Plywood floor in trailer

[bams50]

Forgive me since this isn't a garage in the traditional sense, but it plays one on the road

It's a brand new Haulmark enclosed trailer, 8.5'x24' with ramp door. It has finished walls and ceiling; plain plywood floor with what appears to be a light coat of paint or maybe stain.

I'm trying to decide what kind of floor to put in. It will see limited duty hauling high-end classic cars, and weekly duty hauling a pavement race car May-Sept; so it will be mostly clean cargo.

I looked at linoleum and tile, but they're probably not durable enough. My preference is aluminum diamond plate, but that's too heavy and too expensive. Right now I'm leaning toward either RaceDeck or one of the bed liners out there, like this: http://www.monstaliner.com/ . Both have their pluses and minuses.

What about any other ideas? I'm looking at both cost and weight addition. It's a beautiful trailer but it's at 3850 lbs. empty, with no cabinets or winch (yet) or flooring.

I would love the input of the GJ folks on what ideas you might have. Thanks in advance!

 

[dmeadow]

The last couple of times I put floors in enclosed trailers I used BLT's garage floor covering. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. It is also easy to clean and it looks good.

The drawback to it is it won't stay completely flat. It will bunch up if you turn a wheel on it. I tried gluing it down this last time and it didn't help much.

 

[bams50]

Thanks. But what's BLT? You don't mean the sandwich, right?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

What about epoxy? Naturally, you will need a non-skid texture.
It must be lighter than the other options.

 

[RECox286]

There is a plywood product, 4x8 sheets, that is used for making floating docks, has

a waffle weave top coating of fiberglass. I don't know what it is called, or who exactly

might carry it, but it is tough as nails, and probably would be good for your purpose,

even though it may be what you would term "too heavy".

Sometimes, you gotta sell what you got...

Uncle Bob

 

[BoostAddiction]

The standard ply in those trailers will quickly get stained, worn, etc with any use at all, especially with a race car.

I had aluminum diamond plate on the floor in my race trailer and it worked great. Cleaned up with polishing compound when oxidized or to remove tire and oil marks. It's expensive, but I'm not sure what you mean about it being heavy. You only need the thin stuff over a ply floor, so it is very light indeed.

Some of my racer buds were using rubber coin-pattern floors and they seemed to work OK.

One reason I chose the diamond plate was that it was reflective, so when working on the car at night in the trailer it was very easy to see things.

If you are the least bit OCD about cleanliness, you will be hating life with a ply floor. You can never get or keep them really clean.

 

[Garage Flooring]

The last couple of times I put floors in enclosed trailers I used BLT's garage floor covering. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. It is also easy to clean and it looks good.

The drawback to it is it won't stay completely flat. It will bunch up if you turn a wheel on it. I tried gluing it down this last time and it didn't help much.

BLT (Better Life Technology) is used as trailer flooring all the time. From OEM flooring to racing companies it is one of the most popular uses for this product. We have it on our website as do many others. Even if you do not need a sample I would suggest you order one as you will get an instant email with some valuable information.

 

[dmeadow]

Thanks. But what's BLT? You don't mean the sandwich, right?

^^^^Garage Flooring LLC got it right.

And although everything is better with bacon, it is not included in this flooring.

 

[rsanter]

I would either use a good coating of paint or go with the aluminum diamond plate.
The aluminum is not as expensive or heavy as you may think. You can use really thin material as it's a covering and not a structural componet.
One note, I would look at painting or protecting the plywood from the bottom side as well, you don't want it rotting out from the bottom while looking pretty on top

Bob

 

[5lima30]

How about deck/ stain sealer? That won't add much weight to your trailer like some products. BTW, if you do that, you will probably want to add "no skid" grit to the stain.

 

[bams50]

Hmm, lots of choices.

My research thus far is showing diamond plate about $800, mats about $650, BLT and RaceDeck about the same; all within a couple hundred of each other. Roll-ons like Monstaliner figure around $500 or just a bit under.

I guess a $2-300 quickie solution isn't likely

I'll be looking closer into all the ideas. Any further input appreciated!

 

[Garage Flooring]

Hmm, lots of choices.

My research thus far is showing diamond plate about $800, mats about $650, BLT and RaceDeck about the same; all within a couple hundred of each other. Roll-ons like Monstaliner figure around $500 or just a bit under.

