Trailer wood deck treatment: Brush on used oil, linseed oil, sealer stain, unicorn tears...?

[not2old]

About 12 years ago, I covered the boards on my trailer with tongue and groove plywood as the cracks between the boards were too large to carry soil without losing too much. I used a paint roller to coat it with used motor oil and gave it two coats. I recently used it as a clean surface to wash some rubber mats. I did not find it slippery while wet or dry but admit to being careful, especially getting on and off. While not checking it thoroughly, I did not notice any deterioration anywhere. Water still beads up on it like it did years ago. It has only spent the last three winters parked inside.

 

[SteveS42240]

I have a 16' trailer that has had pressure treated wood on it for more than 30 years. My brother bought it and a used tractor in the late 80s and I bought it from him in the early 2000s. It has spent 95% of its life outdoors and it's getting time to replace it, but I will use pressure treated wood again and figure it will outlast me.
Steve.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Used oil, applied with a roller for the most part and a wide paint brush for edges and corners, has kept my little 16-footers deck alive since '09.

It has worked well enough that I did the same to the decks around the house.

I wouldn't put a rubber tire on the trailer deck within a few days, though, since rubber and oil don't get along well.

 

[bigtiller]

I made an 8' picnic table with pressure treated wood in 1979. By the end of 2021 it was looking pretty shabby so I smeared on 3 quarts of boiled linseed oil and set it in the shed for the winter.

When I set it outside the next spring, the boiled linseed oil had dried, cured and turned pink.

We have decided we don't like having a 45 year old pink picnic table in the front yard so I am building a new one.