replanking my trailer question

[jejeosborne]

I replaced my boards last fall on my car hauler using the method mentioned by Chris. I had a friend knock the board off the axle while I held the other end lined up. Just made sure fingers were clear because they pop in with a loud bang because I cut them as long as possible without creating too much stress while bending. I used treated boards as well and packed them in tight width wise. Now that they have dried, I have approximately a total of 3 inches of shrinkage in a 6.5' wide trailer. Fortunately wood only shrinks across the grain and the lengths don't change.
Jeff

 

[Mike476]

Popular is an interesting choice as it is a known soft wood that is easy to sand but one that is often used in painted cabinetry, molding, etc. because it doesn't move(warp, twist, etc) as it ages. I'm impressed that it is durable enough.....Gary

The debate goes on still today but poplar is actually classified as a hardwood, I've read articles supporting both sides of that argument. From my perspective, having left 2" full dimension rough sawn boards to air dry for three months before using them, I couldn't drive a nail or a screw through them without pre-drilling. It will grey up significantly over time but I wouldn't hesitate to deck a trailer with it.

 

[clemsonfor]

When I cleared some of our property I milled some of the popular to redeck the stall floors in the horses stables, had to re-deck them every second year when I used spruce or pine (we keep shoes on during winter months). I'm absolutely amazed at how well it's stood up from the weather (stables open to the paddock, only put the horses in when the weather is really bad in winter months). We change bedding daily but when we sweep the stalls clean once a week the decking literally looks as though it was just laid down.

Got the idea from a local farmer who said he decks his trailers with popular and uses it in his stables, stuff dries rock hard (have to drill to get a nail through it) and weathers extremely well, he was right, that was three years ago now and no signs of rot or wear, at all. Nice to not have to do it near as often, dirty job!

Popular is an interesting choice as it is a known soft wood that is easy to sand but one that is often used in painted cabinetry, molding, etc. because it doesn't move(warp, twist, etc) as it ages. I'm impressed that it is durable enough.....Gary

Im thinking the same as its one of the least rot resistant woods in the forest! Unless your not talking the southern Yellow or tulip poplar?

 

[newbury]

He's probably talking Balsam Poplar.
Populus balsamifera L

 

[Mike476]

It is balsam I'm referring to. When I spoke with the gentleman who told me about his use for it he stressed that I couldn't leave the bark on the wood and dry it as I might oak as an example, if I did the log would rot from the center out in a few months. I'd have to mill it to dry it, so I did, and the result has been a pleasant surprise. I have a bit of it on our property so I'll be knocking a few down when I'm home this Fall to mill up.

 

[escavader]

HI GUYS ,FINALLY HAD TIME TO GET BACK ON :ashamed:
first pics trailer stripped

 

[escavader]

Heres a couple of whats left of the 7 year old wood.Ihad put linseed on it every year too

 

[escavader]

after applying liquod goldDid you notice how nice the frame looked ,ive done it several times in recent years.Undercoated first couple,but it would peel off.This works well

 

[escavader]

I decided to leave the side frame exposed and start the planking at edge of it.This allows me to keep it protected ,without a plank on top of it.If your sideframe rots out,your done for.note i applyed my treatment to sides ,ends and bottoms of planks

 

[escavader]

i spaced them about an inch apart.Thanks to my friends here on TBN,i learned how to install them