Community Forums

Tuquala · 10-16-2021, 01:39 PM

Like most ORVs, our 280RKS has partial carpet in the living area. It looks like the sections on the main floor are "attached to a thin board, then onto the floor. The carpet on the slide floor is not attached to a board, just the slide floor, and is obviously run under the dinette seat boxes. Carpet under lip of the slide floor might be the more difficult work. Other than matching the vinyl on the main floor and the floor area under the slide edge, should not be much of a big deal, RIGHT!!!???

Mary wants to ditch the carpet, getting old and worn to a small degree. 1 yr old Boxer has a lot to do with that!! Will be returning the trailer home for the winter from our NE WA acreage next week, and will be planning this and other projects.

Any owners ever delved into this project and are familiar with the carpet attachment method?? Any tips would be appreciated before rip and tearing!!!

bneiva · 10-16-2021, 02:37 PM

Yep, after getting several estimates to have someone replace our living and bedroom carpets, I decided that it was time to learn how to do this myself - so I did!

So, you are right - it isn't a big deal at all! I would encourage you to go to your local Harbor Freight and buy that $49.00 stretcher and a good stapler. I got a good deal through Amazon for a nice electric one.

As for the slide floor: run the carpet down the vertical section , staple it in place and cut the excess. you really do not want to wrap it under the slide floor.

And don't think it a big deal about the 1/4 inch panel your existing carpet is attached to. Some manufactures install carpets like this somewhere else in the plant and bring the assembly to the coach during a set point while the coach is on the line. It just saves time...

Lastly, don't take shortcuts! You will want to remove all furniture beforehand! Yes, it can be a pain but the end product will be well worth it.

Bill
03 American Tradition

Highway 4x4 · 10-16-2021, 04:05 PM

I have thought of upgrading the quality on mine. Seems that the slide rides on it. Replacing the carpet under the slide looks like a real pain. Removing the slide would be a bigger pain. Perhaps a good subject at the rally.

bneiva · 10-16-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highway 4x4

I have thought of upgrading the quality on mine. Seems that the slide rides on it. Replacing the carpet under the slide looks like a real pain. Removing the slide would be a bigger pain. Perhaps a good subject at the rally.

Again, no big deal... with the slide "mostly" extended, get a second person to push out on the top of the slide. You will have room to staple. I was surprised how easy it was.

As one of my lessons learned; staple under slide, then stretch to the wall opposite the slide.

You can do a mock-up by doing just what I said and throw some staples into your existing carpet. What the heck, what's a few more staples added to the million others the manufacture used!

Bill

Tuquala · 10-16-2021, 05:42 PM

bneiva, not replacing carpet, getting it out!!! Thanks for the info though!!!

Highway, yes, the slide rides on nylon blocks that are attached on top of carpet, so there is some thought needed to keep clearances correct so the slide still operates properly!! Also, those blocks may become visible with the carpet on slide floor removed. So many thoughts to keep me awake!!!

Tuquala · 10-29-2021, 03:39 PM

UPDATE!!!!! -- For the hundreds of members waiting anxiously for this info, here ya go!!

Carpet is stapled (millions!!), folded over at the floor edge, and (believe it!!) laid under the outer wall into a routed (??) edge. There is padding under the carpet, no glues anywhere. Was a slow process to get it out, and cut along wall edge without major damage to wall and floor. Wall edge is now covered by wood batten covered in the wallpaper repair tape which ORV sent me years ago!! There are, of course, many staple holes in the vinyl, but since the staples were very thin, no major visual damage, unless you get on your hands and knees and really look close. Vinyl has some "self healing" properties, so should become almost invisible in the future.

Now just have to figure out how the cut the carpet where it hides under slide inside edge!! Very limited space to use a utility knife, maybe some carpet tool out there to look for or rent!! That will be down the road, more projects before getting down on my arthritic knees and wrists!!!

Will be so much easier to keep clean up in the woods, much less carpet cleaning every so often as in the past. Will be keeping the carpet in the slide, so not all will go away!!