Oiling trailer decks

[Clubbs]

Redoing the gooseneck this month. Decks off, boxes, fuel tank and harness comes off tomorrow. Winch and lights next, then off for blasting and paint.

Have a local lumber mill that will custom cut oak deck boards for me. Was going to oil them with used diesel oil and ATF. Plan is to lay them out and coat them 2-3 times a side and edges too. Let them dry a week and then put them on. Sound about right? Anything I'm missing? Anyone done this and regretted it? Does it stink forever, get slick when wet, leave stains on everything, or???

Goose is mostly just used to haul jeeps for wheeling now, but does get some occasional equipment hauling use and other usual 10 ton trailer duties

 

[justjeepin86]

I hate it. PO of my trailer coated with used motor oil. It gets on your clothes if you have to lay on it to hook chains or straps. Plus, it will kill whatever grass you park it over, if it rains.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Did it to my old trailer and like @justjeepin86 said it never stops staining stuff. Also is slick when wet. Not that wet wood is exceptionally good anyway. Oak will hold up pretty darn good, so I’d be inclined to just use some generic wood water seal or something grippy and not sweat it.


I also used hydraulic oil on the diamond plate deck on my current trailer and it sucks. Stains everything, slick as shit, and smells. Guess I should wash it off and fix the hydraulic leaks on my machines

 

[GONOVRIT]

I’ve done it twice with my 2 wood decked trailers with a mix of diesel and used engine oil. Not having the issues others speak of here.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I’ve done it twice with my 2 wood decked trailers with a mix of diesel and used engine oil. Not having the issues others speak of here.

The diesel may help somehow. Mine were just used motor oil.

 

[Metto]

Did it to my old trailer and like @justjeepin86 said it never stops staining stuff. Also is slick when wet. Not that wet wood is exceptionally good anyway. Oak will hold up pretty darn good, so I’d be inclined to just use some generic wood water seal or something grippy and not sweat it.


I also used hydraulic oil on the diamond plate deck on my current trailer and it sucks. Stains everything, slick as shit, and smells. Guess I should wash it off and fix the hydraulic leaks on my machines

bonus, the oiled diamond plate deck doubles as a skating rink when it rains!

 

[Shreddinlettuce]

Charting the wood lightly will have a sealing effect without the oil.

Shou Sugi Ban: The Art of Japanese Wood Burning

Learn how to use the ancient Japanese wood burning technique of shou sugi ban to create a unique shiplap accent wall.

www.familyhandyman.com

 

[Clubbs]

My son finished stripping the trailer this week. I ordered 100' of new trailer wire, some junction boxes, deck screws, a role of premium reflective tape, and this sealer stuff:

ExoShield Apitong Oil Walnut Wood Stain Exterior Oil One Gallon

www.trailerdecking.com

Picking up some steel in the morning for some customization as well as the deck boards that got milled today.

This wagon is 24 years old, I bought it for $3500 probably 12 years ago. I think I'll have $4000 in this refresh, but it's going to start deteriorating if I don't so here we are. I'll post pics along the way

 

[skyhighZJ]

My son finished stripping the trailer this week. I ordered 100' of new trailer wire, some junction boxes, deck screws, a role of premium reflective tape, and this sealer stuff:

ExoShield Apitong Oil Walnut Wood Stain Exterior Oil One Gallon

www.trailerdecking.com

Picking up some steel in the morning for some customization as well as the deck boards that got milled today.

This wagon is 24 years old, I bought it for $3500 probably 12 years ago. I think I'll have $4000 in this refresh, but it's going to start deteriorating if I don't so here we are. I'll post pics along the way

Be careful of the junction boxes. I tried on my stock trailer. Silicone and sealant and tape and shrink wrap. The boxes became a rotten coffin of moisture and silty mess that corroded everything in them. YMMV

 

[Clubbs]

Hobo freight 2500 pound winch conversion to jack motor.

Pulled the spool off and welded the splined piece into a bushing and piece of tube. This will slide over the passenger side of the trailer's jack handle rod.

I'll put a hitch pin in it so when the winch takes a dump I can pull the pin and put the manual handle back on.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I'll put a hitch pin in it so when the trailer battery is dead I can pull the pin and put the manual handle back on.

FIFY

 

[CLRracer]

FIFY

Some of this:

and a couple of these:

will help with that problem too.

Duane

 

[Jeffncs]

I treat my deck with atf each summer. Absorbs into the wood and doesn’t ever stain my clothes. Maybe I’m lucky…but has always worked great for me.

