replanking my trailer question

[Gary Fowler]

Chris: that is exactly the way I was thinking to replace boards. I think getting the old screws our is probably hardest. Any tips on getting out the old boards.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Regarding lifespan of the planking- I think they have shorter life now due to the change from CCA preservative to the less toxic form which is not as good a preservative. It needs a little help from other sources to keep the water out like a good water seal preservative or motor oil treatment as some suggest.
I think I am going to let my new trailer dry out really well for 6 months or so and give it a Thompsons water seal or maybe other brand but a good sealer on it about every 2 years top and bottom and especially saturate it on the end hold down plates and this should keep them safe a long time and keep all the leaves and trash off it so it can naturally dry after a rain would work too I think.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris: that is exactly the way I was thinking to replace boards. I think getting the old screws our is probably hardest. Any tips on getting out the old boards.

I just go at them with a chain saw. Check for wires and such first. Then you will have small sections of wood with the screws left in. Many times just spinng the small remaining block of wood will remove it. If not whack it with a sledge and split the block or use a chisel. The you can get it out using Vise Grips or a grinder and cut off wheel.

Chris

 

[LD1]

I agree you are making the gap thing too hard.

Personally, If it were me, I'd make the gaps bigger. A 1" gap aint gonna hurt anything. Driving a tractor on it isnt going to make a difference what the gap is. So just slap them down.

As to the lumber not lasting long.....I dont know about down south, but up here we us a lot of salt on the roads and I think that is a big part of it right there. Because the decks and stuff that I have built out of PT lumber holds up REALLY well. Only thing different with a trailer (in my area) is road salt.

 

[Haoleguy]

Short note on wood choice. For those in areas where black locust is available you could buy dimensioned lumber rough sawn and not have to worry about any treatments. This stuff is so durable and doesn't move much. The only catch would be lumber weight increase for this dense wood. Personally I would do this over PT any day. For those in the east there is lumber wholesaler with black locust just north of Albany, NY....Gary

 

[clemsonfor]

I still cant understand the rotting PT wood?? Is this Southern Pine? I have boards that have been laying on the ground for years near my shed and only have surface temite damage on them that are above ground treated?

You dont hear your neighbor who built his dock or deck 3+ years ago saying he has to redeck it as its rotted!!

And if you have road salt i think this would help longevity? Salt is a preservative, bugs cant thrive on a salty board not sure about all fungus though?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I will add this. My fathers deck we built in 1980 or 1981. Its PT and is still in serviceable shape. It needs replaced but I am not afraid to walk on it or even have 25 people on it at one time for a party.

My deck was built in 2004 and this spring I have had to replace about 1/10th the deck boards. Its the "new" PT stuff.

The old saying "they just dont make it like they used to" holds very true when it comes to PT lumber, at least in my area.

Around here the wood of choice for trailers is White Oak. You have to go to the saw mill to get it but I am lucky and have one only 4 miles away. It cost and many times you must wait on it for upto a month to be cut up so I will admit we use PT many times due to cost and availability.

Chris

 

[clemsonfor]

All my loggers and big Lowboy trailers are Oak, but those are full 2 or 3x stuff i think. But its so coated in hydro oil etc that that helps its longevity.

 

[two_bit_score]

Ipe rough saw lumber last as long as trailer will. Install it and forget about it, space 1/8" apart, use self drilling countersunk torx screws. It wont warp or split, and is not slick when wet.:thumbsup:

WOW. That's a great idea if you can afford it. :thumbsup:


Where did you get the rough sawn ipe?




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[pat32rf]

I just re-decked a ten ft long utility using 2x8PT. I found that if I cut the boards the right length, I could slide them all the way forward into the "C section", then slide them halfway back into the rear section and bolt them down, 1/2 way into front and rear (about 1")

 

[dstig1]

I used Chris's method (more or less) to replace one broken board on my 16' trailer. It was not hard to do. PT boards are pretty wet and that makes them quite flexible. I used a quick grip clamp to pull the free end down and then knocked out the support block at the center.

