Flooring questions...if you had it to do over...

[Robin Bobula]

If you had it to do over, what flooring would you use, and why? I can see pros and cons for each type of flooring. Not using my trailer as a toy hauler, more for camping purposes.

Opinions and experiences (positive and negative) much appreciated!
Thanks,
Robin

[b.bodemer]

Because I'm using the ct as a camper I went with linoleum.

Very easy to install. Easy to broom sweep while in camp.

A few area carpets keep my feet nice and cozy (plus they are light weight enough to just pick up and shake outside).

http://cttraveltrailer.blogspot.com/201 ... alled.html

Barb

[jwhite]

I started with the peel and stick flooring and in about a year it started to come up,so I ripped it out and bought some flouring that was on a big roll at lowes and it looked good but it would have areas that was floating and had a large bubble where it would not lay down flat and that just really bugged me so I took that out.
I decided that I would use the boxed Engineered Hardwood flooring and it looks great,I wish I had started with this because it was about the same price as the others and looks 10 times better,I bought one that was around a dollar a square foot and it looks great but I could have spent alittle more and got a better looking floor they have all kinds to choose from.
I wanted to put this down in my house so this was a trial run and it was easy to do,but I already had things in place so I had to do more measuring and make more cuts than if I would have put it down and built the rest on top of the flooring.
I's one of the best and easy way to really upgrade the look of your trailer if that's important you,before I would have used a similar priced for my house but it looks so good I am going to spend alot more on the flooring in my house.
it was around 100.00 to do my 7x16, knowing what I know now I wasted a couple hundred dollars on the other flooring that I could have spent the 1st time around,it may not matter to most but I was going for a mancave on wheels theme.

[8ball_99]

I know you said yours is not a toy hauler.. But even if mine wasn't I still would have done the floor the same way.. Its all one piece rubber raised coin mat.. All water proof, tuff and easy to clean.. It also adds a bit of padding and absorbs sound some. Once we pull our RZRs out we have two indoor outdoor rugs we lay out.. I think I paid 10 bucks each for them.. I want to say they are 7x9 or something like that.. The cover pretty much the entire floor but are very light.. When they get dirty I lay them out on the driveway and spray them off with a water hose.. It works well for us..
Here is how I clean the trailer

Heres what it looks like..

[tnriverluver]

Camper, toyhauler, whatever, You tend to track in a tremendous amout of dirt and debris when camping. Hard surface all the way. I am a carpet cleaner by trade and being able to simply sweep and maybe use a wet paper towel for mud or drink spills is the only way to go IMHO.

[BC_Explorer]

For my trailer, I used square foam interlocking tiles which have held up very well and also provide some insulation. The cost was < $50.00 and I would use the same product again.

[Robin Bobula]

Many thanks for all the opinions!

BC_explorer, how do you clean your foam tile floor? How durable is it, i.e., does the surface of the tile get damaged from stones, or from items in your trailer sitting on it? I can see the appeal for the comfort and potential insulation. The coin mat option is similar, but doesn't seem as comfortable underfoot, at least from the mats I have looked at. It looks great for a toy hauler, though.

jwhite, just to clarify, would you have built cabinets and such on top of laminate flooring? I'm still trying to figure out the order of the build -- framing bathroom and back false wall, install flooring, build cabinetry? Or frame walls and cabinets, then install flooring?

Robin

[Shadow Catcher]

Compass Rose has an OSB with a poly wrap floor and carpet over. If and when it fails I will try and find a source for Comositek http://www.colerainrv.com/pages/compositek.htm composite Designed by Kaiser for aircraft use. Evergreen uses it in their trailers.

