Ash rots too easy out in the elements for me to use it on my trailers.White oak is heavy though . . .
Ships used to be built from white oak. Super dense and strong and was available in lengths and widths needed without knots.
Around here, I'd be inclined to look for some ash at the local sawmills. All the ash trees got wiped out a couple years ago and there's still a pretty good supply of ash logs around. The ash borer didn't really hurt the internal wood.
It's not white oak, but if it's good enough for baseball bats, it'd be great on a trailer.
Been looking around for info on the options for decking on my 6x10 trailer. I think for the cost I’m going to go with pressure treated. The last time I just used untreated boards and it didn’t last to well. Sounds like white oak and a type of laminate is better but way expensive. With the pressure treated it seems it shrinks quite abit. I would like to have a small gap in between my boards after all the shrinkage is done, about 3/16” to 1/4” would work I think to let debris be able to go through the gaps and not hold water so it can run off and drip through. From my search it seems some have laid the new boards on with no gap to 1/16” gap and when they are done shrinking you are left with about 1/4” gap. Curious what you guys have done. ThanksI would check in your area for a place that sells Marine grade Lumber. Bring it home and let it dry. This does two things, it allows the wood to shrink, and it allows the wood to soak up oil.
I would then build a box of two by eights or two by sixes longer than the longest boards on my trailer. Line the box with a heavy builders plastic to make a trough. Then you can fill the box with a stack of lumber with spacers between the layers and pour in whatever preservative you want. I have used diesel and used oil mixed and I’ve also used linseed oil. Allow them to soak for as long as you reasonably can before attaching them to your trailer.
It is kind of messy as you wait for them to dry back up from the oil bath. But if you’ve got the room to do it the bath will sure let your wood last longer.
I used this process when I built a small house here in Florida. The siding which was dipped in linseed oil has held up extremely well for 30 years to Trailer Decking. I have to add also that it was Cyprus Lumber that I used to do the board and batten siding.
White oak!I have an old trailer and the wooden deck is rotting out and needs to be replaced. I thought there was thread about this but I can't find it. So, what do folks recommend for a new deck to carry my 7K lb tractor?