Trailer floor decking can be done
using various types of wood. The choice of the material is dependent on factors
such as the type of goods the trailer will carry, whether it will operate on
the interstate or will it deliver goods from the container depot to the dock or
airport and back. The weather also has a role to play here. For instance,
whether you want a wood that is water and mold resistant, or you want something
that can withstand extreme heat. The choice of the wood is determined by all
these factors, in addition to your budget and business practices.
A few choices of wood are
described here so you can choose the correct lumber for trailer decking.
Southern Yellow Pine: Used to create a standard pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine lumber, the tree
is found in the southern region of the United States. The lumber has a high
load bearing capacity. It is one of the hardest pines and provides good trailer floor
decking, though the lumber has knots.
Douglas Fir: The lumber from this tree is known for its dimensional stability. It is sourced from the
Western United States. It is a strong wood and has natural rot resistance. It
is a low priced wood but can again have some knots in certain places. The knots
are less than those found in Yellow Pine trees. The trick is to choose lumber
with no or minimal knots.
Cotton Wood: The cotton wood lumber is one of the lightest and
cheapest options available in the market, with trailer makers preferring the
white poplar variety. The fact that the lumber does not splinter makes it a
better choice than hardwood lumber. However, the life of this lumber is very
less, sometimes as low as 2 years.
Oak: It is considered the toughest flooring choice for trailers. It
is more durable than Standard Pine and Douglas fir though also costlier. White
oak is a popular choice among trailer owners.
Apitong: This variety is a popular choice due to its hardness that
makes it great for rough use. Also known as Keruing, the lumber from this tree
is harder than Oak and Southern Pine lumber and almost three times stronger
than both of them. However, it is also heavy and not easy to install on the
trailer – but can last for years once installed.
Blackwood: This
lumber is often used as an upgraded wood. It is upgraded with high-quality
rubber infused panels. It goes under a computerized process in which the
warping is minimized. It is safer to use and provides extra traction while
loading or unloading.
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