Plywood substitute?

[bigdee]

I use PT 1x4s horizontal and stake sides. Cheap and lasts for a good while. I've tried painted vs unpainted PT wood....could not tell much difference.

 

[robert graham]

Pressure treated
2X6s
2X8s
or
2X10s

Instead of plywood

Exactly!....my 2nd on the treated lumber......Plywood, especially stood up so the edges are exposed the rain/weather is just not going to last....

 

[StarTed]

How about some corrugated metal roofing or fiberglass stuff. Fiberglass will deteriorate in the weather from the sun but not the rain in your area of the river.

Pressure treated plywood painted will last a long time.

You could also buy some sheet steel cut to size and go that way.

If you're my age it'll probably last long enough any way you do it.:joyous: :mad-new: :grumpy:

 

[ondarvr]

If you're my age it'll probably last long enough any way you do it.:joyous: :mad-new: :grumpy:

Probably the best thing said, how long do you really need it to last. I know I won't be loading all sorts of stuff in my trailer for that many more years.

 

[bigdee]

From my experience. In mid 2010 I built 3 Harbor Freight trailers. All used same dimension lumber, 3/4 plywood deck and 1x4 sides.
1. trailer one; PT & painted. Condition today=solid
2. trailer two; PT unpainted. Condition today=solid
3. Trailer three; untreated but painted plywood. Condition today= signs of serious rot.

All 3 trailers are kept out in the weather. Painting deck is useless in my case because of what I haul would destroy(rub-off) the paint anyway. Low cost and after 6 years still good its a no brainer to me.

 

[Boomyal]

From my experience. In mid 2010 I built 3 Harbor Freight trailers. All used same dimension lumber, 3/4 plywood deck and 1x4 sides.
1. trailer one; PT & painted. Condition today=solid
2. trailer two; PT unpainted. Condition today=solid
3. Trailer three; untreated but painted plywood. Condition today= signs of serious rot.

All 3 trailers are kept out in the weather. Painting deck is useless in my case because of what I haul would destroy(rub-off) the paint anyway. Low cost and after 6 years still good its a no brainer to me.

My case is your number 3. I painted all the untreated plywood and it is all pretty bad right now. The floor is steel but where the sides sit on it is where the side panels are the worst. I also did not use stainless T-nuts to secure them so they are rusted up.

I'll look into some pressure treated 3/4" plywood and try to further seal up the end grains before I paint it.

 

[rogerwa]

I have a trailer from Northern Tool that I used cedar deck boards for the sides. It sits out all the time and I am going to replace it for the first time in 12 years. It would probably lasted longer if I treated the cedar but I just left it natural.

 

[southkogs]

How about some corrugated metal roofing ...

Saw that on the road today and thought of this topic.

Trailer I saw was totally enclosed, but sided with the roofing metal. Looked pretty good.