Trailer flooring is a legal requirement stated in the Code of Federal Regulations, and it must be durable, safe, and tight enough to prevent gas and fire from permeating. It also provides sufficient traction to the cargo and other materials loaded onto the vehicle. With these things in mind, you must pick the right material and follow the industry standard when building your trailer decking.
This guide can help you build your trailer deck in four easy steps using high-quality, reliable, and long-lasting hardwood.
Step 1: Choose the best hardwood
Apitong is an exotic hardwood species in Southeast Asia. Its colors range from light to dark red-brown, sometimes brown to dark brown, with a purple tint. Also known as Keruing, it is a high-density wood known to be harder than oak. Its minimal moisture content makes it effective at resisting fungi and termites while being durable, sustainable, and affordable. As such, it is popular in other applications, such as boardwalks, boat frameworks, truck floors, and pallets. It is the best choice for trailer decking with its shallowly interlocked or straight grain and moderately coarse texture.
Step 2: Purchase the wood
After taking measurements, buy the wood you plan to use from an established and reputable supplier of Brazilian hardwoods. That way, you know the material is sustainably sourced and comes in various sizes to suit your trailer. Reputable suppliers also offer truck decking blanks, which they can mold to meet your needs. Blanks are naturally rough-sawn with varying thicknesses and widths for trailer decking.
Step 3: Prepare the wood.
Some hardwoods are pre-treated, but you can also purchase non-treated ones you can treat yourself using appropriate substances. It’s also a good chance to inspect every material for defects or damage. Look out for double-knotted boards, which can negatively impact the structural integrity. Ensure each piece is cut to length, so they are easier to lay down to build the trailer decking.
Step 4: Lay the boards in place
Ensure sufficient allowance to allow each piece to move naturally, as wood will expand and contract under different temperatures. Keep the boards properly aligned before securing them with bolts and screws and reinstalling the angle iron for capping both ends. Use appropriate screw fasteners to secure each board in place.
About the Author:
Bruce Master is the general manager at Advanced Building Supplies. Advanced Building Supplies, aka ABSWood, specializes in a full line of Brazilian Hardwood products, including Ipe, Garapa, Cumaru, and Tigerwood. Exotic woods is a natural outgrowth for Bruce as he comes from a long line of woodworkers. His Grandfather and Father were both respected wood craftsmen and cabinet makers. In addition to managing ABS, Bruce designs, plans, and installs his own decks. Before selling Brazilian Hardwoods, Bruce worked as a generalist at a huge Ace Hardware in Miami, Florida, that catered to an almost exclusive clientele of contractors working on Miami Beach.
