Trailer flooring suggestions?

[evofxdwg]

I have a 16' trailer i use to haul my 1610D and other things around. It came with the tractor when i bought it several years ago. It had 2x10 painted pine (not pressure treated) flooring planks that have rotted out since it is out in the weather.

I was planning on replacing with 2x10 pressure treated, then seal with Thompsons water seal or an equivalent product to extend the life. I was wondering if there are some other options that might be more durable but not too much more expensive.

I searched around on internet for some other options and found "Rumber board" but the support irons are up to 2'6" apart. Rumberboard specs i read call for 12" spacing. I couldn't find heavy extruded aluminum planks but it is probably out of the question expense wise. I was wondering about some surplus metal planks like the military uses around aircraft and i suppose for firming up soft ground for driving over.

Ive also thought about Cypress but have not priced it. Isn't Cypress more weather resistant? I do have a friend who is the plant engineer of a local sawmill but haven't discussed options with him yet.

Any suggestions?

 

[LMTC]

You'll love metal flooring when it's wet...or worse, snowy. We have PT 2x somethings on our 18' trailer, throw a couple gallons of sealer on every two years, it's still in great shape after 12 years, always in the weather.

 

[ultrarunner]

I used Apitong for mine about 15 years ago and it's worked great. No idea on what it would cost now.

The commercial refrigerated truck body manufacturers used if for the fish markets... I think they use aluminum now...

Here's a link:

YVR Forestry imports Apitong hardwood truck decking

 

[actionaj]

I used deck paint for boats on mine. It has a rough none slip texture. I don't remember what brand I used. Painted it about 5-6years ago and it still looks good.

 

[evofxdwg]

I couldn't find any online pricing for aluminum extruded floors like this:
Truck Trailer Body Parts: Morgan, Supreme, and all truck and Van Body parts mfg. and Supplier
Also didn't see any engineering data. I don't know what the rated weight and support requirements are. Note it has dimpling for a slightly less slippery surface.

I found Apitong at
http://www.willislumber.com/ApitongKeruingFlooring.pdf
for $3.98 per foot (7" wide). Not including shipping. Apitong is used for truck trailer floors and deck wood. If i used this trailer commercially, I would seriously consider this. But is outside of my budget for an occasional use trailer so i guess i will go with pressure treated 2x.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[frankmako]

i would stay with the pine and put some water seal on it. cheap and easy and if you got to change any boards it will not cost a lots. i had a steel floor trailer once on the farm,,,was glad when i sld it. for the farm it is wood for me.

 

[Gary Fowler]

There was a post here a while back about sealing of trailer planks. One guy stated that he uses used motor oil to saturate his and it has never rotted. Environmentally you would need to make sure it didnt drip on the ground when doing this. He claimed that after it soaked in for a few days, he had no transfer problems like walking on it and then back into your house and that is was no more slick when wet than standard sealants and rain water runoff had not oilly sheen run-off. I guess that would depend on the application rate and the amount of absorption of the wood.
Just passing this along, and this is not an indorsement to do this, but if money is an issue, this is certainly the no cost way of rot prevention and I guess if you used waste oil from a diesel engine, it would look like the boards were painted black.
Again, I have no personal experience with this method but a search of this forum might turn up the contributor.

 

[biggerten]

Since you've got a buddy who works at a sawmill, ask about getting some rough cut oak. 2x whatever on 30" centers seems a bit light.

 

[oldhippy]

Down in my parts people like to put rough oak on the floor and seal it with a used motor oil and kero. There is a place that cuts old telephone poles into sized lumber, that is what I use on trailer floors with a wood sealer sprayed on it. Some of the boards are cresote and some pressure treated. This wood has stablized and dosen't buck up like new pressure treated boards. big dan

 

[rhett]

There was a post here a while back about sealing of trailer planks. One guy stated that he uses used motor oil to saturate his and it has never rotted. Environmentally you would need to make sure it didnt drip on the ground when doing this. He claimed that after it soaked in for a few days, he had no transfer problems like walking on it and then back into your house and that is was no more slick when wet than standard sealants and rain water runoff had not oilly sheen run-off. I guess that would depend on the application rate and the amount of absorption of the wood.
Just passing this along, and this is not an indorsement to do this, but if money is an issue, this is certainly the no cost way of rot prevention and I guess if you used waste oil from a diesel engine, it would look like the boards were painted black.
Again, I have no personal experience with this method but a search of this forum might turn up the contributor.

best option, not pretty but really works, and Old Black Diesel Oil works best. Example: creosote telephone poles last along time buried, railroad ties, ...
i think creosote is is the second level up in crude refining, tar at the bottom.
allow pressure treated to age (dryout) before applying old oil.
i've done plywood and plank trailer floors like this, they both are holding up extremely well. again i think the black carbon in old oil keeps the insects and rot at bay.