1982 Fiber Stream Floor

[Victor Benz]

I've been making progress on my trailer overhaul over the past few weeks, and have come across an issue. I am interested in what others have seen and/or done about it.

The Fiber Stream fiberglass shell is screwed from below the trailer to the 1/2" plywood floor. The floor, and thereforr the trailer shell is attached to the trailer frame with an array of 1/4" carriage bolts along the plywood edges.

I have noticed that virtually all my 1/4" carriage bolts are wll sunk into the flooring, and quite loose, from 1/16" to as much as 3/16". Lying below the trailer, I can wiggle them very easily.

Has anyone had a similar issue and what did you do?

I am thinking that the carriage bolts below the bed benches will be replaced with regular bolts and 1/4" fender washers.

The ones in the middle of the floor will be removed, the floor fiberglassed (I was planning to do this anyway to strengthen the floor), and then new carriage bolts installed.

Any thoughts on these ideas?

[Benita]

I think Lynn Peters has done the most extensive Fiber Stream reflooring or anyone on this board. Her floor was soft and rotted through in a few spots. She contracted out the work. Everyone else has replanked atop a bad place or two. Your post provides me with valuable information about what's under my trailer. Your plan sounds as sensible as any other plan for attacking the problem.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Has anyone had a similar issue and what did you do?

At the moment, all of my floor fasteners are tight, as they have been since I bought the trailer... I have a different issue with a sagging frame... but am "living with it" for the time being.

[potteralice]

Gee, victor and fred, now if a few bolts would only fix MY sagging frame..........

[Con]

You could try Elevator Bolts. I have used these in restoring horse carrages and they work great in wood. I would suggest Stainless Steel though. Do it once and you will never need to do it again!

[Victor Benz]

You could try Elevator Bolts.

What a great idea! There is also a somewhat local supplier, The Bolt Supply House in Edmonton.

In your debt;

Victor

[Con]

You are welcome Victor. I am just cram full of usless informatiom.
Gee! I haven't been out your way in a few years. We aere always on our way to the llama sale in Red Deer.

[Dan Meyer]

Elavator bolts! How cool!

(And I was going to suggest fender washers.)

-- Dan Meyer

[Con]

For those of you who have other fastening problems to solve.
Here is another fastener I have used in wood work. Tee Nuts are very useful in some applications.
At the turn of the century there were a whole lot of carriage makers out of work when the automobile makers started to come into production. Many switched over to some of the car makers like Chev.
I found Tee nuts in the wood body framing of a friends 1932 Chev. that I was redoing the framing for. I found a supply of new ones at a old hardware store in our town.
Ford switched to steel body framing quite early on so that put a bunch more wood workers out of work.

[potteralice]

con,

what is happening to the link you supplied? i click on it and begin to read when it suddenly shrinks and blurs so i cannot read it. this happened on both the elevator bolts and tee bolts, both of which i need for some stuff in my studio.

[KenReiss]

i click on it and begin to read when it suddenly shrinks and blurs so i cannot read it.

If you are using XP and IE, allow your mouse to hover over the image without moving the pointer. After about 2 seconds you'll see an 'enlarge' icon on the bottom right of the image.

[Con]

Can't explain it. They are .jpg attachments so should be no problem.
If you want to see any of the items go to http://www.mcmaster.com/
When I was still working as a draftsman this was my bible for hard to find items.

[Roy in TO]

Can't explain it. They are .jpg attachments so should be no problem.
If you want to see any of the items go to http://www.mcmaster.com/
When I was still working as a draftsman this was my bible for hard to find items.

It's not your attachments, it is the biggest Win XP annoyance I know. Followed shortly by the removal of shrink to fit in print preview. The first wastes time, the second paper.