Wood Trailer Bed Protection

[Smitty335]

A come along and a tree can get you there as well. Three or four "friends" could probably make it happen too. Can always unbolt the deck one board at a time and then they are super easy to flip over by yourself. Can pull the trailer up on solid blocking and climb underneath easy enough also. I've seen guys pull them up on their side against a curb with their truck. I have a neighbor that uses the curb as his jack stands to do his oil changes and such all the time. There are plenty of ways to get it done depending on the resources at hand. If you can safely get it flipped over or at least elevated & supported it does make it a much more pleasant job than just getting underneath of it.

Think the 4500 Warn would kork if I butted my S x S up to a tree? and anchor with a chain?

 

[Montecresto]

A come along and a tree can get you there as well. Three or four "friends" could probably make it happen too. Can always unbolt the deck one board at a time and then they are super easy to flip over by yourself. Can pull the trailer up on solid blocking and climb underneath easy enough also. I've seen guys pull them up on their side against a curb with their truck. I have a neighbor that uses the curb as his jack stands to do his oil changes and such all the time. There are plenty of ways to get it done depending on the resources at hand. If you can safely get it flipped over or at least elevated & supported it does make it a much more pleasant job than just getting underneath of it.

A lot of great (and helpful) ideas there JB!!!!

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Think the 4500 Warn would kork if I butted my S x S up to a tree? and anchor with a chain?

I've seen crazier things for sure. Personally I wouldn't climb under it only supported on the winch line, but I've seen people do plenty of dumb things and survive.

 

[swampsnake]

My goodness.. This is another reason this site is the best on the web! Ya post a problem & others do the thinking for ya! lol just kidding Jeremie. Thanks for the ideas.. a couple of those will actually work!

 

[jwfirebird]

I use used tractor oil for the trailer and the bridges we build for the atv club, we get it free from one of the farmers, sometimes there is some hydraulic in there too. we used rough cut hard wood paint the underside with it with big roller and then the top, its not slick even raining on it if its a rough finish board. the only thing that would be if you were using something like a finish deck board

 

[Gator]

I started spraying a mixture of used motor oil and diesel when my new boards (treated) were 3 months old. I have treated several times since then (about every 8 months).
Now, its been 4 years and 3 boards have rotted while the others look good. I want something that will be there from now on.
I might go back with oak or cypress.

 

[Montecresto]

I started spraying a mixture of used motor oil and diesel when my new boards (treated) were 3 months old. I have treated several times since then (about every 8 months).
Now, its been 4 years and 3 boards have rotted while the others look good. I want something that will be there from now on.
I might go back with oak or cypress.

Rough sawn Oak is what I finally replaced one of my trailer floors with, it’s been 8 years now and no rotted boards. Cypress, would be awesome but I don’t have access to that.

 

[jwfirebird]

we don't use diesel that might be a difference, we put 2 two or three coats on the first year and that's it. we have a couple we built the first year this way ten years ago and just a few boards need to be replaced this year. ten years of being driven over by quads. what you buy probably makes a difference, these are hard wood bought from a mill, weigh about twice as much as a similar pine stud from HD. they are not a terrible lot more they are worth lasting

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Rough sawn Oak is what I finally replaced one of my trailer floors with, it’s been 8 years now and no rotted boards. Cypress, would be awesome but I don’t have access to that.

I dropped in some extra bracing and replaced the deck on mine with expanded metal. I waste a good amount of paint spraying it every 4 or 5 years, but I'm pretty sure it will last me forever. It has probably been like that for a good 15 or more years now.

 

[Montecresto]

I dropped in some extra bracing and replaced the deck on mine with expanded metal. I waste a good amount of paint spraying it every 4 or 5 years, but I'm pretty sure it will last me forever. It has probably been like that for a good 15 or more years now.

Well sure, I agree that (provided it’s a heavy enough gauge) expanded metal is superior.

 

[Mudder]

For those considering expanded metal trailers, bought in 1997, repainted after 18 years. Just laid 2x6s on wheel tracks If hauling tractor, plywood or tarp to haul mulch. Expanded metal allows mud to fall thru. Spray painted with 1 gal. Kylon top and bottom with pressure pot and sprayer from Harbor Freight. Just drop gallon can in pot, use also for deck spraying. Been handy.

 

[sporttrac4x4]

I use water Thompson seal when I spray my decks I spray my trailer. I buy a 5 gal can.

 

[Alan aka Davinci]

Spray it with LineX, problem solved and you won't slip when it wet or frosty.

 

[LarryAmboy]

Just buy all aluminum trailers and then now worries.

Look at EBY, Alumilite, Aluma or some of the others.

 

[Montecresto]

Just buy all aluminum trailers and then now worries.

Look at EBY, Alumilite, Aluma or some of the others.

Well, that would be great from the beginning, but over the years I’ve accumulated 7 trailers. For now, I’ll have to keep those wooden decks in good shape.

 

[Gator]

Well, that would be great from the beginning, but over the years I’ve accumulated 7 trailers. For now, I’ll have to keep those wooden decks in good shape.

There is an aluminum extrusion company 30 miles from here. They extrude stadium benches/bleachers. I think those might do good.
I will see if I can get just enough to do my trailer. (They want to sell a hundred tons at a time)

 

[Montecresto]

There is an aluminum extrusion company 30 miles from here. They extrude stadium benches/bleachers. I think those might do good.
I will see if I can get just enough to do my trailer. (They want to sell a hundred tons at a time)

Hmm....that’s not a bad idea at all (depending on how many monies) and do you think it would work on a trailer with two 5,000 lb axels that I carry a 55 hp tractor on or 12,000 lbs. of hay at a time?