How to Choose a Moving Car Trailer for Safe Transport？
3horsestrailer
October 9, 2026
10:35 am
Read More »
When choosing a trailer, many customers usually focus on the trailer size, load capacity, axles, tires, and braking system. However, they usually overlook the deck design.
In fact, the deck is one of the most important point of a trailer. It not only affects cargo loading stability but also directly influences the trailer’s service life and safety.
Currently, there are two common anti-slip deck designs in the trailer market: Diamond Plate and Fish Eye Plate.
So, what are the differences between these two types of decks? How should you choose the right one when purchasing a trailer?
Please carefully read the article below.
It will take about five minutes of your time, but it may also give you some knowledge I don’t know whether you need.
What Is Diamond Plate?
Diamond plate is a steel plate with raised patterns on its surface. The most common pattern is the diamond shape, that is why it is usually called “Diamond Plate” in the trailer industry.
Because the raised patterns increase friction, diamond plate is widely used in vehicle transport trailers, equipment transport trailers, construction vehicles, Industrial platforms and many other applications.
The manufacturing process of diamond plate is relatively mature. It is usually formed through hot rolling or cold rolling processes.
The surface pattern and the steel plate itself are made as one integrated structure, which means there is no problem with the pattern peeling off or separating from the plate.
This allows the pattern to remain intact even after long-term exposure to heavy loads and friction, unlike some attached anti-slip layers that may age and fall off over time.
Main Advantages of Diamond Plate
Strong Load-Bearing Capacity
Diamond plate is usually manufactured from steel, which provides excellent strength.
For trailers used to transport heavy cargo such as SUVs, construction machinery, and agricultural equipment, steel diamond plate provides stronger support.
Common applications include car hauler trailers, flatbed trailers, dump trailers.
These trailers often need to withstand concentrated loads on the deck for long periods, making steel diamond plate a very popular choice.
Excellent Wear Resistance
During trailer operation, the deck is constantly exposed to tire friction, metal equipment loading and unloading, Stones and dirt carried by tires.
For trailers frequently used outdoors, wear resistance is a very important factor.
Easy Cleaning and Maintenance
Although the surface pattern of diamond plate may collect some dirt, its overall structure is simple and easy to maintain.
With proper anti-rust treatment and painting, steel diamond plate can provide long-term service.
For daily cleaning, a high-pressure water gun can remove most mud and dust. For stubborn oil stains, normal industrial cleaners combined with a brush can be used.
One important point is that the deck surface should be kept dry after cleaning, especially during winter.
Water left on the deck may freeze and actually increase the risk of slipping.
In addition, regularly checking the paint condition and repairing damaged coating in time can effectively prevent rust and corrosion.
What Is Fish Eye Plate?
Fish eye plate is an anti-slip steel or aluminum plate with many round raised points on its surface.
Because these raised points look similar to fish eyes, it is called “Fish Eye Plate” in the trailer industry.
Compared with traditional diamond plate, fish eye plate provides stronger anti-slip performance.
It mainly increases the friction between tires and the deck through thousands of small raised points.
The manufacturing process of fish eye plate is completely different from diamond plate.
It starts with a flat metal sheet, then special punching equipment presses the material from the back side to create many round raised bumps.
These raised points are usually:
Height: around 2-3 mm
Diameter: around 8-12 mm.
The density of the raised points can be adjusted according to different application requirements.
Because this process requires good material flexibility, common materials include Q235 cold rolled steel plate and 5052 aluminum plate
Main Advantages of Fish Eye Plate
Excellent Anti-Slip Performance
The biggest advantage of fish eye plate is its excellent anti-slip ability.
Because the surface contains thousands of evenly distributed raised points, it can maintain good friction even when the deck is covered with:Rainwater, Mud and Dust.
Therefore, fish eye plate is especially suitable for sports car transport trailers, motorcycle trailers, ATV trailers and outdoor equipment transport trailers.
Especially in wet environments, fish eye plate can provide more stable grip and traction.
Better Appearance
Compared with traditional diamond plate, fish eye plate has a cleaner and more modern appearance.
For customers who care about product appearance, fish eye plate can better meet their expectations.
Especially for trailers used to transport sports cars, luxury SUVs, customized motorcycles.
Fish eye plate provides a more premium visual effect.
Many high-end vehicle transport companies specifically request fish eye plate decks because customers usually notice the trailer deck first.
The appearance of the deck directly affects their impression of the transportation service quality.
To put it simply, customers who spend a lot of money transporting a Porsche probably do not want to see an old-fashioned gray diamond plate deck.
Reduce Cargo Movement
During trailer transportation, cargo securing is extremely important.
If the friction between the cargo and the deck is insufficient, the cargo may move during sudden braking or turning.
The evenly distributed raised points of fish eye plate help improve stability between vehicles, equipment, and the trailer deck.
