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bruc · 11-15-2014, 02:42 PM

I am in the process of replacing the carpet and linoleum in my 2007 Bounder 35e with allure vinyl plank flooring. I started tearing out the old carpet and linoleum today and found out that the sub-flooring under the carpeted areas has the carriage bolt heads , that I assume pass down through the frame , sitting higher than the plywood. Where the linoleum was , the heads were counter-sunk and smoothed over with a skim coat of some type of filler. Has anyone else encountered this problem ? I'm not quite sure how to remedy this problem and would greatly appreciate any help someone could share. I'm thinking that now i'll have to add some type of underlayment to compensate. The top of the bolt is less than an eighth of an inch higher. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any help , Bruce.

Davdeb1 · 11-15-2014, 03:08 PM

I did the same in my Holiday Rambler. I only found carriage bolts sticking up where the front seats bolt in. If you are replacing everything maybe another 1/4 in subfloor over everything would help. You will have a more level surface to lay new floor. Just drill holes where the lag bolts are and fill in with putty.

Floor It · 11-15-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruc

I am in the process of replacing the carpet and linoleum in my 2007 Bounder 35e with allure vinyl plank flooring. I started tearing out the old carpet and linoleum today and found out that the sub-flooring under the carpeted areas has the carriage bolt heads , that I assume pass down through the frame , sitting higher than the plywood. Where the linoleum was , the heads were counter-sunk and smoothed over with a skim coat of some type of filler. Has anyone else encountered this problem ? I'm not quite sure how to remedy this problem and would greatly appreciate any help someone could share. I'm thinking that now i'll have to add some type of underlayment to compensate. The top of the bolt is less than an eighth of an inch higher. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any help , Bruce.

Watch out for the slides clearance if you raise the floor level.

rgvtexan · 11-15-2014, 03:14 PM

If only 1/8" can you grind them flat and refill the holes? Depending on the bolt dia., the head may be thick enough. Check out a like bolt at the hardware store.

Pds47 · 11-15-2014, 03:24 PM

x2 pds47

TQ60 · 11-15-2014, 06:57 PM

Grind them off

Go to home depot and get a piece of sheet metal and cut a small hole just larger than the bolt head.

Now drill some 1/8 inch holes near the first one.

Secure metal to floor as a shield with screws through to holes with head in large hole.

If you have portable grinder use it or get cheap one from harbor freight and grind off the head.

Lean the unit and you should be able to get the head just fine and it is domed so you only need to do the top center.

The sheet metal keeps you from taking much wood if you miss.

Once done then get a putty compatable with the wood and glue and fill then sand smooth.

Also note that where wood joins may have ledges due to not perfect material thickness.

An apron plane (small hand size wood plane) works well to smooth those out then putty and sand.

twinboat · 11-15-2014, 07:20 PM

If you grind the heads down, and they are doing any kind of structural support, there is a chance that the thin heads could pop and will pull thru the wood. Then the movement of the wood would ruin the new floor.

If you can pull them out, counter bore the wood and replace them with flat head screws.

Another option would be to tighten them until they pull into the wood.

bandmbrown · 11-16-2014, 07:46 AM

Just for grins I went to the Allure installation instruction to see about recommended sub flooring.......saw this......Allure should not be used in campers or boats.
They say it needs to be in a controlled environment between 55 and 85.
Don't know a thing about this product......just passing on the info.

Ernie Ekberg · 11-16-2014, 02:42 PM

those stove bolts are holding your floor to the steel underneath. If you cut them off, you may disturb the integrity of what they were designed by the manufacturer to do- hold your floor onto the steel I beams.

bamaboy473 · 11-16-2014, 02:50 PM

I completely agree with Ernie. Carriage bolts aren't light-weight fasteners, and are held with nuts on the underside. Finding and removing might be a lot of trouble.

Suggest a sheet of 1/4" lauan with holes drilled where the bolt heads emerge. Slide clearance will probably be OK if you're replacing carpet/pad with a vinyl product.

cimplexsound · 11-19-2014, 01:49 PM

I personally would get a professional opinion on this. Carriage bolts provide structure integrity. They secure the house to the chassis. It's a major safety issue when your driving if the bolts have been compromised. But you can compensate and lay the laminate flooring over the bolts and you'll never miss them.