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Eager Beaver deck replacement

Willie B

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,040
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
I bought a C65 in 2006. It was 30 years old, 48000 miles, and had been stored indoors. The PT deck looked OK at the time, but it was as fragile as styrofoam. The steel frame of the dump body had been given a plastic overhaul, and under plastic, and paint, there was nothing left.

I rebuilt the steel, and replaced the PT with Red Oak I cut on my own property. I had enough 2-1/4" Oak sawed to replace it once. Hurricane Irene stole my second round of oak, and 9 years later it was again falling apart. I now have steel. It seems to be holding up well.
 

Willie B

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,040
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
My 9 ton got decked with PT, and I heavily greased all the contacted steel with some old Texaco Rustproofing Compound L. It held up well for several years with no evidence of rust.
 

rickw

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
227
Location
ohio
Well we got the old deck off the trailer. came off really easy do to boards being in bad shape. just cross cut w/ circular saw and tapped boards out to dislodge washers. I thought I was going to take a impact and just unbolt it... I learned real quick that was not going to work. I wanted to save the washers because there are about 200+ of them. On Ebay they are $1 EACH! So I called Southeastern Equip. (Eager Beaver dealer) And got them for $.35 each. First time ever dealer was the cheapest place! Now it is at my brothers to get blasted and painted before bad weather sets in. We have a big enough heated shop to back it into to work on it this winter.
 

fast1buzz

Active Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
34
Location
pueblo co
Occupation
Retired Heavy Haul Company owner
Most trailer MFG's now are using Apitong wood on RGN's/Lowboy's. The wood is as tough as they come. My local lumber yard got some to redeck one of my trailers. Stuff even is not phased by sheepfoot rollers which will destroy an oak deck.
 

rickw

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
227
Location
ohio
Most trailer MFG's now are using Apitong wood on RGN's/Lowboy's. The wood is as tough as they come. My local lumber yard got some to redeck one of my trailers. Stuff even is not phased by sheepfoot rollers which will destroy an oak deck.
Is that material as good or better than oak for rot resistance?
 

AzIron

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Messages
1,541
Location
Az
Apitong is much better

It is a dry climate here but I have a trailer with apitong that is over 20 years old
 

fast1buzz

Active Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
34
Location
pueblo co
Occupation
Retired Heavy Haul Company owner
I had some of the small pieces that were to short to use I tossed those and the old oak that came off the trailer behind the shop thinking I might use the stuff else where[probably not in this lifetime LOL] after 10yrs on the ground the oak has had it the Apitong looks like the day I put it there
 

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,865
Location
WI
For the materials price, I could replace the oak several times and still be cheaper than Apitong. Labor and hassle would have to be worth a lot for it to be worthwhile. Also depends on the wear and tear you put the trailer through, in addition to the rot resistance. And by Oak, I mean white oak heartwood, red oak will rot as fast as most hardwoods.
 

rickw

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
227
Location
ohio
I finally got deck replaced. I got White oak sawn locally. I make it nice that the trailer fit into our heated shop:). I bought the deck washers from local case dealer for 1/2 of what they were on ebay. It was not a bad project to complete at all
 

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rickw

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
227
Location
ohio
The 1 1/2" thick rough sawn green white oak cost $525 total. Washers were about $100 and I bought the grade 5 2 1/2" bolts at Rural King bulk, maybe $80? Then I replaced the jack. It was old and the bottom slide out was jammed and did not come out hence the Jenga stack of blocks under it. I had $1000 or a little less in the whole project doing it all myself except I unbolted jack and a buddy cut jack off plate and welded new on for $20
 

fast1buzz

Active Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
34
Location
pueblo co
Occupation
Retired Heavy Haul Company owner
That worked out nicely rickw. Must say the oak should do just fine.
 
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