Cargo trailer and e track

[supton]

Not sure what forum...

Debating if I want to use e-track for holding stuff in my trailer. Before going down that path it seemed wise to solicit advice!

Ebay seems to have the best price. I'm guessing around 30 or 35' being required if I do a single run around the trailer. Probably at the 4' level? Two runs might be nice but that seems overkill. HF has e track but reviews indicate non-2" spacing for screw holes and they have to be spaced out from the wall--just not standard stuff. etrailer has stuff too but ebay seems cheapest.

Trailer is a 6x14, GVWR of 2,990 with a single 3,500lb axle. Optioned out as a motorcycle hauler I think (24" spacing on floor, with 3/4" plywood; walls are 16" spacing with luan, barn doors, 4" drop axle, side door). I put on load range D tires but haven't added brakes (yet). Which is a long way of saying, I really shouldn't be loading this thing to the brim with heavy stuff anyhow. Usage is generic hauling of household stuff. Boxes of this, tires, couch, whatever. Not looking to move mowers, cars, go-carts, etc. My 4x8 HF trailer is aging out and this allows me to have dry storage, ergo the purchase.

Ripping out the luan is easy but then installing new 3/8 plywood will be a bit of work... I suspect the wall studs are steel square stock but worst case is that I pre-drill (instead of letting the drilling and self tapping screws do their job). What worries me most is taking up the pressed-on tile that the floor has. It's all peeling up and I worry that it'll always be sticky afterwards--I might want something cheap (like maybe reuse the luan?) on the floor.

Thoughts? Am I missing something?

 

[bullwinkle]

If you're going to use E track, you're going to need to reinforce the interior walls, or you'll pull the screws out of the track & wall whenever you load it. Might not be a bad idea to use some 3/4" plywood, preferably marine, over the studs with carriage bolts holding the e track on-and attach them to the studs with some good sized long screws.

 

[supton]

I was thinking of avoiding 3/4" plywood, trailer was 1,331lb per shipping invoice, no idea what the springs are. But 3/8 vs 3/4, probably not a big deal...

I was thinking, if I have I have to drill into the studs for the plywood, why not hit the stud with the e-track screws also? I went back and forth as to what was easiest, what was best, and it seems like no matter what I have to drill into those studs anyhow.

I'd prefer not to have anything go through the trailer side. Yeah it's a trailer, use & abuse, but I'd prefer not to go through the side of it. I get your point though, what will it take to rip stuff off the wall? I'll have to think about that.

 

[bullwinkle]

We’ve had 2 company ones that came with E track from the factory, they reinforced the wall to handle it. I’ve also seen some cargo trailers that had carpeted boards that could use ropes or hook ratchet straps too, but not too strong.

 

[Nick1994]

I'd just get 6 D rings and bolt them down, unless you're gonna use the heck out of this thing.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I'd just get 6 D rings and bolt them down, unless you're gonna use the heck out of this thing.




I have 6 of those on the floor already. I fear they will be annoying, as they make the floor not flat. Then again, simple cribbing will take care of that.

I'm just not sure how I'll use it. right now it's got a bunch of boxes in it, which pack nicely--and a rocking chair which doesn't. future stuff might have stuff that needs to stand up.

Which is kinda moot. I looked and it turns out it's not square stock, but some sort of u channel with flats. Which will make hitting the channel hard. Probably not worth the effort methinks: I suspect that if i wind up really using this to move stuff, I should buy a better trailer. Which is ok. I bought this initially as a shed so i could empty the one I have (and get rid of), then use however. Now it's being used to move stuff into storage. I can always flip it at a later date, when I find something "better".

Wife took one look at it and made plans for what I'd be doing with it. Which is ok, makes a heck of an argument for keeping my truck.

 

[Nick1994]

You can crawl under the trailer with a drill and drill through the U channel through the floor for the first hole, stick a bolt and the D ring on it and drill the next hole from the top down. Then you've got a secure point to strap to.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
You can crawl under the trailer with a drill and drill through the U channel through the floor for the first hole, stick a bolt and the D ring on it and drill the next hole from the top down. Then you've got a secure point to strap to.


Sorry, the U-channel is in the walls. Floor is 3/4" plywood and has six d-rings already.