Thread: Trailer Decking

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Originally Posted by 34_40

Up here in my section of MA., you would have to do 12" centers even on a house deck when you use Trex! I am not familiar with decking with Trex. I do know that it is NON structural! I think I'd stay away from it for a Car trailer but a short utility trailer should sneak by.. My own utility trailer has the usual low grade 2 x 6 for a deck, only trapped on the ends and is a dozen years old and still looks great. What I removed had been bolted in and around each bolt, the holes wallowed out with rot and the bolts were rotted from being wet around the wood.

I talked to an tech service engineer at Trex and they agreed that I would be OK with supports on 12" centers using their 1.5"thick material, but then I priced out the 3" C channel needed to add the supports By the time I added seven supports and bought two more Trex boards it was going to be between $350 and $400, and I would now have a welding project I'll stick with the pressure treated lumber and be done this afternoon

Originally Posted by rspears

I talked to an tech service engineer at Trex and they agreed that I would be OK with supports on 12" centers using their 1.5"thick material, but then I priced out the 3" C channel needed to add the supports By the time I added seven supports and bought two more Trex boards it was going to be between $350 and $400, and I would now have a welding project I'll stick with the pressure treated lumber and be done this afternoon

Sounds Good!

I would go with the 2x treated material I have 2x10 on my trailer they are traped at each end with a 1/4 x 2 flatstock welded . I have from time to time used a floor jack on the trailer to raise a car or what ever was on it. I'd be afraid the composet material wouldn't hold up for that. I've had mine over 20 years and only replaced 2 boards and it sits out side all the time.

Finished this some time back, but got the new deck on - used 9 2x8's plus 2 2x6 and did not have to rip anything Mike, like you suggested I ground off the welds on the 2" angle iron retainer up front - found out there's just no way to bow up a 2x8 far enough to pop into place, at least not alone . The picture has spacers between most of the boards - decided to leave them there while the lumber dries out all the way, maybe to reduce the sid to side warp a bit? Thanks for all the suggestions!Trailer Deck.jpg

Will you be putting any kind of sealant on the wood Roger???? The new deck really looks nice, btw.

Looks great Roger! Good Job! I used Thompsons water seal to help protect it after the first summer. FWIW.