Fitting New Trailer Floor: Aluminium Sheets or Planks?

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ElleD

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Looking for some advice on my trailer's floor.

It's got to that time when it needs replacing and this time I'm thinking of going for aluminium - well, my dad is....to be honest I'd be happy with a new wooden floor.

It's a 1996 Ifor 510 - I've looked at some newer Ifors and they use a plank system for their flooring, which I can get.

But I was wondering if sheet aluminium would also be a viable option. My wooden floor was in 3 sections and wondered if I could ostensibly do the same with aluminium plate?

If anyone who has any experience of this, any opinions etc either way, I'd be grateful for any input :)
 
I have only used Aluminium plate on top of other flooring (with rubber on top of that). I would be cautious without professional advice. I would think it would lack rigidity.
 
I had an older wooden 510 trailer, the wooden floor needed replacing when it was about fifteen years old!

We decided in the end to replace it with wooden flooring, we used marine ply, we have carpenters and mechanics, so a proper job.

If I was going to put in an aluminium floor I would get it direct from Ifor Williams, silly to mess around with something that needs to be safe.
 
Thank you Red-1 and LJR.

The current floor is the original and had lasted 18 years, would you believe! Which is why I would be perfectly happy to go wooden again - wood, looked after properly has no issues in my book. Guess I'm a bit old fashioned :)

My dad has a bee in his bonnet, bless him. I think I shd just talk him out of the alu though!
 
Ifor Williams only fit aluminium floors as replacements these days, which kind of tells you something. I asked recently and they would do mine for £600 + VAT *gulp*
The existing floor is buffalo board, a kind of strong chipboard with a plastic coating on either side. Apart from one area by the jockey door where the rain has seeped in it is still fine, and my trailer is well over 25 years old, so I am looking at laying aluminium over the front area, in front of the breast bars, as a belt and braces sort of thing, because the rest is fine and has good cross members under it.
Has your dad sourced any aluminium yet - I was looking at aluminium tread plates, but because the size differs from what is normally available it was going to cost well over £100, so I'm looking for alternatives.
 
We were of exactly the same opinion, but do check the floor supports at the same time (not in any doubt you would), just use it as an opportunity to give it a god once over. Also worth having a chat with a professional to get their opinion.
 
Just a thought, you can't put ally straight on other metals, I can't remember which, because the ions interact and cause rust
 
Thanks JillA - yes, the ifor fitted stuff is expensive.....I reckon they buy their planks from somewhere like Aalco tho, to make their own kits. I'm not averse to going straight to source to get my own planks or plate. Dad is going to look at some Alu suppliers on Thursday and chat to them about load/rigidity/thickness etc, so I'll report back re costs for the sizes I need :) and hopefully that will give you some info too.

LJR - well, I went out a hack this afternoon and returned to find the floor had gone....dad got started hahaa. On the plus side, from here he and I could check the axel/supports/struts and they are all strong and sound.

Frumpoon - yes indeed, I believe the steel can rot some types of aluminium so it would need to be appropriately treated before the two came into contact.
 
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