Tractor decking - White Oak vs. Pressure Treated

[HawkinsHollow]

I need a new deck on my trailer. I have a sawmill but do not have any white oak logs long enough to serve the purpose. BUT, if white oak is going to be that much better than pressure treated wood I will find one.
So my question is: What is better white oak deck boards with the oil/diesel treatment or pressure treated 2x6s? If white oak is the answer, is it THAT MUCH better to go through the trouble of sourcing a white oak log to mill the boards out of? This trailer will primarily be used for moving logs and my trailer. The log loading process will probably not be very kind to the trailer decking.

The old timer that I usually ask about such things seems to think that white oak will be substantially superior to pressure treated. What says ye?

 

[2manyrocks]

White oak will be stronger than PT pine of the same dimension. White oak (but not red oak) has the reputation of being decay resistant. If needed, a sawmill can also saw it thicker for you than what you'd find at a box store, but you might have to do some trailer modifications to install it.

Not implying you can't saw it yourself, but some guys do this enough and have sourced white oak that it might be less hassle for you to buy the material from them.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The white oak is going to be MUCH tougher!

PT lumber isn't nearly as strong and you still have to oil it.

SR

 

[HawkinsHollow]

White oak will be stronger than PT pine of the same dimension. White oak (but not red oak) has the reputation of being decay resistant. If needed, a sawmill can also saw it thicker for you than what you'd find at a box store, but you might have to do some trailer modifications to install it.

Not implying you can't saw it yourself, but some guys do this enough that it might be less hassle for you to buy the material from them.

That would negate the purpose of buying a sawmill. But yeah I hear you. Seems like 2x6 white oak trailer decking could be a bit on the costly side too.

 

[Rustyiron]

I need a new deck on my trailer. I have a sawmill but do not have any white oak logs long enough to serve the purpose. BUT, if white oak is going to be that much better than pressure treated wood I will find one.
So my question is: What is better white oak deck boards with the oil/diesel treatment or pressure treated 2x6s? If white oak is the answer, is it THAT MUCH better to go through the trouble of sourcing a white oak log to mill the boards out of? This trailer will primarily be used for moving logs and my trailer. The log loading process will probably not be very kind to the trailer decking.

The old timer that I usually ask about such things seems to think that white oak will be substantially superior to pressure treated. What says ye?

Do you have any locust growing around you?

 

[nybirdman]

I have a small utility trailer that I rebuilt 50 years ago with pressure treated,out-side the whole time;is STILL good and still use it.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have a small utility trailer that I rebuilt 50 years ago with pressure treated,out-side the whole time;is STILL good and still use it.

Yeah, I have a 5x8 trailer that I bought 10 years ago that old PT 2x6 on it. They ain't pretty but they still work fine.
PT boards 50 years ago are alot difent than they are today though.

 

[5030]

I re decked my GN with Apitong which is the wood of choice for every commercial trailer builder. Stuff lasts forever and is impervious to rot and is structurally superior to common pine or oak.

It all depends on how often you want to re deck the unit. Apitong isn't cheap.

 

[2manyrocks]

That would negate the purpose of buying a sawmill. But yeah I hear you. Seems like 2x6 white oak trailer decking could be a bit on the costly side too.

The price was comparable when I bought white oak from the local sawmill maybe 10 years ago because you aren't paying for all the big box store markup.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

You are looking at about $40 for a 2x6x16 White oak deck board on FB marketplace. PT is $17 at home depot.