How do You Protect a Vehicle Floor?
Installing a protective flooring option made of rubber or PVC is an ideal way to protect a vehicle floor. It is important to install trailer mats or floor mats for vans to your vehicle’s floor surface to prevent any unwanted damage such as dents or abrasions from large objects such as livestock or equipment. Trailers are used for transporting heavier goods whereas vans transport lighter goods which is why Rubber-Cal offers a line of, both, rubber and PVC trailer mats and floor mats for vans for any vehicle flooring needs. Both materials are the ideal flooring choice for both vans and trailers on the move as they both have a high degree of tensile strength. PVC options offer additional grease and chemical resistance but, offer fewer protective qualities which makes it better suited for vans carrying lighter goods whereas, rubber options offer thicknesses better suited for trailers carrying heavier goods such as livestock and automobiles.
What is the Best Flooring for a Trailer?
Rubber trailer flooring is the best flooring option for your trailer floor due to rubber’s natural durability, traction and anti-slip characteristics. Rubber-Cal offers trailer flooring in three different rubber materials: recycled rubber, reclaimed rubber and SBR. Each rubber material comes with its own set of unique characteristics ranging from slip resistance to the enhanced tensile strength of the synthetic SBR variation. SBR, recycled rubber and reclaimed rubber trailer flooring are all extremely durable as well as slip-resistant to ensure the items inside the moving vehicle stay in place to avoid damage.
Both recycled rubber and reclaimed rubber are made from repurposed vehicle tire rubber. Recycled rubber is made up of repurposed vehicle tire rubber that is ground into crumbs and mixed in with a binder to form a larger sheet of rubber. This creates a rough surface texture that provides extra slip-resistance to rubber’s already naturally high coefficient of friction. Reclaimed rubber is made from the same materials as recycled rubber but is produced through a process called vulcanization. By heating them up with sulfur, this process melds pieces of scrap vehicle tire rubber together to form a more solid piece of rubber than recycled rubber. This creates a more solid finish than recycled rubber that prevents moisture from permeating through the material no matter how long it sits on the surface. The moisture-resisting qualities of rubber offers excellent slip-resistance that is enhanced by recycled rubber’s rough surface texture.
To be more specific, SBR is also a type of synthetic rubber material found in the composition of rubber tires to enhance their resilience and strength. Some of the key features offered by SBR are “abrasion-resistance, good impact strength, good resilience and high tensile strength”. This, in turn, gives recycled and reclaimed rubbers some of the same resilience and strengths of SBR since they are made of repurposed vehicle tires. This allows rubber trailer flooring to be used for the most abrasive applications including livestock, automobile and furniture transportation.
How Thick Should a Trailer Floor Be?
Trailer flooring should be no thinner than 3mm, or 0.12 inches, because they are used for protective purposes. We suggest using materials thicker than 3/8”-inch or thicker for livestock and heavy equipment, while thinner materials can be used if you are not planning on storing abrasive materials on the surface of your floors. The gauge thickness of the rubber adds to the natural protection provided by rubber’s elasticity. Since vans are utilized for transporting lighter goods than trailers, we offer a line of rubber flooring for vans and trailers in gauge thicknesses ranging from as thin as 0.12 inches for lighter van transportations to as thick as 3/8 of an inch for heavier trailer transportations. The level of wear and tear and the weight of whatever is in your vehicle should determine what gauge of thickness you need for your van or trailer floor. Thinner flooring options are generally used in vans because they often do not transport heavy or abrasive goods.
1. Why Install Rubber Flooring for Vans and Trailers?
Floor mats for vans and trailers should be installed for vehicle floor protection, moisture-resistance and traction-producing qualities. Rubber’s natural elasticity allows it to protect the surface of the original flooring while its natural moisture-resistance provides traction and a sturdy grip for items being transported in the vehicle. Additionally, SBR and recycled/reclaimed rubber flooring can be used in highly abrasive conditions without compromising the integrity of the material and are made to last. These features of van and trailer mats are ideal for moving vehicles that are transporting large items or animals as they are durable enough to protect the flooring underneath as well as slip-resistant enough to keep animals safe and items firmly planted in place.
