Side Kit - Jon F

RCP · Nov 29, 2016

I am looking into buying a used side kit from a flat bed trailer and cut it down to use on my equipment trailer. I have a couple of questions;

1) Is there a common spacing for trailer stake pockets?
2) Is there a good way to fix holes or tears in tarps?
3) Do the side kits hurt fuel mileage?
4) What is a good tool for cutting aluminum?

I haul a pulling tractor and I want to keep it out of the salt during our trip south.

Thanks
Rich

farmallstrong · Nov 29, 2016

Rich, Ron Dunlap has a trailer with side boards and a tarp top. He hauls 2 tractors with it. I was told he was looking to sell it. If you like I will call him. Al

RCP · Nov 30, 2016

Al

Thanks, but I am going to add the boards to my existing trailer.

Rich

jon f mn · Nov 30, 2016

The only one of those questions I can asnwer for sure is the last one since I don't deal with tarps. And when I built trailer I just put the pockets where they worked out and didn't pay much attention to spacing. I will stop today and measure some tho to see if they are all the same or not.

For cutting aluminum there are several good ways to do it. The easiest is to use a regular circular saw with a regular carbide blade, they will cut it the best with the least trouble without even dulling the blade. Make sure you use hearing protection and a full face shield because hot sharp pieces will be flying! You can also use a band saw,but the aluminum will stick to the blade some so you will need to coat it with something. I use regular nozzle spray for mig welding, but spray lube like wd40 works or you can rub wax like a candle on it. Also do that with what ever you use for grinding to keep the wheel cleen. You can also cut aluminum with a plasma cutter if you have one.

moresmoke · Nov 30, 2016

I had shortened up a 45' kit to fit my 25' gooseneck years back. Most of the stake pckets were in the right spot, but I did have some panels I had to custom fit due to the beaver tail. The kit I had was just plywood panels, so easy enough to shorten or make new ones.

Tarps can have repairs sewn on with an awl and heavy thread. If you don't have the tools and haven't sewn much, it might be best to have a tarp shop make repairs. When i shortened my tarp, I had a hand held bag closer that I used to resew the end.

As long as the top is not much higher then your tractor, I don't think you will see any change in fuel mileage. My camper is about as tall as my pulling tractor on the gooseneck. I get the same fuel mileage pulling either, even though the camper weighs 1/3 as much.

The biggest callenge I had in fitting the side kit was the bows were originally for a 96" trailer. My trailer was 100" so I had to widen all the bows.

casecollectorsc · Nov 30, 2016

Don't know where you're at, but I have a side kit here in E SD. Always took tarps to a place like Sioux City Tarp for repair. With the tarp on mileage wasn't affected very much...tarp off caused turbulence that made the trailer pull harder..You can glue patches on with Tehr Grease glue and pieces of old tarp.

RCP · Nov 30, 2016

Thanks everyone for the feedback, we are located in western Pa, and we have some local tarp shops that should be able to modify the tarp for me. The kit is for a 102 and my trailer is a 102, so width should be OK.

Rich

caterpillar guy · Nov 30, 2016

Yup most of the regular flatbed trailers are the same on semi's. For cutting some of those have a foam filling for support in the panels. Any tarp place where you can buy a tarp has tarp patching kits. They are just a piece of tarp material with some contact cement. Or their brand of it. No sewing involved. I have mine done as they can apply heat to help them sort of melt on as well. I think unless you get the tarp higher than the tractor so it does not rub you will have marks on the paint from the rubbing while driving. Just use an enclosed trailer and save the cost of the side kit.

RCP · Nov 30, 2016

Thanks for the input, the side kit will not rub on the tractor. I already have the flatbed and a used side kit is a lot cheaper than an enclosed trailer.

Rich

Side Kit - Jon F

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moresmoke

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