Replacing a trailer floor.

[birdof1977]

I have just purchased a very cheap Sinclair trailer, but the previous owners have ripped out the floor as it was unsafe.
What is the best and cheapest way to replace it. I have a carpenter friend who will do the work for me very cheaply, but I need to big the right materials. I was thinking hardwood tongue and groove planks with external shuttering ply on top? All coated to make waterproof. Would this work? And how thick would I need each layer.
Alternatively would a single layer of marine ply do the job?
It would only ever be used to transport 1 horse at a time due to weights I can tow etc. I would also need to keep the weight.down as much as possible on the flooring.
Not sure what kind of floor Sinclair used to.fit in their trailers. It is plated with an unloaded weight of 750 kg.
Any help, info or advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wytsend]

The boarding used by trailer manufacturers is a product called Phenolic board.

You need the 18mm thickness...better 25mmm.

Never use marine ply ...it is very slippery and degrades quite quickly with horse urine.
As long as the chassis bearers are sound, you will only need the phenolic board.

We replace trailer floors regularly for clients and this is all we use.

 

[birdof1977]

Thanks for that wytsend. There is a place not far from me that sells it.
Would having this board eliminate the need for rubber matting on top? Or would you recommend putting that in also?

 

[winter0190]

Apparently you can use scaffolding planks as I have loads and I asked my trailer guy if they would be ok and he says there fine and he's gonna do the whole floor with it.

 

[birdof1977]

Would they not be heavy though? And are you laying anything on top of the scaffold planks?

 

[winter0190]

Um... Woulda thought quite heavy. Never thought of that. Shall ask the guy who's fitting it. Mine already has a thick wood floor in it. As didn' really ask about weight. The existing floor is wood then rubber matting over where the horse is and metal at the top end where the hay is but both are really thin just to protect the wood.

 

[9tails]

I've just done the same with my Sinclair. I used Rhinoboard 21mm thick, all bolted down and all edges sealed. Have a great time doing the curvy bit! Cost for materials was £100, time was 3 days with me and my dad, it was like Laurel and Hardy but the finished result is super. You can also use Buffaloboard, similar but higher quality than Rhinoboard and a LOT more expensive. You can't go much thicker than 24mm as you won't have clearance for the partition, mine is tight with 21mm.

 

[rockysmum]

I've just done the same with my Sinclair. I used Rhinoboard 21mm thick, all bolted down and all edges sealed. Have a great time doing the curvy bit! Cost for materials was £100, time was 3 days with me and my dad, it was like Laurel and Hardy but the finished result is super. You can also use Buffaloboard, similar but higher quality than Rhinoboard and a LOT more expensive. You can't go much thicker than 24mm as you won't have clearance for the partition, mine is tight with 21mm.

I hope this is a joke or a mistake

Isn't Rhino board a gypsum board, I know there are a lot of different types but I didn't think any of them were designed to withstand impact or water?

OP best take advice from an expert. Whether you can use ply or need extra support from tongue and groove depends on the distance between the chassis supports. Is you want to use ply you might need to get additional supports welded in.

The scaffolding planks will be heavy and because they dont join together like tongue and groove the floor may bounce. Tongue and groove and then thin ply on top gives a very stable floor. So does ply in trailers that were designed to take it.

 

[WelshD]

Has anyone tried the thick recycled plastic boarding that some places sell?

 

[rockysmum]

The previous post worried me so much I looked up Rhino Board. This is the description.

RhinoBoard is a plasterboard and consists of an aerated or foamed gypsum core encased in, and firmly bonded to, special paper liners. RhinoBoard is used as lining/cladding for ceilings, drywalls and drylining. RhinoBoard is non combustible and it is used as a lining in fire rated drywall and ceiling systems.

 

[domane]

Eek! It's a PLASTERboard! Not suitable for floors then.....

 

[rockysmum]

Eek! It's a PLASTERboard! Not suitable for floors then.....

Not really Imagine if the horse had a pee

As I said a joke or a mistake surely

 

[9tails]

The Rhinoboard I bought is a multi-ply board with a birch core that is phenolic bonded with a bitumen top coat, I can assure you that no horse is going to fall through my floor. It is very similar to Buffaloboard. Maybe there is another product that is called Rhinoboard that is plasterboard, but I didn't use that.

 

[rockysmum]

The Rhinoboard I bought is a multi-ply board with a birch core that is phenolic bonded with a bitumen top coat, I can assure you that no horse is going to fall through my floor. It is very similar to Buffaloboard. Maybe there is another product that is called Rhinoboard that is plasterboard, but I didn't use that.

Oh good you had me worried.

Rhinoboard is a huge brand, I wonder if they know someone else has pinched their name

 

[9tails]

Maybe, it's not branded and came from a local woodyard. I suspect the woodyard have branded it themselves. They sell a lot of it for floors on flatbeds that are used to carry tractors.