Disadvantages of Fish Eye Plate
However, the disadvantages of fish eye plate are also obvious.
The fish eye pattern is created by special punching equipment. Only relatively thin steel or aluminum sheets can be processed into this type of surface.
Although the punched surface increases friction, it cannot withstand strong force applied to a small contact area.
For example, one of our previous customers wanted to use straps to secure a vehicle. They directly attached the strap hooks to the fish eye holes, which caused damage to the fish eye pattern.
Later, we replaced the damaged deck panels for the customer. This experience helped us build stronger trust with the customer, and they eventually became one of our loyal distributors.
(There is no intention of showing off here. If any reader does not believe this story, you are welcome to personally experience our high-quality service.)
How to Use Fish Eye Plate
Here, I would like to further explain the correct way to use fish eye plate.
The raised points on fish eye plate are designed for anti-slip purposes, not for cargo securing.
The D-rings, strap hook holes, or side rail tie-down points specially designed on the trailer are the correct places for securing cargo.
If you use fish eye holes as anchor points, not only can the holes become deformed or even torn, but the fixing angle of the straps may also be incorrect, which means the cargo cannot be properly secured.
The correct method is:
First, connect the straps to the D-rings or dedicated hooks on the trailer side.
Then pass the straps over the vehicle tires or frame.
Finally, use a ratchet tensioner to tighten and secure the cargo.
In short:
The purpose of fish eye plate is to increase deck friction, not to carry pulling force.
How to Choose the Right Trailer Deck?
After explaining so much, we have finally reached the conclusion of this article.
How should you choose the right trailer deck?
Based on the information above, I believe most readers already have their own answer.
If you want to transport heavy equipment, such as excavators, tractors and construction machinery. Diamond plate will be your first choice.
If you want to transport vehicles, sports cars, cargo that requires strong friction. Fish eye plate will be your first choice.
If you do not want to use the D-rings installed on the trailer sides and prefer to install D-rings directly on the deck, diamond plate will be your better choice.
Choosing the right deck design can provide better safety, longer service life, and fewer unnecessary problems during future transportation operations.
Appendix 1. Trailer Regular Maintenance Tips
Many customers are very careful when purchasing a trailer. However, after bringing the trailer home, they often leave the deck alone and do not perform any maintenance for years.
In reality, even the best deck design requires proper maintenance.
Here are some practical maintenance suggestions:
Regularly Check Welding Points
The welding areas between the deck and the main trailer frame are some of the most important places to inspect.
Long-term heavy-duty transportation may cause small cracks in welding points.
We recommend checking these areas every three months.
If any problem is found, repair the welding immediately to prevent cracks from becoming larger.
Do Not Ignore Rust Prevention
Whether it is diamond plate or fish eye plate, rust may appear if the surface coating is damaged.
For trailers frequently used near the ocean or in high-humidity environments, we recommend applying anti-rust paint once a year.
If rust appears:Remove the rust with sandpaper or a grinding tool. Apply anti-rust primer. Apply the final protective coating.
Do not simply paint over rust, because the problem will continue underneath the coating.
Clean Drainage Holes
Trailer decks usually have drainage holes designed to remove rainwater and cleaning water.
If these drainage holes become blocked by mud or debris, water may remain on the deck surface for a long time and accelerate corrosion.
We recommend checking whether the drainage holes are clear after each cleaning.
Pay Attention to Deck Surface Temperature
During hot summer weather, the surface temperature of dark-colored trailer decks can exceed 60°C.
For trailers transporting motorcycles or performance tires, high deck temperatures may accelerate rubber aging.
If possible, choose lighter-colored coatings or use a sunshade when parking the trailer for long periods.
Never Exceed the Rated Load Capacity
This is the most important point.
Whether you use diamond plate or fish eye plate, every trailer deck has a designed load limit.
Overloading can not only deform the deck but also affect the structural safety of the entire trailer frame.
When purchasing a trailer, please confirm that the deck thickness and support structure match the rated load capacity.
During use, always control the cargo weight within the recommended limit.
If you have any questions about trailers, please feel free to contact us. We will answer them one by one.
By the way, how long did it take you to finish reading this article?
Feel free to like, comment, and share.
See you next time~
Share This Post
Sola Yang
Table of Contents
Custom Your Trailers
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to explore our trailer and discuss how we can meet your unique requirements.
Find Your Trailer
Whether you've purchased a trailer before or are learning about trailers for the first time, we can help you find the right trailer for you.
Recently Posts
How Does a Gravity Tilt Deck Trailer Work for Loading?
Lalune Teng
October 8, 2026
4:23 pm
Read More »
Tandem Axle Car Trailer: How to Choose the Right One
Lalune Teng
October 8, 2026
4:05 pm
Read More »
