Which direction?

[crunch27]

We are thinking of removing the carpet in our 1977 24' Argosy trailer (3rd owner). I think the sub-floor is in pretty good shape. I will probably replace the water lines also to new PEX piping.

I am still looking at different floor types, but am leaning towards some sort of free floating interlocking plank flooring. The pictures that everyone has been posting of their new flooring, shows the planks going "down" the trailer, front to back.

Has anyone installed their planks across their trailers? Wouldn't that minimize the contractions and expansions going across the aisle at 3' more so, than going length wise at 20'?

Just wondering.

Thanks for your comments.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by crunch27

Has anyone installed their planks across their trailers? Wouldn't that minimize the contractions and expansions going across the aisle at 3' more so, than going length wise at 20'?

Expansion and contraction due to temperature changes is not the only factors to consider. There is also flex of the trailer frame during towing, and that is a much more severe condition than mere temperature changes. If you plank crossways as you suggest, you have a lot of seams that will be opening and closing with every bump and pothole.

Plus, wood bends more easily with the grain than across the grain. If you try to bend it cross-grain, it splits.

Finally, if you plank crossways, you expose a lot more end grain because you've got over 40 feet of end grain (two sides at about 20 feet of length each) versus a mere 16 feet of end grain (front and rear) if you go lengthwise. Since the end grain is where you get the most water penetration into the wood, the planking will rot more quickly.

[kosullivan]

I put down vinyl bamboo flooring from Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMA...7113/100595234 It looks great and is water resistant so you don't have to worry about moisture. It is also easy to cut.

[kosullivan]

here is a pic

[dennis3751]

I put our Armstrong 3/8" thick click- lock flooring in "width wise". It's been in for over 10 years and no separation even after going through many Wisconsin winters. I did make sure the ends were about 1/4" from the wall and put a 1/4" spacer tube in to minimize movement.

Dennis