A few weeks ago we had a blog story about our weekend at the 2014 National Tractor Pulling Championships in Bowling Green, Ohio. One of the highlights of our visit was the opportunity we had to help one of our neighbor vendors improve the safety and functionality of their product display trailer by installing a set of Pit Products trailer door slider plates.

Trouble Unloading Rolling Crate from the Trailer

Andrew was the Pit Products crew member who took the lead during the weekend tractor pull event. Andrew was meeting the folks from Alliance Agricultural Tires, our next door neighbors for the weekend, when he noticed the trouble they were having getting a large wooden crate to roll down the trailer drop down ramp. The crate was pretty heavy and was big enough to haul a cow in. It was challenge enough to maneuver the crate on flat ground, but the hinge gap between the trailer floor and the trailer drop down door was providing a major hassle for the crew from Alliance Agricultural Tires.

Andrew helped them unload the crate and he mentioned that there was a handy product we manufacture that is specifically designed to bridge the gap between the trailer floor and trailer door. We call the solution the trailer door slider plates, but the unit is also commonly referred to as a trailer door gap cover, a hinged trailer gap cover, a ramp door gap cover, or a threshold cover, etc. Regardless of what you call it, the trailer door slider plates are a simple solution for that nuisance trip hazard and catch point created when the trailer door is folded out from the trailer floor.

We had a blog post from last summer about the overhaul of a lawn care and landscaping trailer. Within that blog post was a discussion and photos of a set of trailer door slider plates being installed.

Installing the Trailer Door Slider Plates

Sunday, when all the exhibitors were packing up their displays, the folks from Alliance Agricultural Tires came over to ask Andrew more about that trip hazard solution he mentioned to them a few days prior. Andrew showed them the trailer door slider plates that were installed on floor of the Pit Products demonstration trailer and answered their questions involving the installation process, what fasteners are required, how to verify which size of trailer door gap covers would work best, and they were also able to see the hinge plates in use.

They quickly decided that before they had to roll that huge, heavy crate back up into their trailer again, they should probably install a set of trailer door slider plates in their trailer. Andrew had a set that would work so they wanted to install them right away.

Andrew grabbed a drill motor and headed over to their trailer. He set the ramp door gap covers on the trailer floor to center them between the trailer walls and he aligned the gap covers so they would be parallel with the trailer floor trim piece.

The next step was to screw the hinge section of the slider plates to the floor of the trailer. Once the threshold cover plates were mounted to the trailer floor Andrew tested them out and showed the team from Alliance Agricultural Tires how the slider plates functioned in their trailer.

Trailer Improved with Slider Plates Installed

The real test came when the crew from Alliance pushed their wooden crate up the trailer ramp and felt it glide across the trailer door slider plates. They were amazed and they were happy. No more getting the wheels of the wooden crate stuck in the trailer door gap, no more tripping over that empty space between the trailer floor and the trailer drop down door, and no more rolled ankles or lost tools that somehow found their way into that crease.

The total installation time of the trailer door slider plates was approximately 10 minutes and after such an easy installation project and short amount of time the team from Alliance Agricultural Tires now had a vastly improved enclosed trailer. Their event trailer was safer, easier to load, faster to unload, and the gap between the trailer floor and trailer door was eliminated.

Install a Set of Trailer Door Slider Plates in Your Trailer

You can install a set of trailer door slider plates in your trailer just like we did for our friends from Alliance Agricultural Tires. Follow these steps and you’ll be all set:

1. Measure the distance between the inside of your trailer walls.
2. Visit the trailer door slider plates product page at PitProducts.com
3. Select the appropriate length set of plates for your trailer. We offer six (6) standard lengths that work for most enclosed trailers: 36 inch, 42 inch, 58 inch, 68 inch, 72 inch, and 84 inch.
4. Order your new trailer door slider plates.
5. Look for the slider plates to arrive in the mail in a few days.
6. Grab your drill motor.
7. Open the box and place the slider plates over the trailer door gap in your trailer. Be sure that the hinge piece is facing towards the inside of the trailer.
8. Center and align the slider plates.
9. Start installing the self-tapping screws into your trailer floor.
10. Enjoy your new and improved trailer with no gap!

Pit Products trailer door slider plates are designed to cover the gap between your enclosed trailer floor and trailer door. The slider plates make loading dollies, carts, toolboxes, and low clearance vehicles a snap. No more worrying about tripping over the gap, rolling your ankle, or falling down as you load equipment into your trailer. No more broken tools that get snapped into two pieces as you raise your trailer door to close the trailer after a hard day's work. The trailer door slider plates are built from heavy duty diamond plate aluminum and extra strength hinge material allowing you to permanently mount the plates to the inside of your trailer. The slider plates automatically flip up and lay down when opening and closing your trailer door.