Trailer Decking Finishing

jeffk · 03-24-2019, 07:01 PM

Just curious, how would diamond plate hold up to carbide runners? Also wouldn't it be slippery to walk on when snow covered?

8gv · 03-24-2019, 07:20 PM

P.T. and aluminum can make some corrosion.

Will it corrode soon enough to affect your ownership?

That is unknown.

Since I am in the fourth quarter, with no time outs, I only expect to make my stuff last 20 years.

I used P.T. Plywood on my steel utility trailer.

It was very easy to do.

Top-Water · 03-24-2019, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffk

Just curious, how would diamond plate hold up to carbide runners? Also wouldn't it be slippery to walk on when snow covered?

The carbide would beat the hell out of the aluminum with heavy use , but not make any holes like bare plywood. The best (snow mobile trailers I have seen) don't cover the entire deck with the tread plate. More like several smaller pieces in strategic / high wear point locations. And yes very very slippery to walk on. However when done right with a balance of exposed plywood and diamond plate it looks great and lasts forever.

Sometimes these types of DIY projects are personal pride projects and the sky is the limit, but if your just hauling trash to the dump who cares as long as the lights work when you plug them in.

Many many years ago a former boss / employer of mine built a heavy-heavy duty log split er that was a work of art for a banker friend of his, hand made with the finest of everything including the expensive aluminum mag wheels. A real conversation piece when it was done, but in the end all it did was split wood.

SAB1 · 03-25-2019, 08:36 AM

Honestly that’s not high end trailer and must have some years on it. Slap the pt plywood on it and be done. I bet the plywood outlast the frame and certainly will outlast the axel if it’s got some years on it. Ski guides needed to handle the carbides.

burgerunh · 03-25-2019, 08:54 AM

If your trailer is aluminum, the chemicals they use in pressure treated plywood will react with and corrode the aluminum frame.

dt5150 · 03-25-2019, 09:07 AM

correct, you don't want to mate pressure treated wood with aluminum. it's same with boat floors.. can't use pt wood in a boat with aluminum floor supports. have to use marine grade plywood, which is a viable option for you as well.

also, if you need some ski guides (the plastic runners for your carbides/skis) let me know. i have some used ones from my old trailer taking up space.

MAXUM · 03-26-2019, 10:54 AM

Keep a few things in mind here as you contemplate a solution.

Gaps in the flooring may be great for draining but they will also allow road spray especially from the trailer tires to come up from the underside. Probably not ideal.

Those frames are designed to take the thickness of 3/4 inch plywood - standard dimensional lumber runs at 1.5" thick so it will protrude above the frame and be susceptible to damage as the edges will be exposed. Dimensional lumber especially PT stuff will warp, twist and split if not secured in enough places.

A good quality marine grade plywood deck properly treated should last the life of the trailer and really what it's designed to be build with. A solid sheet of plywood adds significant stiffness and structure to that frame that individual pieces of wood will not. I would think not using plywood may affect the overall trailer integrity and capacity.

Dad sold the C * C · 03-26-2019, 10:27 PM

After building my kayak I have become a big fan of coating plywood with epoxy too keep the water out. You can then paint it or varnish it to protect it from UV if needed.

03-24-2019, 07:01 PM	#1
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,186 Thanks: 210 Thanked 452 Times in 261 Posts	Just curious, how would diamond plate hold up to carbide runners? Also wouldn't it be slippery to walk on when snow covered?

03-24-2019, 07:20 PM	#2
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,121 Thanks: 64 Thanked 751 Times in 485 Posts	P.T. and aluminum can make some corrosion. Will it corrode soon enough to affect your ownership? That is unknown. Since I am in the fourth quarter, with no time outs, I only expect to make my stuff last 20 years. I used P.T. Plywood on my steel utility trailer. It was very easy to do.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Top-Water For This Useful Post:
Flyfisha (03-25-2019), jeffk (03-25-2019)

03-25-2019, 08:36 AM	#4
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,251 Thanks: 193 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Honestly that’s not high end trailer and must have some years on it. Slap the pt plywood on it and be done. I bet the plywood outlast the frame and certainly will outlast the axel if it’s got some years on it. Ski guides needed to handle the carbides.

03-25-2019, 08:54 AM	#5
burgerunh Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 105 Thanks: 7 Thanked 34 Times in 24 Posts	If your trailer is aluminum, the chemicals they use in pressure treated plywood will react with and corrode the aluminum frame.

03-25-2019, 09:07 AM	#6
dt5150 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 401 Thanks: 4 Thanked 107 Times in 72 Posts	correct, you don't want to mate pressure treated wood with aluminum. it's same with boat floors.. can't use pt wood in a boat with aluminum floor supports. have to use marine grade plywood, which is a viable option for you as well. also, if you need some ski guides (the plastic runners for your carbides/skis) let me know. i have some used ones from my old trailer taking up space.

03-26-2019, 10:54 AM	#7
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	Keep a few things in mind here as you contemplate a solution. Gaps in the flooring may be great for draining but they will also allow road spray especially from the trailer tires to come up from the underside. Probably not ideal. Those frames are designed to take the thickness of 3/4 inch plywood - standard dimensional lumber runs at 1.5" thick so it will protrude above the frame and be susceptible to damage as the edges will be exposed. Dimensional lumber especially PT stuff will warp, twist and split if not secured in enough places. A good quality marine grade plywood deck properly treated should last the life of the trailer and really what it's designed to be build with. A solid sheet of plywood adds significant stiffness and structure to that frame that individual pieces of wood will not. I would think not using plywood may affect the overall trailer integrity and capacity.

The Following User Says Thank You to MAXUM For This Useful Post:
thinkxingu (03-26-2019)

03-26-2019, 10:27 PM	#8
Dad sold the C * C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 273 Thanks: 119 Thanked 62 Times in 40 Posts	After building my kayak I have become a big fan of coating plywood with epoxy too keep the water out. You can then paint it or varnish it to protect it from UV if needed.