Woodworker help & thoughts needed for our new trailer deck

[ebinmaine 72,993]

3 minutes ago, davem1111 said:

I'm late to the party here, but thought I'd add this -  when I bought my used but fairly new cargo trailer, the PO had installed these in it, on the sides. 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, davem1111 said:

 

They are probably a bit expensive but very versatile. 

 

Given the right deal you can do E track for a pretty reasonable price.  

 

 

3 minutes ago, davem1111 said:

Probably not great for floor mounting.

 

 

I considered this for several weeks. 

What finally made me go to a D ring is that the E track can be slippery, especially when rained on. 

 

[8ntruck 7,877]

On 6/17/2025 at 6:09 PM, ebinmaine said:

 

The way this was explained to me by my trailer dealer:

If the fastener is ONLY in the wood then you're depending entirely on the strength of the wood in a fast stop or worse situation. 

The bolt threads will pull out of wood LONG before the same is true for steel. 

 

I don't have a formula for understanding the deceleration of mass from say 55 mph to zero. 

Imagine a 600 lb tractor trying to come to a complete stop when the trailer does....

This is several THOUSAND pounds of force now pulling at the wood.  

 

 

Force depends on how fast you stop.  Force = mass x acceleration, or in the case of a stop, force = mass x deceleration.  Not a linear relationship, either. 

 

If you are involved in a crash or even sudden, hard brake application, you get into impact loading, where the stiffness of the structures involved and the elasticity of your tie down gear enter the force calculations.

[HyperPete 873]

On 6/17/2025 at 6:10 PM, davem1111 said:

I'm late to the party here, but thought I'd add this -  when I bought my used but fairly new cargo trailer, the PO had installed these in it, on the sides.  They are probably a bit expensive but very versatile.  Probably not great for floor mounting.

 

 

I use e-track in my enclosed motorcycle trailer.  It holds my 900# bike securely, although I have never tested it by sudden impact!

Fast deceleration, yes.

[ebinmaine 72,993]

25 minutes ago, HyperPete said:

 

I use e-track in my enclosed motorcycle trailer.  It holds my 900# bike securely, although I have never tested it by sudden impact!

Fast deceleration, yes.

 

 

How's it fastened to the trailer?

[HyperPete 873]

32 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

How's it fastened to the trailer?

Many bolts through the 3/4" plywood flooring.  I believe there are bolt holes about every 8 - 12" on each side of the track, and mine is 8' long.

Sadly, no pics of the e-track, just the trailer.

 

Whoops, ALMOST posted the link to the 8' horizontal track at etrailer dot com.

 

 

 

[JPWH 6,365]

This is what I have installed on my trailer. 3/8" bolt through the center to the frame and a 1/4" bolt offset to keep it from turning.