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Regret buying a wood deck

Geo-TH,In

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
Mt 14k suretrax implement trailer is a 2011
cvphoto122876.jpg

12 year old.
I wish it was a steel deck.
Where can I find a 2x6x18 that is not warped and perfectly straight. No big nots?
Temped the repairing the trailer and selling it.

The wood is like a sponge, soft

Last year I just put new rubber on it. Stopped using he trailer after selling a rental property.

Used it yesterday and discovered the rotted board.



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You need to go to a good lumber yard, preferably one that deals with a lot of people building docks and such. Then you'll need to sort through the lumber and find the best they have.
 
When I replaced the deck on my trailer the boards I bought were far from perfect.

I used a come a long and big prybar where necessary, by the time all the screws were in the deck was straight and flat.
 
Better treated lumber is not found at box stores. They sell junk. Find a busy local owned lumber yard. Treated lumber had a serious rot issue 10-12 years ago. I believe the EPA got involved and the treatment formula was changed. Took a couple years to get it right. Seems better now. Also find something with a higher treatment level, like used on docks and seawalls.
 
If it's factory wood, it's the cheapest treated boards they could get. Replace them and the boards will be around longer than you will.
 
Go to a dealer that handles/repairs over the road semi-trailers. They should have a source for Apitong or one of the other varieties used on semi-trailers.
 
Mine only lasted 8 years. I replaced them with untreated that I covered top and bottom with used oil,diesel mixture. That was 25 years ago and they look as good as the day I put them on there
 
If everyone could keep trailers inside when not using, it will last forever. I have a Hale stock trailer that was bought in mid 60's that has original floor. I always wash it out each time after using. It's just plain Pine lumber. I have several trailer's and always keep all them inside. It also help's with tires and paint.
 
If that's deck material it is only 5/4ths. I put regular 2x treated in my cattle hauler and has been holding up okay.
 
There is a lot of bad brands of treated wood on the market that are just plain not treated. They just wet the wood with the alkaline copper quat chemical instead of putting the wood in a pressure tank like it's suppose to. You cut the end off one of them and you can see the wood is only treated to a depth of about 1/8. I think the worst offender is Yellawood. I use wood made from Lifewood and it's treated correctly. I have a trailer which I put wood on in 2009 and it's still in great shape. It would be better if I had used a waterproofing sealer on it from time to time but it's only got a little oil on it from different vehicles that has been transported.
 
If all the boards are the same age, I'd be inclined to think more of them are about to fail. If you don't want to replace all of them, I'd ponder putting a piece of metal over this hole in the mean time.
 
Good lumber yard???
How do you determine what's a good lumber yard??
Lowes, Home depot and Menards are my 3 choices..
Perhaps I should go to a local sawmill and pick their brains..My
boards are 18 feet 2x6's
I may have to use two boards 10 and 8 ft and splice them
somehow, because both ends fit under a welded flat piece of
metal..
 
You might be right.
I'll use a screw driver and test the wood.
May have to splice the wood. Thinking of making a long H-clip so I can use 8 and 10 ft pieces..
 
Menards says they can special order CCA treated but they are 2x8 not 2x6. If I have to replace all the boards I may sell the trailer and buy a 20 ft 10k trailer with a metal bed...
 
Have you tried buying at Niehaus Lumber?
If you want treated, get marine or below grade approved version.

You can make a butt joint at center of a cross member if you feel the need for a bigger area at the joint you can weld in an angle iron onto the crossmember.
Or cut the joint at a 45 degree angle over a crossmember.
 
You will need to remove the metal piece on one end or at least where your new board needs to go. Then splice your 10 and 8 piece cutting a Z on end of piece and end of corresponding piece and bolt together.
Set in place and weld flap back in.
 
(quoted from post at 12:24:06 04/12/22) If all the boards are the same age, I'd be inclined to think more of them are about to fail. If you don't want to replace all of them, I'd ponder putting a piece of metal over this hole in the mean time.
Click to expand...
r over the whole trailer floor, as I did 30 years ago.
 
I can buy CCA from Menards.. special order. expensive..
18 ft boards have to be installed under 1.5 inch flat metal at each end. So if I use 18ft boards, I'll have to cut the welds on the flat metal at one end to install it...
 
You might possibly be able to warp the board up enough in the middle, to get it under the lip. Maybe even cut it a hair short, depending on how much bearing is on the end.
 
I got to agree with Jim on his post. Decades ago, I
worked for a trailer manufacturer that had apitong wood
as an option. It was an expensive option. But the dozer
treads would not wear it out.
Have fun trying to rip this wood. It does not like to play
with anybody.
 
