Trailer Tie Downs

[Barnyard]

I want to add some recessed “D” rings to the wood deck of my trailer. I picked up a set of of them from my trailer guy and he suggested I use a flat plate under the wood instead of washers. I had figured on doing that and putting the plate under the frame rails. He advised against that and said to put the plates directly to the wood and sandwich it. I always used the side tie downs on my other trailer and didn’t need “D” rings. I have pockets on the new trailer but with side boards I may need the rings.

What do you guys who haul all the time think?

[Don McCombs]

I'd ask him the reason for his recommendation.

[Steve Butram]

If I didn't have 10" of snow on the trailer I would show you my recessed tie downs in the wood deck. i bought some 5000LB tie downs, bolted the hinge side through the cross member. I'm planning on adding more in the future. Sure beats tying down on the side rails or stake pockets

[b52c130]

Barnyard,
I would think that if the tie down was recessed into 2 x ?? lumber with a 4"x4" steel backer plate underneath - that should be strong enough (if the wood is in good condition). The bigger question though is how are the planks held down to the cross members? If it is a newer trailer with those 'power nails' driven threw the planks into the cross members - I would not trust them. I would drill and place two carriage bolts threw the planks in the cross members in front of and behind the tie down location.
Hope that helps, NJDale

[Barnyard]

I'd ask him the reason for his recommendation.

Don, my thought was to recess them straddling the cross member and run the bolts down below the cross member on each side and put a plate under the crossmember. He said that would be too rigid and that they needed to flex. I think tying my straps to the side pockets would be just as rigid. Semis do it all the time.

I like Steve's idea also. They wouldn't go anywhere that way either. I could still run a plate under the wood that way to tie in the rear bolts to the two through the frame.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

A lot of trailers have the planks held down only by a crosspiece at each end, I would not trust that.

[Bigdog]

I would definitely tie them into the crossmembers.

[Barnyard]

A lot of trailers have the planks held down only by a crosspiece at each end, I would not trust that.

Mine have two screws at every crossmember. I don't trust that either.

[Don McCombs]

I think I would ignore your trailer guy, in this particular case.

[Jim Becker]

Don, my thought was to recess them straddling the cross member and run the bolts down below the cross member on each side and put a plate under the crossmember.

That sounds good to me. I don't think you can have too rigid. I've seen a lot of tie downs attached to a piece of wood and evidently most get along just fine. But I don't trust tieing down to a piece of flooring.

[Barnyard]

Jim, that was my thought since I got the trailer and that is what I will go with.

How thick should the plate be? And what grade for the bolts? They're gonna be about six inches long. (not carriage bolts)

[Mr E]

Barny, be sure to remember the details of however this turns out. I want to pick your brain on this subject at DSCF.

[Barnyard]

Barny, be sure to remember the details of however this turns out. I want to pick your brain on this subject at DSCF.

Roy if I get it done this weekend you can see it at DSCF. After everything I have been through since the first of the year there is very little brain left to pick.

[Winfield Dave]

Barny, be sure to remember the details of however this turns out. I want to pick your brain on this subject at DSCF.

Don't worry Roy, Bill is always great with photos of his projects...I have certainly benefited from them.

[Jim Becker]

I don't know the details of the D rings you got as to size, strength, number of holes etc. I guess you could look at the rating of the ring, divide by the number of bolts etc. etc. and calculate how strong it needs to be. Or just go with grade 5 or 8 and don't worry about it. Look at the plate that is part of the D rings and come up with something at least as sturdy for the bottom side.