Options for trailer floor

beastep · Dec 24, 2019

I just got a good deal on a 18' car hauler and part of the reason is it needs a new floor. It will work for a utility trailer with what its got but no way would I haul a car on it right now. At the moment it has 16' 2x8 on it. The question is do I just buy pressure treated #2 lumber from Lowes and use that, or #1 kiln dried from a trailer supply store for a lot more money? Actually 2x10 from Lowes would come out cheaper than using 2x8. I did entertain the thought of using c perlin but I think Ive decided against that. Would be loud and slick and I couldnt find any numbers to indicate which would be stronger c perlin or lumber. So Im open to other suggestions. Budget is of upmost concern.

BReeves · Dec 24, 2019

Last trailer I rebuilt I just used regular pine 2x8's. Gave them a good coat of Thompson's water seal. Sold it 5 years later and as far as I know the deck is still holding up well. Probably didn't hurt that I loaned it to a neighbor that hauled a bunch of engines that leaked oil all over it.

TwoForFlinching · Dec 24, 2019

Look online for surplus aluminum bleachers. We found a school that was redoing their football stands, bought the whole lot pennies on the dollar. Strong stuff, pretty light.

PBramble · Dec 24, 2019

2x10s are fine, you may have to rip one or use a narrow board to finish it. Get the cheap stuff, it's going to get banged up and gouged and you'll be replacing them again later on if you really use it. A good coat of oil will help keep it in decent shape and protect the wood. If you go the waterproofing route, throw sand over it while still wet to give some traction. That stuff gets slick when it's wet.

beastep · Dec 24, 2019

Thanks guys. The deck is 79" across so even with 2x8 one has to be ripped.

Cowcatcher · Dec 24, 2019

More braces may need welded in but no doubt I’d put a diamond plate floor on it and never replace it again. Just me. Or a rumber floor.

Dumpstick · Dec 24, 2019

I used treated 2x8 on the floor of my 16' utility trailer. I was replacing the rotted out factory floor, it was just plain pine boards. It didn't last but a few years.
I counted the boards I took out, purchased the same number of new boards.

They wouldn't fit, too wide.

I left the boards out in the sun for a week to dry out some, they dropped right in.

No regrets, I would do the same again.

PBramble · Dec 24, 2019

Cowcatcher said:
More braces may need welded in but no doubt I’d put a diamond plate floor on it and never replace it again. Just me. Or a rumber floor.

I owned one with a diamond plate deck for hauling rock crawlers. If that thing was the least bit wet, you'd slide right off the side. Never again.

perfor8 · Dec 24, 2019

PBramble said:
I owned one with a diamond plate deck for hauling rock crawlers. If that thing was the least bit wet, you'd slide right off the side. Never again.

If you can get someone to fog that diamond-plate with bed liner, it'll be about perfect.

dennishoddy · Dec 24, 2019

My experience even with water seal is to never use untreated lumber. In a few years it will dry rot or wet rot. Everyone of my trailers that get refloored now get 5/4 X6" deck boards that are pressure treated. I've hauled 9000 lb+ tractors on them.
With enough bracing underneath to spread the weight out, they work great. 20 or so years into the oldest and its still in great shape with no evidence of any rot, etc.

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