Show me your walls

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

... Of your trailer!!!

I recently picked up this beauty of a 16' trailer. I know I could have gone for a shorter utility trailer but I don't have endless cash and I qanted one trailer that could haul some long lumber or some heavy stuff.



Anyways, I want to build some walls for it but haven't ever done that before. My plan is to build the length sections in 8' lengths and then remove the tool box, since it's right up against the edge, so I can put a wall there. When I redo the floor I'll put the toolbox back on. Then build the back as two swinging gates.

My main queations are:

1. How tall should I make the walls? 18"? 20"? 24"?
2. Should I option for pressure treated deck boards rather than pine or cedar and then trying to treat it myself?
3. How big of gaps should I put between the boards? I was thinking a solid wall might just be a kite in the wind so was thinking .5" gaps between the boards would be sufficient

I'm super excited for this and need to get it done in the next two weeks so i can then use it to haul some lumber for a Missouri gravel bed I'm building for my young trees.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I also suggest that you build those side walls so they can be removed. You never know when you will need to load something that is a bit wider than the floor of the trailer.

Perhaps build the back gate in a drop down fashion so it can double as a ramp????

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

I liked the metal idea but I don't have the time to fiddle with working with metal right now, since it's not in my wheelhouse and I need this in the next week

I got a bunch of lumber and did this today



Still need to make a back gate and install some tie down d-rings, etc... But this will get me thru April activities

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Do you need solid walls? If not, Have you considered using a different material other than wood? Maybe something like a stock panel or expanded metal that wouldn’t catch as much wind?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

It looks like this:

I believe you can get it in different weights of metal and strengths.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

If you built solid frame panels, then put the expanded metal on the frames, that would lighten the overall trailer, I would think. But, the advantage of your wood side panels is that you will have infinite tie down options. I would go for PT at least for the floor boards. I'm not a fan of PT AT ALL! But, in this application, if I were doing it, I'd set my prejudice aside and use PT for the floor.

Will you ever use this trailer to carry animals? If so, you might consider building those side panels with spacing that will not allow an animal to get head or leg caught between the horizontals.

 

[wyoDreamer]

We have a similar trailer - but ours is 24' (I think). DH made wooden sides for it and moved us from Wyoming back to Wisconsin with it. If memory serves me, the sides 2by material and were about 3' tall with the boards spaced about 8" apart. I think they are still sitting next to the barn, if so I will post pictures. He added plywood to the sides whenever we need something more solid - like for hauling trees.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

Do you need solid walls? If not, Have you considered using a different material other than wood? Maybe something like a stock panel or expanded metal that wouldn’t catch as much wind?

I was thinking wood just so there was less chance of things finding their way out, despite efforts to tie down. But I'm open to options.

What's expanded metal?

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

It looks like this:

View attachment 10382

I believe you can get it in different weights of metal and strengths.

Huh. I could see building a slight frame with 2x4s and doing that across the center. Nice option!!!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

FEM, is that expanded metal rust proof?