Trailer deck life

[Old_Paint]

Lol! I was hoping you’d take it that way!

No worries, I did. I probably poke more fun at myself than I do at anyone else. If I can't laugh at myself, I certainly have no business laughing at anyone else. That's just my sanity check for avoiding being rude to other folks. I try real hard not to be. I'm not always successful, though.

As for the decking on trailers, I'm not so sure that using the used SUDT2 for treating the deck is such a good idea. I'm not sure ADEM would embrace that practice, nor would any other state's environmental agencies. However, I can't say I've read all the MSDS for the oil, so it may just be okiedokiemightyfine to do just that. I would be very surprised, though. Besides obvious environmental issues, wouldn't that make the decking slicker than greased monkey snot? I'm not a tree hugger or bunny kisser (unless the bunny has photos in a particular magazine), but I try to do my part to not make things any worse than I have to while living on this rock. I'm gonna live as comfortably as possible and enjoy the technology and resources as much I can as long as I'm here, though.

 

[Old_Paint]

Have a 1997 utility trailer that has the original CCA treated yellow pine deck. Coat it every year with used motor oil. Boards are worn with cracks, but no rot.

I disagree with comment made about salt deteriorating wood. Certainly the metal fastenings can corrode, which in turn will damage the surrounding wood. Think they call that iron sickness.

Might wanna check on a popular stump removal technique. Bore holes in the stump, and fill them with ice cream salt (no different than NaCl of any other label, just a different grain size). The salt will definitely accelerate deterioration of the cellulose of the wood. That's exactly how I accelerated the rotting of 4 stumps that were too close to my house to dig out or burn out with charcoal. No iron involved. Just salt. Or, if you have a plywood floored shed, pour some ice cream salt on it and leave it for a year. Good luck with that floor.

But the most popular, at least the most amusing, way of stump removal is about 2 pounds of Ammonium Nitrate, a pint of diesel, and a blasting cap. Ever seen a stump launched into the next county? The problem with that is, if you have the fertilizer and the fuel at the same time, and a known legal supply of blasting caps, you're probably already labeled as a terrorist.

The fun we used to have.......

 

[D2Cat]

Some folks use epsom salt also to deteriorate the wood in the stumps.

 

[bambam31]

Thanks for all of the feedback. There is no spacing between the boards. I may run a skill saw between the ones that are still good and switch to old motor oil to condition the wood. i Will definitely be looking into some rough cut hardwood too.

 

[Old_Paint]

Some folks use epsom salt also to deteriorate the wood in the stumps.

MgSO4 - Magnesium Sulfate - aka Epsom Salt. Same principle. Dissolve the salt in water, and it will form an acid and a caustic that will neutralize each other in solution, but either of which is corrosive and will deteriorate wood. Thank acid rain for most of the surface deterioration of exposed wood, but direct sunlight causes the wood fiber to break down as well as overdrying, and a host of other natural things that wood objects to.

 

[Old_Paint]

MgSO4 - Magnesium Sulfate - aka Epsom Salt. Same principle. Dissolve the salt in water, and it will form an acid and a caustic that will neutralize each other in solution, but either of which is corrosive and will deteriorate wood. Thank acid rain for most of the surface deterioration of exposed wood, but direct sunlight causes the wood fiber to break down as well as overdrying, and a host of other natural things that wood objects to.

Because of the lack of water resistant resins, as well as the high content of acidic elements, hardwood typically rots faster than pine when exposed to the same conditions because the grain is denser and the fiber dries slower.

Do what you will for treatment, but if you live in a place or take your trailer to places where an inspection could be triggered, just keep in mind that used motor oil or hydraulic fluid are generally speaking big no-no's to most states' environmental agencies. All it would take is a Trooper to pull you over because of one tail light, or for a simple inspection of how you've secured the tractor on the trailer. They typically know the Environmental rules, and WILL enforce them. I'm not saying don't, I'm saying think about it first.