Mounting Erickson E-Tracks to 3/8 Inch Plywood or Vinyl Covered Walls

Question:

Hello, What hardware size/length would you recommend to secure the e track to a standard cargo trailer plywood wall to avoid rubbing or piercing the outer aluminum? First, assume standard 3/8 plywood bare wood for most people. Next, what about if your trailer came with vinyl covered walls from the manufacturer? Thanks for the advice!

asked by: Scott

Expert Reply:

To mount Erickson E-Tracks like the 4 Foot Long # EM19147 that you are looking at you will want to use 1/4 inch diameter screws/bolts. The length is entirely dependent on the application but for 3/8 inch plywood I really recommend first securing the plywood to the trailer frame in as many points a possible (if not already done so).

You can also remove plywood from the areas you plan on installing the E-Track and reinforce the back of the plywood with a mounting plate like # e96RR. You can add anchor bolts to the plate that protrude through the plywood to the interior of the trailer so the E-Track can just be mounted right to them. This will allow you to use longer screws (without having to worry about piercing the outer aluminum) for a much sturdier connection than you would with attaching directly to the thin plywood.

I recommend this same concept for vinyl walls, as the vinyl itself won't be able to support much weight at all.

expert reply by: Chris R