Protecting trailer plywood

[lotus_esprit_s1]

I have a 25 year old Ifor Williams type 12ft bed flatbed trailer. The ply boards are completely rotten and I’ve just put my foot through it.

I cannot get trailer / buffalo board for love nor money where I am. To get it delivered from up country is going to cost me £450 for three sheets. Local building merchants have Marine (not exterior) 18mm ply for £90 a sheet which I am probably going to use, however unsure of how to protect the ply from damage - anyone recommend the best treatment for marine ply - resin? Stain?

thanks!

 

[Arc Tourist]

Consider using scaffold planks for the bed, will last longer than plywood.

 

[8ob]

Cut, fit and drill it all. Remove and completely drown the whole lot in a decent yacht varnish or one of the oils.

Bob

 

[EEEK]

I sprayed mine...especially the edges, with stone chip......the stuff you spray on cars. Only a few months ago so dont know how it will last.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

As @8ob said.
On my trailer rebuilds I sealed the cut edges with a silicon sealant. After drowning the wood in stain. Not water based one.

 

[nickk]

I’ve given up on marine ply on my flat bed,just de laminated,fell apart,despite dipping an 8x4 in a tank of creosote,so 18 months ago,I boarded it in 22mm Douglas fir.

 

[S-Rail]

Marine ply is carp now , it’s not going to last . Think about going over to Ali chequer plate , it was an option / alternative . We used to fix it down with Huck bolts but you could probably rivet it instead .

Stand up better to shoveling aswell

 

[grim_d]

I just used 4x1 treated slats for mine then went over the top with steel sheet.

 

[roofman]

The plywood on my pick up beds get a good soaking with 50/50 old engine oil and white spirit every now and again...never had one rot out yet.

 

[knighty]

I'd be tempted to use inch thick OSB3 I think it's better than marine ply these days

I'd soak all the edges/joins in something, proper creosote would be my choice

but... I'd put something on the deck, chequer plate is obv best... if it's straight on top of inch osb3 then it'll only need to be the thin/cheap stuff

 

[nickk]

Problem with aluminium is it’s a mobile skating rink and steel slides all over the place.

 

[8ob]

I think marine ply is ok as long as you don't cheap out on it, the proper gear will last the test of time. There is way too much price driven rubbish ply on the market.

Bob

 

[PhillipM]

As @8ob said.
On my trailer rebuilds I sealed the cut edges with a silicon sealant. After drowning the wood in stain. Not water based one.

Bit late now but polyurethane would have been better, silicone releases from wood as the plasticisers work their way to the surface over time.

 

[grim_d]

Problem with aluminium is it’s a mobile skating rink and steel slides all over the place.

Not if you paint it with anti slip paint.

 

[DuncanCallum]

Mines lined with polycarbonate

 

[pedrobedro]

I made my trailer a new floor out of OSB Sterling board and it's been in 4 years now and still solid unlike the marine ply which delaminated after 2 years.

 

[sako243]

Creosoted scaffold boards

 

[roofman]

Really annoys me how all plywood has the "marine" label attached to it these days...real marine plywood is made from hardwoods and can cost as much as £350 a sheet for 25mm.

 

[AVI_8]

I’ve an old trailer with holes in the floor and when I strip it out was considering using a sheet of fibreglass with polyester resin on top of the new ply, it’s what’s used on boat floors, I haven’t priced it yet though, it maybe too expensive for an old trailer, but yours is a quality made trailer

 

[AVI_8]

Creosoted scaffold boards
View attachment 331028

That should last a long time!