APITONG FLOORING 1
Posted by ROBBIE from GREESNBORO, NC, US on October 22, 2008
WHERE CAN I BUY APITONG FLOORING?
NEED: 1-5/16 TH X 7″ W ………470 LFT
1-5/16 TH X 5″ W ………280 LFT
CAN I GET IN 48′ LGHTS?
TO USE TO RE-FLOOR TRAILER BEDS.
ALSO CALLED “GHANA” WOOD / AFRICAN SPECIES??????
I would recommend you qualify what you are looking for with the following:
1. There are many repair shops that offer Apitong and some will offer substitute species for Apitong. Any one of these locations in your area can be contacted. You will typically find a wide range of prices. Much of the difference in price can be attributed directly to the quality of the flooring material.
2. There are only a handful of companies that will guarantee 100% Apitong. The others allow a mixture of species that could perform, but any many instances are not suitable for flatbed trailer flooring. In most cases, these companies will not know the difference in species.
3. Aftermarket companies offering truly 100% Apitong and/or “OEM Quality” would be the first ones contact. A reminder, not all OEM dealers offer “OEM Quality”. A few of the companies, who currently source 100% Apitong for aftermarket, are in no particular order – FleetPride, Fontaine Part Source, New Life, Trailmobile, Utility.
4. Other species (such as those from Ghana and others) will perform differently and may not hold up over time. A good rule of thumb is the cost of installation is 1.5 to 2 times the cost of the correct raw material, 100% Apitong. Therefore, having to replace poor performing, substitute, material will be more costly in the long run. If the re-floored trailer is expected to last over three years without extra flooring repairs, do not use substitutes.
With regard to full trailer length, any of the companies above have the ability to quote full length. If not, you can contact Overseas Hardwoods Company to find a dealer in your area.
Best regards,
W.R. "Bill" Schaffer
Vice President OHC
