Welderman85
New member
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- Oct 22, 2023
- Messages
- 1
Whats the preferred way to seal deck boards on my car hauler. I can't decide between Thomson water sealer or a mixture of diesel and used oil.
Sealing trailer deck boards
- Thread starter Welderman85
- Start date
there was just recently a long thread on this very topic. a search will probably show it
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thompson is junk. Doesn't last. I'd use a solid or semi solid stain
Certified Drunk
Well-known member
Log oil.
It depends if you want to use your trailer like the tool that it is, if so then used oil is hard to beat. If you treat it like fine heirloom antique furniture then get something fancy.
But yes there was a recent thread here that covered all the different opinions.
But yes there was a recent thread here that covered all the different opinions.
jabberwoki
Well-known member
Just did mine with 4 heavy coats of old engine oil.
Looks good when done .
Looks good when done .
jkeyser14
Well-known member
Get a gallon of pure tung oil. Cut it with citrus oil. 100% natural, extremely effective, and will last forever.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Coincidentally, just yesterday I saw a guy getting used oil from the local auto parts store. Said he was going to make a 50-50 diesel/oil mix for fence posts.
It was the first time I’d heard of it, now here’s a thread on it.
Youngandfree
Well-known member
Very common
Old Moparz
Well-known member
I recently replaced most of the boards on my trailer deck after almost 20 years & now considering a product I had seen in Home Depot once that has a very thick coating when done. I don't recall the name but after looking online I see there are several brands now. This is what looks closest to what I saw....
Youngandfree
Well-known member
That stuff seals so well it seals in the rot. I wouldn't use it. I've got stair stringers that or rotting away with that garbage on them. Poked a screwdriver into a bubble in the paint and the wood is rotten away under it. Paint still intact.
Old Moparz
Well-known member
Was in applied when the wood was new?
APEowner
Well-known member
Used motor oil is carcinogenic. Using it as a treatment on a trailer deck is a bad idea. Using it to treat fence posts is even worse and is likely illegal in some places.
I tried a variety of treatments for the deck on my car trailer and eventually decided that steel tread-plate was the best solution for me. You do loose the ability to screw cribbing directly to the deck but in every other way is was superior to wood for me.
I tried a variety of treatments for the deck on my car trailer and eventually decided that steel tread-plate was the best solution for me. You do loose the ability to screw cribbing directly to the deck but in every other way is was superior to wood for me.
Youngandfree
Well-known member
Have no idea, was on the deck when I moved in in 2020. But my dad used some on his deck in the past and it was trash then too.
Carcinogenic? He's going to walk on it with footwear....not lick, **** or roll on it naked. It's amazing how theoretical risks become blown out of proportion in this society. Particularly in certain states.
I would think that commercially available stains and finishes are also carcinogenic, oil based stains are made with….oil. I know, used motor oil contains combustion byproducts.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Maybe some kids are hungry and they chew on the fencepost and deckboards, you know, like paint chips.
Although I would imagine if a place has fence post the kid probably is well fed.
jonesg
Well-known member
trailers lead to cancer.
i feel safer already.
i feel safer already.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
There are three of my buddy's and I with car haulers, mine has a diamond plate deck.
Theirs are wood, even after treatment, they don't look very good after a couple of summers in sun/weather.
I would treat it with whatever you choose, and then cover with some diamond plate.
I did the diamond plate deck in 2017, painted it with an oil base paint,and bed liner where the car tires run, still looks great.
just an option to think about..
Theirs are wood, even after treatment, they don't look very good after a couple of summers in sun/weather.
I would treat it with whatever you choose, and then cover with some diamond plate.
I did the diamond plate deck in 2017, painted it with an oil base paint,and bed liner where the car tires run, still looks great.
just an option to think about..
I'm in the used motor oil group. I thought I'd try it because I've tried a lot of different stuff and it only lasts a few months in the Phoenix sun. Surprisingly, the oil soaks into the wood quickly and dries. I can touch it within a day and it won't leave any stains. I would not transport a new mattress on it but wouldn't do that on raw wood either.
APEowner
Well-known member
Personally, I lay on my trailer when I strap cars down and I prefer to not do that on a known carcinogen, particularly when there are other options
LopezBart
Well-known member
With traditional wooden working boats, boiled linseed oil + turps + pine tar + japan drier is a popular preservative. It's a bit expensive these days for a car trailer, but works well if refreshed when it starts looking ragged. It penetrates the wood, and the linseed oil polymerizes (sped up by the japan drier). The pine tar darkens the wood, and I imagine helps block the sun. As always, rags, etc. used with this mixture are subject to spontaneous combustion, so toss 'em in a metal can outside. The proportions don't matter much, but 50/50 oil + turps plus some pine tar and a splash of drier works. Takes a day or two to set; can be applied w/ a garden sprayer and mopped in. Somewhat susceptible to blackening. Smells great!
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I just bought a new flat trailer, came with pt 2 x 6s. I thought about sealing it, but if it lasts 10 plus years with out sealing I'll just redeck it.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
What thickness did you go with?
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
One of these stickers on the trailer will address most concerns.
TitusLloydPullo
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2016
- Messages
- 41
I'm old enough to see how well linseed oil protected parts of my moms house for over 40 years. I use it on everything wood outside.
I actually sprayed a log cabin with it until there was smoke. I literally watched a trash can of linseed oil soaked rags spontaneously combust once. Be aware.
I actually sprayed a log cabin with it until there was smoke. I literally watched a trash can of linseed oil soaked rags spontaneously combust once. Be aware.
Burl
Well-known member
The guys who put motor oil on their boards are the ones who at 70 MPH on an interstate highway in a nice rainstorm are also coating anyone who is behind them with an oil/water mist. Great for seeing out the windscreen.
The oil soaks into the wood and evaporates until it’s dry just like an oil based wood stain would. There isn’t an oily mist coming off the decking in the rain.