Enclosed Trailer Flooring Idea's

Just ordered a new 7X14 All Aluminum frame enclosed trailer. It comes stock with plywood flooring and walls. I want to put something on the floor and half way up the walls and the ramp as well that will provide some traction. Also want to be able to pressure wash the floor... so I would like something that will not allow the wood to absorb any water and start rotting.

Thought about horse trailer mats and putting a bead of silicone on the seams. Will this keep the water from to the plywood?

Spray in bed liner ? might be very expensive

Epoxy floor paint? will it adhere to the wood ?

What has everyone else done?

What would you not do again?

Deck paint....The plywood floor will have a sealer when you get it so just be sure the paint will stay stuck to it.
just buy some of the deck paint they sell for the old decks the create a plastic type covering, and roll it on.

As it wears just clean and paint over the older stuff. Comes in nice colors.. DON'T paint the floor "red" you will never find all the blood and the trailer will stink if you miss some.
By the way....green will make blood look black. You can see where the blood is but it looks like mud or oil.

#1 question, what is the main use of the trailer, transport and hunting accommodations? If you plan on keeping it for a while, I'd splurge and go with LineX. I used the concrete/deck paint, oil based and although it's pretty much water proof, it's a slippery beach in the winter, had to add a couple rubber mats.

thing i would be worried about with horse trailer matts, would be if water does get underneith, it would prevent it from drying... most horse trailers are boards rather than plywood, so water can go between the cracks...

If you do use the rubber stall mats soak the wood with oil before laying the mats down. Homemade pressure treatment.

Got my quotes back from Rhino Linings $1400 and Line X $1950 so those are eliminated

to answer the question of the planned uses
hauling my ATV and flip over ice hut
in the fall load all of my hunting gear, generator, gas cans, Atv etc so I am always loaded and ready to go to the camp on Fridays.

is it possible to order board rather than plywood on the floor? also is the plywood pressure treated? i would think even plywood in a enclosed trailer would last many years, if only getting pressure washed, and not constantly exposed to water... only time you would really need to wash it would be blood/oils, mud will dry and will be easily swept out. plus a plywood floor would be fairly easy and inexpensive to replace should it rot out...

my old utility trailer was only plywood that was painted, sat outside year round... frame rotted before the plywood... well couple patches on the floor, but did the job lol

When I repaired my daughter's trailer floor,I just used ordinary deck paint and sprinkled a liberal amount of fine sand on the wet paint to stop it from being slippery when it got wet. It works like a charm.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

When I repaired my daughter's trailer floor,I just used ordinary deck paint and sprinkled a liberal amount of fine sand on the wet paint to stop it from being slippery when it got wet. It works like a charm.

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Great idea - add a little grit to the wet paint to add traction. Also, did you check out the cost of buying the roll on bed liner and applying it yourself? You may find it on sale and be able to do the entire project for a fraction of what the spray on guys want?

Good luck! Post up your results.

FishFrenzy

If you stay with wood, don't let anyone put their sled on your floor if the sled has carbides or studs.....

Ok, LineX is out. If it's a trailer made with Advantech OSB, I'm, sure it has a long warranty. Fill in all the little holes in the wood, prime and paint.

Fishy Steve - the trailer comes with treated plywood, wood planking isn't an option

Oaknut - thanks for the oil idea, certainly looking at this option, just have to wait for TSC to have the mats on sale again.

Snow Walker - The deck paint you are referencing, is that the thick hard coating stuff that I have seen at Home Depot? Some of the reviews online have me questioning the long term quality of the product

FishFrenzy - I used the Dupli-colour spray on liner on my ATV racks, followed all of the prep directions , it has flaked of in spots, and is still a soft coating 2 years later. I often have to do touch ups. I have put that product in the "never again" category. There will be before and after pics for sure.

Trimmer - thanks, sounds like a very cost effective solution, do you think mixing some sand with the paint and rolling it on would work, just trying to picture how to sprinkle the whole floor while the paint is wet, or do you just do small sections at a time?

Pat32rf - thanks for the advise, already told my buddy that if he thinks his sled is going in this trailer, he will have to fork out the cash for the thick rubber mats for stud protection and plastic ski covers to keep the carbides from tearing things up.

I think I am leaning towards the paint with a bit of grit, that way the floor will always be exposed to dry out and I can keep an eye on it for signs of deterioration.

I have an 8x20 enclosed. I stained the walls and floor with regular outside stain mixed with Thompson's water Seal just in case moisture might cause issues(rain and high humidity)

Never an issue of any kind with hauling pretty much anything. If you can find it, "Cool Seal" (a silver colored water seal made for trailer roofs) is great for water repelling. I built a houseboat and coated the wooden barge frame, decks and 18" up the outside of the pine siding exterior.

