Trailer decking redone

DBUSHLB7

Team DMAX
Mar 9, 2012
2,789
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0
Albuquerque, NM
Our company has had this Big Tex 50LA flatbed since it was new. We use it all the time and it has paid for itself over many times. As it is stored outdoors in the elements and uncovered, the decking (unsure of wood species) took a beating and finally deteriorated to the point of being unsafe to carry loads anymore. The job fell on me to replace the deck so I brainstormed a while and decided it needed a deck that could withstand moisture etc. Trex (commonly used for outdoor decks) immediately came to mind. After discovering the Trex was only 1" thick I realized I would need another 5/8" worth of decking to fill in the U channel at the front and back of the trailer. I decided to go overboard to make sure the plywood also would resist the moisture and such. I rolled 3 coats of Mapai Aqua Defense waterproofing membrane to both sides of the CDX plywood. That product is commonly used in showers to waterproof cement board before tile installations. Once the plywood was secured and siliconed around the perimeter I installed the Trex planks with galvanized hardware and recessed the bolts below the surface. Glad the project went well and I'm pleased with how it came out. I feel confident this product will outlast the materials used prior. It had better we spent more than we really should have to do this. Oh well it's done!

My helper tearing out the old wood
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arneson

New member
Aug 14, 2011
2,133
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stoughton, wisconsin
Not a huge fan of trex. I own a landscape company but we also build lots of decks. Try and talk people out of that stuff. But for your app it will hold the elements well, due to your type of fasteners you went with. Main problem with that stuff is warping, fading and its 2-3x heavier then douglas fur, pine or cedar, commonly used on decks. Trailer turned out great tho.
 

DBUSHLB7

Team DMAX
Mar 9, 2012
2,789
0
0
Albuquerque, NM
Not a huge fan of trex. I own a landscape company but we also build lots of decks. Try and talk people out of that stuff. But for your app it will hold the elements well, due to your type of fasteners you went with. Main problem with that stuff is warping, fading and its 2-3x heavier then douglas fur, pine or cedar, commonly used on decks. Trailer turned out great tho.

I'm a wood guy at heart too but I just couldn't deny all the warping, splitting, splintering, and rotting. The only issue I really see with the Trex is the possibility of pallets sliding a little TOO easily. We will see I have a solution for that if its an issue.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,674
1,941
113
Mid Michigan
I was going to say it can be very slick....but you covered that. Trailer turned out nice, Damian.
 

arneson

New member
Aug 14, 2011
2,133
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0
stoughton, wisconsin
Wasnt being a dick. It does look nice on the trailer. Never layed any on a trailer before, but then again, u dont see it on trailers often either. Might be a reason, expense, weight, super slippery. I would like to here the solution to being slippery. Does it discolor it or real noticeable. Might be a fix for some customers around here.
 

DBUSHLB7

Team DMAX
Mar 9, 2012
2,789
0
0
Albuquerque, NM
There you go, showing off the floor sander again. :rofl:

Lol. She does work. She's got a 10" drum. Most guys run an 8". I like to think of my floor sander as the diesel 3/4 ton of floor refinishing equipment and the 8" units are gassers lol. Floor guys really are not that bright to be honest Tom....

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malibu795

misspeelleerr
Apr 28, 2007
8,294
610
113
42
in the buckeye state
i had a company use some 'pvc' like 4x4 for dunage they went with the load.. i cant remember what they where.. all i remember is they where black and stupid dense.. made oak look like balsa wood