Best stiffness:weight for DIY trailer floor?
#1
Best stiffness:weight for DIY trailer floor?
I'm looking at retrofitting another commercial trailer frame with a floor to make it useful for cargo hauling. I've used 1/4" thick HDPE sheet before and it's been bombproof, as well as completely uncaring about weather and road salt. However, it's HEAVY. Does anyone have a suggestion for a material that has as good or better stiffness than 1/4" HDPE, still is completely unaffected by the weather, yet weighs less?
Yes, I realize I could spend a million dollars and make a honeycomb-core carbon panel. No, I'm not willing to do that.
Yes, I realize I could spend a million dollars and make a honeycomb-core carbon panel. No, I'm not willing to do that.
#2
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Stiffness at what scale? I used shelving material which has about 1” of section along one edge. The overall assembly is stiff. For point loads I cover it with 1/4” plywood.
see:
https://www.bikeforums.net/21220581-post693.html
see:
https://www.bikeforums.net/21220581-post693.html
#3
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You're right, solid HDPE is heavy. Not cheap either, but fully 'recyclable' and bombproof.
With this project you describe, is there to be something under the surface that'll see wear and tear from cargo? Untextured HDPE itself is kinda slippery & 1/4" won't support pallet jacks for long without something thicker underneath.
Polypropylene is stronger, weighs less but costs more than similar thickness HDPE. Depending on how long you want to use this trailer you may be able to shave some weight using PP over HDPE or hardwood-planked trailer subfloor. In any event I'd look for sheeting with some texture for safety if you expect to be working in wet conditions.
With this project you describe, is there to be something under the surface that'll see wear and tear from cargo? Untextured HDPE itself is kinda slippery & 1/4" won't support pallet jacks for long without something thicker underneath.
Polypropylene is stronger, weighs less but costs more than similar thickness HDPE. Depending on how long you want to use this trailer you may be able to shave some weight using PP over HDPE or hardwood-planked trailer subfloor. In any event I'd look for sheeting with some texture for safety if you expect to be working in wet conditions.
#4
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I'm looking at retrofitting another commercial trailer frame with a floor to make it useful for cargo hauling. I've used 1/4" thick HDPE sheet before and it's been bombproof, as well as completely uncaring about weather and road salt. However, it's HEAVY. Does anyone have a suggestion for a material that has as good or better stiffness than 1/4" HDPE, still is completely unaffected by the weather, yet weighs less?
Yes, I realize I could spend a million dollars and make a honeycomb-core carbon panel. No, I'm not willing to do that.
Yes, I realize I could spend a million dollars and make a honeycomb-core carbon panel. No, I'm not willing to do that.
See:
DIY bike trailer floor
Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 12-06-23 at 05:45 PM.
#5
Will your cargo be packages or overpacked? If so, what is the purpose of an extra stiff floor? My DIY trailer floor uses rubber straps stretched across the trailer frame covered by cardboard and has carried much cargo and yard waste for over a dozen years w/o any problem.
See:
DIY bike trailer floor
See:
DIY bike trailer floor
#6
I'm looking at retrofitting another commercial trailer frame with a floor to make it useful for cargo hauling. I've used 1/4" thick HDPE sheet before and it's been bombproof, as well as completely uncaring about weather and road salt. However, it's HEAVY. Does anyone have a suggestion for a material that has as good or better stiffness than 1/4" HDPE, still is completely unaffected by the weather, yet weighs less?
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