up the lights etc. I need a few more lights for the tail end....... I also hooked a battery to the brakes, they seem to work. I have an old Reese brake controller, will have to wire that back into my truck. The wires are still there, just have to find them.
Today, I am going to check the wheel bearings over before I put the wheels back on.
Yep,, Poncho,,, thats gonna be a nice trailer. John Deere Green?? are those 2 side railings removable? looks like you have clip pins to hold them on,,, good idea,,,,,,, looks nice.. now for some nice stained or painted boards and you'll be all set up.. a nice set of mag wheels would really set it off
-- Edited by Bad Rat on Tuesday 10th of November 2009 11:18:53 AM
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Yep,, Poncho,,, thats gonna be a nice trailer. John Deere Green?? are those 2 side railings removable? looks like you have clip pins to hold them on,,, good idea,,,,,,, looks nice.. now for some nice stained or painted boards and you'll be all set up.. a nice set of mag wheels would really set it off
-- Edited by Bad Rat on Tuesday 10th of November 2009 11:18:53 AM
Yep...removable rails, so I can drive my tractor up sideways........
Had a bunch of 1 1/2 in steel pipe given to me, so I made the railings out of it.......the front portion on each side is removable, to get a tractor on and off..(tha....t explain it a bit better, Mello?...lol).All the railings will be removable when I need it as a car carrier.........
Had a bunch of 1 1/2 in steel pipe given to me, so I made the railings out of it.......the front portion on each side is removable, to get a tractor on and off..(tha....t explain it a bit better, Mello?...lol).All the railings will be removable when I need it as a car carrier.........
Do you plan on putting screen on the side rails,, kinda like a landscape trailer, to keep stuff [ like gas cans etc ] from falling off? This thing is loookin goooooooood esa',,,
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I should....if I can get some expanded metal cheap.....I dont want to make the sides too heavy, so they are removable...I usually keep the gas cans and stuff in my pickup....
I should....if I can get some expanded metal cheap.....I dont want to make the sides too heavy, so they are removable...I usually keep the gas cans and stuff in my pickup....
Yeah,, its best to keep that stuff under lock and key,,,
speaking of cheap metal ,, I just came back from the Hrd-ware store, was planning on buying some aluminum angle,, 1/16 wall 1X1 was 18.99 for A 6' piece,, needless to say,, I came back with out any angle,,, that is flat robbery,,, a bit over 3.10 a foot??? fugggg that!
-- Edited by Bad Rat on Monday 16th of November 2009 03:24:46 PM
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I know...its ridiculous......I got lucky with this pipe....The lady I cut grass for is selling the farm and moving into town......She had me putting stuff away for the winter and I noticed this pipe stacked in the barn....It would have gotten left for the new owners, so I asked for it...She said sure....I have enough for a couple more trailers if I need it......
I used Hardy Plank for the sides of my 10' utility trailer and moved lots of stuff from out last house and it is still there just like new. The freaking floor that came with the trailer is rotten out however.
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"If the women don't find ya handsome, at least let them find you Handy"
I usually buy all my steel and aluminum from a steel yard across town,, get it by the # which is cheap,, mostly reminates, but new stuff too,, just didn't want to drive across town for a couple of pieces.. but I guess I will.. for 18$ I can probably get 10 Pieces, plus the cost of the gas in my duelly with a big block,,`
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My problem is, there is no steel dealer around here, that I know of anyways....Just a couple of machine shops that keep some stock....and want to resell it at higher prices.
Poncho very nice job you are doing! I have build and rebuilt a few trailers over the years and I like to use either black locust or larch for the floor boards. But then I cut my own, big advantage! Hemlock is very strong and if you use it wet it will tighten up as it dries. It will give you a nasty splinter if not careful. Planed it is better.
Check out places that place concrete or handle concrete forms Poncho. Is there a form rental biz nearby? They would have 'em too. 