1(a). Vehicle Floor Protection
The most common reason people choose to purchase van or trailer mats is to protect the existing surface of their vehicle’s flooring. This is especially important for trailers that are carrying animals such as horses and cows or trailers that are transporting heavy objects like furniture or other vehicles. Trailer beds often come with bare flooring without any kind of protective trailer mats which is not suitable for transporting livestock or other heavy objects. Whether the unprotected trailer bed has livestock or classic cars on it, the bare surfaces are vulnerable to abrasions and other physical damage such as dents and cracks. Damage like that can compromise the safety and functionality of the trailer as well as pricey to repair. Rubber is particularly great for use as livestock trailer flooring because it is a solid barrier against abrasive objects like animal hooves. This durable protection offered by rubber trailer flooring also extends to non-physical sources of damage. When you are carrying heavy loads, whether it be from animals or from furniture and equipment, you will also need a van or trailer flooring that prevents wear. Rubber flooring for trailers offers a high level of resistance to wear from substantial weights for a longer-lasting flooring option.
1(b). Moisture-Resistance
Rubber trailer mats are moisture-resistant and will provide a sturdy grip for items even when exposed to moisture. Not only can moisture be a hazard for slip and fall accidents but, moisture can also damage the flooring itself through water damage and staining. For example, in the business of animal transportation, moisture in the form of animal waste is often present. In the case of vehicle trailers, oil, grease and other miscellaneous fluids may leak onto the trailer’s exposed surfaces. Rubber repels moisture; therefore, rubber trailer flooring will not allow such organisms to grow on it. Moisture can often create stains that will leave a permanent mark but, in more serious cases, mold and mildew can develop and may cause health problems for sensitive individuals. Not only do the rubber trailer mats prevent moisture related damage, they also benefit the user by being very easy to clean with water.
1(c). Traction
Rubber comes with a naturally high coefficient of friction which allows it to provide excellent traction even when moisture is present on its surface. This trait gives feet and other objects more grip and stability to help prevent injury and damage. Rubber flooring for vans and trailers will help prevent both people and animals from slipping or sliding while the vehicle is in motion. This enhanced traction also applies to situations where you are transporting other physical objects like vehicles, furniture, barrels or boxes that contain commercial goods. They are more likely to stay firmly planted on rubber surfaces than other flooring options such as wood or metal. For added traction, some of our trailer mats come with surface textures that are specifically aimed at increasing traction and stability levels.
How Do I Install Van and Trailer Flooring?
Van and trailer flooring can be installed with the aid of double-sided tape or polyurethane glue. By using tape, you allow yourself the ability to secure the trailer mats for everyday use, while retaining the ability to move them around or replace them as you see fit making van and trailer flooring rolls a re-usable and versatile flooring option for your vehicle. Our flooring mats for vans and trailers come in the form of rolls and can be ordered in custom lengths, up to 50 consecutive feet, based on the size considerations of your vehicle. If you need to cut your trailer flooring rolls even further, you can easily do so with a straight edge and utility knife. When you have the right sized trailer mats, you will find that installing them is an easy Do-It-Yourself process that will spare you the cost of hiring extra help. Van flooring will benefit more from a temporary installation with the use of double-sided tape because van flooring is in a fully enclosed space where the flooring needs to be taken out to be cleaned then re-installed. On the other hand, trailer flooring carries heavier objects and can be exposed to open air where it can be hosed down and left to dry. This means it needs to be permanently installed with the use of glue to ensure a sturdy application.
How to Clean and Maintain Rubber Flooring for Vans and Trailers
You may use water and soap to clean and maintain rubber flooring for vans and trailers because of rubber’s non-porous structure and its natural ability to resist the effects of moisture. You can simply wash down your floor mats for vans with water and soap, and when dried, the mats can be slotted back into place. However, trailer flooring that is used to transport livestock and vehicles is often exposed to outside air which allows for the use a hose to clean. Additionally, maintenance is also made simple by the make-up of your rubber vehicle flooring. Since, these mats can be cut to exact sizes to suit your van or trailer, it provides many benefits. It minimizes waste and reduces cost but, also provides a seamless finish. When it comes to floor mats for vans and trailers the fewer seams there are, the less dirt and moisture will be able to seep into the subflooring and the easier it is to maintain.
Whether your vehicle is being used to transport commercial goods or livestock, trailer flooring made of rubber is an essential asset to have in place. The eco-friendly rubber and synthetic rubber trailer mats are made of will help keep surfaces safe from any physical and environmental harm. They perform exceptionally well as livestock trailer flooring as well as anti-slip mats for transporting items in moving vehicles. Additional anti-slip surface textures offer enhanced traction to rubber’s natural abilities so neither you, your animals or any other items being transported will slip or slide around. Protect yourself and your vehicle with our line of affordable and easy-to-install van and trailer flooring.