Insulating underbelly

[pete42]

I have been looking at some cargo trailers and was wondering if anyone insulates the underbelly I don't mean if companies do I mean you that have built your own cargo trailer.

[starleen2]

Why would you insulate? - Are you planning to sleep on the floor?. Our Ladybug (Similar in size) has no insulation on the floor and we've camped in some pretty cold weather before - the only thing I added was a small throw rug 'cause i didn't want my feet on linoleum when i get up out of bed. Usually these trailers are small enough that added insulation on the floor ain't gonna make a huge difference.

[astrotrailer]

I ripped 2x4 wood to match the steel supports under the deck and
screwed the deck of my trailer to the extra supports. I sealed the
underbody and then put 2 inch rigid between all the supports.
I covered the rigid with material used for shower walls and
sealed the edges. I do sleep on a pad on the floor and
wanted it to be warm. I figure I will never have to worry
about the floor rotting out.

[pete42]

How about those answers two completely different ones.
No I don't plan on sleeping on the floor.

I will how ever walk barefooted on it and I camp in cool to cold weather lots of times.

I think I will use 2" foam insulation when I get my trailer.

thanks for responses.

pete

[Gonefishin]

Pete, I had the same concern for walking around barefooted or even sockfooted. I thought about foam insulation, but I'd still have wood on top, and I wondered about the ocassional splinter from that.

I'm going to use two or three separate throw rugs. I can take them out to clean if necc. too.

Since I don't sleep on the floor, it seems like the best solution for me.

[DaveR486MX]

I found these guys in my area and am going to give them a shot. About
$150 to do the whole trailer underside. I sleep about 6 inches from the deck and I allready have found out it is COLD! I will try it, should work ok.
www.combatcoatings.com

Dave

[mdvaden]

I didn't do my trailer floor, but did do the floor of an outbuilding last September. Its raised on blocks rather than a pad to protect the Douglas fir tree roots. Built so our daughter could stay with us for a few months until she had another baby and her husband got moved to a new base at the east coast. Out 17 year old son just gladly "inherited" the space two weeks ago.

I used sheets of that firm 2" foam glued beneath, and ran a bead of Good Stuff along the edge. Between that, and the 6" walls with fiberglass, he keeps it comfortably warm in there with nothing more than his computer running and one flourescent light bulb.

It's a 12' x 14'

There is a small heater, but he doesn't care to use it. I think the floor insulation made a difference.

[synaps3]

I found these guys in my area and am going to give them a shot. About
$150 to do the whole trailer underside. I sleep about 6 inches from the deck and I allready have found out it is COLD! I will try it, should work ok.
www.combatcoatings.com

Road debris will shred that foam to nothing!

Given the tiny size of a teardrop, I think floor insulation is less important than wall and ceiling. If you're already doing that, the floor can't hurt.

[mdvaden]

I found these guys in my area and am going to give them a shot. About
$150 to do the whole trailer underside. I sleep about 6 inches from the deck and I allready have found out it is COLD! I will try it, should work ok.
www.combatcoatings.com

Road debris will shred that foam to nothing!

Given the tiny size of a teardrop, I think floor insulation is less important than wall and ceiling. If you're already doing that, the floor can't hurt.

The only tough foam I've seen is the black stuff for working with ponds and water features, and that would be impractical.

In my cargo trailer, there is no floor insulation, but I find the carpet to be fairly comfortable to walk on is socks. I think that one or two layers of carpet pad above the floor might be more practical than insulation beneath. If any is needed at all.

[Prem]

A previous discussion on this subject:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=25377&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90

[Conestoga]

Insulation is there to maintain temp. If a surface is cold, it stays cold. For example, if you put insulation under a wood floor, it acts as a buffer to the cold outside, but you still have a cold floor under your feet.

I found something that works well for sleeping on the floor. I put 1" foam board on top of the linoleum, carpet on top of that, then the mattress. To stay warm, we don't have to heat the wood/linoleum floor, just the layers on top of it. (pix of this in my album)

[pete42]

thanks for the replies when I get a trailer it will be a cargo trailer, I'm to old to stiff, to big to craw into a TD no matter how much I like them.
never thought about carpet padding then carpet sounds good to me when we get a break in the snow here I will order my trailer I've put it off to long now.
pete

[michiganflipper]

here is what i'm lookig at for heating the floor http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Under ... ogId=10053 it llok like this will help with cold floors

[Steve_Cox]

here is what i'm lookig at for heating the floor http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Under ... ogId=10053 it llok like this will help with cold floors

Radiant floor heat ! Sweet

[pete42]

wow didn't think about underfloor heating.

I don't think I will go that far on my trailer.

carpet on the floor sounds like a easier way for this old man.

I can not get over how many great builds are here on this site.