Installing Plywood Deck on Harbor Freight Utility Trailer

Join Steph as she adds a plywood bed and back end rail to the utility trailer!

This video is professionally closed captioned.

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FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

[worldofwisdom]

Nothing better than doing a project like this with your aging parents, memories and love❤❤.

[bluthdude]

You guys did a great job on the finishing of this trailer! Smart to let the board dry before painting it. Keep making these clear, concise and informative videos! Thanks!

[balconio]

HUGE THANKS for the suggestion of cutting a pencil down to fit inside the frame and mark the bolt holes from underneath... After reading their instructions I thought there HAS to be a better way. I searched "HF trailer deck install" and your video was the first one that came up. It was super easy!

[skylarking]

Couple tips from mine: I use heavy-duty screw eyes to lock the picket boards into the holders - they can be tightened or removed with a large screwdriver or pliers handle, then these eyes become tie-down attach points for your safety straps too.

I took the axle and wheels to a service station and had the garage mechanic check and repack the wheel bearings the right way, brought the components back home and continued assembly. Not expensive and gave me peace of mind.

Pickup truck bed-liner paint is great to weatherproof and ruggedized the plywood. Paint or coat the plywood before install.

Instead of having to crawl under the trailer and undo/redo bolts for folding and un-folding, I have a threaded steel rod that passes thru the sides of the trailer at those square carriage bolt holes, and screws down tight with wing nuts and/ or locknuts.

You can upgrade the casters to larger ones that roll easier and better, but may need to loosen one bolt on each side to help clearance when folding.

No time in the vids was spent on installing the wiring harness. It's not complicated, but do it early in the assembly process for best/easiest access, and keep some slack in the wires between the folding sections, or you'll wear out or snap or pinch the wires when you fold and unfold the trailer. I used tubular plastic wire loom to contain and protect my wiring, and attached it all with zip ties, so the electrical system will flex without hanging down and catching against things on the road when under way. Also, spend time to scrape the paint away from the screw hole where the white ground wire attaches, for clean metal-to-metal contact, and make that connection TIGHT, or your lights will forever give you trouble.


I added a couple more after-market picket pockets in key spots, so now my folding trailer doubles as a small boat-hauling trailer, by plugging in two simple carpeted bunks on the side pockets. I don't back this trailer into water, but remove the boat at water's edge for launch and recovery. The folding action lets the trailer tilt like a ramp to make this easy.

After every trip, touch the wheel hubs lightly with your fingers, feel if they are hot: If very hot, you need to re-pack the grease in the bearings. Soon.

PS: without much work, a carpet pad and folding tent can go on this trailer and make an easy overnight micro-camper. Be aware these trailers have lower speed limits than your car, and if you tow them a long way at 65 or 70, you will get into bad situations. They are ideal for cross-town/suburban, lower-speed use. For long interstate travel, maybe rent a u-haul.

[GHE]

So great to see that other female doing construction, assembling & using tools. Wonderful to c that Mom & Dad r there to help also. 👏🏽👍🏽

[Doug-xtbn]

Very well done ladies. It looks very professional and solid. Better than many so called professionals (men or women)

[gormauslander]

You have infinitely more patience and resolve for spending more effort for better results than I do. Wouldn't have even thought to coat the wood

[michaelboyle]

Girl . Nicely done you and your family. Helps when you have good helpers .

[saucytabasco]

Incredible. Beautiful, smart and sound methadology. Love seeing women who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves, bonus points when they do it better than most men would. Well done.

[stephengalvan]

You and your mom pardon my French are badass just for your information I built the exact same trailer for the 2x4s that are used for the railing is best to keep those brackets off and bend them around the 2x4 to ensure a tighter fit but you gals did a great job

[nikwax]

Thanks for the video! Two suggestions:

MDO (medium density overlay) plywood, which is used to make road signs, is very weather resistant, durable, and ready to be painted.

Carriage bolts, in my experience, will fail over time (the square hole rounds out) and cannot be secured from above to tighten. Also, either nylon lock nuts, or using blue Locktite, will secure the nuts in place.

[stlproa]

Marine plywood is a great upgrade, along with applying joist tape (as used on the top of deck floor joists, )wrapped around the edges also extends decking life.

[trsdos]

I've had mine for 16 years. My deck is now shot. Loved the way you did yours. I will be following this video for my replacement deck

[tomycodd]

I just ordered the 1720lb rated trailer.I am going to put an electric winch on the front. I do small engine repair and will be able to pull dead lawn tractors, etc.on to the trailer..Can't wait to get this but I am told it is a 4-6 week wait for it to arrive at the store.Thank you for the great video!

[arkansasgreg]

You ladies, (and dad, ) did a great job. Thanks for the great content.

[Aydansmamma]

Wonderful, informative video! Thank you for being so detailed!

[doctorcereza]

Awesome video! I'm watching all of these to get some ideas and this is the most comprehensive. For people talking about the price, HF has 20% off coupons throughout the year--my 1720lb last week was 422$

[johnu]

Thanks for the video, I forgot which and where the carriage bolts were to fold this trailer for storage. Thanks again, great job!

[beaubrummelmotorizedbicycles]

Great job, a big well done. They make a specialized wood, self tapping screw, designed for wood floors of flat bed trucks. They are expensive but for your project maybe $35. You simply cut your plywood to fit, then seal it with primer/exterior acrylic enamel or a good exterior wood stain (Olympic was a very good choice). Snap chalk lines on your metal stringers, then every 8 to 12 inches you screw the fasteners in. The self tapping screws go right through the wood into the metal and turn into small threaded bolts. I did my 1/2 ton flat bed pick up truck in a matter of hours, by myself. The screws were the way the factory had installed the wood bed originally when new. I'm very impressed with the skills and problem solving you ladies did and a very well done.

[osvaldoumana]

I just finished the wiring on my trailer....which by thee way, I bought for about 350 and it is now thanks for the tips about finishing the bed. Great job guys!!! thanks again!!