Annexe Flooring CGear Matting??

[mark&courtney]

What does everyone use for annexe flooring on longer stays? We used to use the foam mats that lock together over a tarp, but they are a pain.
I thought the Cgear matting looked great, especially the dirt falling through, but have been told it might be slippery? Has anyone used it?
Need to get something sorted before Christmas so any suggestions about what works for you guys would be great.

 

[Smergen]

We have a CGear mat and it's brilliant. I was really apprehensive about spending that kind of coin on a piece of "shade cloth" but the reviews eventually won me over. And we haven't looked back. Sand and dry dirt simply fall through it and the bigger stuff (clumps, leaves, twigs, etc) just sit on the top and you sweep it off.

Never found it slippery as such, but we've never put it down over concrete. We also don't have an annexe, so it's under the awning or not at all.

We also use a couple of foam tiles around the door (sometimes just on top, sometime below) which help cushion the step when you get out of the van.

For me it's a quality bit of kit, and we've had a solid year of camping and I'm yet to see one bit of frayed edge, broken thread or unhappy wife.

 

[mark&courtney]

We have a CGear mat and it's brilliant. I was really apprehensive about spending that kind of coin on a piece of "shade cloth" but the reviews eventually won me over. And we haven't looked back. Sand and dry dirt simply fall through it and the bigger stuff (clumps, leaves, twigs, etc) just sit on the top and you sweep it off.

Never found it slippery as such, but we've never put it down over concrete. We also don't have an annexe, so it's under the awning or not at all.

We also use a couple of foam tiles around the door (sometimes just on top, sometime below) which help cushion the step when you get out of the van.

For me it's a quality bit of kit, and we've had a solid year of camping and I'm yet to see one bit of frayed edge, broken thread or unhappy wife.

Thanks heaps Smergen that's what I wanted to hear! How does it go when it rains do you know, does mud seep up through it or keep it out?

 

[Smergen]

It certainly gets wet, and damp, but drains like any other piece of shade cloth. Another reason for the foam mats at the door. Mud might come up through as people walk on it, but once dry a brush off should see it gone. The trouble might be though as it's quite heavy material, we've noticed that often moisture is trapped underneath. It doesn't come through it to the surface, but if you lay it on wet ground, it might take a while for it to dry perhaps?

Really depends on how you use it. Under an annexe you'd be more than fine I suspect. I'm pretty cautious with it though, so careful not to drag chairs, tables and the like across it. Certainly wouldn't entertain pegs through it! But in the sun, it is happily used as a play mat for the kids with cars and cards and whatever else.

You can see it in a couple of pics in this post:
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/lang-lang-caravan-park.6735/

 

[mark&courtney]

It certainly gets wet, and damp, but drains like any other piece of shade cloth. Another reason for the foam mats at the door. Mud might come up through as people walk on it, but once dry a brush off should see it gone. The trouble might be though as it's quite heavy material, we've noticed that often moisture is trapped underneath. It doesn't come through it to the surface, but if you lay it on wet ground, it might take a while for it to dry perhaps?

Really depends on how you use it. Under an annexe you'd be more than fine I suspect. I'm pretty cautious with it though, so careful not to drag chairs, tables and the like across it. Certainly wouldn't entertain pegs through it! But in the sun, it is happily used as a play mat for the kids with cars and cards and whatever else.

You can see it in a couple of pics in this post:
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/lang-lang-caravan-park.6735/

Thanks all great info really helps, I think it sounds like a goer.

 

[Tone]

Agree with @Smergen wasnt sure about spending that much on shade cloth but the saying goes "buy it right buy it once". We love ours.

 

[achjimmy]

Other cgear fan here . Have two mats and although it's pricey it's well finished of with seams and eyelets.

 

[Crusty181]

Like the consensus I borked at the price of the Cgear mat, but we already had the rubberised mating anyway. I made my shade mesh privacy screens for the last Expanda and had some shade mesh left over, so made up a 1.8mx1.2m of doubled over shade mesh which is fundamentally Cgear matting.

That little experiment with the offcuts proved to be worth the effort, and worth its weight in gold. We've been using it for overnighters, and dirty sites for years. Nice to have a little one so I don't have to jerk around with the full mat size. Longer stays, we used the rubberised mat. But as per your original question the shade mesh mat when wet could be quite slippery. Not all the time, and certainly not if your mindful of it. It slippery when you've been using it for a few years without any rain .... and then one day it gets wet. Ive not gone ar$e over, so its not that bad, just got a couple of frights.

Due to the ongoing success of the off cut experiment we recently purchased a massive full annex plus some, g.e.n.u.i.n.e Cgear mat, but haven't used it as yet. I can say that although its pretty expensive for what described as shade mesh ...... its certainly not shade mesh, its clearly different. The quality of the mesh is noticeably better than shade mesh. We still plan to use the offcuts mat for overnighters etc, and time will tell if I find the Cgear mat slippery.

 

[davemc]

we find ours a little slippery if we do not peg it down. Not sure if others find the same?

 

[bigcol]

we find ours a little slippery if we do not peg it down. Not sure if others find the same?

slippery as in moves - yes, I have had that happen with mine
slippery as in falling or near miss........ nope never had that yet

I've had my CGear mat for close on 8 years - brought it for the Flamingo, and it transitioned to the Expanda in 2013
mine is a tad too small.......... as it was for the Flamingo

but

I love it to death

I also have a recycled rubber mat - very nice, dont mind it
but its too big for the annex

 

[Dobbie]

We use the rubberised matting...been great for over 20 years...can't believe I'm saying that!

Also use the click in stuff for in front of steps.

No probs.

 

[dagree]

Another vote for cgear here..... Just make sure it is pegged down at least in 4 corners depending on the terrain to stop it moving.
And if using inside an annexe make sure it fits inside as you don't want to have to knock pegs through the fabric (Going by what I've been told) Peg holes equal fraying equals big holes
Only used once in wet weather and had no issues.

 

[Colsar]

use cgear , wouldnt use anything else, slippery , can be if you dont stretch it out and peg it tight., otherwise all good

 

[relgate]

Cgear for us. Love it. I am less worried about holes and have put pegs through on many occasions. No problems with fraying.

 

[NoWorries]

Peg holes equal fraying equals big holes

Heat up the peg ends (only if they are metal) over the stove first then push them through, it will fuse the hole and no more fraying.

I have the CGear mat as well but have not used it yet so can't comment on how fantastic it is.

 

[mark&courtney]

Does anyone use a cgear mat inside a full annexe? If so how do you peg it in regards to the flaps that fold under the flooring on the annex?? Anyone have pictures?? Not sure it's going to work with our Australiawide Annex , and don't know what that solution is.

 

[bigcol]

Does anyone use a cgear mat inside a full annexe? If so how do you peg it in regards to the flaps that fold under the flooring on the annex?? Anyone have pictures?? Not sure it's going to work with our Australiawide Annex , and don't know what that solution is.

only the once when we stayed at Manjimup
pegged out the mat, then put the annex up (without pegging it down

worked fine in the rain

no piccies sorry..........