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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT- Trailer floor rubber mats

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Brent in IA

05-15-2005 20:35:05




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OK, just got my wife a new horse trailer so I can have my stock trailer back for hauling cattle. It has a toungue & groove treated pine floor, and I was wondering about putting those thick rubber mats on the floor. Wouldn"t they trap moisture under them and encourage rotting of the floor? Or do you have to take them out and dry it out after you wash out, etc...? Those things are too heavy to be putting in and out all the time.

Any opinions on putting mats in, or just go without?

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2x4

05-16-2005 22:32:34




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
believe it or not there is a whole book written on this subject called "Trailering your Horses" by Cherry Hill (honest! I swear)



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mike in New Mexico

05-16-2005 13:53:11




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
Spray-on bed liner might be fine for the floor but DO NOT put any on the walls. I know a fellow who bought a new horse trailer and had rhino lining put on the inside walls and floor. The first time he used it, he went to MO, bought a mule, and before he got home, the lining had pulled all the hair off the poor animal leaving it a bloody mess.

As a side note, we were looking for a stock trailer a month ago and my wife found a fairly new aluminum trailer sitting in this guys yard. He raises horses and was trying to sell this trailer and she insisted I call him on it. Normally they are too expensive for my taste but reluctantly, I called him up. I was surprised when he said $1800 and then I asked him if he sprayed bed liner on the inside? He sheepishly replied, "Yes" in a low voice and as far as I know, he hadn't sold it yet.

For a good trailer floor, we keep ours clean and wash it regularly. Since it is a horse trailer, use a rubber mat but occasionally pull it out to wash the manure out as to prevent rust. Our own mix that works well for us is 3 parts boiled linseed oil with 1 part turpentine. We roll it on our floors with a harry paint roller, let it dry real good, then put your mat back in. We do this annually and it works fine.

Just my 3 cents worth.

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Jerry/MT

05-16-2005 10:00:45




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
I bought 3/4" rubber mats for my stock trailer then cut them to a smaller size so I could handle them. Before I put them in, I sealed the floor with deck sealer. When I haul, cattle I put in a lot of sawdust which kinda caulks the seams and when I'm done hauling, I clean 'er out, pressure wash the mats, remove them, pressure wash the floor and let it dry out. I've given some thought to having a spray on bedliner put part way up the walls and on the joint between the floor and the side wall but I haven't pursued it any further. I wouldn't haul stock with out the mats though 'cuz it's easier on them .

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Tim Morland

05-16-2005 11:04:31




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Jerry/MT, 05-16-2005 10:00:45  
Guys,
If you are near a rock quarry ask them for old conveyor belting. It is very tough material about 42" wide and I got mine free for the hauling. I used it in my sister's horse trailer and Little League backstops. Take a friend 'cuz it is heavy!



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Mike M

05-16-2005 05:04:21




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
How about some spray on bed liner ?? I don't know if it will adhear to the wood ?



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Chris UK

05-16-2005 03:42:54




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
I've had a truck with a horsebox body on it for years. I have 1/2 inch rubber mats on the floor and 1/4 inch attached to the walls. I wouldn't have anything else. They give good protection and shock absorrbtion for the animal, and if they are well fitted, you will find not too much urine seeps underneath. I used to pull my mats every 6 weeks or so and hose the floor and spay some disinfectant. If you are worried about the horses slipping on a wet floor (which they dont if you drive sensibly) put some wood shavings down which will soak up any liquid and are easy to clean up. You should be able to buy them in the States from any equine or agricultural merchant; they are easily available in the UK. Hope this helps. Chris.

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Coldiron

05-15-2005 22:52:39




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
Brent, Hauled horses for over thirty five years off and on. Ours for pleasure and others for friendship. Buy the mats but if you can. It makes it easier on the animals during shipping and if they are shod it will be almost impossible for them to slip. If you drive sensible (not necessarily slow !) you won`t have any more problems than you would if they were standing on the wood. The mats spread their weight out more on the flooring and are quieter if they are moving around much. If the flooring is a little loose any urine will find it`s way through the cracks. Any trailer will suffer urine and feces damage if not cleaned after use and the mats have to be removed and cleaned also. All of your better trailers come with mats for a reason. I rode in the back of a horse trailer for 300 miles with a weanling that went nuts if she was alone and even with the mats it was a noisy ride. Without them it would have been real bad. If you are worried about them slipping on wet mats, throw a couple of handfulls of sand on the floor before you put the animals in. We do our hauling to the back country for trail riding and wouldn`t do it any other way. 4`x6` at about 32.oo each is a good investment. If you go to a rodeo check and see how many rider use mats and how many dont.

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old

05-15-2005 20:48:52




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to Brent in IA, 05-15-2005 20:35:05  
Most people I know don't like them, when they get wet from you know what they get slick and then you have a horse down in the trailor, which is bad news



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Ray,IN

05-15-2005 22:11:32




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 Re: OT- Trailer floor rubber mats in reply to old, 05-15-2005 20:48:52  
First, you're right about anything left on a wood floor will trap moisture and promote rotting. Any slick surface will injure animals trailered on it. I obtained some discarded belting from a coal mine for my horse/combo trailer. It is 3' wide, so two strips the length of the trailer works. This also makes it much easier to drag out of the trailer for cleaning. If you do have T/G flooring, drill some 1/2" holes spaced along the length to allow drainage under the matting. I use 1/4" spaced flooring boards to allow drainage and eliminate humping from the wood swelling when fastened tight together then getting soaked(and it will!). Putting up with your mats may be your best option.

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