Is floor insulation necessary ?

[LostBob]

I plan on building a square back next year. Is floor insulation necessary if I'm not winter camping ? I plan on three season camping in the Great Lakes region. The mattress will be at least 6" of foam. The walls and ceiling will be insulated.

[Woodbutcher]

No, I did it in my first one and not in the next three. I camp down to freezing with no issues.

[tony.latham]

Is floor insulation necessary if I'm not winter camping ?

If you are losing BTUs through the floor, you don't have enough mattress.

But --on this latest build, the floor that is 1/4" bottom, 3/4" skeleton framing with foam board, and a final layer of 1/4" plywood on top. For anything wider than 4', you need to frame it out unless you can find 5' wideply.

Here's my framework for a 5' x 10' 'drop.



Those are temporary gussets.

Tony

[John61CT]

No, but will save energy if running aircon

[Minics04]

I did insulate mine, also.

If you are concerned with moisture under the mattress and are going to use some thing for air flow under your mattress, I would insulate it. I'm not sure moisture is a problem under the mattress, but I wanted a little air flow under the mattress.

[Shadow Catcher]

It is a 5" foam mattress

[halfdome, Danny]

LostBob, I too insulated the floor on my first build.
Now my floor is 3/4" plywood with a full sheet of palm glued down on both sides, great barrier to moisture.
If you find the need for insulation in the future just cut two panels of foam board and duct tape the raw edges.
We have used our two 1/2" foam boards on rare occasion by simply sliding them under the mattress.
Danny

[tony.latham]

Here's the real insulation:



8" of foam.

Tony

[azgreg]

LostBob, I too insulated the floor on my first build.
Now my floor is 3/4" plywood with a full sheet of palm glued down on both sides, great barrier to moisture.
If you find the need for insulation in the future just cut two panels of foam board and duct tape the raw edges.
We have used our two 1/2" foam boards on rare occasion by simply sliding them under the mattress.
Danny

Have any more info on the palm?

[RJ Howell]

This to me is a basic thing. Cold absorbs heat. It's not a direction thing, it's a absorption thing. I work R-Factores according to what I want warmer. Yes, my floor insulated, I want that extra there. I want to remove blankets to control vs. adding more padding to my mattress. I'm a proponent for making the trailer insulated and making my mattress comfortable. It's how I look at at. MHO

[Pmullen503]

You won't regret insulation. I too am in the great lakes region. If your matress covers the entire floor you'll be OK. But some bare floor is at the foot of the mattress or the sides you could get condensation there. Water will condense if any surface is below the dew point. I get it around the door flanges and window frames but not my insulated floor.

[halfdome, Danny]

LostBob, I too insulated the floor on my first build.
Now my floor is 3/4" plywood with a full sheet of palm glued down on both sides, great barrier to moisture.
If you find the need for insulation in the future just cut two panels of foam board and duct tape the raw edges.
We have used our two 1/2" foam boards on rare occasion by simply sliding them under the mattress.
Danny

Have any more info on the palm?

plam is plastic laminate aka Formica. Danny

[azgreg]

plam is plastic laminate aka Formica. Danny

You use that instead of slathering on the black crap?

[halfdome, Danny]

plam is plastic laminate aka Formica. Danny

You use that instead of slathering on the black crap?

yes