[8ball_99]

You seem to want a padded floor? We don't really walk around in the trailer barefoot very much. We get up and dressed pretty early. Sorta of the same thing, once we get undressed we are straight to bed..
If you really want padding though why not do like most people do at home. Either wear house shoes or adde rugs. We live out in the country so pretty much our entire home is either hardwood or tile. We have thick padded rugs in places like the bedroom or living room, one in front of the kitchen sink, ect. You could still do a sealed floor like linoleum or that rubber coin mat, but Instead of the thin indoor outdoor rug like I said earlier you could get a padded rug for your main walk way.

[BC_Explorer]

Many thanks for all the opinions!

BC_explorer, how do you clean your foam tile floor? How durable is it, i.e., does the surface of the tile get damaged from stones, or from items in your trailer sitting on it? I can see the appeal for the comfort and potential insulation. The coin mat option is similar, but doesn't seem as comfortable underfoot, at least from the mats I have looked at. It looks great for a toy hauler, though.
Robin

The floor is easy to clean; sweep then mop with damp (not soaking) mop with an all purpose household cleaner then let dry. As for damage, so far so good. I have carried a variety of things in the CT so far. Everything from 3 x 7 gallon water containers, coolers, tools etc. All camping season, under the bed has been a lot of cut firewood being carried and the rough edges of the wood being slid in/out, have not caused any damage. Even so, any significant damage would be easily fixed by just replacing that one tile section...

A couple of pics taken during the build:

[roadinspector]

I like the foam idea and seriously considered it. After lots of meditation on the subject, I chose the epoxy paint because of its resistance to chemicals. Especially gas & oil. It paid off this trip. I knew my old tie down straps were getting old and frayed. I bought a new set and strapped the bike down. I did not like them once they were in place. But I went against my better judgement. I did not have time to take them back and get another set. After several stops and checking the load every time. All was well until we got to our destination. I couldn't open my side door. I dropped my ramp and one of the straps had gave and the bike was laying against the wall & door. Luckily no damage but gas had spilled. I threw a little dirt on the gas and swept it out the door. Opened the windows & vent to air it out. Prob was solved in under 15 minutes with no damage to anything except the rubber backing on a door mat was dissolved. My epoxy paint just paid for itself. If I want any padding I will have an area rug that I can put in place when we set up camp. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Can't say I catch everything, but it sure paid off this time.

Earnest

[Wolfscout]

I have the foam exercise pads I bought them at Walmart and did entire floor in it. I use a cordless rechargeable blower to blow out the dirt. quick and easy. If It's some spill or mud... like bc said, a lightly damp cloth gets that up. I also store firewood beneath the bed at the back door. It looks as good now as it did when I installed it.

It's nice to have that padding there at the end of a long day of having fun and having paddign thick there when I wake up the next morning.
Also.. that padding has come in handy when the kids have came with us... and needed to come out of the tent and make a pallet on the floor to sleep on. It works really well. And heck I've been considering doing it to a room in my home that we use for storing our gear and doing exercises. It's tough product.

You can see it looks pretty good.

[Xtremespeed]

I did mine like 8ball_99. Coin pattern vinyl. Bought it on eBay. I think it was called Nitro Garage Floor Mat. There is also one called G Floor. I had the peel and stick tiles first and they didn't last through the initial buildup of the trailer. Some didn't stick as well as others and got sawdust under them. Then of course, they wouldnt stick at all. Then I had the padded interlocking tiles like some in this thread. They were nice to walk on and not bad to clean, but I had problems with them bowing up when the trailer got hot. They fit so tight that there is no room for expansion. I love the coin style vinyl mat for my Rzr and 4wheeler, and if I had to do it over again, that is definitely the way I would go. Cleans easily and is not affected by gas, oil, or mud.

[glennsheila]

jwhite, i like your idea and was wondering how you installed it, float, glue or some other method? Thanks

[jwhite]

I guess you would call it float it has a thin layer of foam and it just snapped together it just laided on top of the foam layer.
it was easier than I thought,they reccomend a quarter inch space next to the wall and then cover it with molding.
you can watch youtube videos and lowes has them as well.
I am very happy with the results and am going to install it in my house.