Hello, I was wondering if anyone has put those interlocking foam mats over the floor of their caravan. Im thinking of this for insulation and protecting the floor. Appreciate your thoughts.
Welcome to the gang KarlD, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have like waterproof carpet mats about 2 mats 1200mm X 600mm down middle of van, 1 between single beds and 1 in en-suite. Easy to sweep clean and easy to move around to mop floor when needed. I don't find they slip around to cause a problem but if they start I will put a piece of non slip matting under each corner. Has worked for me for the last nearly 7 years now. Nice to have carpet under feet. I got them in the big green shed.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Welcome to GN's Karl,
We have found that the original vinyl flooring can bee a little cold on the tootsies so we have mats that can be easily taken out and shaken - but similar to Doug we have non-slip tap fitted to undersides. I have seen a lot of marine carpet fitted to vans but that has the disadvantage that it cannot be easily removed for cleaning or replacement if damaged or stained.
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Hello karld anda verywarm welcome, must admit never thought of that. wondering as they age would the colour eventually stain the lino? We used a carpet runner from bunnings. Cut to length. enjoy it out in the big land of ours. Rocket
Many thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I was wondering about the mats staining the lino. The waterproof carpet mats sound like a good approach. Can I ask what brands people use - or maybe I can't ask for that on this forum? Thanks again for the welcome, I am sure I will have many questions, being new to all this.
Whitworths marine have boat carpet, I have used it in the boot of my car. Bunnings have some as well but it is a lighter duty version, when I last looked.
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We have been using them for years,cut them out to suit the shape of the floor,they haven't stained the lino.
Quiet to walk on and the dirt falls into the holes on the floor,just lift them up and shake them down outside,then just sweep out the van and replace,they are great.
We used the Bunnings marine type carpet, made a template, cut with tinsnips and fitted well, keeps the feet from the cold and can take it out after major trips and pressure wash it.
Have had it for 4 years and only cost ~$100 so is cheap to replace when tired.
Carpet tiles! At convenient intervals once the hand vacuum loses the battle, just take them outside and hose them down.
Have done the same in our last three houses after learning that quarry tiles on the kitchen floor and a dropped bottle of milk react together spectacularly
The interlocking foam squares are OK for a while but the most trodden-on one's tend to cup up and become a trip hazard.
Bunnings have a good range of backed carpet tiles. Used 1200 x 600 in the Hino which was wide enough to cover 90% of the floor with one tile length across. They are heavy and no way will they move until you lift them
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Monday 10th of May 2021 11:59:39 AM
So, until 2 days ago we had 2 light weight matt's in kitc h en/dining area. Just got removed.
They collect dirt and dust. Had to shake them every day. Now just vinyl on floor and mat at entrance.
2 less to shake out and just sweep/vacuum and mop now. Bonus is less weight. I just do what I'm told. Lol
I havent thought of using them on the floor, but I have fitted them into my hatch cover to help keep the old in and heat out etc.
I had to use 3 pieces and cut them 8mm over size so that they are a compression fit in the hatch. This stops them from falling out, no adhesive used.
To insulate mine I used a piece of Corflute (attached the same method) and bonded some 20mm plastic bubble wrap (big bubbles) that Hyundai used to ship replacement windscreens -- so in effect I have 20mm air bubble and 4mm Corflute sandwich - very effective heat insulation and extremely light.
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KarlD,
We had an extended (10 week) trip last winter in WA. Some nights we resorted to a hot water bottle in an attempt to warm the cold tootsies. Blankets and socks just couldn't cut-it. On return to civilisation I found a form of those very mats you are asking about, on line.
A couple of weeks later they were fitted.
Only had 2 short trips since and not been faced the conditions which created the "need" but really happy. Very comfortable under foot. So far so good and looking forward to more winter testing. B.
Yep we have been using the interlocking foam mats for a couple of years and find them to be great. very comfortable under foot and warm to walk on when you get out of bed. Landy
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For foam mat squares keep an eye open for Aldi's sales of caravan items every couple of months. They regularly have six packs of the foam squares, either with holes or straight. Best thing about them is that the six pack generally costs less than the four packs at other outlets.
Only problem Murray for a number of us, Aldi do not offer shopping online!
There are no Aldi stores north of Rockhampton! No certain if they find transport difficult up our way or they don't like our weather.
I've seen the foam squares at times when I've shopped down south.
Karl, we use small carpet mats from Kmart, etc but they are heavier than the foam squares.
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Welcome to GN's Karl, We have found that the original vinyl flooring can bee a little cold on the tootsies so we have mats that can be easily taken out and shaken - but similar to Doug we have non-slip tap fitted to undersides. I have seen a lot of marine carpet fitted to vans but that has the disadvantage that it cannot be easily removed for cleaning or replacement if damaged or stained.
I have marine carpet. Ii is fitted to the floor with large press studs. Can be taken out and shaken when necessary
Our van manufacturer said not to use rubber backed mats because they cause discolouration of the vinyl flooring.
We have used simple utility bathroom mats available for chain stores or IKEA. Only three required to cover most of the main foot traffic area in our van. Many colours, easy to shake out and wash, cheap.
I would check with your van manufacturer before using anything with rubber in it on the vinyl floor.
Our last van had a warning not to use any rubber mats due to a possible reaction.
Regards
Rob
The rubber backing on the marine carpet in my van is has not left any marks on the flooring after 12yrs. However, those interlocking rubber mats are probably not a good idea for that reason.
Have had interlocking in past . I have found it can come apart and be trip hazard !! I used marine non rubber backed carpet. Run it over existing carpet , over vinyl ! No issues . I need to lift it every now and then to vacuum under . As fine dirt filters through . Easy to maintain .,
I placed my insulation matting under the floor.. Used a general saw and cut the mats and lined the floor from below and with the offcuts lined the chassis rails.. It is better sealed against creek crossings now than before.. No more cold floors and only select mats inside the van.. The van also has a better sound about it when we walk around and the whole floor even under the table is warm..
Fail to understand where all the negative comment is coming from regarding the foam matting and it being OK to use on lino. The type we have used is a pale colour and after 8 months showing no sign of lino discolouration. They are not all dark-coloured rubber-based foam.
We had tried a couple of carpet products but they weren't a patch on what we have now. B.
