To add to the plywood discussion, if you buy plywoods that carry a BS1088 stamp (unfortunately, all imported from outside North America I believe) you will find them totally free of internal voids (as required by the standard), and made with excellent glues. So-called 'baltic birch' is also a good source for void-free plywoods, albeit in birch which is somewhat heavier than most of the tropical (sapele, etc)-based BS1088 plywoods. Be careful of some of the fancier BS1088 plywoods, such as ribbon-stripe Gaboon, where the face venners are balanced, but thinner than the core veneers.
If you have trouble getting good plywoods locally, try the aircraft supply places, although aircraft grade birch is often available only in smaller panels - but my experience with using 3mm 5 ply aircraft birch to replace the cockpit floor in my iceboat is that it's both nice to work with, and much stiffer than 3 mm sapele, which is only available as 3-ply (no surprise there ...). I would always go for a minimum of 5 plys where possible.
Warren
Comparison of Material Properties
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- Warren Nethercote
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- horizenjob
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Re: Comparison of Material Properties
If your serious about this do not substitute an equal stiffness panel and save %80 on weight. Take a more modest gain like %50 less weight and use 1/2" plywood. You do want a good protection from the road and it's obstacles. It will also be easier to attach with more rugged bolt holes etc.
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- Warren Nethercote
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Re: Comparison of Material Properties
Agreed - although half inch may be overkill. Even 6 or 8 mm BS1088 plywood, if 5 or 7 ply, is tremendously puncture resistant and takes bolts well. Baltic birch more so. 'Thinking British' I would settle for 3/8 inch.
Warren
Warren
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Re: Comparison of Material Properties
Just to argue for the 1/2" I think it makes very good protection for the frame if your one of the people that doesn't use your oil pan for a crush zone.
It would protect well from abrasion from everything from sand/pebbles to steep crowns on driveways etc.
edited: A welded steel floor provides strength though, which will be much harder to get from the wood floor.

edited: A welded steel floor provides strength though, which will be much harder to get from the wood floor.
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