OT - Vinyl Plank For Utility Trailer Floor?

Any "floating" floor will eventually suffer the same fate as your old floor. If you glue heavy vinyl planking it should stand up reasonably well but I'd be looking for some HMWPE sheeting about 3/8 inch thick or a belting type mat like stable mat

If by "suffer the same fate" you mean last 25 years without significant damage (until yesterday) I'd be fine with that.

My use of the trailer is dwindling. This mulch project was its first use since before winter. Over the last few years I've actually paid more to store it than it would have cost to rent one based on how much use it's gotten. Of course the convenience of just "hook up and go" and no time constraints is worth some of that money.

I don't know how much a 5 x 8 sheet of HMWPE would cost but I'll bet it would much more than some left over I-don't-care-if-it-all-matches vinyl planks.

Then the question becomes is it cost effective to keep the trailer. You are paying to store it, the license plate, and the insurance. Cost of renting a trailer from UHaul is less the 50 bucks, many Lowes, Home Depots, and some rental agencies will rent a small truck for 19.

Is it worth the cost of keeping it.

Why not just tear out the old vinyl flooring anf paint the plywood with porch paint like MOST trailer owners do? (actually "most" don't even paint it. Mabee throw a new piece of douglas fir plywoof on top as a "wear layer". DF stands up pretty good - spruce or aspen not nearly as well.

This all true from a financial perspective. However, there is also the emotional attachment and the convenience. Having my own trailer available whenever I need it and for as long as I need it is the biggest factor. For the time being I am willing to pay for that. If money was that tight, I'd sell it in an instant or leave it in my driveway, although SWMBO spends way to much time on her gardens for me to block the view.

Let's take this mulch project. It ended up requiring 2 trips. I didn't know it was going to take 2 trips or how long it would take to unload. It was a total of 1.5 tons of mulch that I was able to unload and spread at my leisure

- over a 3 day period - without having to worry about returning a rental and without having to move the mulch twice.

In addition, you can't just back up to a trailer at U-Haul or jump in a truck at Lowe's and drive away. Lines, paperwork, staff that can't find a pen, etc. I have no patience for time and hassle it takes to pick-up and return a rental and I'm willing to pay for that. Toss in the fact that I have E-Track installed in my trailer, loose 2x4's with eye hooks giving me infinite possibilities for tie down points, loading ramps designed for my trailer, etc.

When my daughter calls and says "Dad, can you help me move a couch?" I'm there, on my schedule, not U-Haul's or Lowe's. Can't say no to the kids. ;-)

Just for fun, here is how the trailer used to be set up to haul 3 Soap Box Derby cars when the kids were young. The tray system uses garage door tracks and rollers. 2 sets of rollers up front allow the trays to be extended without immediately dropping down. The rack is offset to allow room for racing equipment such as wheels, saw horses, tools, alignment jigs, etc.

It also worked great for camping trips, helping to keep stuff organized and easy to load.

I think you would be looking for an excuse to replace the vinyl plank in short order.

I would go 2x6's.

Leon wrote in news:qI6dnVW8UKCK_2rDnZ2dnUU7-X snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

Why would I want to put 2x6's over the existing 3/4" plywood subfloor?

1. For the same reason you are wanting to put something else down over the plywood floor.... To protect it?
2. 2x6 will likely out last any thing else you would put down.

Although it will reduce the load capacity of the trailer by about

As well as reduce the height of the interior by 1.5", increase the step into the trailer by 1.5", add extra weight, etc.

Sure seems like overkill vs the current linoleum (that's lasted over 25 years) or any similar replacement.

I'm not looking to protect the sub-floor as much as I'm looking for a smooth surface that makes it easier to load/unload and is easy to sweep out when it gets dirty. Protection is an added benefit, but it's not the primary reason.

If I had one complaint about the linoleum, it's that it gets slippery when wet. That's a bit of a safety hazard.

How about getting it sprayed with that stuff they coat pickup beds with?

Well it may very well be over kill, BUT you asked for thoughts on the idea.

Then just paint the subfloor with something like E-pox-e paint.

Then, uuum 2x6. ;~)

Excellent suggestion. And pricey, probably over $400. Dealerships usually charge $500 and that is a pretty fair price to keep you from taking it to the competition.

Based on that logic, gravel, marble (not marbles) or even carpet could be considered good suggestions.

A tad pricey. The average truck costs about $500. I think I paid a little over a grand for the trailer 11-12 years ago. Not sure I want to drop that kind of money into it.

How many do you need to do a whole trailer though?

I could rent a crane along with the proper sized dumpster and Plasti Dip the whole trailer.

I like blue.

Best to stick with wood..... So, many 18 wheeler trailer floors are wood, not plywood. And long ago pick up truck beds had wooden floors. None have vinyl IIRC..