What plywood is the best to use on the floor of an enclosed box trailer?

[LeanDru]

I’m wanting to lay vinyl planks in my custom built enclosed box trailer. I will need to put down a hard base otherwise the planks will just pop off if laid directly onto the metal floor. I was thinking the best type of wood would be marine grade plywood as it won’t expand or warp if it gets a little wet if there’s a little leak. The trailer is not being used to transport bikes or rubbish and won’t require to be hosed out etc. Are there any other materials I could use instead and width should it be. I was thinking the 6mm but 12mm might be stronger and more resistant to movement. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

 

[EricL]

Hello @LeanDru 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about what plywood to use for your box trailer.

I agree with your choice in regards to using marine ply.  I would probably go with the 12mm thickness so that there is less flex in the material. To add further protection against moisture, I suggest painting the panel before you install it inside your box trailer. That coat of paint will be an extra layer of protection and will be beneficial should the box trailer ever get accidentally drenched in water. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendation for flooring.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[LeanDru]

Thanks Eric.

What would you suggest painting it with ? And once painted will vinyl planks adhere to the paint because the vinyl planks will be the floor covering. ?

[Nailbag]

Hi @LeanDru 

@EricL recommendations are excellent ones that should be considered. Regarding the additional waterproofing, maybe a product like a bitumen rubber paint that has flexibility to suit your trailer application.

Nailbag

[EricL]

Hi @LeanDru 

Any ordinary water based exterior paint should work nicely. If you are worried that the sticky vinyl planks will not work on top of the paint, then I suggest just painting the sides and the bottom of the panel and leave the top unpainted so that the vinyl will stick to its surface.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Morning @LeanDru 

Thats a nice little box trailer. I would like to say "Howdy" and welcome to the Bunnings community pages If you have photos of how you constructed the trailer it would make for a very interesting project to post one day?  

I like you suggestion of the Marine ply and like @EricL would go for the 12mm size mainly for ridgility 

Painting the timber also would help in case you get a leak/rainy day use. I havnt painted marine ply before so I would go with Eric's suggestion again

Dave

[R4addZ]

Hi @LeanDru 

As an alternative have you considered the blue cement cladding boards that they use for cladding buildings with. They are waterproof to start with and may well be cheaper than marine ply. it is also fire resistant. see here.....

https://www.bunnings.com.au/fibre-cement-2440-x-1200-x-7-5mm-2-93sqm-duratex-blueboard_p0710117