What do you put on the floor?

[Brad]

We are out and about this weekend again and have ended up in a site that is soooo muddy.
The steps to the van are covered in mud, the mat at the door is now the colour of mud.
It is impossible to not walk mud inside the van. Do other members have a floor runner or something inside the van? I am interested in what people have found works well on the floor.

 

[chartrock]

Here is what we use on the floor. I just take it out, (it's in 3 pieces) and hit it with the Gerni and it comes up clean as a whistle.
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/showthread.php/1390-20-62-3-Ob-now-delivered/page4?highlight=carpet

 

[BUSH PALACE]

I know this can be a difficult one when kids are involved we try and leave the muddy shoes outside and have carpet runners inside good insulator as well ...

 

[Xpandafan]

Although it seems counter intuitive, carpet again. Shoes go in lidded plastic crate outside. Annexe max or even those interlinking rubber mats at door way help. Slip-on footwear like Crocs or imitations can be useful.

 

[brookes2622]

Like our house shoes are banned in the van and the kids are so used to it now they don't even think twice. I will be carpeting the van with carpet tiles like the old van. Works perfect.

 

[achjimmy]

I looked at the rubber back carpet Clark's had and it looked perfect (like bath mat material on a roll) But a friend used something simalar on there dove and the rubber backing marked the floor after a while? Brooksy how long have you used the tiles, any marks to date? I am keen to sort this out because even in hot weather near the beach i perfer carpet as I can't stand feeling sand between feet and floor.

 

[brookes2622]

I used the same rubber backed carpet first and had the same problem as your friend, marking the vinyl floor which it why I changed to tiles. I used light chocolate brown and they look good. Will post some pic's when I get a chance. I have never had to replace them but they are short pile so can be swept with a stiff broom day to day and vacuumed upon return or in car lovers. Fairly easy to install but I am no carpet layer so not perfect. Overall I am happy.

 

[Bank of Dad]

We make the kids clean the van out if they mess it up.

Works really well!

 

[leesy]

Plastic tub under the van for dirty and or sandy shoes and we have some cheapo slip on slippies from Sams discount warehouse that we use inside the van, the carpet sounds interesting, i suppose it would keep the van warmer too?

 

[Xpandafan]

Plastic tub under the van for dirty and or sandy shoes and we have some cheapo slip on slippies from Sams discount warehouse that we use inside the van, the carpet sounds interesting, i suppose it would keep the van warmer too?

Yes Paul, warmer and quieter. Also avoids the stickiness and grittiness in Summer – we spend 6 weeks at beach. We use carpet with decent pile 80/20 wool/synthetic but buy offcuts from big carpet place. Get some funny looks, but gradually convert folk. We've always gone for lighter colours as well. Keeps van looking spacious and bright (this was originally based on experience with our first flat over 40 years ago – we got chocolate brown carpet and every crumb and flake of dandruff stood out like the proverbial). Coarse brush and a dust pan once a day keeps all shipshape.

 

[leesy]

Hmmm a consideration for us, we spend alot of time in the high country and it gets cold, very cold in the winter.
The things you learn in this forum!!
thanks

 

[brookes2622]

So this thread inspired me to go and carpet the new van. There were 3 outcomes of this process:

1. I need to buy another box of carpet tiles.
2. The floor is an odd shape.
3. The colour of the tiles is "Camel" ???

So this week I'll grab another box and finish the floor next weekend (hopefully) and I'll try to grab some pictures.

 

[Burnsy]

Sounds good brookes, make sure they're not rubber backed.....could mark the lino after a while. Will be good to see the end result!

Cheers.

 

[achjimmy]

I found this at Bunnings yesterday. it is rubber backed but not the same sort of clingy rubber that the bath mats use (that type seems to breakdown)

Its called Hobnail carpet and feels like it would be a good insulator.

 

[brookes2622]

OK so though I'd throw some pictures up so you get an idea of what it will look like. I have not finished the lay as you will see but I want to put the tiles down to get an idea where the joins are and arrange the tiles to a) keep them as big as possible (least cutting) and b) not have joins where people might twist on there toes and the like. Anyhow these ones are "camel" from Bunnings and cost $99 for a box of 20 that I think would do the floor with some spare. So here goes:

 

[leesy]

I found this at Bunnings yesterday. it is rubber backed but not the same sort of clingy rubber that the bath mats use (that type seems to breakdown)

Its called Hobnail carpet and feels like it would be a good insulator.

View attachment 9211

I would be interested to see what that looks like layed, and what the cost worked out to be.
Cheers

 

[Angus]

Nice choice of carpet tiles brookes i done mine a few weeks ago heaps easier to lay down and cut smaller tiles than one big piece of carpet and the backing on the tiles is a lot better than the marine carpet
.

 

[Holden_man]

Hey angus,
The flooring looks great, where did you get the carpet tiles from? I guess it's early days for you but any thoughts on potential marking the lino from the backing?

thx

 

[Angus]

Got them from bunnings i did think about them marking the floor and the backing deteriorating thats why i went with the carpet tiles the backing is a lot more hard wearing than the marine carpet.

 

[Xpandafan]

The carpet protects the original floor covering. Take it out when you trade up – and it can really add to re-sale value, if you've looked after the rest of your van, of course. We've done it twice now.