Ever wonder how to replace the floor of your tired and creaking travel trailer? If you’ve been searching for a travel trailer floor replacement guide, then you’ve come to the right place!
You should be able to replace the subfloor with relative ease. This blog post will explain all the information you need to know, including what to look for, what kind of materials to use, and how to get the job done.
Tools You Need
The tools you’ll need to replace the subflooring are pretty basic, but you will need them. If you have the tools you need, you can rent them through any fine hardware or home improvement store.
NOTE: Always use proper safety equipment such as goggles, hearing protection and gloves.
- Circular Saw
- Jigsaw, drill
- Tape measure
- Replacement flooring/screws
Preparing the Subfloor
The subfloor of your travel trailer is usually a large piece of plywood. For floor replacement, you can also use sections of plywood if you add rubber sealing between the sections. You don’t want the subfloor to be glued and nailed down.
If you’ve never replaced a floor on a travel trailer before, you should know that a new floor has to be cut out. With this in mind, the first thing you should do when replacing a travel trailer floor is to measure its entire length.
Preparing the Underlayment
Once you have decided what kind of floor you want to replace, you will want to remove the existing flooring and any subfloor that is under it. If you decide to do this yourself, take care to remove the subflooring and thoroughly clean it with either water or detergent.
Installation of the Flooring in the Slide Out
There are several steps that you need to take for the installation of the subfloor in the slideout. The subfloor can be installed right in the trailer.
Remove the original floor. Before removing the old subfloor you should install a support base. It can be a rubber ring to help support the flooring.
Also Read: How To Install Laminate Flooring in an R.V. With Slide Outs?
A rubber ring is easier to install and less likely to split. You should be able to find this type of support base at your local home improvement store.
While removing the old subfloor make sure that any insulation is removed and replaced as well. This will prevent mold from forming under the flooring.
How To Remove the Old Floor
Follow these steps to remove the old subfloor:
- Most subflooring should come up quite easily. Go ahead and lift it up and remove it from the trailer.
- After lifting up the old flooring , remove any loose subfloor material that has fallen into the trailer.
- Dig around the corners of the trailer floor to see if there is any loose subfloor material.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Your Old Motorhome?
Do not use any sledgehammer-type tools or metal saws that are made to saw through metals or rebar. The trailer’s power and water connections will be destroyed when these tools are used.
How To Prepare the Trailer for the New Subfloor
For a travel trailer or pop-up trailer, removing the old flooring is the first step. This removes the original flooring (aka subfloor) and creates a clear area in which you can work on the new flooring material.
After cleaning the floor area, inspect it thoroughly. If the old floor was glued down, you’ll need to consider spraying down glue remover to get rid of any old material.
How To Install the New Subfloor
- Cut out and lay down your flooring insulation first.
- Add additional padding as needed.
- It’s recommended to add a thin layer of rubber sealant around all the edges and corners.
- Next lay out and make sure your flooring fits properly before you start screwing everything down.
- Use screws or other hardware to secure the flooring. Walk on the flooring to ensure there’s no creaking or unnecessary flexing. If needed, add more screws or hardware.
- Add whatever floor covering you prefer and that’s it.
What Kind of Plywood Do You Use for Camper Floors?
What kind of plywood do you use for camper floors? It’s really not difficult to determine what type of subfloor you should use for your travel trailer. We recommend pressure-treated and waterproof/sealed plywood at least 1 inch thick.
Pressure-treated lumber has the added benefit of keeping wood-eating pests away. You can find good-quality plywood at most hardware and DIY stores. You can also order plywood on the internet.
How Thick Should a Trailer Floor Be?
How thick should a trailer floor be? That depends on how much support or structure the bottom of the trailer has. Normally your subfloor should be one inch thick or less.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading through our step-by-step guide on how to replace the subfloor in a travel trailer. Always remember by planning out your floor plan, you’ll be able to easily replace your subfloor when you need to. This will save you a lot of time and effort.