Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 10:51 am
Crazy mods
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 9:38 am
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
anchoring a subfloor in a van
#735040 April 13th 2018 7:38 pm
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 32
1
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
1
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
1993chevyg20 #735053 April 13th 2018 8:40 pm
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 46
pooh-bah
Offline
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.


2005 E350 Turbo Diesel
Why is it that when I press 1 for English, I still can not understand the person on the other end????
Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van
1993chevyg20 #735127 April 15th 2018 1:43 pm
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 32
1
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
1
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
1993chevyg20 #735150 April 16th 2018 8:26 am
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 19
old hand
Offline
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?


[Linked Image]
Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van
1993chevyg20 #735152 April 16th 2018 8:50 am
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,855
Likes: 234
carpal tunnel
Offline
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.... smile
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
CatFish #736111 May 08th 2018 3:24 pm
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 32
1
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
1
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 32
Thanks guys

Re: anchoring a subfloor in a van
1993chevyg20 #736127 May 09th 2018 12:52 pm
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
U
member
Offline
member
U
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
1993chevyg20 #736175 May 10th 2018 8:05 pm
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,855
Likes: 234
carpal tunnel
Offline
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)

[Linked Image]

Helps to give it a more solid feeling with a lighter weight subfloor.

Last edited by CatFish; May 10th 2018 8:12 pm.
1 member likes this: Ballzy

Moderated by  Astro 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
1 members (MufflerMan Mike), 13 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 130
frscke1 28
CatFish 25
Wedgy 21
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,747
Posts537,910
Members12,724
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4