Carpet for the Autotrail?

[IanRJ]

We took the factory carpets up on our last trip, at first the van just felt too hot with them down (Spain) then when we were away in Scotland the dog made a mess every time he came in. So we took them up before they got damaged.

But I hate the feel of a gritty hard floor when in bare feet (which I almost always am in the van) so was looking for something else - easily cleaned and not easily marked, but that we could leave down in the warm weather too, just with a quick hoover couple of times a day (it's not a big area after all).

Saw that 'Lenny' said he had laid gel backed carpets in his GP (gin palace). Sounds good, but after measuring up and looking around its going to be north of £100 to carpet the van with gel backed stuff, and that is the 5mm thin stuff. Sounds like a lot for the size (15m2) and nature of the use especially as I'll likely butcher it when cutting it up, can only get it in 4m widths too, which make the requirement actually 20m2 to fit without joins in the main two areas!

I was planning on fitting it edge to edge rather than copy the factory carpet patterns - that doesn't seem like an option since there will be no bound edges so would probably lift and make a trip hazard, I'm hazardous enough.

Anyone had any experience of successfully replacing their carpets at a reasonable cost? What did you use?

IanRJ

 

[Clickem]

I used some living room carpet off cuts and paid a local carpet company to “whip” them for me, to give a bound edge

 

[Lenny HB]

I used Gel backed in the previous van that cost about£50
The current one I used Marvel Mats from Dunelm Mills they cost about £100. When we get back from a trip I just put them in the washing machine.

 

[IanRJ]

I used Gel backed in the previous van that cost about£50
The current one I used Marvel Mats from Dunelm Mills they cost about £100. When we get back from a trip I just put them in the washing machine.

View attachment 394599

Are they all separate mats Lenny or on a roll?

 

[Lenny HB]

Are they all separate mats Lenny or on a roll?

Separate they do 3 or 4 sizes, you can cut them with scissors, I have 4 pieces through the van and a couple of small pieces on the steps to the beds and another piece between the cab seats, for the cab I used Gel backed.

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[IanRJ]

I see the mats you mean Lenny.

I'm hoping for something a bit more joined up so no lifting edges etc.

 

[Gellyneck]

I fitted carpet tiles in our Savannah.
Bit heavier than the carpet that came out but, as we have a reasonable payload and there's only two of us plus the dog, they work well for us.

 

[Vipar]

Whilst on the subject of mats. In the cab of my Peugeot I have a shaped mat one big one for both passengers and driver, every time I tread on it it slips. Should I change it for a rubber backed one? What have you got?

 

[Gellyneck]

Whilst on the subject of mats. In the cab of my Peugeot I have a shaped mat one big one for both passengers and driver, every time I tread on it it slips. Should I change it for a rubber backed one? What have you got?

Ours (FIAT Ducato) has a couple of twist locks to hold it in place. I guess a Boxer doesn't?
You could maybe try some self adhesive hook and loop tape under it rather than buying a new mat?

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Slippers

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[Minxy]

We have used individual dirt-grabber mats previously (similar to Lenny's) and they don't lift as they have rubberised backs which keep them flat, they come in 2 types: those with a rubber 'frame' round the outside, or those without which is similar to what Lenny has. There are some 'pretend' ones though so make sure you get the ones with cotton tufts and not the nylon/poly ones as they do NOT dry shoes, dog feet etc which to us is the whole point of having them as they stop muck/damp etc being dragged in to the rest of the vehicle.

For our Carthago we had a very, very large dirt-grabber type mats - like the ones you see at the entrance to shops - which hubby cut to fit and then into sections as we have hatches for underfloor locker we need to access - we have a separate one at the the habitation door entrance which sits on top of the fitted ones that we can take out and wash easily if needs be. The fitted ones can also easily be take out and shaken/brushed when away, or to dry them if the dogs' water bowl has been kicked over (it happens at least once every single trip!).

I'm trying to remember where I saw them cheaper and I think it was probably Home Bargains or B&M Stores.

 

[Minxy]

Whilst on the subject of mats. In the cab of my Peugeot I have a shaped mat one big one for both passengers and driver, every time I tread on it it slips. Should I change it for a rubber backed one? What have you got?

You could try attaching some 'rubberised' rug gripper net to the back of them as that should stop them moving. Another option is to fit some press-studs to the cab floor and the mats so you can 'clip' them in place.

Ours (FIAT Ducato) has a couple of twist locks to hold it in place. I guess a Boxer doesn't?
You could maybe try some self adhesive hook and loop tape under it rather than buying a new mat?

Been there, done that, had the sticky mess! Unfortunately as soon as the temperature in the vehicle rises the 'glue' on the back of the 'Velcro' stuff goes tacky and quite happily moves and sticks to anything it wants - it is a pain in the bum to remove the marks it leaves.

 

[Diabalo]

I noticed them in the family bargain shop yesterday funnily enougn, didn't look to see what the tufts where made of tho.

 

[Lenny HB]

I see the mats you mean Lenny.

I'm hoping for something a bit more joined up so no lifting edges etc.

We need to be able to get at the under floor hatches also a big one the length of the van wouldn't go in the washing machine.

 

[Gellyneck]

You could try attaching some 'rubberised' rug gripper net to the back of them as that should stop them moving. Another option is to fit some press-studs to the cab floor and the mats so you can 'clip' them in place.

Been there, done that, had the sticky mess! Unfortunately as soon as the temperature in the vehicle rises the 'glue' on the back of the 'Velcro' stuff goes tacky and quite happily moves and sticks to anything it wants - it is a pain in the bum to remove the marks it leaves.

Guess it depends on the brand \ quality of the stuff you get. Used some for a "repair" on the drop down monitor and it worked well but after a while replaced it with some 3M dual lock tape. We need to be careful opening the monitor 'cause you could end up pulling the panel surround off it's that strong!

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[solaris]

We also use marvel mats from Dunhelm in our Kingham. Butt together, don’t lift at edges. Easy to take out and clean. Or get another set. Nice fitted CREAM carpet from AS in loft

 

[IanRJ]

Thanks all. Great food for thought.

 

[Off da Grid]

Read that as catapult! That would be interesting eh!