The Summer of the Trailer Repair

[searcyfarms]

put green oak on mine 15 yrs ago - never painted it or anything maybe I should have?..........only a couple boards in places need replaced 90% is still good -

I put 2 inch on mine - 18' flatbed with flip up ramps, no dove tail - wish I had one

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Oil will make it slick too. It won't hurt the boards. If anything a light periodic coating of oil would be enough, sprayed on with a pump up sprayer.

 

[jaxs]

Does it matter whether it's Red Oak or White Oak when it come's to longevity?

 

[nyone]

White oak takes longer to dry. Thats a good thing in this situation.

 

[Stimw]

Oil will make it slick too. It won't hurt the boards. If anything a light periodic coating of oil would be enough, sprayed on with a pump up sprayer.

I put USED oil on trailer boards and I thin it with diesel or mineral spirits and apply with wide paint brush or roller.
It soaks in well and NOTHING is going to eat it with the stuff in old oil on it!
I have replaced dozens of complete floors on semi flatbeds and any spot that had old oil on it was still solid.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

As long as it isn't water oak. It should be fine. I was going to recommend mixing used motor oil with diesel as well Stimw. But some of the greenie weenies might object. Linseed works fine if you can find it. That's the best.

 

[newbury]

The difficult thing with putting oil on a wood trailer floor is parking the equipment (tractor, skid steer, mower) so it leaks where needed.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Well no pictures yet. Busy trying to get ready for this storm. Looks like we may still have a hurricane when the eye passes (projected) about 15 miles W of my house. Going to evac because my 80 year old pecan trees aren't quite solid and I just rather not scare my 6 year old to death.

 

[dragoneggs]

Well no pictures yet. Busy trying to get ready for this storm. Looks like we may still have a hurricane when the eye passes (projected) about 15 miles W of my house. Going to evac because my 80 year old pecan trees aren't quite solid and I just rather not scare my 6 year old to death.

Wishing the best to you and family. Don't wait too long to bug out.

 

[4570Man]

I would not get the diamond plate. It won't be as strong as wood, unless it is really thick. Speaking from experience with heavy equipment, that steel will get slick with a drop or two of rain or morning dew. I've seen more than one dozer and at least one tractor go sliding off when moist. Wood offers the best traction.

I am just wondering how you got that slick tired lift up there with those ramps. I've never gotten that much traction. The ramps can be straightened. Just flip them over and run back over them.

While the lift is probably overweight for the trailer, I've put a tractor wheel or two through boards like that myself and it wasn't overweight. What you need is an extra cross member AND Rough Sawn Oak at least 3 inches thick. That will fix your problem. The pine, which is likely pressure treated is not that strong. Replace it with rough sawn oak and it will last for years and will be much stronger and won't dry rot as fast or become brittle.

You do realize it’s a fairly light trailer not a semi trailer made to drive loaded forklifts on right? If my math is right that of green lumber would weigh 1600 pounds assuming it’s a 7x16 trailer and that’s probably 1/3 of the trailers capacity.