Recently, equestrians were horrified to read about a horse falling through its horse trailer flooring.
Apparently, the trailer’s flooring had corroded and given way, causing the animal’s leg to get stuck in it.
Fortunately, the horse survived, but it could have ended in tragedy, which is why it's so important to know your floors!
That's where I come in, so just keep reading!
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5 Different Choices Available in Horse Trailer Flooring
When it comes to horse trailer flooring, you get five different options.
Horse trailer flooring comes in different materials like aluminum, rubber, wood, etc. Each one has its benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to know about them.
If you’re looking to replace your horse trailer’s floor, then this guide will help you make an informed choice.
It will also help people looking to buy a new or used horse trailer make the right decision! Let's dive in!
- Wood Horse Trailer Flooring
Wood has been used traditionally as horse stall and horse trailer floor material owing to its easy availability.
Today, hardwood or teak wood flooring tiles are available in the form of an easy interlocking system that makes installation a breeze.
Wood floor tiles don’t need any special tools or welding machines to install. Here are its pros and cons:
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Wooden floors are fairly easy to install – need no special tools. |
Needs careful installation and spacing between tiles – failure to do so could lead to water being trapped and eventually, rot. |
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Absorbs shocks and impacts and reduces noise during transportation – important for horses that spook easily. |
Prone to scratching – need oiling, polishing, and sanding to remove abrasions. |
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Comfortable all year round – does not absorb heat in summers and stays warm in winters. |
Cannot resist moisture and water 100%. |
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Reasonable price – about $800 for average-sized trailers. |
Is susceptible to termites and other wood-boring pests. |
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Needs regular maintenance – sweeping, vacuuming, and steam cleaning, etc. You also need to oil and polish it from time to time to retain its looks. |
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- Aluminum Horse Trailer Flooring
If you are replacing your old horse trailer flooring, then the aluminum floor is often the most logical choice.
This type of trailer flooring is more durable than wood and, with proper maintenance, can even get you a lifetime warranty.
Here are the pros and cons of Aluminum horse trailer flooring:
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Aluminum flooring for trailers does not absorb moisture. Resultantly, it can be more durable than wood. It also resists sun exposure and mildew and deters termites and other wood-boring insects. |
Noisy - During the transportation of horses, Aluminum flooring can make loud creaking or thudding sounds. Might not be a good choice for easily-spooked horses. |
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Aluminum is a sustainable building material. Choosing aluminum horse flooring can save many trees. |
Slippery – Aluminum flooring tends to get very slippery especially in winters due to the formation of icicles. This can cause horses and even humans to slip easily. |
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Fairly easy to maintain – can be hosed down. |
Not suitable for extreme weather – Being a conductive material, aluminum trailers get hot quickly in summers and extremely cold and frigid in winters. This can be uncomfortable for horses during transportation. |
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Inexpensive – compared to other horse flooring options, aluminum is cheaper to install. |
Prone to corrosion and rusting – while aluminum is definitely more durable than wood, it can still rot over time. You will need to schedule acid baths to prevent oxidation and rusting. |
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Maintenance can also be expensive in case you have to replace corroded aluminum flooring. |
CHECK: Featherlite Horse Trailer Weight
- Rumber Horse Trailer Flooring
Rumber is a mixture of rubber and plastic and is made from 100% recycled tire rubber. It is a modern option in horse trailer floor materials and is extremely tough and long-lasting.
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Durable – Rumber is a very durable material. It is non-slippery and provides a secure, non-slippery surface for shod and non-shod horses. It is resistant to heavy foot traffic. |
The main drawback of composite Rumber materials for horse trailer flooring is that there may be gaps between tiles. This can lead to water seepage and drainage and invite rot. |
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Shock and noise absorption – Rumber’s shock and noise absorption are par excellence. Its cushioned surface prevents creaks and thuds making it more comfortable for horses during transportation. |
The floor also smells strongly of chemicals in the first few days after installation. |
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Variety – This stall liner flooring material comes in attractive colors, styles, and patterns so you can add some color and elegance to your trailer. |
Finding the exact pattern to replace a damaged tile could be tricky. |
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Easy to install – You can easily cut Rumber tiles to size to help fit in a given space. These days, you also get inter-locked tiles that do not need any special tools or adhesives for the setting. You can also replace just the damaged tile instead of changing the entire floor. |
The cost of composite material Rumber flooring can be high – expect to shell out at least $1000-$2000 depending on the trailer’s size. |
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Suitable all-year-round – This material does not transfer heat making it suitable for hot areas too. |
Check this video if you want to get an idea of how rumber looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33fB7npvCTg
- Polylast Horse Trailer Flooring
Polylast system is the latest in horse stalls and veterinary floor systems. It offers a non-porous and impermeable system of flooring.
Here are its pros and cons:
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Best slip- resistance – Polylast flooring is very stable and prevents horses from slipping. It is suitable for shod and unshod horses and also for those with leg soreness or foot issues. |
Very expensive horse trailer flooring choice. |
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Noise-suppressant – Polylasts’ shock-absorbing and cushioning effects reduce noises and keep horses calm and peaceful during transportation. |
Maintenance is a chore and replacing damaged ones can be expensive. |
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Durable – Some polylast floor manufacturers even give 10+ year warranties and some systems even last for over 25 years. |
Installers have to drill several drain holes on the trailer’s metal floor to ensure the drainage of water. This can render the trailer floor very weak. |
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Insulation – the material does not transfer heat and that makes it a great choice in the summer and winter months. |
Watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9WqjyUc3Xg
- WERM Horse Trailer Flooring
The word WERM is an acronym for We Eliminate Rubber Mats.
