Common wear and tear and damage on a trailer deck. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If you keep the steel painted and clean it should last as long as the rest of the trailer. My dad has a 10k double axle dump trailer with a steel bottom. Wood seems like a pain in the a**! I don't use the diamond plate, I use 4" purlin. It is super heavy though. Plus it has a nicer texture". Not sure if it was just cheap wood from the manufacturer or because I have to keep my trailer outside as to why it rotted so fast. NEW RIDE: 2011 SRW F350 Crew Cab / Black / <1000 miles:lol: -- Front light Bar with 4x HID lights (2x 4" and 2x 7"), smoke bug deflector, chrome fender trim, and chrome window visors. As with many of the opinions, I would go with the wood deck. If your not going to be hauling skidloaders or any other type of machinery then it might be ok. Anyone ever add aluminum deckplate to a steel trailer? Treated wood is good, but with laws these days, it's really not enough. I've noticed that some trailers have a raised "lip" or "rail" on the sides, like this i think the raised would be a pain. I like the fact that you can add hooks and tie points to the metal decks a bit easier also. In the trailer industry, oak decking is referred to as rough oak for a reason. I will probably have a shop reinforce the fenders so that we can haul round bales of hay on it occasionally and not worry about smashing them. 3025e, D160 loader, Artillian Grapple, Forks, Hoe Bucket, Frontier Land Plane, Rotomec PDH300, Redline Systems 54 inch rock bucket, Heavy Hitch. It depends on the intended useage of the trailer. Strapping down vehicles on a steel deck trailer in the summer isnt fun to say the least. Not slippery, you can screw pieces to it if you are moving unusual objects that need support. With the wood deck flatbed trailer I have now, just drop em on and tie-em down. LOKTs features include minimal knots and wane, and precise moisture levels to minimize warping. An idea if you wanted to go with a steel deck, you could add horse mats before you load your tractor or equipment. I have a wood deck 18ft trailer that gets treated with Thompsons water sealer once a year, and the wood is holding up great. Well today was the day! It has a bi-fold ramp which we've found to be pretty handy. I know of a wooden decked trailer that has had the same deck for 30 plus years. LOKTs specifications are tailored for the trailer industry to provide stronger, longer lasting boards and less downfall. Rough oak is used for trailer decking primarily for its strength. I've had 3 steel ones and one that I have now is wood. When hauling some things it is nice to be able to screw chock blocks down to the wood floor to keep something from moving even if is tied down. "Get it line-xed. I do not like steel. I'm looking for something in the 18 to 20 foot, open hauler. No broken welds, no rust and still strong as ever. Each option comes with its pros and cons and knowing the differences is vital for choosing the best product for your trailer. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, http://dayton.craigslist.org/for/2872922677.html, http://www.benhurtrailers.com/photogallery/Big Tex 70DM-18/100_1439-1.JPG, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508537, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Simply install as you would a wood floor, set the spacing, and weld the purlins to the cross-members. You are using an out of date browser. LOKT takes the guesswork out of trailer decking, consistently providing quality boards. "He did find out quickly that he loved doing it, but hated teaching it. I have a wood deck and just replaced the wood with treated 2x10s for about $80. Cost will also be an issue with steel, so for me its wood decks everytime. JavaScript is disabled. It can get slick if wet or loading alot but that is usually pretty easliy cured by throwing some sand on it. Wish I had one for local tracks vs. the enclosed. 2017 3038E; RC2048, 4' Box Blade, Forks, 5' Rear Blade, 2017 Z920M. Another issue with Douglas fir is sourcing as it grows much slower than SYP and longer length boards are more difficult to source. it really is bad if loading on a side hill. If you drop something sharp and heavy on steel it will dent and or go through the floor, Wood will take more of than kind of abuse. Wood seems to be a better choice for my needs. I've had both and actually prefer metal. My 2720 tractor does fine climbing the incline but I do occasionally have issues with the zero turn spinning out if its a really hot day or wet out. When it gets wet and if you have something that you have to drive up on there it is slicker than crap. This may sound simple enough, but there are many flooring options on the market and decisions in this area can be more complicated than originally anticipated for trailer manufacturers. Steel is the only way to go if you can and plan on keeping it for more than a couple years. I was wondering if there is a preference, pros or cons, of having a wood deck or a metal deck. http://www.rumber.com/boards/flatbedtrailer.html. Horizontal use, such as trailer decking, requires different specifications. I feel like it tends to be a little sappier (sp?) A forum community dedicated to all Ford Diesel owners and enthusiasts. The biggest pitfall of steel decking is the fact that steel can rust and thus need to be examined frequently so repairs can be made to prevent further rusting. Our wood deck on our trailer that is about 8 years old shows no sign of needing repair or replacement. It is nice that you don't have to worry about paint but it is noisy when moving chains and slick as ice when wet or muddy. I've seen a number of the commercial builders offer trailers with wood decks. Check out the load trail trailers that Rigsbee auto parts has in knightdale. I recommend wood deck. Has any one tryed using Trex, the recycled rubber board thats being used alot now for decks. My father has a steel fifth wheel trailer we use on the farm and its tough at nails but gets really slick with any sort of moisture. (You must log in or sign up to reply here. I know one advantage of an expanded metal floor and that is that if you haul equipment that has a lot of mud, you can wash off the equipment and the mud will just fall through. Ah, noise is another! Both of the gentlemen who posted before are making good points except for one. Douglas fir is desirable because it contain many attributes not found in SYP. i have wood.. i park in under a awning and its probly 4 years old i have no complaints so far. I had a tilt bed trailer with steel deck for a skidsteer in the rain or snow completely unusable. