Trailer floor

DaninKansas · Nov 25, 2013

I have to replace the floor on 5X14 bumper pull stock trailer - anyone have a suggestion on the type of wood I should use? Local Home Depot has treated pine (plan on using 2 X 10) or Douglas Fir. Not much for options.

Looks like the last owner patched the floor with several 2X4s.

caseyc · Nov 25, 2013

Use tongue and groove to eliminate flex when cows or horses are walking on it. Treated doesn't matter much. Just soak it good with used oil a few times a year and it won't rot.

Casey in SD

PJH · Nov 25, 2013

No suggestion on what to use.
Just replaced mine this summer with treated 2X10s.
I plan to soak it often with used motor oil.
Time will tell if it was a good decision. . .

jon f mn · Nov 25, 2013

Of the trailers that I built the floors that lasted the longest were not treated. That also eliminated the shrink problem. You would think treated would be better but consistantly that proved wrong.

Buddy · Nov 25, 2013

Replaced the floor in our stock trailer years ago shortly after we bought it. I used white oak. treated it with burnt motor oil and diesel fuel that was 12 years ago at least. I spaced the boards 1/2 inch apart so that it would be easer to wash out. I noticed that people would not follow too close behind ether .. LOL. We sold that trailer a few years ago to a neighbor and he still using it same floor.. Also helps to keep the trailer in the shed when not it use...

Rick Kr · Nov 25, 2013

I used 2x8x18 on my trailer treated. Worked great for the 5 years until I sold it.

I treat my hay wagon with used motor and hydraulic oil. Seems to work just fine.
Rick

FLOLDFORD · Nov 25, 2013

I don't know if you can find it where you are but the best thing I have found for trailer floors is pressure treated pine cut from old utility poles. I have a friend who has a saw mill and cuts the poles up into 2 x 8 or 2 x 10 for me. The floor in my equipment trailer is over 8 years old and still looks pretty good. I also did a stock trailer for someone else a few years back and so far it has held up real well. The wood from these poles has already shrunk and or warped as much as it is going to by the time it is cut. Only thing that you have to look out for is if you cut the wood a full 2'' it might not fit right as some trailer manufactures use finished wood that is not going to be the full 2''

Ronnie l · Nov 25, 2013

South Yellow Pine, tongue & groove. This is the lumber that goes in dry vans. Best way to go. This is stuff your regular run of the mill lumber yard will not have in stock, they only have what they consistantly sell. This is a natural resistance to rot & bugs. The tongue & groove will need to squeezed together with a hydraulic jack, but it is very strong. Won't shed water or urine, but it will last twenty years. I have one I did in 1992, still looks good. Many truck shops carry it or a good yard will order what you need.

Pair-a-dice farm · Nov 25, 2013

The last time I floored my 6x20 gooseneck I used 2x8 treated pine and left a 3/8 gap between the boards with a cattle panel for traction. It has worked ok but after 5 years the cattle have worn the boards pretty thin. I've talked to the lumber yard and they can get rough cut 2 1/4 treated pine and that's what I'll use next time. If I could get white oak that would be my choice.

omahagreg · Nov 25, 2013

White Oak, I would not go wider than 2x6-much less cupping!

Ron Grother · Nov 25, 2013

Souther yellow Pine 2x6 or 2x8 PT last for as long as the trailer will last. don't buy from home depo or lowes the stuff is hard as a rock from being in side. go to local lumber yard get wet and out side lot nicer to work with.

DaninKansas · Nov 25, 2013

Where would you get Southern Yellow Pine in Kansas? The only place I've ever seen that is tearing down old houses.

Andy C · Nov 25, 2013

The ACA treated wood (treatment used for the last several years) Is much more corrosive than CCA treatment. Think about those cross members and fasteners. On the other hand, urine is pretty corrosive itself. If you go with treated very defiantly use coated fasteners or stainless. I used white oak for the last two and am real happy with the results.
Good Luck,
Andy

Wheat Farmer · Nov 25, 2013

Pick your lumber. Look at the end of the board for the grain pattern. Half circles will warp, the straighter the grain line the better.

samn40 · Nov 25, 2013

We just don't have as much choice for timber as you guys, plus we like to keep our trailers light , so we use chequered plate aluminium, over some wide spaced boards.......plus our Department of Agriculture 'specify?' that we use this!
Sam

dpendzic · Nov 25, 2013

Douglass fir is more durable than southern pine, and oak more durable than both. But a lot depends on the grade--select structural is the most durable as it has more growth rings per inch--always install with the sapwood up as it tends to shed fluids much better.

VicS · Nov 25, 2013

My stock trailer is a 80 model. it is 7X16. with small wheel wells. I put a new tongue and groove treated floor in it about 2000. I do use thick rubber mats and try to shovel it out every time I use it. I also put new lights, wiring, tires brakes and all pins and bushings plus equalizers on it at the same time.

Frank 41 · Nov 25, 2013

I got some 2"+ oak for a heavy drop deck trailer from an Amish saw mill in Arthur, IL very reasonable. I put linseed oil on it. Seems to be holding up pretty well.

Trailer floor

DaninKansas

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caseyc

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PJH

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jon f mn

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Buddy

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Rick Kr

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FLOLDFORD

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Ronnie l

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Pair-a-dice farm

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omahagreg

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Ron Grother

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DaninKansas

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Wheat Farmer

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samn40

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dpendzic

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