What's the best kind of wood for a flat deck trailer? Thanks

 

How much weight would you be looking at putting on it? That'll be the key indicator on what kind of wood you'll need to use.

I'd consider a heavier, dense oak as a starting point for durability and strength.





Kris

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ghlight=rumber

http://www.rumber.com/

 

ill just be putting a skid steer or mini excavator on the trailer. cross members are 18" on center. need a good wood that will hold the weight and wont wear out or rot fast. ive got yellow pine on it now. i sealed it with thompson water seal when it was new. but the trailer is less than a year old and the wood is splitting and cupping. thanks

 

I second that! ...oh wait that is my thread

Yup "R" is for rumber..

Here is the application chart:

http://www.rumber.com/installation.html

Your 18" is to wide you can double up on the x-members or box in the rumber with angle..(I'm looking for the pic ..)

Edit (found it):

Click on this link and then the left pic on the second row:

http://www.rumber.com/boards/heavyequipment.html

It was mounted using the t system (two pieces of angle iron back to back) this spans the distant between the x-members:

 

what does this Rumber cost? im not looking to spend a fortune. just need a good type of hard wood that will last.

 

It runs aprox. 40% higher than pressure treated lumber yet it never wears out so it saves you money in the long run..

They are located in Muenster, Texas your in the same part of the state aren't you?

Give them a call and check it out..

 

muenster tx is just up the road from me ill have to go out there and check it out. thanks

 

i used plain old 16 foot 2x6's

 

My father and I put a deck on my grandfather's flatbed trailer, I think it was 20 ft long. We cut down 3 red oak trees, took the trunks to a local mill and had him cut them up into full 2-by's, varying widths, not planed down/sanded just a rough cut for traction. Coated with used oil, which after a week or so in the hot sun wasn't slippery anymore, and it's been on there for about 15 years now. Cost us $100, plus our labor, and we got a good amount of lumber left over from it.

 

My trailer is a 1999, and it has the original pressure treated lumber, there is on board in the beaver that has developed a crack, other wise they look like new.

 

Fir is the best. It lasts a long time and is strong. Easy to find up here not sure of in the US.

 

I would recomend unplaned white oak,I rebuilt my Gooseneck last year,white oak is a denser wood,less brittle than red oak and much stronger than pine. If the rumber was available and cost effective I would try it but pay strict attention to crossmember spans with it.

 

If your going to use wood Apitong is hard to beat. It's heavy and expensive though.