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. JavaScript is disabled. I use the trailer for alot more than just the jeep. I utilized 2x8 and 2x10 treated lumber as decking between the wheel troughs. It has a wood floor that I painted with an industrial floor paint that I got at Sherwin Williams. Steel is stronger than aluminum in the sense that it has a higher modulus of elasticity, which means more force must be applied to steel before it starts to bend. Line-x is far superior in my opinion and is lifetime guaranteed not to peel, chip, or fade. Btw, I've bought all of them new. The steel is about $250 more. I'm building a 6x14 tilt bed as we speak, and it will get a PT wood deck. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Are there any real pros or cons to consider when hauling a vehicle on a steel floor? It is cooler, lighter, and easier to replace. This would help them from sliding around so much. Would Recommend a Wood Floor, It WILL have a Much Lower Level of items trying to move; Compared to a Steel Floor!. Come join the discussion about racing, builds, pro mods, hot rods, events, turbos, nitrous, superchargers, and more! As I knew when it dried, it was going to shrink. I need a used Winters shift for a standard pattern TH400, its for the wifes drag week effort. Come join the discussion about PowerStrokes, performance, modifications, troubleshooting, towing capacity, maintenance, and more! Come join the discussion about towing, PTOs, reviews, attachments, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Copyright 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. me--i would go for wood deck:thumbup1gif:u should be able to get at least a good 20 yrs out of the lumber if its taken care off-IMO. If I had a better source I would go with rough cut 2" oak if you are going to abuse the crap out of it. The legal requirement for trailer flooring in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is not a difficult standard to meet. I had a 18' metal dovetail steel trailer with no side rails and it was nice. Penetration is the depth to which preservative chemicals are forced into the wood and is an indication of the amount of protection provided. My new goose is wood too, don't see any of them in all steel, there may be something to that. I have a trailer with the common 2x6 or 2x8 floor, I rarely clean the floor but I have blown bark off with a leaf blower. Have you thought about aluminum?I have fitted ally to mine,a lot lighter. 97 Jeep Wrangler with some goodies, 06 F-350 Cc Lariet six0h IDP Tunes 180mm Injectors EGR welded ARP studs MBRP 4inch exhaust, 79 f-250 4x4 sled puller 472 big block:flipoff2: My trailer is 100% aluminum, the deck being some kind of extruded aluminum channel like stuff, and I have a big old beach towel for laying on when I need to strap things down in the desert or whatever. I'd go with the steel deck if the price is the same, maybe Line-X it if you are not going to be hauling alot of stuff that would scrape the liner off. Tymar intake, BTS @240,000 miles. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The problem with what they offer is the wood is not pressure treated (PT). I took some extra time fitting it, utilizing a plane to trim it for a tight fit. You posted on my post a minute ago but I'll respond here. with Valair Ceramic/Kevlar, manual hubs, 3.73's, 5.5" lift w/285 Dayton Timberlines, 2" DRW Spacers. AT4X versions of the GMC Sierra and Canyon. I just had a new all aluminum trailer built this past Fall. Apparently, as with every grade level, there are those who sign up for a class and have no interest/ability to learn." I also generally like a wood decked flat bed better than steel. A 200 pound ponderosa log can be super tough to work with. Privacy Policy. Was raining when I went by the trailer dealer and the metal just seemed too slick. Ive got a 6'x10' aluminum trailer that i highly recommend. I coat it about every 3 or so years. Douglas fir typically has much less wane and much smaller knots than SYP. For a light trailer like an 18' car hauler I like a steel floor. People wanted both for all the same reasons here. The non-lumber products both have their pros and cons as well. I like it too. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 99 F350 XLT 4x4, Crew Cab, 19.5s, Cummins 12V powered, with a few mods, SBC DD clutch. Rubber does not rot like lumber does, so it can last longer without treating or coating, and it offers better surface traction than typical lumber decking. One drawback to this method is you have the wood underneith the steel, holding moisture, consequently eventually deterioriating both materials. I wouldn't ever go with a smooth steel deck. I like metal decks for pallets or anything you may have to slide, for equipment it's not as good because it can be very slippery when wet or dirty. ). It takes a beating but has held up extremely well. You can replace a piece of wood alot easier then a whole metal deck. I've chucked so much junk and rounds of wood into it and the floor of the trailer is still in great shape. The following types of flooring options meet the necessary requirements but serve different needs and are offered at different price points. This system gives lumber a grade with number one being the best and number four being the worst. Its 10 years old, has had a ton of different things in it from numerous yards of road base, dozens of trips to the local landfill with you name it in it, dirt, rock, as well as many cords of both split, rounds and log length wood in it. In the open-top and livestock trailer industries, the most common decking options are southern yellow pine (treated and untreated), rough oak and Douglas fir.