Plywood substitute?

[Boomyal]

A number of years ago I had a 4' x 7' (with 2' high sides) utility trailer made. The sides frames are made of angle iron and I filled them in with 3/4" painted plywood. The trailer sits outside constantly and the plywood is all rotting now. I want to rip it all out, have the trailer bead blasted and repaint it and replace the siding. Is there anything out there that will withstand the constant Pacific Northwest moisture but be affordable?

 

[ondarvr]

Affordable....yes

Stand up....Yes

Both....nope

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep, what that ^^^ guy said.

What do you haul w it?

 

[Boomyal]

Affordable....yes

Stand up....Yes

Both....nope

Okay then,'stand up' but not' bankrupt' you?

 

[Boomyal]

.......What do you haul w it?

Anything that needs hauling from yard debris, to outright junk to the waste transfer site, to camping gear and equipment pickup at the local trucking company dock.

As it sits, it is still perfectly usable for all those functions. I just don't like having things look like they are ready to stay at the dump along with all the stuff it carted there.

 

[rbh]

You could talk with the HVAC guys and get them to cut you out the pieces from some galvanized tin for the trailer walls, but thats a PITA- just go with the 3/4 inch plywood, paint it, add racing stripes, your company logo ETC

 

[jbcurt00]

Pressure treated
2X6s
2X8s
or
2X10s

Instead of plywood

 

[southkogs]

Could do what JB has above, and use those to make a frame and run expanded steel sheet (grate) across 'em. Make a sort of cage.

 

[ondarvr]

PT will cause some corrosion on the steel and fasteners, expanded metal works well, but stuff falls through.

My utility trailer is all aluminum. Diamond plate aluminum holds up well, but is costly up front.

 

[mla2ofus]

Last year I took the weathered OSB out of the 34" high sides of my 16' tlr and welded in wire hog panels bought at my local farm supply. If I have to haul anything that will fall thru like gravel, dirt, manure etc, I just lay a cheap plastic tarp in large enough to cover the bottom and up and over the sides.
Mike

 

[keith2k455]

PT will cause some corrosion on the steel and fasteners, expanded metal works well, but stuff falls through.

My utility trailer is all aluminum. Diamond plate aluminum holds up well, but is costly up front.

Could run the expanded metal grate and fix that corrugated plastic (looks like cardboard)to it to keep stuff from falling through

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would go epoxy paint on steel, pressure treated plywood.

 

[82rude]

If its just to close it in and not for strength, how about the same stuff they make plastic storage sheds out of??Would never fade or rot in a thousand years!

 

[Boomyal]

How about stuff they make sign boards out of? Stuff that sits out in the weather all year long.

 

[jbcurt00]

MDO?

 

[MTboatguy]

How about stuff they make sign boards out of? Stuff that sits out in the weather all year long.

That stuff is not cheap, I had a friend that owned a sign company, believe it or not some of that stuff he used was the most expensive part of the sign, I would always thought the artwork was the expensive part, but If I remember right a 4x8 sheet of that stuff was north of $400!!

 

[Scott Danforth]

How about stuff they make sign boards out of? Stuff that sits out in the weather all year long.

Mostly paper faced exterior grade plywood, sometimes resin faced. (HDO or MDO)

 

[Captain Ollie West]

How about composite decking?

 

[gm280]

You could always go exotic and use wafer aluminum panels. The same stuff used to build aircraft. Never ever rot and extremely strong.

 

[sphelps]

You could always use marine grade ply and glass it like a boat ... Just remember to store it with the bow up ..
I think the pt decking boards with some good stain /sealer should last and look nice for a long time ...