Trailer Deck Surprise

Tim in New York · Oct 8, 2022

Went to put a fresh coat of stain on my 2016 equipment trailer and found that some of the boards are shot. They seemed fine last fall when I stained it, did not even use it this year. Will ground contact PT last longer than the boards that came on the trailer? Am guessing the manufacturer put on the cheapest lumber they could find. Looks like a good winter project.

Tim

Geo-TH,In · Oct 8, 2022

FYI
You can special order the old CCA treated boards from Menards.
I needed an 18 ft board. I could only buy an 8 ft and 12 ft

board.
I think I paid a little around $30 for the two boards.
Don't let the people tell you can't buy the good stuff.
I got lucky and found an older employee who knew where to find CCA boards. Menards owns the company that treats the boards..

Welding man · Oct 8, 2022

All the treated pine that I have bought in the last 5 years has been junk. A good friend of mine and I spent the last two days with his new band mill sawing me enough white oak to refloor all my lowboys. We sawed 98--1 1/2 in x 8 -10- 12 ft boards. Stacked up to dry. Will refloor all of them in the spring.

Steve@Advance · Oct 8, 2022

For a while there were a hand full of places ripping retired utility poles. Those were real deal treated lumber! Not sure if they are still in business or legal to sell.

But do look around for the better grade that George recommended, might call some real lumber yards. Tell them what you are needing it for.

But when you get the wood, if it is still wet, fit them side by side as they will shrink when they dry out. If dry when you install them space them equally.

And looking at the end grain, put the curve up, that sheds water off the edges instead of pooling it to the center of the board. Be careful not to overtighten the carriage bolts, splintering the surface promotes water penetration.

sms · Oct 8, 2022

Many years ago while haying one of the other guys on the wagon found a bad board. One leg went right through. I don't know if he was able to have children after that.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 8, 2022

No looking at the boards.
You get what they send you.
Special order.

Frankmn · Oct 8, 2022

The .60 treated lumber is what is used in wood foundations. If you use the foundation grade, it will outlast you.
Stainless fasteners are the preferred choice for fdn grade material

Tim in New York · Oct 9, 2022

Thanks everyone. Just remembered there is a guy somewhere around here who deals in locust lumber. I might check that out for pricing also.

Tim

jon f mn · Oct 9, 2022

I've said it many times, but usually get shot down. Use untreated lumber for trailer decks! Treated lumber is for constant moisture contact and can't take the wet/dry cycles of a trailer deck. With 40 years of trailer building experience it's a lesson I've learned the hard way. Customers, and the folks here, assume that treated will last longer, so companies put it on to appease them. And it lasts long enough to get out of warranty so no loss for them. But good quality un-treated lumber will last a lot longer and be stronger than treated very time.

sweetskillsrk · Oct 9, 2022

I agree, most of the pressure treated lumber these days is mediocre at best. Good call on the locust, it's much harder and more durable that any store bought lumber, that's for sure. My only other suggestion would be to find a lumber company who sells materials for building docks and piers, that lumber is heavily treated and would last a long time as well without breaking the bank.

caterpillar guy · Oct 9, 2022

Best practice for your trailer is to keep it inside when not in use and oil the floor down with old used engine oil on hot summer days cut with a bit of diesel fuel. Not to the soaking point but brushed on a couple coats and don't use the trailer for a week or so to let get soaked in and dried off. For a while it will be slippery if wet. White Oak,Hedge, Walnut,Elm will be your best bets for flooring. Yes I said Walnut. Works well for that and if it is your own trees with just sawing investment it is not costly. Walnut will split kind of easy but is about the same strength as all those posted.

rustyfarmall · Oct 9, 2022

Staining a trailer deck? Why would you do that? Just saturate it with used motor oil. My trailer is 21 years old. Sets outside ALL the time, gets coated with used motor oil once per year and is still in excellent condition.

560Dennis · Oct 9, 2022

I used treated lumber.
I would use oil ,when it gets wet ,it to slippery ,will slide around .
I would use ppg Flood preservation for untreated

MarkB_MI · Oct 9, 2022

You may be able to get tongue and groove 2x6 lumber, treated for ground contact. Good stuff.

Stephen Newell · Oct 9, 2022

Yes, the ground contact treated wood will last a lot longer. I replaced a deck on mine in 2009 and it's still in great shape. Just don't use yellawood, they have a habit of just wetting the wood with the chemical to give it a green color and not actually pressure treating it. You cut a board and look at the ends and often the wood is treated about 1/8 deep and the center is untreated.

Funny, the cost difference in using treated wood is only roughly 75 bucks over dimension lumber but the trailer companies continue to use dimension lumber.

DoubleO7 · Oct 9, 2022

Replace the wood with bleacher planks, the extruded aluminum ones. They also make extruded aluminum deck boards for patio decks.

Zero maintenance and will out last the trailer frame.

dpendzic · Oct 9, 2022

pressure treated wood only will take preservative in the sapwood and not in the heartwood. the AWPA specifies the assay zone wear the test cores are taken to determine the retention and it is not very deep

Joe(TX) · Oct 11, 2022

A lot of people around here use board cut from power poles. It runs around $2 a board foot. Oak flooring is also good but costs more.

keith427 · Oct 12, 2022

Joe(Tx) where do you buy them?

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 12, 2022

Since you're in New York, try and find some rough cut larch or hemlock. Naturally treated lumber.

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