What Material for Floor?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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What Material for Floor?
So over the summer I plan on completely redoing the interior of my 78 F100.
Obviously that will include the floors. I'll be stripping the currently floor cover off, treating the rust then painting it. I'm unsure of what to use as a floot mat/cover though. I dont want carpet, it gets dirty too easily. What other alternatives are there? I was thinking some kind of rubber floor or something that cleans easy and isn't insanely expensive. Ideas?
Obviously that will include the floors. I'll be stripping the currently floor cover off, treating the rust then painting it. I'm unsure of what to use as a floot mat/cover though. I dont want carpet, it gets dirty too easily. What other alternatives are there? I was thinking some kind of rubber floor or something that cleans easy and isn't insanely expensive. Ideas?
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
It will come down to the final appearance. Fiberglass, Vinyl floor mat from Nifty products or the like, Sand/paint/wax, spray on bed liners, vinyl/plastic diamond plate, really anything would work. You could even use lenolium if you had too.
Another thing to consider is the amount of noise that carpets reduce. They have a great sound deadening quality. Vinyl flooring should come pretty close or better, spray on bedliner should be pretty good as well, but anything thin will transfer a lot of road noise into the cab.
Another thing to consider is the amount of noise that carpets reduce. They have a great sound deadening quality. Vinyl flooring should come pretty close or better, spray on bedliner should be pretty good as well, but anything thin will transfer a lot of road noise into the cab.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Hedgesville WV
Most of this sites sponsors have rubber mats for decent prices. I had black carpet in my '78 and thought I'd switch to black rubber because it would be easier to clean but that was a mistake. The carpet was in excellent shape when I got rid of it (it was about 5 years old) and it only took about 2 years for the rubber to fade and wear and look like crap. The rubber was thick stuff from a real good company but I'm going back to carpet
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
The vinyl may not have faded, but the pores filled with lighter colored trash. All of the vinyl floor replacements I have used were fairly porous. A tooth brush with your favorite solvent would probably clean it up, but it is a bit of work. In the end, a stain resistant carpet is going to be a little less up keep.
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Junior User
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Really, see I always thought a carpet would be tougher to clean.. I guess if you have carpet and floor mats it would be better?
It's got this awful stuff in now, not sure what it is.. It's like rubber/vinyl/spray on. lol, all I know is it's cracking, brittle and glued on so it's a pain to remove. I'm not too concerned about deadening sound, like I said, It's not carpet in now and I dont mind the noise.
It's got this awful stuff in now, not sure what it is.. It's like rubber/vinyl/spray on. lol, all I know is it's cracking, brittle and glued on so it's a pain to remove. I'm not too concerned about deadening sound, like I said, It's not carpet in now and I dont mind the noise.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
Rubberized floor mats over carpet are pretty easy to keep decent. Hose off the mats and vacuum the carpet. Floor mats are usually less porous than vinyl floor replacements, so they come clean a little quicker. With today better synthetic carpets, they don't stain very easily.
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Junior User
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Thanks, i'll take a look at carpets.. I'm just nervous about muddy boots and carpets, figured something like Vinyl would be easier.
I started peeling off some of the current flooring and i'm VERY pleased to say that there is very little rust on my floor pan. A bit of surface rust but nothing serious. Woo hoo!
I started peeling off some of the current flooring and i'm VERY pleased to say that there is very little rust on my floor pan. A bit of surface rust but nothing serious. Woo hoo!
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
If your floor mats cover up where you put your feet, and possibly up to the door sil, then there isn't much exposed carpet where you will be putting muddy boots. If you seal up the metal, and put in a drain, there isn't much reason you couldn't hose out the carpet just as easy as the vinyl.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
I watched them do it on top gear when they went to Africa. They had their guide put a single drain in the floor board with his rifle. The water not only drained out the floor, but the percussion blew water out the door.