What wood to use for bunk replacements

[the butcher]

I am needing to replace my bunks on my trailer. The trailer is a karavan tandem axle trailer and double bunk trailer with 2 bunks on each side. I called Karavan and they said they use yellow Pine on the karavan trailers. I called venture trailers and they said they use the generic wood that you get at homedepot. Both companies said stay away from pressure treated. Around the lower mainland none of the lumber suppliers including the big retail box stores don't carry pine, let alone yellow pine. They carry SPF which is a mixture of whatever is available between Spruce, Pine, and Fir. Most of the time it's spruce. Would this SPF wood be acceptable for a boat trailer bunk replacement?

 

[Tieoneon]

I think spruce would be better than yellow pine as the py is pretty soft

 

[JWS]

where are you? I’d be going after Doug fir. I had some 2x6 and 3x8’s cut last year to replace my bunks when the time comes.

 

[Thunder21]

I would use Yellow Cedar

 

[brutus]

I would use fir, or more money yellow cedar, stay away from HD KD spruce, spruce will be rotted out in a few years

 

[Flashman]

I would use fir, or more money yellow cedar, stay away from HD KD spruce, spruce will be rotted out in a few years

I agree. Douglas fir and yellow cedar are about the same strength and weight, stronger than SPF, but heavier also. Yellow is very rot resistant, harder to find though. Either will work very well.

 

[Stosh]

Yellow cedar is probably best. Last time I needed some, Windsor Plywood had stock.
Stosh

 

[Squire]

Another vote for yellow cedar. I replaced my bunks with it and found it at Windsor Plywood in Nanaimo. I bought one 12’x 6”x 6” and ripped it in half. Super fine grained old growth that will probably outlast the trailer.

 

[wolf]

What type of boat fiberglass or tin? whatever you use put slides on it as then its not bare wood Yellow cedar will never rot but all depends on where the mounting bolts are as its not the greatest for strength like fir if you have many brackets wouldnt worry too much as ive seen some boats with only 2 brackets and it spread out over 10 feet.
if your near a mill might consider going direct as you might be able to find real 2 inch by 6 inch lumber rough cut. be prepared if you go yllow cedar that stuff is $$$$ Ask hey I need 2 pieces of lumber this long sometimes they have great deals

 

[zurk]

starboard.

 

[the butcher]

I am in the lower mainalnd. I think Dicks Lumber has douglas fir but they are closed today(sunday) so I'll have to check with them tomorrow. Their website says they have green douglas fir which has a 25-30% moisture content. Does this matter?

 

[brutus]

I am in the lower mainalnd. I think Dicks Lumber has douglas fir but they are closed today(sunday) so I'll have to check with them tomorrow. Their website says they have green douglas fir which has a 25-30% moisture content. Does this matter?

Does not matter

 

[Max123]

I'd use kiln dried douglas fir with HDPE spacers. My recommendation is PoCo Building Supplies - you will definitely be able to get Fir (or cedar). For the HDPE - likely Industrial Plastics.

Support your local lumber yard. PoCo Building is a Canadian/family owned operation that is over 100 years old. I'm a builder, and my dad was a builder - we've been customers for nearly 40 years and these guys are unfailingly great.

For those unfamiliar dealing with a proper lumber yard. Drive your truck in, load up, go to the inside counter with a count of what you have, pay, then drive out and get your slip checked at the gate. If you bring kids/dogs, leave them in the truck - it is an active yard with vehicles/forklifts moving around.

 

[Max123]

Does not matter

Not sure I'd agree with that. As lumber dries it twists unless it is stacked properly. Seemingly half of my youth was spent cleaning up construction sites where my dad would have me re-stack lumber so it wouldn't warp/twist (it is physically painful when I walk through the lumber isle at Home Depot). If you bought a couple of wet 2x6s and left them sitting loose for a month before you got around to using them, I guarantee they would twist and bow. One of the advantage of KD lumber is that it is (more) stable.

 

[brands51]

Replaced pt lumber/carpet recently with Douglas fir / PVC facia material from Home Depot. Fastened with stainless screws, counter sunk and filled over with sika flex so no stainless touching the aluminum. Happy with it so far. Curious to see how long I’ll get out of the naked D fir bunks

I was going to go the starboard route but super pricey

 

[Squire]

Not sure I'd agree with that. As lumber dries it twists unless it is stacked properly. Seemingly half of my youth was spent cleaning up construction sites where my dad would have me re-stack lumber so it wouldn't warp/twist (it is physically painful when I walk through the lumber isle at Home Depot). If you bought a couple of wet 2x6s and left them sitting loose for a month before you got around to using them, I guarantee they would twist and bow. One of the advantage of KD lumber is that it is (more) stable.

Agreed; if I was going to use green lumber I’d make sure I installed it without delay and immediately sat the boat on it. That way as it dried it could take the shape of the boat instead of randomly twisting and bending.

 

[the butcher]

Poco building supplies only has 2x4 in douglas fir. Dicks lumber has 2x6 but only green and not KD. Anywhere else I can try in lower mainland?

 

[Max123]

Poco building supplies only has 2x4 in douglas fir. Dicks lumber has 2x6 but only green and not KD. Anywhere else I can try in lower mainland?

That's weird, its been a little while since I've been in their yard but they are typically fully stocked with Fir. You could try Standard Lumber as well (near Dick's lumber in Burnaby, Still Creek Area)

 

[brutus]

Not sure I'd agree with that. As lumber dries it twists unless it is stacked properly. Seemingly half of my youth was spent cleaning up construction sites where my dad would have me re-stack lumber so it wouldn't warp/twist (it is physically painful when I walk through the lumber isle at Home Depot). If you bought a couple of wet 2x6s and left them sitting loose for a month before you got around to using them, I guarantee they would twist and bow. One of the advantage of KD lumber is that it is (more) stable.

Dude it’s a trailer, bunks go in and out of water lol, I’ve been working with lumber for 40years you will never prevent lumber from twisting unless it’s fasten every 6” , I built 4x6 gang forms out of 4x6 fir some of them are over 10years old and I still pour concrete with them everyday.you want to pay more for Kd fir go ahead but it’s going to get wet no mater what

 

[brutus]

Poco building supplies only has 2x4 in douglas fir. Dicks lumber has 2x6 but only green and not KD. Anywhere else I can try in lower mainland?

Country lumber will have kd fir, but don’t Waiste your money buy green fir, if they going to twist they will even you buy them kiln dried