Flatbed wood thickness?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
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3/4" ply is quite strong due to the laminated construction. Heck, your house probably has 3/8" ply (or OSB) on the roof with the supports 24" OC. Is the 3/8" strong enough to stack lumber, tools, etc on it? Absolutely. Double the 3/8" and you're at 3/4". It would make for a cheap and light deck that is stronger than the factory bed.
I would suggest running it through a table saw to cut into separate "boards" 6" (or whatever is desired) width. Space them 1/4" apart. This would give it a better look than the solid deck. Before mounting, fill any voids and paint, or stain, or (I've done this) epoxy with a top coat of roll on bed liner.
Fleet Owner
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From: Brentwood,CA
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Utah
Beto, all my flatbed trailers have all had 2X6 boards on the deck. I don't know where you are located, but here in Utah, lumber is so expensive right now it may be cheaper to make the deck out of aluminum!
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@bleeds blue Central IL here. Lumber here is pretty expensive too, but aluminum is expensive to... and I don't have a way to weld aluminum, and the shops are charging $75 an hour to weld aluminum. So I'm not sure it would be much cheaper.
Senior User
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What are you going to haul? How big of a trailer? I have seen everything from #2 white oak to treated 2X6 for decks. 3/4 treated ply might work if you are not hauling anything to heavy. If it is an open deck trailer I would not use 3/4 ply just because water will pool on it and cause mold (think deck on a house). Support under the deck material will dictate what the top should be.
My enclosed car hauler has 3/4 ply my old utility trailer had 2x6 white oak.
Roof decks on most houses are 1/2 inch on 16 inch centers or 5/8th on 2 foot centers by code.
My enclosed car hauler has 3/4 ply my old utility trailer had 2x6 white oak.
Roof decks on most houses are 1/2 inch on 16 inch centers or 5/8th on 2 foot centers by code.
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Fleet Owner
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From: Brentwood,CA
https://www.trailerdecking.com/ProductID3811
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That's why I suggested aptitong, it's the industry norm for heavy use beds. It exceeds white oak in strength and durability and is runner up to purple heart which is too dangerous for most to consider working with..
https://www.trailerdecking.com/ProductID3811
https://www.trailerdecking.com/ProductID3811
Fleet Owner
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From: Brentwood,CA
Often the cost is much lower if you have access to heavy truck trailer shops. There is also a opportunity to buy it used as its often recovered from trailer floors. It's also weather and mildew resistant. I paid 2.00 a LF for mine as rough sawn 5/4 7" wide. I totally cheated after install and used a floor sander to bring all the boards down flat. Anchored with stainless deck screws and finished with tung oil I had.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Wayland, MI
I decked my gooseneck trailer with 2x southern yellow pine. most trailer companies are using it, it's less money than oak but very dense for a pine. It is more of a hardwood than the typical pine we all know for construction lumber.
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