Trailer Decking Upkeep

I blasted the crud off the Rhino yesterday and then hit the trailer. Pressure washed the thing top and bottom, front and back. The wood deck, although having some nice cracks, still looks really good and solid after 3 years of Sun. I decided I'd better start coating it with something yearly, or replace the stuff before it's time.

I started checking out reviews on water sealers/proofers and as usual, they are all the best and are all the worst.

So, I turn to the Southern SxS Riders again for words of wisdom on what trailer decking weather proofer to use.

Thompsons Water sealer. There are others just as good though.

The basic dilemma you face is that any sealant you put on it will make it slicker than owl grease when it's wet...

If you want to be cheap, just brush it with used motor oil and let it soak in. It'll last longer than Thompsons and cost ya nothing... just may not look as good.

Redneck 101 -- but it also wouldn't show any oil stains that might get on it...

I think mine is BEHR stainer/sealent looks purrty and does the trick usually do it once or so a year to keep it in tip top dont want my rhino falling through my trailer at 70mph because of a little pot hole in the road

I spray my trailer with dieselfuel,and the floor has been in it for about 8 years now and it,s still solid.it,s a whole lot cheaper than water seal and it does work....

mudbug59 wrote:

I spray my trailer with dieselfuel,and the floor has been in it for about 8 years now and it,s still solid.it,s a whole lot cheaper than water seal and it does work....

Yep -- basically anything that will repel water will work.

as mentioned, save your $ and use your old motor oil and some diesel fuel. I have a small trailer that came with a 3/4" plywood floor in it. It was used when I bought it 5 years ago and the floor is still nice and solid. I brush my old motor oil on it and it has done great. Once it soaks in after 1 or 2 days, it's not slick at all.

mix up diesel and tranny fluid for a western cedar look, and it also keeps the critters out. but beware you better have a 4 point tie down system or the buggy will slide in wet bumpy weather/roads

I thank you all for the great suggestions !!!!
However, it looks like it is not going to stop raining long enough to try any of the solutions any time soon.

Maybe this Fall..........

What you need to do, is go back to Windrock and get some of that STINKING ARSE mud they have on some of the trails. That stuff is tuff stuff. Would form a protective coating on the wood.... or eat it one..... Hmmmm.....

ClayW wrote:

What you need to do, is go back to Windrock and get some of that STINKING ARSE mud they have on some of the trails. That stuff is tuff stuff. Would form a protective coating on the wood.... or eat it one..... Hmmmm.....

Your trailer could grow another wheel too. I do believe that mud-water has been there scene the beginning of time...

I meant to post this this morning, but my CRS was active.

Anyway, I went the "diesel fuel / motor oil mix" route. 3 qts. of fuel and 1 qt. of new 5w20, an odd bottle that had been sitting around the garage for 8 years. I sprayed it on this past Sat. (06-20-09) and after these few days of soaking in the sun and one of rain, the wood looks nice and does not feel slick. I can say that the wood was very thirsty! I sprayed the whole gallon of the mix on the 6' x 12' deck.

Thanks again for this suggestion. Less than $3 was a good price for the treatment!

Glad it worked out for you.