Forgot one other question for the enclosed trailer owners

Do you recommend D rings or E track? I am leaning towards E track as ATV / Snowmobile placement will change to balance the load depending if both or only one machine in the trailer at a time.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

Trimmer - thanks, sounds like a very cost effective solution, do you think mixing some sand with the paint and rolling it on would work, just trying to picture how to sprinkle the whole floor while the paint is wet, or do you just do small sections at a time?

Snow Walker - The deck paint you are referencing, is that the thick hard coating stuff that I have seen at Home Depot? Some of the reviews online have me questioning the long term quality of the product

I think I am leaning towards the paint with a bit of grit, that way the floor will always be exposed to dry out and I can keep an eye on it for signs of deterioration.

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Just about ANY good quality paint applied to a GOOD, CLEAN surface and allowed to CURE properly (some take weeks) will last much, much longer than anything that has to endure the UV of the sun, precipitation and grit from footware. Dimensional lumber horizontal deck surfaces are the worst place to test the 'quality' of paints. In my opinion (and that of a Behr Rep I spoke with who wished they didn't sell 'deck' finishes), short term failure is inevitable.

Good luck with your project.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

Forgot one other question for the enclosed trailer owners

Do you recommend D rings or E track? I am leaning towards E track as ATV / Snowmobile placement will change to balance the load depending if both or only one machine in the trailer at a time.

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Mine has the recessed rings in the floor. I have no issue with them and various ATV loads, but there may be better for your app. I never actually hauled the sled in it although I planned to, just ATVs, generators, etc.

There is a product sold by Home Depot called "Blue Seal " [ The Ultimate Water Proof Membrane ]. This product will stick to wood and concrete and does form a water tight seal. It is blue in colour , the only colour available .
I have used it in building a wooden water tank and painted the inside with this product and the tank is still watertight after 15 plus years.
You had said that you wanted to use a pressure washer to wash out the interior, this I would be hesitant to do as it would more than likely peel off whatever you use in your trailer, including this "Blue Seal that I have mentioned .The only thing that would stand up to pressure washing would be either Rhino or Linex coatings.
I have used my pressure washer many times to strip paint from wood which it does very effectively.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

Snow Walker - The deck paint you are referencing, is that the thick hard coating stuff that I have seen at Home Depot? Some of the reviews online have me questioning the long term quality of the product.

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If you put it on clean wood it is great. If you just roll it on over the dirt and paint of an old deck it will be a PIA.
I will be using it on the floor over my paint from last time. Just as soon as karen is not looking and I can steal a can from her supplies.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

Trimmer - thanks, sounds like a very cost effective solution, do you think mixing some sand with the paint and rolling it on would work, just trying to picture how to sprinkle the whole floor while the paint is wet, or do you just do small sections at a time?

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I tried mixing it into the paint,but,couldn't put enough in without making the paint like mud. I found it easier to paint half,then just hand-cast a few handfuls onto the wet paint making sure to put on just enough to give a rough surface without messing up the finish coat. By only doing half,the risk of the paint partrially drying was eliminated. Then,just finish the rest of it the same way.

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

Forgot one other question for the enclosed trailer owners

Do you recommend D rings or E track? I am leaning towards E track as ATV / Snowmobile placement will change to balance the load depending if both or only one machine in the trailer at a time.

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E Trak is probably better for your case to balance loads. I used big heavy duty D rings from P/A bolted through the floor with hardwood backing plates about 8 inches square. http://www.princessauto.com/en/detai...ng/A-p8021623e I may add a couple E traks for mounting light stuff against the walls.

Have you thought about just covering the floor with some old pieces of broadloom? It will cushion the floor, provide a bit of insulation, protect the paint from scratches/wear and you just slide it out to wash or dry it.....
if you use the foam back stuff it will not slide around.....

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Originally Posted by Pat32rf

Have you thought about just covering the floor with some old pieces of broadloom? It will cushion the floor, provide a bit of insulation, protect the paint from scratches/wear and you just slide it out to wash or dry it.....
if you use the foam back stuff it will not slide around.....

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It will hold water and dirt like a sponge. what would have dried in a day or two will now sit and mold over a week.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

It will hold water and dirt like a sponge. what would have dried in a day or two will now sit and mold over a week.

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If the trailer is closed up, it isn't going to dry anyway. You just slide the carpet out and let it dry as needed, taking most of the moisture with it.

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Originally Posted by patvetzal

If the trailer is closed up, it isn't going to dry anyway. You just slide the carpet out and let it dry as needed, taking most of the moisture with it.

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My trailer will dry when enclosed. Any properly built trailer has venting.