Trailer flooring - which is best

ownedbyaconnie

ownedbyaconnie

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Am looking to get a trailer soon and was wondering what the pros and cons are of wood vs aluminium flooring? Which do you prefer and why and what do I need to look out for when I view?

I will be towing with a VW Touareg which has 3.5tonne towing capacity so I am not worried about weight (which I assume is maybe a con for wood flooring!)
 
I prefer wood. Its much quieter to load and travel on. Its easy to tell when it needs replacing and its a fairly easy DIY job to replace it. It is heavier and it does need replacing more often than aluminium.

I hate the way ally floors feel but that might just be me. Its a much harder job to replace and far, far more expensive. Its much harder for most people to tell when it does need replacing. Its lighter, but not by very much and it lasts longer.
 
Leo Walker said:
I prefer wood. Its much quieter to load and travel on. Its easy to tell when it needs replacing and its a fairly easy DIY job to replace it. It is heavier and it does need replacing more often than aluminium.

I hate the way ally floors feel but that might just be me. Its a much harder job to replace and far, far more expensive. Its much harder for most people to tell when it does need replacing. Its lighter, but not by very much and it lasts longer.
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how often would you say wood needs replacing? And how would I keep it in good condition? Do you use rubber matting? Sorry, new to this so have lots of questions!
 
Gosh I'm the absolute opposite - I don't allow my horses to be travelled in a trailer with a wood floor and would never have one myself!

Leo is absolutely right that it is fairly easy to check a wood floor - but the problem if that people don't do it often enough. It can be a DIY job to replace it - but would you trust your beloved 3/4 tonne animal to your own DIY? I wouldn't persoanally - but that is no criticism to those with more confidence than I. I have an Ali floor with mats over which we check every few months and which is also checked professioanlly on annual service (for which it is currently overdue..)

Wood floors rot. Not only from horse wee / washing water etc on the top but also from rain, mud & puddles underneath. You have to check both sides - the top can appear sound as the bottom rots away until a foot falls through. Often with devastating consequences. Ali floors fail too - but less fequently and (I am told!) the damage is visible from both sides; and the failure tends to occur at the sides rather than the middle. That said I have never had an Ali floor fail - I have known wooden floors to.

What you do with the trailer might be relevant also. We hunt so the trailer is out most weeks through winter in the worst weather and conditions. We tow with a landrover defencder so have no hesitation in parking in deep mud etc. Even in summer it is rare for it to sit for more than 7 days because it also gets used for combination farm work - hauling stuff from place to place as well as the usual summer riding activities. If you are more likely to leave it idle for long periods I woudl say that too counts against a wooden floor as they continue to rot even when not in use. A clean Ali floor will just sit there minding its own buisness.
 
All floors rot over time and need checking and replacing. Particularly around the back edges/corners.

I’ve had trailers with wood, Ali plank and currently a plastic composit floor from Bateson.

Quite honestly, I’ve not noticed much difference between any of them in terms of loading, travelling, floor noise .

I’d go for the trailer in overall best condition for your money and get the floor (and other essentials checked before you buy)
 
ownedbyaconnie said:
how often would you say wood needs replacing? And how would I keep it in good condition? Do you use rubber matting? Sorry, new to this so have lots of questions!
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How long is a piece of string, unfortunately. I have wood. All raw edges are sealed and there's a hole cut to allow any sitting water to escape. I have sealed rubber mats on top. I know its fine as I did it. I tend to trust myself rather than other people, but its what works for you.
 
Leo Walker said:
How long is a piece of string, unfortunately. I have wood. All raw edges are sealed and there's a hole cut to allow any sitting water to escape. I have sealed rubber mats on top. I know its fine as I did it. I tend to trust myself rather than other people, but its what works for you.
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Thanks for the advice.

I think as Ihatework said I will go for the trailer in best condition for the money, whether that be wood or ali. I will get it checked over before using and will always get annual services etc so whichever I get it will be well looked after.

Thanks everyone.
 
Keruing is the best timber to use, 2 layers bottom layer laying vertical when stood at the ramp, top layer running horizontally gives added strength, top layer needs a double champher to aid grip, easily findable via Google, will give you 10 years safe use.
 
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