rubber vinyl or carpet floors

[Nitis]

Which should I do?

I can go and will call a carpet kit tomorrow and I am doing black so it will be simple either way I go I just want to get something on the floor to help insulate some of the heat and make it look a little nicer too

Vinyl will cost a fair amount more cause it will have to be shipped in oversize and that's pricey

[hugger6933]

It sure is nice to be able to take a damp sponge and wipe out the floorboard of your truck. Most put the carpet in but you can get enough underlayment to keep down the sound don't forget your doors and the roof as your doing this it will help the whole deal, and give it more of a late model sound more firm and solid. Jim

[In The Ten Ring]

I think it depends on how you intend to use your truck. I plan to go back with as close to what mat came out of mine as I can....but I intend to use my truck for some basic hauling, hunting, etc. Personally, I am a bit upset that one cannot buy a "work truck" anymore. All new trucks are automatics, AC, and carpet.

But, whatever you want, I hope it works out to perfection.

[69chevytrucker]

I sprayed mine with bed liner both under floor and on floor really thick looks not bad and only cost a hundred bucks

[Keith Seymore]

I love my vinyl flooring. My family used to order all our pickups (like my '87)with vinyl flooring for easy cleanup.

I like it so well, in fact, that I pulled the carpet out of my '97 Suburban and put a vinyl floor in that, too.

K

[flykelley]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I love my vinyl flooring. My family used to order all our pickups (like my '87)with vinyl flooring for easy cleanup.

I like it so well, in fact, that I pulled the carpet out of my '97 Suburban and put a vinyl floor in that, too.

K

Nice looking restoration from what I can see. I always like vinyl mats for a DD or a work truck. Love my 05 2500HD, its loaded with carpet myself vinyl would have been a better choice but I understand most people want carpet.


Mike

[leftybass209]

I'm all for rubber mat in my truck as well. My issue comes in longevity of carpet vs. rubber. I know they can both last a very long time, but eventually carpet fibers break down, and rubber dries out. I'm curious as to how long the rubber (and what companies produce the best) will last before cracking. Best of luck with your decision!

[Nitis]

Looks like vinyl is going to win out. I can get one shipped for 170-180

Now for insulation any suggestions?

[leftybass209]

Just curious, what brand are you going with? Can't help on insulation except to say, I have NOT noticed a difference using the cheap Lowes/Home Depot peel and seal stuff. Other people swear by it but I couldn't tell a difference covering behind my in-cab tank, or inside my drivers door, so I stopped and have yet to search for a new solution.

[Nitis]

Everything I've seen comes from ACC.

[530FF]

My vote for the vinyl flooring , my 68 has original vinyl flooring and still looks great and clean up easy

[RichardJ]

One thing to remember is that the reason these old '60s cars and trucks have rusted out floors is because the the rubber mats don't breathe. Water from your boots finds its way underneath the mat and stays there.

[boynton]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

One thing to remember is that the reason these old '60s cars and trucks have rusted out floors is because the the rubber mats don't breathe. Water from your boots finds its way underneath the mat and stays there.

2nd on this! my '70 that had a rubber mat floor was super rusted (Texas truck its whole life) The front fenders and bed were completely solid but the edges of the floor were completely rusted all the way through the cab mounts. Again it is personal preferance, but I have carpet in both of mine now.

As far as insulation I have Dyno Mat and like it. Others have used Hush Mat and said it is just as effective. Dyno Mat is good but expensive...just my 2 pennies

[In The Ten Ring]

You guys may be onto something with that "water trapped by mat" thinking. Since I am going back to the rubber mat I may need to rethink things.

[sboris]

I'm still going for purpose. I like the rubber mats, have one in my 05 too. Love it.
You could be right about the not breathing of the mat, but I'm not worried about a couple little droplets that make their way to the edge from my boots. More so about the weatherstripping, gas tank grommet, windshield, antenna things like that, that blew rust holes everywhere.

[Nitis]

What's the point of having these trucks if you can't use them right?

My plan is to purchase double if not triple on all the replacement parts I buy over the next few years as I begin restoration. So my kids and grand kids will be set for replacement parts to last. That includes replacement rockers and what not

[69chevytrucker]

if your worried about the rust issue use bedliner first then put down the mat if i could figure out how to post a pic off my pc i could show my floor i live in canada lots of snow/rain so i did my floor in bedliner and it will never rust again

[69chevytrucker]

plus if you do bedliner no need for dyna mat to make it quiet

[69chevytrucker]

[IMG][/IMG]

[69chevytrucker]

there i figured it out

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

You guys may be onto something with that "water trapped by mat" thinking. Since I am going back to the rubber mat I may need to rethink things.

Keep in mind my truck is been a daily driver for 28 years (in Michigan and Montana) and the floor is not rusted out...

K

[kowboy63]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

One thing to remember is that the reason these old '60s cars and trucks have rusted out floors is because the the rubber mats don't breathe. Water from your boots finds its way underneath the mat and stays there.

Why would water get through a rubber mat and not carpet?

[69chevytrucker]

Originally Posted by kowboy63

Why would water get through a rubber mat and not carpet?

i think they ment when it went through the carpet it would at least dry out with rubber wouldnt breathe

[kowboy63]

Originally Posted by 69chevytrucker

i think they ment when it went through the carpet it would at least dry out with rubber wouldnt breathe

That makes sense.

[flashed]

I put bedliner in first ,peel and seal from Lowes next ,then the vinyl mat (actually the bodyshop did) and I love it .The truck(72) originally had carpet ,its a frame off restored truck built to drive .