I guess a $2-300 quickie solution isn't likely

I'll be looking closer into all the ideas. Any further input appreciated!

9x24 75 Mil Levant $500
9x24 55 Mil 382.32 but is NOT considered trailer grade

 

[bams50]

9x24 75 Mil Levant $500
9x24 55 Mil 382.32 but is NOT considered trailer grade

Thank you, Justin. That puts BLT a few lengths out front. I have ordered samples. Can't wait to see them!

Now if only you included bacon...

 

[pmason0]

I put in my 8.5x24 the coin pattern tiles from Lowes, I would not recommend them. I installed it in the early spring and by summer I had to trim it 3~4 times, it kept expanding with the heat. If it was just floating it might be ok, but you have to put the tie down rings through it and line up the door edges.
If I'd do it again I might go with a spray in bed liner.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I put in my 8.5x24 the coin pattern tiles from Lowes, I would not recommend them. I installed it in the early spring and by summer I had to trim it 3~4 times, it kept expanding with the heat. If it was just floating it might be ok, but you have to put the tie down rings through it and line up the door edges.
If I'd do it again I might go with a spray in bed liner.

Other than the BLT self adhesive tiles, I have seen that happen a lot. With the mats we suggest they get glued down. BLT sells this product as OEM flooring to a lot of the manufacturers and we have sold it to countless racing teams, and individuals. When you install it correctly it works great.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I used the BLT (G floor) in a demonstration trailer that I had at my last job, it was OK but didn't like to stay glued to the floor. Best part is it had no seams, all one piece as trailer was 7x16.

I'm looking to do another for my current employer and am leaning towards the RaceDay self stick tiles also available at garageflooringllc

 

[Garage Flooring]

I used the BLT (G floor) in a demonstration trailer that I had at my last job, it was OK but didn't like to stay glued to the floor. Best part is it had no seams, all one piece as trailer was 7x16.

I'm looking to do another for my current employer and am leaning towards the RaceDay self stick tiles also available at garageflooringllc

Thanks! On the glue. People tend to use the Liquid PSA because they are afraid of the other stuff. For plywood decks you can use the marine grade adhesive. For Plywood or Aluminum your best bet is almost always the Rolled PSA adhesive. It is the same stuff we use on the tiles and although I am not suggesting it, I think it would stick to teflon

If your coating wood I would suggest a Behr 880 primer first (for the rolled).

 

[CamarosRus]

On the subject of PLYWOOD DECKED box trailers..........my (2004) Pace American Shadow GT doesnt appear to have much protection on the road side/bottom side.

What cost effective product (DIY) are YOU (the reader) familiar with that I could apply myself.........
OR have professionally applied. Elevating trailer and getting underneath will be challenging.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Outside my area but I did find this post http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f104/best-wood-protectant-trailer-decking-659147/

 

[bams50]

Update- received the BLT samples. Pretty nice stuff! Of course, what I REALLY want is the diamond pattern in blue

BTW, here's a picture of the trailer at the races:

 

[Garage Flooring]

If you do the self stick tiles we can do diamond in blue. Just use a primer first.

 

[GMBracing]

did my trailer in bedliner (roll on) the trailer is 10 years old and still going strong

 

[bams50]

If you do the self stick tiles we can do diamond in blue. Just use a primer first.

Thanks. At some point I will have to get a quote. Still looking at options.

did my trailer in bedliner (roll on) the trailer is 10 years old and still going strong

What brand did you use? And, a picture of your floor would be great!

 

[kgorman]

+1 on BLT we have 34' enclosed car trailer and the BLT flooring is awesome. We went with ribbed vs coin.

 

[crewchief888]

the used race trailer we had, we pulled up the checkerboard floor tiles, and had a spray in bedliner done on the floor, and up the sides to the top of the wheel wells.

we bought a new trailer, and had a full aluminum floor put in.

both real easy for cleanup

personally,
i liked the bedlined floor it was never slippery when wet, i fell and busted my *** more than once on that aluminum floor.

 

[Garage Flooring]

+1 on BLT we have 34' enclosed car trailer and the BLT flooring is awesome. We went with ribbed vs coin.

Thanks