Pressure Treated vs. Hemlock Trailer Deck

Christopher S. · Jun 25, 2012

We are looking at equipment trailers and one local dealer installs rough cut hemlock boards for the deck. Most all of the other brands use pressure treated wood for the deck. What are your opinions on this.

Does the hemlock require any maintenance?

Anonymous-0 · Jun 25, 2012

Hemlock lumber is not very weather resistant. It needs to be treated often to keep it from roting. It can be preasure treated but you will need to treat it from time to time to keep it in shape.

Ron in NS · Jun 25, 2012

The rough cut hemlock is a lot less slippery, and will last just as long as PT wood. Besides, you can always treat the rough wood with whatever you like, with used oil, creosote, pentox, etc.

RGMartin · Jun 25, 2012

Hemlock will last virtually forever as long as it doesn't have contact with the ground, or any other constant water source.

Lots of 100+ year old barns around here with original Hemlock siding on them.

RGMartin · Jun 25, 2012

Hemlock will last virtually forever as long as it doesn't have contact with the ground, or any other constant water source.

Lots of 100+ year old barns around here with original Hemlock siding on them.

LenND · Jun 25, 2012

If you want to keep the deck for a long time(any wood)treat it with a 50/50 mixture of used tractor oil and diesel fuel. Brush it on good and heavy. Two coats is better yet. I used that on my grain truck and haven't touched it in about five years. The only disadvantage is it may be slippery for awhile.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 25, 2012

I would worry about hemlock where it is against the trailer frame. Moisture may linger in there long enough to start it rotting. I had hemlock stacked outside for a year and it was starting to go bad where boards were in contact with each other and stayed wet. If it is kept indoors when not in use it will dry out and be ok I think.

Nebraska Cowman · Jun 25, 2012

The only maintenance will be replacing the hemlock with something better in a year or two. I wouldn't do it. There is a reason hemlock prices are less than pine or fir. Hemlock does not have the strength either. When we built barns with hemlock we always increased the size of the timbers to make up for the weakness.

showcrop · Jun 25, 2012

I built some sides for a trailer out of hemlock and they lasted about 15 years stored outside, with no treatment. I was going to make them out of PT until I realized how heavy they were going to be.

RodinNS · Jun 25, 2012

Hemlock will tend to shatter if subjected to certain loads. It's brittle...
I don't think I'd use it for that reason although it does seem to last OK around here.

Rod

Forge Farmer · Jun 26, 2012

if you are into rough cut wood for a trailer deck, try white oak. Its expensive but very strong and fairly weather resistant.

Pressure Treated vs. Hemlock Trailer Deck

Christopher S.

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Anonymous-0

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Ron in NS

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RGMartin

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RGMartin

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LenND

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Anonymous-0

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Nebraska Cowman

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showcrop

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RodinNS

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Forge Farmer

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