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| | | anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 32 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 32 | anchoring a subfloor in a van
So I pulled up the nasty carpet in my 93 Chevy van. I’m contemplating on what to put down in its place. I plan to start with a plywood subfloor.
Some noise suppression seems ideal. Also, do you anchor the subfloor with sheet metal screws and just hope that you don’t hit something important?
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks | | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,007 Likes: 46 pooh-bah | pooh-bah Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,007 Likes: 46 | In the past we've always used sheet metal screws. You MUST crawl around under the van and take note what is in the way and what you don't want to sink a screw into. Some folks in the past have just sunk screws and "vented" their gas tanks or something else that isn't supposed to have a screw in it (a hot wire that suddenly has a ground via a screw and metal floor is very bad news). Some use a insulator on the floor before putting the subfloor in, some don't, if you are carpeting the floor that will provide pretty good sound deadener. Don't use thin plywood for the subfloor, get some thicker stuff. Remember, you don't have to use a ton of screws to put your floor in, just enough to keep it from bouncing up and slamming down on bumps. In addition to sheet metal screws, you can get away with exterior grade deck screws, most will screw in without drilling a hole first.
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| | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 32 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 32 | Thanks Starlord
I don't think I am going back down with carpet. What are people using for sound dampening? It there something that I can put in between the subfloor and the top flooring? The top flooring will be some fake wood floor that you might put down in the kitchen
Thanks | | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,015 Likes: 19 old hand | old hand Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,015 Likes: 19 | I was considering using "T" bolts through the plywood and using nuts under the floor. Would that not be much more solid of a plan than self-tappers? More serviceable in the future too? | | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,855 Likes: 234 carpal tunnel | carpal tunnel Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,855 Likes: 234 | I used the cabinets (which are anchored to the wall struts) , the bed (also anchored to the wall) and the front console to hold down the sub-floor. I'm not much for drilling holes anywhere in the exterior body work if I can figure a way to avoid it.... I used those anti-fatigue mats cut into strips and laid in the low tracks of the van floor to give a level surface. Thin (cross-hatch) sub-floor, reflectex and then plywood. Finished with carpet with a strong backing (actually a rug cut to fit) so it would lay flat. We camp in ours a lot so we needed something that was "bare-foot" friendly. Our storage area under the bed is a finished panel material to make it easy to vacuum and keep clean. I got pics somewhere....... | | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 32 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Feb 2017 Posts: 32 | | | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 142 Likes: 1 member | member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 142 Likes: 1 | When I put a plywood floor in a full sized van I use "stovebolts" (the ones with the rounded head... that stays flush with the top of the plywood) and drill my holes from the bottom. That way I don't have to worry about drilling into the gas tank or brake/gas lines. a quarter inch bolt is sufficient, but use a big (fender) washer & lock ring on the bottom. You won't have to worry about it pulling out. I also lay a full sheet of plywood in the middle of the van & then cut to shape pieces to fit the sides. Then I use a little fiberglass cloth to join the three pieces into one piece. It's been a while, but I think I was able to get buy just using four or five bolts and it was solid. The wood floor seemed to provide enough insulation for me. | | | Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,855 Likes: 234 carpal tunnel | carpal tunnel Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9,855 Likes: 234 | On the GMC, the last time I redid it, I cut some fatigue mats into strips for lower portions of the "ribs" in the floor. (just found the pics) Helps to give it a more solid feeling with a lighter weight subfloor.
Last edited by CatFish; May 10th 2018 8:12 pm.
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