Recommended Trailer Floor Screws for Attaching 1 Inch Decking Boards to 3/16 Inch Steel Angle Iron

Question:

My 5 x 8 Utility Trailer has one of those basic metal mesh surfaces now over angle iron frame. I Want to attached 1 inch treated decking boards. Is the screw threads strong enough to withstand threading through angle Iron after drilling the pilot hole? Angle Iron is 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch thick. Im only seeing references to sheet-metal in the demos so looking for some additional advice before ordering. Also, would you recommend the 2 1/4 inch screw rather than the 1 1/2 inch to insure getting well passed the tapered end.

asked by: Kurt

Expert Reply:

As long as you have a pilot hole the screw threads will be strong enough to withstand threading through the angle iron. You should be fine with the 1-1/2 inch screws like # TFX150ACQ you were looking at.

For your setup the 1-1/2 will be sufficiant but you can also go with the longer 2-1/4 inch screws # TFX250ACQ. Both of these will work but you will just have more screw poking through on the other end with the longer ones.

Since you are attaching treated wood to your trailer, I recommend either lengths of the ACQ screws over the non specialized screws # TF01250 you were looking at. The treatment of the wood will corrode the non treated metal screw very quickly, where the ACQ treated bolt will be protected better from corrosion.

If you don't already have a Torx Head Screwdriver Bit # TX430-1, you will need one to install these screws.

I have linked all the above mentioned products to this page for your convenience.