Hi All,
First post here. I'm finishing up gutting my 73 ambassador 29', and planning to do a shell on, belly pan on floor replacement.
Before you ask why...
-because the belly pan is in great shape and my new layout will utilize existing gas connections which are also in good shape and intact under the trailer.
-I have no reason to suspect frame rust, as the front and back sections of flooring revealed a frame with original paint on it in most places (except in the back where the rear end separation had occurred. Even so, I believe that I will be able to assess the frame with the floor off from above anyways. So my plan is to move forward with out removing the belly pan unless something reveals itself during floor removal.
-It's nice to insulate from the top, as gravity is working with you.
I've been agonizing over how to replace the floor without getting my hands up under there to hold/ tighten nuts in the C Channel. I'm ok with using self tapping screws for the interior connections to the frame, but absolutely agree with the conventional wisdom that something more substantial should be used for the connection from the C channel, through the plywood. It must be something that cannot back out.
Now for my plan. U-Nuts. Here is the process.
1. Remove floor, clear out channel of all bolts and intrusions.
2. Cut and dry fit new flooring.
3. While new flooring is dry fit, drill 7/16" holes every 6-8" in the C channel...Perhaps just enlarging the existing holes. Holes go through the top of the C channel, though the plywood, and through the bottom of the channel. where they occur, outriggers also receive a hole.
4. Remove flooring and clip on 3/8"
u nuts to the bottom section of the channel OR to the top flange of the outrigger where necessary.
5 Reinstall flooring, ensuring that nothing shifts,and bolt through the holes drilled in step 3.
6. All bolts are self retained (basically like a built in lock washer) and the floor is firmly fixed to the Channel.
Additionally, For the front and back sections where the channel sits on top of the plywood, my rock climbing mind led me to think about
t nuts, which could be installed using the same pre drilling process after dry fitting the flooring.
Images of the concept below. Haven't found anyone else doing this yet, so looking for feedback. Mostly I'm wondering about strength of this system vs a typical 3/8" nut and bolt system.
Thanks!