Slippery Trailer Dovetail

DanMD · May 14, 2019

I bought a used deckover trailer that has a 5' dovetail with wood flooring on the dovetail. I have had a few hair raising experiences trying to load when the wood is wet. I was thinking of installing expanded metal on top of the wood on the dovetail for traction. Anybody done this or have a better idea?

Thanks,
Dan

504 · May 14, 2019

The bad things about metal is tripping on it, and hooking it when it gets some age on it. But it is a
lot better than sliding a tractor sideways off of the trailer.

MSD · May 14, 2019

We got some old sprint car tires and cut the sidewalls out of them. Screwed them to the dovetail and it works pretty good. Tires are real soft so they lay flat without the sidewalls.

Tom from IL · May 14, 2019

I bolted pieces of expanded metal to the dovetail. Worked very
well.

newhollandnut · May 14, 2019

Might not be feasible or maybe even you don?t want to but
what about tearing off the wood and welding angle iron on and
turning it into a self cleaning dovetail

Pete in Holland MI · May 14, 2019

Is the wood oil soaked or moss covered? Maybe a good pressure washing will get rid of some of the
slipperiness.

Adding straps of rubber tire will hold moisture and promote rot.

Some heavy gauge expanded metal will probably do the trick. Just remember that as you drive up on to the
trailer, the tires will be doing their best to wipe it off the trailer deck. As mentioned earlier, over
fasten it to the deck to keep it from lifting and creating other issues.

Really heavy gauge stuff will hold its shape better than thin stuff.

Good luck !

rustred · May 14, 2019

just paint it with non slip paint. it will be like sand paper finish.metal is slippery also when wet.

Pete in MD · May 14, 2019

I had the same problem about 3 years ago. Put down expanded metal lathe with deck screws and fender washers,
no more problem. It's stood up good and still looks like the day I put it on.

kcm.MN · May 14, 2019

Another idea would be to buy some 1 1/2" roofing screws and drive them in as many as needed. No tripping hazard, but much better traction. The hex heads will stand up well. Galvanized finish is probably cheapest, but could get any color you want.

Russ from MN · May 14, 2019

If it will hold paint the truck bed lining paint is really good, I put it on our boat trailer where I need to step.

SweetFeet · May 14, 2019

My husband took flat strap iron, cut it length and installed it going across his
ramps at several inch intervals. Works well.

Can't remember if he used screws or bolts to secure the straps.

Rich'sToys · May 14, 2019

(quoted from post at 20:58:29 05/14/19) I bolted pieces of expanded metal to the dovetail. Worked very
well.

That's what I did also. I used REALLY heavy gauge stuff.

D beatty · May 14, 2019

It will Work.I have several guys I pull with that have did that. When I bought my new
trailer I didn't get the wood dove tail after talking with other guys but got the
angle iron dove tail.

Geo-TH,In · May 15, 2019

RobCons · May 15, 2019

Got the same problem. Thinking of replacing the wood with angle iron. The iron seems like it would be slick also but I could make a hinge so the dovetail would lift up giving me a flat deck.

Keith True · May 15, 2019

The guys around me always used old worn out bulldozer pads.There was always plenty of them around,and they already have holes in them.I've welded a few of them on trailers with steel dovetails too.

RCP · May 15, 2019

We put belting from a gravel plant on our dovetail, it worked pretty well, it doesn't trap dirt like expanded metal will. It is
important to remove mud and snow before loading.

Rich

Traditional Farmer · May 15, 2019

A couple of those horse/stall mats like they sell at TSC ought to work pretty good.

stonerock · May 15, 2019

angle iron is slick when wet or frost nothing you can do. wood is slick when wet or frost but you can put sand or gravel on ramp and still load,each has there own purpose I have them both, I haul pullin truck and tractors with wooden dove tail, dozers and hoes with angle iron beaver tail. this is how I do it, everybody is different

D7fever · May 15, 2019

Doesn't make any difference what the beavertail is made of, when it is wet it is slippery, like one said, wood you can put gravel or sand on, it helps ,a little. Only sure thing is have a winch and pull it up when wet, or frosty. Or wait until it is dry LOL. I have both kinds.

TimWafer · May 15, 2019

(quoted from post at 09:21:20 05/15/19) Another idea would be to buy some 1 1/2" roofing screws and drive them in as many as needed. No tripping hazard, but much better traction. The hex heads will stand up well. Galvanized finish is probably cheapest, but could get any color you want.

I second this idea. I did it on the dovetail of my trailer years ago and it has worked and held up well.

the tractor vet · May 15, 2019

Nothing is a sure fire way not to slip and slide while loading when wet or frosty . my goose neck has diamond plater with 1 inch channel for grippers sorta ok for rubber tires but can be fun with something with steel tacks . Rough sawed oak does ok till it is frozen . The treated pine is slippery when wet and frozen . Yep i have SIDE UNLOADED several times in my life , First time when i was a pup loading a 22B Bucyers one brisk frosty morning . Back in those days we did not have Detach low boys and it was load over the side , set down a sires of blocks and climb up on and spin it around . The getting up on went well , those old shovels only did the turning on one track and you locked the other one . Almost had it turned when she slid and off the side she went with the cab door on the down hill side . Yea that was fun wright down on the street half on half off . No down pressure all cable and wiggling it around to drop it off and try again now from the street , had a dozer come off a low boy and almost go all the way over once again fun times getting it the rest of the way off with out killing myself, had my S/MTA slide off my goose neck while loading one night after a tractor pull , had a Gleaner E 3 darn near come all the way off when the one ramp kicked out. What helps the most is being careful as you can and have a sealed five gallon bucket of play sand to dust the areas when wet or frosty, don't take much a couple cup fulls throwen across the tail and deck .

Paul Shuler · May 15, 2019

I have a friend that put roofing shingles on his. Works great.

sotxbill · May 15, 2019

Paint it and then throw sand into the wet paint. Lots of it.. then, more paint and more sand. This is the easiest way to do it if you already have wood. Those who put used oil on the lumber are hopelessly screwed.

D beatty · May 15, 2019

I have load in down poring rain, dew, and frost and never had any slip age with angle iron. The only problem comes with frost on deck.

DanMD · May 15, 2019

(quoted from post at 13:30:34 05/15/19)

(quoted from post at 09:21:20 05/15/19) Another idea would be to buy some 1 1/2" roofing screws and drive them in as many as needed. No tripping hazard, but much better traction. The hex heads will stand up well. Galvanized finish is probably cheapest, but could get any color you want.

Click to expand...

I second this idea. I did it on the dovetail of my trailer years ago and it has worked and held up well.

I have a lot of brown roofing screws left over from a building we just put up. How close of a pattern did you do?

Slippery Trailer Dovetail

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