AdamHale said:
The carpet rots out after a few months but the rubber should last a long time. I think this is simular to what
Vortex is putting in their truck now.
Hi Adam,
I was reading your post above with interest (nice truck by the way). This comment caught my attention however. We have done installs over 10 years ago that still look pristine and they are done with carpet on the top layer.
I have however seen carpet prematurely rot out, however this is due to the machine leaking or generally not taking care of the presentation in the back of the van/truck.
Rubber like you have is good, however I think in time you will find it a little hard to keep clean. Carpet is much easier to keep clean (I think you know a good carpet cleaner
) than the spray/roll on coatings, especially the dark coloured ones like you have in your truck. A lighter coloured coating is easier to keep clean.
Over here we do our PowerClean installs very thoroughly. Starting with a brand new van....
We then coat the base of the floor in an anti-rust treatment.
We then cut to shape and screw a MARINE ply (very important to be a high quality marine ply - very expensive but worth the investment) in the floor to thus stop movement.
We then start insulating the internal areas
And then line the walls with galvanized sheeting that is riveted into place and all the edges are caulked so to make a waterproof membrain.
We then sent it out to get Line-X (not Rhino floor) sprayed on the floor and up the walls to create a dam effect. At this stage we add a colour to it to match the colour of the carpet, or the racks we have made or the machine. Some of our customers leave it at this stage as they like to hose out the van at the end of each day. However, it is still a difficult floor to keep clean because of the coating.
We then go through and insulate and sheet the rest of the walls....
We then carpet over the entire thing as everything is well protected from moisture and corrosion. We then design up the customized racking and water tanks and then send the frames out to get Line-X'd as well to protect them also...
While this installation takes awhile to complete due to the level of workmanship that goes into it, it will also protect the investment our customers have done. The PowerClean machines we bring into Australia are all solid Stainless Steel Frames and Wastetanks, so they are not going to rust out and are going to look good 10 - 15 years down the track. We are just making sure the rest of the van and install also look the same down the track also...
Jim
PowerClean