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Trailer Flooring, or trailer decking, refers to the surface materials installed on the deck or bed of a trailer that provide a stable platform for transporting goods, machinery, equipment, or livestock. Trailer flooring is essential as it can affect trailers’ durability, safety, and load support.
Your trailer’s flooring must fulfill several critical functions according to its intended use so you can get the most out of owning a trailer.
Trailer Flooring Considerations
- Load Support: Trailer flooring should be able to sustain the load of goods without failure. It should reliably support the weight of goods without buckling or failing under pressure.
- Durability: Trailers endure harsh conditions, including extreme weather, heavy loads, and continuous operation. Materials with exceptional durability are preferred for practical applications to withstand such challenges.
- Safety: Ensuring the safety of both the flooring and the individuals involved in loading and unloading is paramount. Trailer flooring helps minimise the risks of tipping or sliding during transit, enhancing overall safety.
- Versatility: Trailers perform various tasks across several industrial sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. For this purpose, trailer flooring materials must be versatile to safely meet all the use applications.
Materials Used For Trailer Decking
Initially limited to steel and lumber, the materials used in trailer construction have now expanded to include aluminum, fiberglass-reinforced polymers, and others.
Wood
One of the key benefits of wood flooring is its natural strength and durability, which allows it to withstand heavy loads and be used continuously over time. Additionally, wood flooring offers good traction, helping to prevent cargo from shifting during transit.
Wood flooring is also relatively easy to repair and replace compared to other flooring materials. You can replace damaged or worn sections, extending the trailer’s lifespan, and reducing maintenance costs. However, wood flooring does require regular maintenance to preserve its integrity and prevent deterioration.
This may include sealing or staining the wood to protect it from moisture, rot, and insect damage. Without proper maintenance, wood flooring can degrade over time, reducing lifespan and compromising safety.
Wood Trailer Decking pros & cons
- Durable.
- Aesthetic appearance.
- Cost effective.
- High strength.
- Resistant to wear.
- Prone to moisture damage.
- Low hardness.
- Higher maintenance.
- Fire hazard.
- Limited lifespan.
Composite
Composite material is made from recycled plastics and hardwood fibers. The resulting material is highly resistant to moisture, rot, and decay, making it an ideal choice for weather-exposed trailers.
One of the main advantages is its ability to withstand heavy loads and constant use withoutwarping or splintering. Its textured surface also provides excellent grip, reducing the risk of slips and falls during loading and unloading.
Additionally, composite materials require minimal maintenance compared to traditional wood flooring. It doesn’t require staining or sealing for protecting against the elements, making it a cost-effective and practical choice for trailer flooring.
Composite Trailer Decking pros & cons
- Durable.
- Aesthetic appearance.
- Cost effective.
- Light weight.
- Good traction.
- Low maintenance.
- High cost.
- Low hardness
- Environmental impacts.
- Potential fire hazard.
- Harder to source.
Fibreglass
Fiberglass flooring is a relatively newer option for trailer flooring. It is typically made from fiberglass-reinforced polymer composite materials, which combine fiberglass strands with a polymer resin matrix.
Fiberglass flooring is highly durable and inherently resistant to moisture, chemicals, UV and tear. It can withstand heavy loads and harsh environmental conditions without warping or cracking making it suitable for long-term use in various industries.
Compared to traditional wood or metal flooring options, fiberglass flooring is lightweight. This can help fuel efficiency while towing and increase payload capacity for trailers, reducing overall vehicle weight without sacrificing strength or durability.
It is also relatively low maintenance compared to other materials. To clean, use soap and water!
Fiberglass may be for you if you’re looking for a flooring option that can be manufactured in different colours, textures, and thicknesses to meet your specific requirements.
Fiberglass flooring typically offers good traction and slip resistance, enhancing safety during loading, unloading, and transit. Textured surfaces or coatings can further improve grip and stability, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Fibreglass Trailer Decking pros & cons
- Durable.
- Chemical and moisture resistant.
- Long lasting.
- Resistant to wear.
- Light weight.
- Good traction.
- Costly.
- Potential for cracking.
- Complex installtion.
Steel
Steel sheet metal is widely used and known for its high durability and strength. It resists bending, warping, and punctures, allowing it to transport various goods, including heavy machinery, construction materials, and vehicles.