It is made from 100% post-recycled industrial rubber and combines virgin, durable rubber with a flexible material that will not crack or separate from the trailer’s floor.
Here are WERM horse trailer flooring’s benefits and disadvantages, pros and cons of werm flooring:
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Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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Low cost and 100% environmentally-friendly |
WERM contains chemicals that can react with the trailer’s aluminum. This could cause the entire floor to rot or corrode over time. |
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Easy to install- pour in place and trowel like concrete |
WERM flooring prevents the inspection of the metal flooring underneath it. This could still get exposed to salts from the road and can cause it to corrode and give way over time. |
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Thick, sound-absorbing, and highly cushioning. This helps reduce noises during transport. |
Manual errors during installation could lead to gaps between the WERM surface and the trailer floor. This can lead to water accumulation and bacteria. |
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Completely seals the floor to reduce water seepage and prevents rot. Seamless edges help control bacterial accumulation. |
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WERM is durable and slip-resistant. It provides superior cushioning and keeps shod and un-shod horses safe from injuries. |
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Reduces dust in trailers. |
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It is easy to clean – simply hose down. |
Take a look at this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM2luXlV7AU
READ MORE: Where Can You Rent a Horse Trailer?
How Much Does Horse Trailer Floor Replacement Cost?
Replacing your horse trailer flooring can be an expensive project. Prepare to shell out at least $600 to $1000 depending on the size of the trailer and the material you use.
Here are approximate costs for different types of horse floor materials:
Wood flooring
An average-size trailer of 20 ft floor-length would need two sheets of wood. Labor charges will be extra. Based on this, prepare to pay around $400.
Aluminum flooring
Min. cost of aluminum flooring is about $10/square foot. If you have to replace the corroded horse trailer floor, then you will have to pay up to $1000 for replacement.
Rumber flooring
Readymade rumber flooring kits can cost anywhere between $750 to $20,000 per trailer.
Polylast flooring
This is an affordable flooring solution for horse trailers and the price starts from $1.65 per square foot.
WERM
WERM can cost about $13 per square foot.
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How to Replace Your Horse Trailer Floor?
Use the following steps for DIY replacement of your trailer flooring:
Step 1: Safety first
Wear safety equipment like goggles, a nose mask, headphones, and gloves. Use a fan in the trailer to keep the air circulating.
Only opt for DIY installation if you have done it before. Otherwise, it is best to seek help from a professional trailer dealer.
Step 2: Prepare the trailer
Use a de-scaler with an airflow tube to remove rusted nails from the perimeter of the trailer. This can be a bit noisy, so use headphones.
Step 3: Paint the trailer
Before applying your flooring of choice, paint the trailer. You can use special paints that resist rusting. Allow the paint to dry fully before installing your floor.
Step 4: Install the flooring
Depending on your choice of trailer flooring, you opt for, you will have different methods of installation.
For pressure-treated lumber wood, you have to screw the tiles to the floor and shim them together before installing.
For WERM, you simply pour the desired quantity and trowel it like concrete. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your choice for trailer floors.
Make sure there are no gaps to prevent water accumulation. Once the product dries, depending on the material used, you will need to water it (in the case of wood). You can later paint the floor if needed.
Check out this video tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fG5otOKYtU
CHECK: Horse Won't Load in Trailer: What Should You Do?
FAQs on Horse Trailer Flooring
What type of wood is best for the horse trailer floor?
Pressure-treated pine, oak, or lumber wood planks are some great choices on wooden horse trailer floors. They do not transfer heat and are fairly easy to install.
How do you maintain an aluminum horse trailer floor?
Regularly clean and maintain your horse trailer’s floor and check for rotten floorboards. Remember: horse urine can be very acidic and could cause the wood or aluminum floorboards to rot and corrode over time. So, hose down the flooring systems after each use. Remove all of the wet straw or bedding in trailers to prevent bacteria and mold.
How thick should the horse trailer floor be?
Ideally, the horse trailer flooring should be between 3/16th to 1/8th inches thick. The thickness will also depend on the material you use for the flooring. Some materials have a base like plywood and that too can impact the thickness.
Key Takeaways
You will get different opinions regarding the best horse trailer flooring material from the different horse owners. Some people love Rumber, others prefer WERM. Traditionally, wood is the material of choice for livestock owners' trailers. Aluminum lasts long but can be noisy.
Whatever material you choose, it is important to schedule regular maintenance of your horse trailer floor so it won’t let you and your horses down.
References
- 1. Navarra K. When Did Your Last Check Your Horse Trailer Floor? The #1 Resource for Horse Farms, Stables and Riding Instructors | Stable Management. Published October 23, 2017. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://stablemanagement.com/articles/when-did-your-last-check-your-horse-trailer-floor
- 2. Equus. Q&A: Fixing an aluminum trailer floor. The Horse Owner’s Resource. Published June 18, 2014. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/fixing-aluminum-trailer-floor-21463
- 3. Overview - Rumber Materials. Rumber Materials. Published February 19, 2020. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://www.rumber.com/overview/
- 4. Polylast Systems - Horse Floors, Bunker Liner, Kennel Flooring, Livestock. Polylast Systems. Published 2016. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://polylastsystems.com/
- 5. admin. Trailer Flooring | WERM Trailer Flooring | Trailer Floor. WERM Trailer Flooring. Published September 15, 2021. Accessed December 3, 2021. https://www.wermflooring.com/
What type of horse trailer flooring do you use? Let us know in the comments below!