I have a Sure-Track 16' trailer that I bought in Ogden, Il in 2010. It has never been stored inside, but not used in the winter. The treated wood deck is in very good condition. It is used for hauling tractors, but more so hauling a compact track loader and mini-excavator, both with rubber tracks.
DWF
 
When I re-deck my trailer, I'll probably use 2x6 pressure treated tongue and groove. It's treated for ground contact and high quality.
 
Yea, don't bother calling a real, local lumberyard right there in your town.
Thats probably where your local Menards will go buy it from to fill that special order for you, LOL.
 
Wouldn't be nice if we all had room in our sheds for every trailer we own! I have a lot of shed space but not enough for that. I mix my used motor oil with stale diesel or kerosene or whatever I have for a thinner and slather all over my decks whenever it is available. Seems to be working so far.
 
I specifically wanted a steel deck on my tilt trailer. Only downside is painted steel is slick. I fixed that by mixing two quarts of silica sand into a gallon of black Rustoliem. Now it provides lots of grip even with oil spots from old tractors.
 
I put rough cut 1inch White Oak on my step deck when the floor rotted out. Been there for several years now. I don't oil it or anything special. Sets out year round with no cover. I counter bored the bolts and used regular stainless 1/4 inch bolts with locking nuts so I could get them out if needed.
 
(quoted from post at 11:14:08 04/12/22) If everyone could keep trailers inside when not using, it will last forever. I have a Hale stock trailer that was bought in mid 60's that has original floor. I always wash it out each time after using. It's just plain Pine lumber. I have several trailer's and always keep all them inside. It also help's with tires and paint.
Click to expand...

If everyone could afford buildings to keep all their stuff in, that would would relieve a of of other issues too. That's a dream world. The reality is most people have a hard enough time keeping a roof over their heads, much less multiple garages for tractors, trailers, etc.
 
(quoted from post at 14:14:06 04/12/22) Good lumber yard???
How do you determine what's a good lumber yard??
Lowes, Home depot and Menards are my 3 choices..
Perhaps I should go to a local sawmill and pick their brains..My
boards are 18 feet 2x6's
I may have to use two boards 10 and 8 ft and splice them
somehow, because both ends fit under a welded flat piece of
metal..
Click to expand...


You need to hunt around for a real lumber yard George. I took a look at a map and see lots of water in your area. There has got to be people building docks or other structures along the shore that buy their lumber at a place with quality treated wood. That's the place you look for.
 
Menards sells CCA treated wood. Special order..
It will be a challenge to find 18 ft 2x6 lumber that doesn't have big knots and is perfectly straight..
 
I have 2 pole barns and 3 garages. No room for a $4100 implement
trailer.. Seriously looking at a $8100 20 ft metal bed tilt
trailer..
I've regretted buying this trailer from day one..
 
(quoted from post at 05:03:19 04/13/22)
(quoted from post at 14:14:06 04/12/22) Good lumber yard???
How do you determine what's a good lumber yard??
Lowes, Home depot and Menards are my 3 choices..
Perhaps I should go to a local sawmill and pick their brains..My
boards are 18 feet 2x6's
I may have to use two boards 10 and 8 ft and splice them
somehow, because both ends fit under a welded flat piece of
metal..
Click to expand...


You need to hunt around for a real lumber yard George. I took a look at a map and see lots of water in your area. There has got to be people building docks or other structures along the shore that buy their lumber at a place with quality treated wood. That's the place you look for.
Click to expand...

Why? It's so much easier to complain about Menards.
 
Put a floor jack under rotted board stand a piece of 4 x4 on jack and under board raise jack board will pop out. Then put new board under lip at one end and stand on other end then have someone lower jack the board will be in. Jack needs to be about mid way of length of board. I replaced a complete floor without removing either lip.
 
(quoted from post at 11:52:56 04/13/22) I don't think you need to remove the metal strips, just bow the board up in the middle like someone else suggested.
Click to expand...

Please don't confuse the issue by stating common sense. :lol:
 
Different strokes for different fokes. Mr I would never even consider a steel deck. Had 2 16 ft factory trailers with wood decks and many a homebuilt ones all with wood. I have a cheap 4 fy by 7 ft bed trailer now that is just big enough to haul my wheel horse tractor and the expanded metal deck and I do not like it, wish it was a wood floor. If it was then I could go to the pit and get enough gravel for a couple of drive ways holes.
 
Geo-TH,In ,Have any pole barn builders around you.They have 18 foot treated 2x6 tongue and groove lumber in stock.Check some out.
 
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