I have heard of using used or new oil on trailer decks to preserve them

I tired it on some 2x6 and it definitely gets the water beading up and rolling off

have you done it , what are your experiences good or bad

I replaced the deck on my utility trailer a few weeks ago trailer was new in 2003 I have replaced the original and the replacement now

I think the original made it to 2010 or 11 and the replacement I put on I stained first and it made it till 2024

just looking for ways to get more than 12 years from the deck.

On the farm, all of our trailers with wood decks get oiled.
We carry 20, one ton bins of grapes on each one of them.
It has really made a difference, the wood.no longer gets torn up and the bins skid across with ease.
We oil them with a mix of kerosene and used oil. They are almost 100% waterproof after two or three years

it seems interesting I was reading about a LOT of old farmers doing this , then you get the one guy who says it breaks down the wood fibers and make it soft

and I am wondering I wonder how much oil that guy used

with so many people having fence posts , building posts soaked in it for about a week before placing in the ground or people who put drain oil on corner posts and after decades the corner posts are standing and strong while they are replacing the line posts.

On our place we “cut” diesel (1/3). We have found for best absorption on new treated boards to let them age a year. Mop on on a sunny summer day and let sit til soaked in. The diese seems to flash off and allows it to penetrate the wood more easily. Really does work and looks good..

I lent my trail to a buddy he needed it to take a junk car oil in the front of the trailer.

A lot depends on what species wood you re-deck with or what the original decking species was.

My 1995 Towmaster has the original deck on. It’s never been treated and it has lived outside most of its life. It white oak from the factory which is a very rot resistant specie of wood.

The deck is still serviceable but needs replacement in the near future. 29 years though is pretty good.

I have two Chestnut Oaks standing dead on my property that I am probably going to have milled into new decking.

What specie are you using that you are only getting 12 years?

I tried oil on my last trailer and it protects the wood well but made it slick enough that it was hard to keep a skidloader on it.

I used 'used' diesel motor oil and 50/50 with linseed oil. Just a big paint roller and pan. It worked great. Do it in the gravel for when it drips through. Used oil may not have been the best idea for me b/c it was dark black and stayed wet for awhile before the wood soaked it all up and it got washed off the metal. So you didn't want to lean against it or anything it was a big mess at first. If they are super dry go for it but I wouldn't pressure wash it before hand as it puts too much moisture back into the board. I'd do it after its sat out in the hot sun for a few weeks just begging for moisture. Then it soaks it up and there isnt any moisture in there to get sealed in. My boards are still dark looking but they are fine. May still bead up and that was a couple years ago. I will check tonight.

Redecked an aluminum utility trailer a couple years ago with white oak, which is the go-to species in these parts for a solid deck that can withstand some elements. I let it bake in the sun for several weeks and then hit it with my mixture. I had recently completed a hydraulic/transmission fluid change on my utility tractor for the 250 hour service. The fluid still looked new and I saved it for just such a purpose. I added diesel to the first coat to make sure it soaked in real well. Couple hours later, second coat only slightly thinned with diesel this time. Few days later, third coat, left it thick this time. I then hooked a chain to one end of the trailer and lifted it up high with the tractor. Mixed a batch of the oil/diesel and put it into a pump up hand sprayer. Got two good coats on the undersides of the boards by spraying it on.

I dont believe Ill have any problems with those boards for a good spell. Ill likely refresh it every 2-3 years.

the first deck was I am sure the cheapest 2x6- 14' a person could find it was one of those southern ILL MO state line trailer shops.
a co-worker went down got 3 stacked and drove them up here to sell 2 of them.

the second set of wood was home depot fir 2x6-14' not treated I used 2 coats of whatever stain in grey was in the bargain area for off color and most of the deck was solid yet but the back end wasn't and the way the boards fit in a soft spot in the back foot is the worst place to have it

this trailer sits out 24/7-365 often with a bunch of fire wood on it

a friend has a deck off a barn that sees a lot of snow and moisture and it is in the shade a lot so it doesn't always get dried out well
considering this treatment on that deck as well

first thing is bring the bole saw and cut back the limps all around to get it some sun
let it dry then oil

We always oiled the livestock trailers when I was a kid. Most of our new ones have composite floors now. Used oil is a great way to preserve any wood trailer floor

I put used oil on my wood deck trailers in the summer when it's hot after changing oil. Started doing it after the new boards started cracking from the sun much sooner than I thought they should.. water beads up on it now like it's been hit with a water seal deck spray. I hit it again when it looks like they need it.

Down Side is I can't sit on the trail without the risk of trashing my pants. But I can live with that.

I had a 16 ft I kept oiled religiously and one night I went out after the dew was falling and lit the burn barrel at least 30 ft away and went in and went to bed. Next morning woke up and nothing but the frame was left. Guess a spark went in under trailer on dead grass that the dew hadn't got on yet. Live and learn, oiled wood sure will burn, just glad there was nothing else out there.

I've used it as a stain and preservative, works great.

have done with 1/3 diesel an 2/3 used motor oil. works great! BUT did it to our skid steer trailer which has Hyd tilt. with the steel tracks on the SS it can get real western loading an unloading with even a morning dew on the deck. any moisture on the deck an its slick as snot.

last time I used foundation sealer it was just tar , build a little kindling fire under the metal bucket and warm it up then slop it on

I have heard about using Tar and #2 on "Kentucky" fences , seals , and discourages bored horses from chewing some

why fences are black

not sure that is a finish I would want on a deck but on a trailer I could see it

yes it is almost always the ends that set in a C-channel that rot out on me on the trailer.

well I am definitely oiling the trailer

I will ask them about the deck

it is probably 20 year old wood and was treated wood , but it needs something or it is going to fall apart

the steel roof dumps tons of snow on it

it would be really nice to pressure wash it , give it 2-3 weeks of august heat to dry it then oil it good
not sure that will happen so I will have to see
where it is at makes water and getting there both difficult

You won’t be sorry as long as it is still sound wood. We’ve done our trialers in the past with both #1 SYP treated and oak. I think the oiled oak will outlast my children…

There all types of oil stain on the trailer I put used oil and diesel when I bought it.

?

Years ago I had a 68 Dodge pickup with a wooden bed. Replaced the rotted bed with pressure-treated pine and oiled it also. Worked well.

I built a 12' rough sawn, white oak, flat deck on the 350 farm truck. Oiled it up with new engine oil. Deck was still in great shape 20 years later when the truck was sold. Only touched it up a few times as needed.