Apitong Shiplap Trailer Decking
The traditional wood of choice for flatbed truck flooring for over 25 years. Solid plank Apitong shiplap is the standard for medium-duty flatbed and drop-deck trailers — strong, naturally durable, weather-resistant, and priced for the job.
We import direct from Indonesia and Malaysia, stock the most popular sizes in Forest Grove, OR and Memphis, TN, and ship most orders in 7–10 days anywhere in the US or Canada.
What Apitong Shiplap Looks Like in the Real World
As standard flatbed flooring, Apitong shiplap is solid plank flooring — most commonly run in shiplap form. Thicknesses run from 1-1/8" to 1-3/4", with widths typically 5" or 7". The 1-1/8" × 7" shiplap (7-3/8" overall with a 3/8" lap on each edge) is the most popular size we sell.
Solid shiplap flooring is what you find on lightweight flatbed trailers where weight, durability, strength, and price are the major concerns for manufacturers — exactly the spec sheet that made Apitong the industry standard.
Six Years on a Working Flatbed
This is Genuine Apitong shiplap on a flatbed that's been in commercial service for six years and oiled annually with Apitong Oil. Flat, tight joints, no checks, color refreshed by the most recent coat. The wood is doing its job and so is the finish.
Lengths, Splices, and Finger-Jointed Planks
Lengths matter when you're spec'ing solid hardwood truck flooring. Tropical hardwoods like Apitong average 12–14' in length as imported. Splices have to land on cross members — typically 12–24" on center on a flatbed.
For OEM trailer manufacturers who don't want to deal with random-length boards, finger-jointed Apitong is available in lengths up to 53' — the average length of the planks before finger-jointing is around 12'. The finger-joint is rated for full structural use; it's the same approach used in laminated truck flooring (LTF) but applied to the solid shiplap pattern.
Forest Grove Inventory, Ready to Ship
Random-length 1-1/8" × 7" Genuine Apitong shiplap, banded and ready for LTL pickup at our Forest Grove, OR warehouse. We stock the OEM-spec sizes deep so most orders ship in 7-10 days. If you need finger-jointed or specialty lengths, give us a call — we can have it on the truck within two weeks.
Apitong Shiplap vs. Laminated Truck Flooring (LTF)
Don't confuse solid plank flooring with laminated truck flooring (LTF). LTF is strictly for dry van trailers and can't withstand exterior exposure — it will delaminate the first time it sees a hard rain.
The LTF market is substantially larger than the solid-plank market. It's made from mixed light hardwoods from Southeast Asia plus domestic Red Oak. LTF manufacturers typically use 5/4 or 6/4 random-width raw material, S2S and straight-line ripped, with hook joints on the ends. The strips are laid up into continuous edge-glued panels — generally 12" wide with a shiplap, made as long as 53'.
For an exposed flatbed or drop-deck, you want solid Apitong shiplap. For a dry van, LTF or solid Apitong both work — solid is more expensive but lasts longer and resists impact damage better.
Z-Boards vs. T-Boards — What's the Difference?
Shiplap boards come in two configurations. Z-boards have the lap extension on opposite faces — one on top, one on bottom. They install in a continuous Z pattern across the deck. T-boards have both lap extensions on the same face. They're typically used as a center board when you want both outer-board laps to land on the same side. 1-1/8" × 7" Z-board is the volume size; we stock T-boards as a special order.
Genuine Apitong (Keruing)
The original Asian Apitong, imported from Indonesia and Malaysia. Comes in as both rough material and finished shiplap. Density and strength are the benchmark for trailer flooring — every other species gets compared to Apitong.
- Janka side hardness: ~1,270 lbs
- Modulus of rupture: 19,900 psi
- Air-dried weight per MBF: ~4,600 lbs
Angelim Pedra (Brazilian Apitong)
South American hardwood that performs very similarly to Genuine Apitong. Often used as a substitute when Asian supply is constrained. Slightly different color and grain but equivalent strength on a flatbed deck.
- Janka side hardness: ~1,720 lbs
- Modulus of rupture: 17,600 psi
- Air-dried weight per MBF: ~4,400 lbs
Alternate Wood Species for Shiplap Truck Deck Boards
Many other species have been used over the years for shiplap deck boards. Purpleheart used to be popular but has gotten too expensive over the years. Tatajuba is occasionally available. Customers are always looking for the same combination — cost-effective, durable, and strong. Not an easy combination to achieve, which is why Apitong has held the position for decades.
Domestic options like Red Oak and White Oak are sometimes used in dry van applications but rot too quickly on an exposed flatbed. Pressure-treated softwoods (Southern Yellow Pine) can last 5–7 years on a utility trailer but won't hold up in heavy commercial service.
Make Your Apitong Floor Last 15+ Years
Annual application of Apitong Oil by ExoShield is the difference between a 5-year floor and a 15-year floor. Pure Tung-oil base, transoxide pigments, fungicide, and UV blocker — made in Portland, Oregon.
Apitong Shiplap FAQ
The questions we get most often from flatbed manufacturers, owner-operators, and aftermarket repair shops.
What is the most common Apitong shiplap size for a flatbed trailer?
1-1/8" × 7" shiplap (7-3/8" overall, 3/8" lap each edge) is by far the most common — it's the OEM spec for most North American flatbed manufacturers. We stock it in random lengths from 8' to 20'+. Heavier-duty applications use 1-3/8" or 1-1/2" thickness.
How long does an Apitong shiplap floor last?
With proper installation and an annual oil treatment, expect 15–20 years from a Genuine Apitong or Brazilian Apitong floor. Without oiling, expect 5–8 years before significant surface degradation. Apitong is naturally durable — but UV and freeze/thaw cycles still attack the surface fibers over time. The oil reactivates the surface every spring and dramatically extends life.
What's the difference between Genuine Apitong and Brazilian Apitong?
Genuine Apitong (Keruing) is the original Asian species from Indonesia and Malaysia. Brazilian Apitong (Angelim Pedra) is the South American substitute. They're technically different species but perform very similarly on a flatbed — both meet OEM strength and durability specs. We stock both; pricing fluctuates with supply, so we'll quote whichever is currently the better value.
Can I install Apitong shiplap myself?
Yes — most owner-operators redeck their own trailers. The job needs predrilling (Apitong is too dense to drive screws without it), Torx T30 or T40 deck screws, a corded 1/2" drill, and patience. Plan a full day for a 48' flatbed with two people. Our How to Order page walks through the process and our sales team can help you spec lengths and quantities.
Do you ship Apitong shiplap to Canada?
Yes — we ship Apitong shiplap and rough boards to every Canadian province. Most orders ship from our Memphis, TN warehouse via LTL across the border. Customs documentation is included with every shipment. Call 1-855-APITONG for a freight quote.
What's a Z-board vs. a T-board?
A Z-board has its shiplap lap on opposite faces — one lip on top, one on bottom — so the boards interlock in a Z pattern across the deck. A T-board has both laps on the same face. T-boards are used as a center board when you want both outer-board laps to face the same direction. Z-board is the volume product; T-board is a special-order item.
Get Your Floor on the Truck Faster
From Forest Grove, OR and Memphis, TN — random-length and finger-jointed Apitong shiplap ships in 7–10 days to anywhere in the US or Canada. Order online or call our specialists.