trailer decking
- Thread starter George
- Start date
chevytaHOE5674
New member
What kind of trailer?
Good question, I just assumed a sled trailer.
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
In the 80s I bought an inexpensive steel trailer that had marine plywood on it. The deck out lasted the trailer. Even withstood carbide abuse well. My newer aluminum trailers all had treated plywood that didn't hold up as well.
Ditto on both.....and not necessarily easy to find, either, especially when not buying in quantity.
booondocker
New member
I think you will have good luck with Wolmanized products. If the trailer is covered, then buy the cheapest stuff you can find and paint it on the exposed side. OSB has been down on my covered trailer for several years and the carbides don't cut or harm it. It gets really hard when it is cold. Seems I paid $6 a sheet for it and it is holding up fine.
Go Fast or Go Home
Active member
Advantech is the flooring a lot of high end trailers are putting in now. I'm not familiar with it but a google search should have information about it. From what little I've read about Advantech, it is supposed to be very good. I would also guess very expensive. Good luck with your project.
You will be better off with a treated plywood not marine plywood. It will last longer and it's much cheaper for that use.
Too many people misunderstand what marine plywood is for. For years I sold at a lumberyard that used to handle marine plywood and all other types.
Yes it could work and last, but it's not what it is for - it would be wasting $$$
Only issue is the treatment these days react with some metals, so ask about that when buying treated.
I got out of that business before the new stuff came around.
Too many people misunderstand what marine plywood is for. For years I sold at a lumberyard that used to handle marine plywood and all other types.
Yes it could work and last, but it's not what it is for - it would be wasting $$$
Only issue is the treatment these days react with some metals, so ask about that when buying treated.
I got out of that business before the new stuff came around.
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yoopermike
New member
If you have time, and don't mind a little mess, buy some regular plywood and coat it with used engine oil. An old timer told me about this. I thought he was nuts, but he showed me a trailer with a 10+ year old deck, and the wood looked solid to me.
zimmer1310
Member
as long as you are spending, drop another $100 bucks and get some ski guides and track mats to protect your new deck from carbides and studs if you have them. Well worth it.
mezz
Well-known member
Marine plywood is ideal for an enclosed trailer as it will last decades. In your case, I would use treated plywood on an open place trailer, especially with it being left (stored) outdoors. When the water protection begins to wane, treat it with Thompsons water seal. Keep the bed tilted when not in use, both summer & winter, it will last a long time.-Mezz
Floe trailers are good trailers so install treated plywood seal it with a wood sealer plus multiglides & mats & you will be set for a long long time. Me I go enclosed with rear drop ramp so I can store sleds out of elements year around.
Been doing a little research and seems that pressure treated plywood may not be the best option. The new chemicals they use in P/T plywood will corrode the alum. would the alum. not corrode if I coat all the cross members with rhino liner? also what about alum. rivets? I want a good deck but don't really want to spend 300 to get it.
mezz
Well-known member
I'm not sure about the corrosive effect on aluminum as the open trailer I have is a steel frame. I am sure that if you did coat the frame with either rhino or a spray undercoating that would adequately protect the frame from the feared affect. Another consideration would be to get 3/4" exterior plywood & water seal it yourself top & bottom.-Mezz
not worried about my sled my concern was the trailer. I am not putting ski guides and mats on trailer as I use it for many other things and don't want those on there. .
Mezz-- 3/4" won't fit under the lip that is used to retain the outside edge of the wood.
mezz
Well-known member
Is it lipped in the front & rear? Is is possible to either route or cut a rabbit joint into the ends of the decking & slip it into the lip? Possibly go with the next size plywood, 5/8"?-Mezz