Trailer Decking

[arky217]

I just removed the decking on my 16' trailer.
It was completely rotted and came off in pieces.

I put the decking on about 12 years ago using
treated 1x10's from Lowes.

I was planning to mill some white oak and bolt
it on right after milling.

However, a neighbor just gave me several large
SYP logs and I was wondering if I used them
for the decking and then after they dried for a spell,
to mop them with used motor oil.

Do you suppose that the SYP with the oil mopping
would last longer than the Lowes treated did ?

[beenthere]

Depends on what "Lowes treated" was, and if the treated lumber was mostly heartwood which does not take treatment. 

Too many variables to say, but the free logs may be a good way to find out. Hope for the best. 

[charles mann]

iv heard the motor oil thing works, but from personal experience, it did NOT, but instead, had the opposite effect. I had my tractor on my trailer, pulled the plug and let the oil go where it went, thinking it would help repel water. well, it rotted out WAY faster, and only where the oil went on the decking. i ended up with about 24"x24" hole in the decking. it too was more than likely syp, but was NOT treated. unk how old the lumber was before it was put on my trailer, but the trailer is a 2011 tx bragg, and that specific area began rotting out about 4 yrs latter and i stepped through a couple board a few yrs later and it only got worse. i finally cut back to the next cross brace and rmvd the rotted out junk, put in some more boards, then laid 3/4" plywood over the entire width and length. 

[fluidpowerpro]

In addition to resistance to rot is durability. I've had guys purchase oak decking from me that said they were replacing their treated deck because it didn't hold up. They said steel tracks ate up soft green treat in short order. Didn't matter that it was treated because it was destroyed long before it had a chance to rot.

[beenthere]

i finally cut back to the next cross brace and rmvd the rotted out junk, put in some more boards, then laid 3/4" plywood over the entire width and length.

But suspect the plywood traps more moisture which again leads to aiding rot. 
Maybe the oil coating is trapping water/moisture keeping the wood from drying between rain wetting. 

Is a dilemma trying to find the best solution. 

[doc henderson]

well, if it was really 1x material, you could go up to 2x material.  you can get copper naphtholate and roll it on.  also keep soil and debris off the deck as it holds moisture and has bugs/bacteria/mold in it.  we have used cottonwood.  it does not rot fast if not in contact with solid, and the twisted grain compresses under metal tracks and re-expands with rain.  any petrol product should repel some water.  I agree with not trapping moisture in the wood.

[arky217]

Well, I meant to say 2x10's, not 1x10's (don't know why I said it was 1x10's)

Charles: That was interesting that the oiled section rotted out.
Neighbor says I should use white oak and then oil it after it dries a spell.

Wondering now if I should just mill white oak and not treat it at all.

However, I have some scrap SYP pieces that I milled about 12 years ago
that have been sitting out in the weather but off the ground, and
they are just as solid as they were 12 years ago, whereas my porch
steps are the treated Lowes stuff and they are not holding up.

That makes me think that if I milled 2x10's from the neighbors logs
and gave them 1/4"+ spacing, that they would last as long as I
needed them to ( I'm 78 ).

Also thinking that I should mill the 2x10's from the SYP a full 2" thick for stouter support.
Then pare down the ends so they will fit into the 1.5" end channel.

[charles mann]

i finally cut back to the next cross brace and rmvd the rotted out junk, put in some more boards, then laid 3/4" plywood over the entire width and length.

But suspect the plywood traps more moisture which again leads to aiding rot.
Maybe the oil coating is trapping water/moisture keeping the wood from drying between rain wetting.

Is a dilemma trying to find the best solution.

I didnt put the plywood on for several yrs after the wood rotted out. So i highly doubt your comment, pun intended, holds water, since it was rotted out first. 

[charles mann]

Arky217 
It surprised me too the oil rapidly increased the deterioration of the wood. I figured it would have had the opposite effect, but apparently not. I have zero idea why it would have sped up the process. But what is done is done.

[KenMac]

If white oak is available for your trailer decking, that's the best you can get for the purpose. I doubt you'd need to treat it with oil or anything else. What I've seen is oily wood gets really slick when wet.

[Nealm66]

My neighbors use a mix of diesel and motor oil with good results. Fire hazard in my opinion but definitely keeps the wood sound and not cracking. Sometimes they build a trough and soak, sometimes just multiple coats till it doesn't absorb any more. Green logs, not much drying before they treated. I've cut some very thick cotton wood boards for a lowboy hauling a very large dozer that worked better than anything else they tried.