Installing carpet or vinyl on your RV
Last March I stripped all the carpet out of my 1995 ALPENLITE, western RV 29RK 5th wheel. I asked everyone how to get the old carpet out from under the 14 feet by 42 inch slide out. It was a total head scratcher and did out smart it in the end....with out removing the slide out....which you never want to do..way to heavy. I think the slide outs were built and dropped in place on the inside before being hooked to the slide assembly. 6 inch front trim pieces are screwed and glued....wouldn't come off.
The trick is there is a NOSE piece of wood under the carpet of the slide out. When you remove that wood nose, you can see where the End of the carpet was attached.I used a wide jaw set of VISE GRIPS...and clamped the old carpet there and pried it out. Then when you put the new carpet under the slide out, use a kick stretcher and staple it every 4 inches. Then you put the nosing wood piece on above it, at the nose of the slide out , which covers the area you just stapled to keep the carpet in place. Then I rolled the top slide carpet over the nose an stapled it to the nose. I will only say for myself, when I started this job...I had no idea how I was going to get the old carpet out and the new carpet back under the slide out. And I also used padding except on the edges. I put vinyl in the kitchen and entry way. Took me about 70 hours and $500 for materials. (purchase materials and clean up.) I also used a Narrow stapler Bostich Air nailer. Dont ever try to use a hand stapler...your hands will never take it. I think the whole trailer took about 700 staples. I did the bedroom hall and living room and 14 foot pop out. A 29 ft trailer took about 22 yards it seems as I recall, to keep the seem running the same direction....Your largest challenge will be doing the laundry door in the floor of the hall way. That was like doing a Ribicks Cube making the cuts and having the door seal properly. I have a couple of photos upon request...don't think they sent on IRV?
|