Cattle trailer floor

Reid1650 · Dec 31, 2010

Hey guys would a 1 inch marine grade plywood sheet be strong enough for a cattle trailer? There's probably a one foot span between the angle runners. Just looking to see if this would be a feasible option. Thanks.

Bkpigs · Dec 31, 2010

What are your cattle worth to you? My thoughts would be no. The weight of a cow (steer, cow, whatever) can be very concentrated when the cow has to shift weight or walk. If it would step down on the tip of its hoof (which we all know happens) that is a lot of force for a little area. Just my 2 cents!

Reid1650 · Dec 31, 2010

I didn't think it was a great idea either I just wanted some other opinions. I'll probably just put the 2x6's in and butt them together tight. Thanks

LAA · Dec 31, 2010

A tight floor holds water, manure etc. Also, plywood will not dry out as fast or as well as lumber will. If you did not rubber mat a plywood floor the animals would be constantly falling down and if you did rubber mat plywood it would probably rot out in no time. Treated 2x8's with a 1'' square tubing non skid insert is what I use.

Allan in NE · Dec 31, 2010

Oh heck no!

In my humble opinion, I's sure use at least 2" rough cut (a full 2") bridge planks.

Absolutely NO knots, and keep an eye on it in the future.

Nothin' worse than a critter falling thru a bad floor.

Allan

largeandincharge · Dec 31, 2010

My 1988 WW cattle trailer came from the factory with 1"x 6 floor boards. never have had problem with them except for being slick. I nailed down a cattle panel on them and solved that problem. I have a flat bed that I floored with 1" marine plywood years ago. I built sides for it and used it to haul cattle before I got the WW. No problem. You guys are underestimating the strength of marine plywood.

thurlow · Dec 31, 2010

Not saying the 'butting them together tight' won't work, but..........the REAL cattlemen/haulers around here ALL leave a gap (about 3/4 or an inch) between each plank and staple cattle panels over the floor.

rrlund · Dec 31, 2010

I'd always heard that plywood had more strength pound for pound,than steel. So for whatever a sheet of it weighs,should be stronger than whatever guage sheet of steel that weighs the same.

Reid1650 · Dec 31, 2010

Thats how the old floor was. Ill probably put the new one in just the same.

Reid1650 · Dec 31, 2010

Thats how the old floor was. Ill probably put the new one in just the same.

806man · Dec 31, 2010

Hey folks, my opinion is that whatever kind of floor you got you must keep it clean. I always wash down after hauling 1 cow or a packed tight load. I know it can be a hassle but I think it pays off in the long run. And I also think it helps to keep down diseases if you haul anything that has been through a stock sale barn. My trailer is a '01 model and the floor is still like new. Heck, we even have used it to move furniture.

VicS · Dec 31, 2010

I just haul horses, and plunder. I would put the 2X6 tongue and groove back in, clean and paint the channel the best you can. Then I bought rubber mats from TSC, they were so heavy was hard to take out to clean, I cut them in half with a circular saw. I don't think you should spread your sh$$ down the road. In our small town it makes the stoplights intersections slick, for motorcycles. It's also against the law.

thurlow · Dec 31, 2010

Used my cattle trailers to move family and friends several times. That was the ONLY time they were ever washed. Bought a sawmill 25 or 30 years ago and since then, all my trailers were floored with lumber from used (creosote) utility poles.

LarryT · Dec 31, 2010

Re floored our 30 ft stock trailer with pressure treated 2"X 8" about 25 years ago. Still looks like it did when we put it except for the surface damage from the livestock standing, and kicking etc. Had plywood to begin with but due to the surface damage the plywood was peeling and splintering ply by ply.
With the urine and all that gets into the plywood even the marine grade will de-laminate and not rot so much as just come apart. LarryT Happy New Year

DoubleR · Dec 31, 2010

I have 2x6 wolmonized tongue and groove I put in when I brought my trailier used 10 years ago. Still in good shape but I keep my trailer cleaned out after I use it too.

mkirsch · Dec 31, 2010

1" marine plywood is stronger and more moisture resistant than the crap dimensional pressure-treat you get at the lumber yard.

kyhayman · Dec 31, 2010

I like 6/4 rough cut white oak. Lasts for years and maintains its strength and integrity. Personally, I like a 3/4 inch gap between the boards. That lets things dry out good and also lets the trailer be a bit of 'self cleaning'. My new one has a solid floor so I guess I've got to start washing....

petetx · Dec 31, 2010

Gotta agree with allan

S2710 · Dec 31, 2010

The neighbor has one that he bought in about 1998 and it has a rubber floor and the sides are some sort of fiberglass and it still looks like new and the floor is just as good today as it was when new.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 31, 2010

I've been wondering about using expanded metal to replace my floor. Replaced the original several years ago with pressure treated "something". I don't remember what kind of lumber it was, but it sure didn't last very well. I can get some expanded metal that is pretty heavy duty. What do you guys think about that? Will it work?

Cattle trailer floor

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