Community Forums

wildbill001 · 08-22-2012, 09:06 PM

As I am slowly fixing things in our, new to us, '94 Southwind, the wife is looking at the funky blue/teal carpet. Uh oh, she has that look in her eye.

But this time I have to agree with her. That old carpet has got to go.

My question, however, is what do folks do about the engine-cover/doghouse? Mine is covered in carpet as are the walls in the front on the passenger side. I can deal with flat surfaces and put up either vinyl or wood but the doghouse has me stumped.

All thoughts, comments, suggestions welcome.

jimmyjnr · 08-22-2012, 09:51 PM

New carpet , contrast to new flooring or padded vynal to match dash !

wildbill001 · 08-23-2012, 09:20 AM

Hmmmm, padded vinyl sounds "do-able". Not sure I want to match the dash, however. It is pretty faded. On second-thought, maybe I shouldn't mention that to the wife. She would probably suggest I "just re-upholster" the dash too.

jimmyjnr · 08-23-2012, 08:56 PM

My wife tells me I have no taste ( I enjoy scotch!! )
Maybe others could offer more tasteful suggestions

PeterS · 08-24-2012, 08:43 AM

I redid mine in Home Depot industrial carpet. The engine cover, the floors and halfway up the walls. Then I ripped up the main cabin carpet I just put down and put down bamboo. Is that any help? I just wanted to get rid of the pink shag! It's a nasty job and you'll need vice grips for the staples.

wildbill001 · 08-24-2012, 11:18 AM

Yeah that does help. I'm also thinking that if I can get it off the engine cover, paint it but insulate on the underside for heat/cold/noise.

What size/thickness of flooring did you end up using?

Bill W

Senior Chief · 08-24-2012, 10:54 PM

We pulled up all our old carpet, laid laminate vinyl planking throughout the MH up to the cockpit. We replaced the cockpit and doghouse carpeting with new complimentary color carpet & a thicker pad for the sound and heat deadening. Also used a heat/sound deadening self-adhesive stuff on the underside of the fiberglass doghouse, but this has not proved totally successful.

We drove the MH a bit without any carpet in the cockpit, just the bare wood- VERY noisy.

PeterS · 08-25-2012, 02:38 AM

I can't believe I forgot this! I rebuilt my engine cover in 5/8 plywood and made it 1/2 higher so it wouldn't rest on the air filter. I had a layer of tin against the wood then a layer of fiberglass stiff insulation. I covered everything on the cabin floor with auto-fiber insulation, then carpet.

Mduell · 08-28-2012, 07:18 PM

Replaced my doghouse carpet (1989 allegro) with lowes carpeting using a $40 electric staple gun and 1/8" pop rivets....must say looks better than new...worst part was pulling all the old staples...millions of them driven thru the square tubes framing the doghouse.

ga traveler · 08-28-2012, 07:33 PM

I recovered my son- in- laws motorhome. I just pulled off the old carpet. Took a piece of the carpet that we were putting on the floor. I laid the doghouse cover on top of the carpet and cut a piece of carpet slightly larger than the cover. I bought a can of 3M upholstery spray glue. Make sure it is the high tack. (They sell 3 strengths) I glued the flat surfaces first. I then cut the curved areas. Trimmed them where they met and glued them down. I am not at all artistic, but I was amazed at how good it came out.

clyon51 · 08-30-2012, 06:28 AM

When we bought our '99, it was perfect for us. The only problem is the entire interior was blue which the wife hated and be both dispise carpet in a MH. I gutted ever piece of carpet including the doghouse.

We ordered new furniture and also some extra material (ultra leather) to recover some other trim and the dog house.

We bought some batting and put it on about one inch thick. This was for insulation but also to give it a pillow look and covered all the old glue I couldn't get off. We used Allure vinyl flooring on every floor surface in the coach.

Click image for larger version

Name: ForumRunner_20120830_082751.png
Views: 1190
Size: 335.5 KB
ID: 25474

wildbill001 · 08-30-2012, 07:20 AM

Looks good! I read a lot of folks use Allure vinyl flooring. Is it because that brand works best(i.e., holds up well) in a MH or just because it is easy to get?

clyon51 · 08-30-2012, 07:45 AM

After reading about it here, I took a good look at it at HD. It was much easier to install than regular laminate (just a utility knife), it was inexpensive ($400) and we just liked the look.

I had a bad experience with laminate in the past...but was my fault. Seems the stuff I used would absorb water and buckle up if water laid on it. I didn't know that at the time or when I chose Allure. However I'm still very happy with it.

Senior Chief · 08-31-2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildbill001

Looks good! I read a lot of folks use Allure vinyl flooring. Is it because that brand works best(i.e., holds up well) in a MH or just because it is easy to get?

There are other brands of vinyl plank flooring (we used Armstrong Snap-Lock available at Lowe's) but all are an outstanding choice in a motorhome.

Only tool needed is a utility knife and maybe a straightedge. The stuff is "score and snap", easy to work with in small spaces, its (relatively) lightweight, waterproof, very resistant to scratches and gouges, doesn't stain, comfortable on the footsies .

You won't be unhappy if you use it.