Posted 2010-03-20 1:23 AM (#117838) Subject: Flooring question
Member
Posts: 6
Location: CA
I have recently bought a 1980 Circle J. It's in pretty good shape, but we are replacing the floor in it. (Among other things).
We were looking into what to replace it with, and were wondering if composite flooring would work for a horsetrailer? Like the kind they use for decks? I realize it isn't made for horse trailers, but isn't Rumber the same stuff? We are planning to put in additional supports if going that route.
Posted 2010-03-20 8:28 AM (#117845 - in reply to #117838) Subject: RE: Flooring question
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Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Rumber is different than trex or other composite decking. Rumber is made from recycled tire rubber and is much denser material than composite materials made for house decking. In other words, I think the Rumber is MUCH stronger, will tolerate more weight, will tolerate the abuse of steel shod horses much better than the decking material.
Posted 2010-03-20 12:56 PM (#117854 - in reply to #117838) Subject: RE: Flooring question
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Location: 99320
So would one use the Trex type material to replace the floor boards and put rumber over it? I don't know what the strength and stress parameters are for a Trex type product, but you might want to check that before using it in your trailer.
Posted 2010-03-20 1:09 PM (#117855 - in reply to #117838) Subject: RE: Flooring question
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Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by Libera on 2010-03-20 2:23 AM
I have recently bought a 1980 Circle J. It's in pretty good shape, but we are replacing the floor in it. (Among other things). We were looking into what to replace it with, and were wondering if composite flooring would work for a horsetrailer? Like the kind they use for decks? I realize it isn't made for horse trailers, but isn't Rumber the same stuff? We are planning to put in additional supports if going that route.
If that original Pine floor lasted 30 years, then I would go back with pressure treated Yellow Pine. Keep it simple!!!
Posted 2010-03-20 1:37 PM (#117857 - in reply to #117838) Subject: RE: Flooring question
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Libera, I'm with Retento, I'd redo with wood if the trailer originally had wood. To me, it is the best, easiest and most cost effective. If you go wood, you are in CA, so you won't be able to find yellow pine. If you go wood, don't use our west coast pine. It's way too soft. If you don't use mats, you'll need tongue and groove. If you use mats, you don't need tongue and groove. I use Douglas fir to refloor. One caution on the pressure treated. The new pressure treating will eat steel big time if the steel isn't zinc coated. My original wood flooring, not pressure treated lasted 20 years on an open slatted stock trailer left out in the weather. I replaced with PT and now regret it, not wood, but PT, because I'm worried about the corrosion issue.
Posted 2010-03-20 5:37 PM (#117862 - in reply to #117838) Subject: RE: Flooring question
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Posts: 6
Location: CA
Thanks for all the replies!
I do not know if it is the original floor or not, but it was pretty rotted in the front, we had to cut out the metal support as well because it too was rusty and full of holes.
The reason this came up, is because I had read somewhere that the floor should be replaced with pine. But like the guy at the lumbermill told us...our CA pine is way too soft. So we will look into other types of wood. I did not not know that PT wood can cause corrosion, thanks for mentioning that!
Posted 2010-03-21 4:22 PM (#117884 - in reply to #117838) Subject: RE: Flooring question
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Posts: 2953
Location: North Carolina
I replace a wood floor in a trailer. I was able to buy rough cut full dimension OAK from a pallet manufacturing company. The wood is strong and tough. I didn't leave any space between the boards cutting for a tight fit. As the wood dried, it shrank.