 

[Clubbs]

Bare trailer, welded in another cross member because I couldn't get 24' long boards so I'll seem it at 12'. Also welded in a 12" Chuck of I-beam at the neck to move the winch higher and off the deck (seems to be a target for anyone loading or unloading with a grapple)

Picked up the white oak from the mill. This is the legit way to buy lumber unless you have your own mill. Got 27 boards 8" wide x 1-1/2" thick and 13' long for $400.

Jack motor mocked up

Release pin for jack motor

Video of Jack motor doing Jack motor things:

 

[Clubbs]

Dropped the trailer off to get blasted and painted Monday night. Set the boards out to dry before staining and sealing.

Hoping to get the wagon back by end of week so I can put it back together this weekend.

This is about half of them...

 

[Clubbs]

Oiled boards today with the Apitong wood stain / oil / sealer stuff. Went about half as far as advertised so I only got the top sides done, barely. Not sure what I'm going to do on the bottom. Maybe nothing, maybe used diesel oil? Don't want to wait on more of the Apitong stuff to show up. Maybe I'll order some and install these coated side down and do the tops after assembly.

Picking up the trailer tomorrow from blasting and painting. Pics of trailer from my blaster dude

Hoping to get it back together this weekend.

 

[Clubbs]

Picked it up last night. Will start reassembly this weekend.

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Dangggg! That looks way better than it ever has! Be careful, folks might think you're getting fancy

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

I would seal one side and the edges and reinstall. Then paint the top after installing them.

I have considered using a rubberized coating or bedliner on one, but the cost would be higher

 

[Clubbs]

Dangggg! That looks way better than it ever has! Be careful, folks might think you're getting fancy

For real this is really ruining my image...

Another gallon of the stain / sealer showed up this morning. Sealed the rest now working on the drudgery of wiring...

 

[Croatan_Kid]

Amazon has some nice junction boxes and rolls of 7 wire....well, wire. One would assume you're going to go ahead and wire in some backup lights on the trailer while you're at it...right?

I want to rewire my trailer, add a juntion box, some deck lights, winch, and backup lights. I need to do something with my boards before they get too bad off also.

 

[Clubbs]

Amazon has some nice junction boxes and rolls of 7 wire....well, wire. One would assume you're going to go ahead and wire in some backup lights on the trailer while you're at it...right?

I want to rewire my trailer, add a juntion box, some deck lights, winch, and backup lights. I need to do something with my boards before they get too bad off also.

Yup, three junction boxes installed, new harness with 14 ga for all lights, 12 ga for brakes, and 10 ga for ground and +12v.

Have a deep cycle marine battery with main disconnect in the neck for the 10k winch and the small hobo freight winch / trailer jack conversion.

Two led pod backup lights just behind the mud flaps installed and a 48" bar light to go up on top of the neck.

Will have four switches mounted in the front apron one for jack up / down, one for utility lights (inside the undermount boxes) one for the bar light, and one to power the aux fuel tank pump.

I only got as far as all dot lights, harness, and battery. Haven't acquired switches yet or done the harness for those, but I did toss some boards on it last night (not attached or trimmed yet) but I needed to park it back in it's spot for the week, which was also my board staining area.

Deck stain is more orange than I would like but hopefully it holds up well. Maybe able to make more progress during the week...

 

[jeepinmatt]

Yup, three junction boxes installed, new harness with 14 ga for all lights, 12 ga for brakes, and 10 ga for ground and +12v.

Have a deep cycle marine battery with main disconnect in the neck for the 10k winch and the small hobo freight winch / trailer jack conversion.

Two led pod backup lights just behind the mud flaps installed and a 48" bar light to go up on top of the neck.

Will have four switches mounted in the front apron one for jack up / down, one for utility lights (inside the undermount boxes) one for the bar light, and one to power the aux fuel tank pump.

I only got as far as all dot lights, harness, and battery. Haven't acquired switches yet or done the harness for those, but I did toss some boards on it last night (not attached or trimmed yet) but I needed to park it back in it's spot for the week, which was also my board staining area.

Deck stain is more orange than I would like but hopefully it holds up well. Maybe able to make more progress during the week...View attachment 438067

Man, it REALLY looks like that boat is magically balanced on the edge of your deckover trailer.

 

[Clubbs]

Man, it REALLY looks like that boat is magically balanced on the edge of your deckover trailer.

Spooled up the gyro stabilizer for ultimate levitation imagery

 

[Jeffncs]

I was always told to oil / stain the bottom and sides of each board heavily prior to installation. Then install with the unsealed side up - once they’ve been sitting (and drying internally) for several months, seal the top side with a couple heavy coats.