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 Post subject: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:09 pm 
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Location: Rolling Meadows, IL. USA
I am helping a frend repair his equipment trailer.
After considering many options we are using construction grade white oak 2x12's, the trailer will be 90% spring, summer and fall usage.
I was wondering the best way to treat the wood to maxmize life.
Anual, simi-anual, ... deck stain/perservative ?!? :confused:
HELP

I think this is going to be my bigest project to date at least by total number of board feet of lumber used.

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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:07 am 
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Location: Faribault, Minnesota, USA
White oak is fairly rot resistant. I have seen white oak fence posts still standing after 40 years. Trailer floors lead a rough life, scratches, dents etc will remove any surface treatment. If you want pretty, deck stain. :)
FWIW, I have heard that kiln dried will not be as rot resistant. Don't know if this is true.
Norm


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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:41 am 
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Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:35 pm
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Location: Hutchinson Ks
Know any "Over The Road" truck drivers or owners? Most every semi truck trailer has wooden floors and they see a lot more abuse than your friend will ever give his trailer. Ask around and see if you can get any info from one of them. For the most part they are very friendly and helpful.
If you know of a big truck repair shop near by, just drop in and ask a question or two. I've never seen a good shop mechanic or foreman just 'blow someone off' because they ask a simple question.
Type of wood? Any finish put on the wood? How long will it last? Those might seem like simple, stupid questions but, I'll bet you find out more info than you will ever need to know in about five minutes.

Rog

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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:42 am 
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Location: Rolling Meadows, IL. USA
The lumber we are picking up is air dried.
It is an open trailer is for a Bobcat and other equipment and will be abused badly that is why strong 2x materal is needed.

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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 10:37 am 
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Location: Lake Burton in the NE Georgia Mountains
I wonder if you could take the oak and have it pressure treated somewhere locally? I have two places near me that sometimes don't have a full load when they're running lumber and/or PT fence posts and if they have the room will add small quantities of customer's wood to the batch just to help fill it up.

Just a thought, but it might be worth asking around. I admit that I don't know if oak will take to pressure treating or not......

Skyrider


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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 2:57 pm 
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Location: Hamilton, MS
White oak should be fine. Some of my neighbors have horse trailers with oak beds that have lasted for 30years. Just make sure you make allowances for expansion/contraction.

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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:47 pm 
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Location: Silver City NM USA July
:cry: this reminds me of the time a few years ago when I helped a kid replace the floor in his dads old pickup.
got white oak, knot free, milled it to fit and helped him installed it.
the next time I saw him he was bragging that he just had the bed spray lined with the black stuff. I could have KILLED.

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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:49 am 
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Location: Hampstead, MD, USA
Gene wrote:
White oak should be fine. Some of my neighbors have horse trailers with oak beds that have lasted for 30years. Just make sure you make allowances for expansion/contraction.


Ship lapped would be a good idea if he has any thoughts of ever hauling dirt, sand, stone, etc. Will keep the stuff from falling through the cracks when it contracts.

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 Post subject: Re: Wooden trailer bed
PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:43 am 
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Location: Skagit Co WA
Frank Robie wrote:
:cry: this reminds me of the time a few years ago when I helped a kid replace the floor in his dads old pickup.
got white oak, knot free, milled it to fit and helped him installed it.
the next time I saw him he was bragging that he just had the bed spray lined with the black stuff. I could have KILLED.


That had to be a real disappointment.

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