Trailer Decking Question

[Mule Meat]

Where do you get it and how much?

About any place that deals in metal should have or can get it.
The last time that I bought some. It came in 3' x 16' pieces and cost $235 each. I got three pieces to do a 16' trailer and had some left over. Around $800 for the panels, clips and screws. With rough cut oak lumber going for $600 a thousand it was not a hard choice to make. For it will never have to be replaced and will haul about anything you can put on it. Mud, dirt and such washes easily and it's never slick from rain or snow.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Good lord people, the guy made a decision on using red oak based on a much cheaper price, he is asking how to get the most out of it, not to be hectored over a decision he made based on economics. I see people complaining about how the site is losing members, then behave like this and wonder why people leave.

I don't see anything wrong with people throwing ideas out there... as long as they aren't vehement about it. Suppose we change the product and say, "the guy made a decision to use Reliance bearings in his overhaul based on a much cheaper price....." (and just asking how to get the most out them) wouldn't it be helpful to steer him clear of such insanity, if possible?

 

[wingnuttx]

You know I came here to ask a simple question about the strength of two vs 1 board. I did come here for a butt like you to try and make me look stupid because I can guarantee you that I am not. So take your obnoxious opinions and stick them where the sun don't shine. I'm done with this place.

Tmking66. I understand your frustration. Have a cold one….walk around the yard…..whatever it takes. Don’t give up ok? Let it water off a ducks back. And whatever you do, don’t simply go against your better judgment. I admire you for saving $900-$1000 bucks…or more. If you get 12-14 years out of red oak….maybe something a little less at worst case then I’d do it. I like the idea mentioned about cutting the lower board slightly less in width as compared to the upper board. Heck….in a pinch Ive used treated pine. Probably not the best decision but you do what you have to do right. Especially if the price is right. Wingnut

 

[wh]

About any place that deals in metal should have or can get it.
The last time that I bought some. It came in 3' x 16' pieces and cost $235 each. I got three pieces to do a 16' trailer and had some left over. Around $800 for the panels, clips and screws. With rough cut oak lumber going for $600 a thousand it was not a hard choice to make. For it will never have to be replaced and will haul about anything you can put on it. Mud, dirt and such washes easily and it's never slick from rain or snow.

WOW. Gone from cannot spend any money in floor to this product.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

WOW. Gone from cannot spend any money in floor to this product.

A. He just asked how much.
B. Still cheaper than what he can get white oak for...

...assuming $235 a panel is a RECENT price. Doesn't do us any good if he bought the panels in 2018.

 

[wh]

A. He just asked how much.
B. Still cheaper than what he can get white oak for...

...assuming $235 a panel is a RECENT price. Doesn't do us any good if he bought the panels in 2018.

I was surprised at the price. Thinking it would be higher. May be several years ago.

 

[EFV]

Been following this thread because I wondered about using other lumber types for a trailer deck. Have several
trailers from 7k to 4K rating and they all use 1 inch lumber and they're due for replacement. Lucked into white oak
at more than one auction so I'm good to go. My question is how good is red oak for a hay wagon floor ?
FWIW rough cut white oak sells at auction here for $350-450 for 160 board feet.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Don't use red oak on hay wagon floors unless they're indoors most of the time.

 

[Steven Allen]

Funny. In the days of wooden ships, White Oak was considered a seriously substandard material. Live Oak was the gold standard.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Been following this thread because I wondered about using other lumber types for a trailer deck. Have several
trailers from 7k to 4K rating and they all use 1 inch lumber and they're due for replacement. Lucked into white oak
at more than one auction so I'm good to go. My question is how good is red oak for a hay wagon floor ?
FWIW rough cut white oak sells at auction here for $350-450 for 160 board feet.

It has the exact same properties as discussed here when used for a hay wagon floor as it does for a trailer deck. Not as rot resistant as white oak so probably won't last as long, unless you keep the wagon in a barn when not in use, or soak it in used motor oil regularly.

Of course a single 1" layer of wood is adequate for a hay wagon, so there's no argument about laminating multiple boards.

When they built hay wagons around here they used hemlock.

The motor oil thing works amazingly well. I didn't believe it until I tried it on a small landscaping trailer I have.

 

[DoubleO7]

Funny. In the days of wooden ships, White Oak was considered a seriously substandard material. Live Oak was the gold standard.

I do know for a fact (without Googling it) that they did like to use Live Oak at least for the skeleton structure.
On the gulf coast of Florida is an area that was Federal property reserved for growing Live Oaks for navel use.
Some of the area is now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
They would force trees to grow in certain critical shapes like the bow stem and stern stem and the ribs of course.
Those terms above are likely not correct.
Live Oak tends to grow quite crooked and would not allow long straight lumber for exterior cladding.
Unless maybe ancient, virgin live oaks in a dense forest of them grew to be different than what we see today.

 

[showcrop]

I do know for a fact (without Googling it) that they did like to use Live Oak at least for the skeleton structure.
On the gulf coast of Florida is an area that was Federal property reserved for growing Live Oaks for navel use.
Some of the area is now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
They would force trees to grow in certain critical shapes like the bow stem and stern stem and the ribs of course.
Those terms above are likely not correct.
Live Oak tends to grow quite crooked and would not allow long straight lumber for exterior cladding.
Unless maybe ancient, virgin live oaks in a dense forest of them grew to be different than what we see today.

Those crooked parts were used in ship framing for the "knees". Those were critical braces between the ribs and the decks.