Sheet metal is typically coated with protective finishes, such as galvanization or powder coating to enhance its moisture, rust and corrosion resistance. Lack of maintenance can, however, compromise the integrity of steel flooring.
Sheet metal steel flooring can be manufactured in various thicknesses, sizes, and surface finishes to meet specific requirements and preferences. However, galvanised steel or carbon steel is best because it offers weldability. This allows for customisation and adaptation to different trailer designs and applications.
Checker plate, sometimes called tread plate or diamond plate, is a subtype of sheet metal manufactured especially for surfaces requiring more traction. One side of the steel sheet has a pattern of elevated lines or diamonds.
In addition to more traction, the tread pattern provides more structural strength.
Suppose you’re looking for a surface that allows products and materials to slide easily. In that case, you’ll want to use plain sheet metal instead of a checker plate.
Steel Trailer Decking Pros & Cons
- Strong and durable.
- Recyclable.
- Fire resistant.
- Easy to install.
- Prone to corrosion.
- Heavy.
- Noisy under certain conditions.
- Conducts heat.
Aluminium
Aluminium is significantly lighter than steel, making it an attractive choice for trailer uses. The reduced weight can contribute to increased fuel efficiency and higher payload capacity, allowing for the transportation of more goods while minimizing operating costs.
Despite its lightweight nature, aluminium is solid and durable. It offers excellent resistance to corrosion, rust, and weathering. Aluminium trailer flooring can withstand heavy loads and constant use without warping or deteriorating, ensuring long-lasting performance.
Aluminium trailer flooring requires minimal maintenance compared to other materials such as wood or steel. It doesn’t require painting, sealing, or staining to protect against corrosion or deterioration. Regular cleaning with soap and water is typically sufficient to keep the surface clean and well-maintained. Aluminium flooring maintains its structural integrity and appearance even when exposed to rain, snow, or extreme temperatures.
Aluminium flooring is available in various thicknesses and surface finishes to meet different requirements and preferences. It can be customised to fit specific trailer designs and applications, including applying non-slip coatings or texture to enhance traction where desired.
Aluminium Trailer Decking Pros & Cons
- Corrosion resistance.
- Recyclable.
- High strength to weight ratio.
- Durable.
- Costly.
- Slippery when wet.
- Noisy under certain conditions.
- Conducts heat.
The Best Decking for Different Trailers
Box Trailers
Checker plate is suitable for most consumer style box trailer applications. It is readily available, easy to work with, reduces the chances of slipping and is durable.
Consider wooden flooring if you’re looking for something that offers a quieter towing, loading and unloading experience. Timber flooring is also a good option if carting metal products as it prevents metal on metal contact.
Tipper Trailers
Tipper trailers frequently transport loose goods, including gravel, sand, or rubbish, that require easy unloading when the trailer bed is tipped, including gravel, sand, or rubbish. Steel or aluminium sheet metal with a flat surface makes it easier for the goods to slide, reducing friction and enabling effective unloading.
Livestock Trailers
Livestock trailers like horse floats require comfort and stability and resistance to a unique environment. Fiberglass flooring is becoming the most common choice amongst horse float manufacturers and enthusiasts. In some cases, livestock trailers may use pressure-treated wood or metal with rubber mats. The key is using a material that can withstand additional moisture associated with urine and feces. The flooring also needs to be suited to endure the high point loads created by cattle or horse hooves.
Car Haulers
When it comes to car-hauling trailers, checker plate steel sheeting stands out as one of the most popular choices. When treated properly from the outset of construction and maintained well, it can endure various weather conditions. Moreover, it offers exceptional grip to prevent any slippage of your valuable cargo during towing.
Get Started with Quality Trailer Flooring
We’ve broken down the qualities of the different trailer flooring in this article to help you with your decision making, a decision which will ultimately depend on the type of trailer and its intended use, maintenance considerations and personal preference.
If you’d like to explore the pros and cons of metal options, we’ve written an article on steel vs aluminium trailers which you may find useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
You tell us! The material you choose for your trailer flooring will depend on your preference and factors we’ve discussed throughout this article, including what you use your trailer for. Sorry, no quick and easy answers here!