 

[Dr Dave]

I was mistaken,:confused2: not Ipe, I checked with supplier, it is Apitong that we use, from Lane trailer in Gilbert, Ia. We have over 40 of there trencher trailers, 2004 models, with this decking. Still looks like new, used in salt all winter, dirt left on deck most of the time, and no rot or splits.

 

[escavader]

You are making this way too hard. Put the first few planks in at a angle and pound them over with a sledge to get them lined up. The last 3 or so put the front in the cup and then place a 12" or so long piece of 2x4 vertically on the rear axle and place the plank on it. No take your FEL, or if you do not have one a big fat buddy and have him step on it, and push the rear end down to the rear cup. Now take your sledge and knock out the piece of 2x4 you put on the rear axle. I do it all the time, maybe 4 times a year and it works great. I can replace the boards on your trailer in 15 minutes without grinding or cutting out the rear cup.

Chris

Thanks CHRIS,I took a vacation day from work today,and am finishing my coffee and gonna go at it.Ithink you just saved me a boat load of work
ALAN

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks CHRIS,I took a vacation day from work today,and am finishing my coffee and gonna go at it.Ithink you just saved me a boat load of work
ALAN

The trick is finding the right length 2x4. Its trial and error. Once you get it right go at it.

Chris

 

[escavader]

coffee break 1.5 hours later trailer wire brushed blown off and covered with liquod gold from top to bottom.Boy am i dirty,just my hands clean.Good thing wife aint home to see me in the house gonna go a planking in a bit
ALAN

 

[two_bit_score]

I was mistaken,:confused2: not Ipe, I checked with supplier, it is Apitong that we use, from Lane trailer in Gilbert, Ia. We have over 40 of there trencher trailers, 2004 models, with this decking. Still looks like new, used in salt all winter, dirt left on deck most of the time, and no rot or splits.

I ran across a good bit of ipe that a yard had left over from a big decking job and got it pretty cheap a couple years back. Haven't used much of it.

Never thought about using it on a trailer. It would be heavy.

Never heard of Apitong.


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[two_bit_score]

coffee break 1.5 hours later trailer wire brushed blown off and covered with liquod gold from top to bottom.Boy am i dirty,just my hands clean.Good thing wife aint home to see me in the house gonna go a planking in a bit
ALAN

Hope you can post some before, and after pics!



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[Mike476]

When I cleared some of our property I milled some of the popular to redeck the stall floors in the horses stables, had to re-deck them every second year when I used spruce or pine (we keep shoes on during winter months). I'm absolutely amazed at how well it's stood up from the weather (stables open to the paddock, only put the horses in when the weather is really bad in winter months). We change bedding daily but when we sweep the stalls clean once a week the decking literally looks as though it was just laid down.

Got the idea from a local farmer who said he decks his trailers with popular and uses it in his stables, stuff dries rock hard (have to drill to get a nail through it) and weathers extremely well, he was right, that was three years ago now and no signs of rot or wear, at all. Nice to not have to do it near as often, dirty job!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well, how did it go?

Chris

 

[Haoleguy]

When I cleared some of our property I milled some of the popular to redeck the stall floors in the horses stables, had to re-deck them every second year when I used spruce or pine (we keep shoes on during winter months). I'm absolutely amazed at how well it's stood up from the weather (stables open to the paddock, only put the horses in when the weather is really bad in winter months). We change bedding daily but when we sweep the stalls clean once a week the decking literally looks as though it was just laid down.

Got the idea from a local farmer who said he decks his trailers with popular and uses it in his stables, stuff dries rock hard (have to drill to get a nail through it) and weathers extremely well, he was right, that was three years ago now and no signs of rot or wear, at all. Nice to not have to do it near as often, dirty job!

Popular is an interesting choice as it is a known soft wood that is easy to sand but one that is often used in painted cabinetry, molding, etc. because it doesn't move(warp, twist, etc) as it ages. I'm impressed that it is durable enough.....Gary