Heating pad install under the floor vinyl

[NickA]

I'd love to install a couple of these in my trailer...
https://expeditionupfitter.com/produ...-floor-heating

I'm pretty sure it'd be ok to put this under the vinyl, as the power output is pretty low. Ideally I'd put them where the orange rectangles are here...


Is there any way to insert them without ripping out everything to get to the edge of the flooring? Could I perhaps cut the vinyl at the pink locations, remove part of the sofa/bed framing to squeeze it underneath, and then staple the vinyl down again around the cut? Very interested in people's thoughts .

Cheers!
Nick

[tjdonahoe]

Use a throw rug….

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

Use a throw rug….

Agreed or maybe some anti-fatigue foam mats.

When they build Airstreams they put in the flooring then everything else goes in on top of it, I doubt you would be able to sneak them in.

[jondrew55]

I think you’d be opening a can of worms trying to get something under the flooring. I d also be concerned about it eventually discoloring the floor.

[mojo]

And create a lump. The vinyl is cheap and thin.

[NickA]

Yes, there'd definitely be a slight lump on the floor from the thickness of the mat. I don't think discoloration should be an issue as the power levels here are relatively low - around 140W/m is about 1/10th of what bright sunlight gives you. Just enough to make it warm, not hot.

I'm not sure if I want to do it, but is there a reason why cutting the vinyl in a couple of hidden places and then stapling it down again, would be really bad?

[DonRich7878]

Originally Posted by NickA

Yes, there'd definitely be a slight lump on the floor from the thickness of the mat. I don't think discoloration should be an issue as the power levels here are relatively low - around 140W/m is about 1/10th of what bright sunlight gives you. Just enough to make it warm, not hot.

I'm not sure if I want to do it, but is there a reason why cutting the vinyl in a couple of hidden places and then stapling it down again, would be really bad?

[jondrew55]

Originally Posted by mojo

And create a lump. The vinyl is cheap and thin.

It’s thin, but it ain’t cheap

[Sylvain]

I was actually considering doing that too. I don't have the issue of installing at as I am rebuilding my trailer from the ground up, however I am concerned about the interaction with the custom printed vinyl that I want to install on top of it

[NickA]

Are you thinking about the same heating element or a more powerful one, and are you worried about the lack a flat floor or the impact of the heat on the vinyl?

[djarrett]

NickA, You aren't crazy. I've considered the same, however, I'm just looking at a highly recommended 110V pad vs. a much higher cost 12V pad. Given that this would only be used as a comfort, rather than a heat source, for us. Are you considering the 12V vs. 110V for boon-docking and are you considering this as a more primary heat source or....?

There are a few 110V on Amazon that have pretty high marks. If you have an ample battery bank and inverter, these things sip electricity and could be set with a timer to come on in the morning 30 minutes before you wake just to add a level of comfort. From what I've seen from "VAN LIFE" folks, this is a common addition to van builds and are so thin, that they add no floor challenges to floor height.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Anything you do that puts a lump or ridge in the vinyl will create a wear point. It will wear out very quickly at that point. Foot traffic hits the "bump" much harder than a normal piece of floor.

Bob

[Silvr_Bullet]

Sheep lined slippers

[emelaich01]

IF you're really determined to do this, consider removing a patch of the old flooring the same size of the pad(s), provided the pad approximates the thickness of the original flooring. Once done, go over everything with a better quality vinyl.

[BoatNutG2]

We have one down our center aisle on top of the vinyl and use a 2' X 7' throw rug from HomeGoods over it. Works great! We plug into a thermostat/timer. It keeps the floor and the rig toasty.(and feet warm). I would not cut up the vinyl.

[PatLee]

Umm, I think this might not go the way you wanted. What problem are you are trying to solve? If it's cold feet, go to Walmart and buy a pair of those ugly open-toed sandals for $7. Is it to keep the dog warm? There are comfy beds and heating mats for that. Photo below shows the cheapie sandals I mentioned. I have "cold feet syndrome" - (can't remember the name right now) and these and a pair of thick wool socks are a godsend when in the AS on cold mornings.

[GetawA-S]

The wife agrees with the slipper approach.
A mechanical engineer would tell you, “F=MA and you can’t push a rope (mat)”. I would not give you good odds for a successful insertion.
If you really want to heat up those areas of the floor, have you considered a low wattage IR heat lamp?
Good luck on your project.

[djarrett]

I respectfully disagree with those who claim this is a bad idea. In Van Life, this is as common as van builds. In EURO Caravans, this is standard to have heated floors. These heated floor mats are paper thin and also can be cut at strategic places to length (just like LED tape light strips). Additionally, these sip 12V if not left on for long periods of time. Anyway, I'm still debating one in the bed area to simply knock the morning chill. The practical side of me worries that it'll just be another item to maintain (even though they're pretty much maintenance free).

[NickA]

Thanks so much for all the feedback/ideas! My main goal is keeping feet warm when sat at the table for long periods. We work from the trailer for months at a time while enjoying weekends wherever we are, and I spend a lot of time sat there, and it’s hard to keep my feet from getting cold, even with thick socks.

Originally Posted by djarrett

Are you considering the 12V vs. 110V for boon-docking and are you considering this as a more primary heat source or....?.

We do a fair bit of boondocking, so I like the idea of having the option during those times. We have a decent solar setup and inverter conversion efficiencies are quite low, not to mention the static power draw of them being on and unloaded. We try not to leave the inverter on unless we need it or are plugged in. I’m not expecting this to provide that much heat overall. The power level isn’t that high, which makes it usable in boondocking scenarios when there’s sufficient solar in a given day. I just think it’d be great on cold days while working, and also for half an hour first thing in the morning!

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Anything you do that puts a lump or ridge in the vinyl will create a wear point. It will wear out very quickly at that point. Foot traffic hits the "bump" much harder than a normal piece of floor.

I wondered about this too. The mat is less than 1mm thick - do you think this is really going to be enough to be an issue?

Originally Posted by BoatNutG2

We have one down our center aisle on top of the vinyl and use a 2' X 7' throw rug from HomeGoods over it. Works great! We plug into a thermostat/timer. It keeps the floor and the rig toasty.(and feet warm). I would not cut up the vinyl.

Definitely another option, but doesn’t work under the table where I care the most. I get the risk of wear points in the vinyl, and the difficulty of getting it under there(!), but is there any other good reason for not cutting the vinyl somewhere hidden that I should be aware of?

Cheers,
Nick

[jeffb831]

One thing to check/verify is that the vinyl flooring isn't glued to the wood flooring in the trailer. I know in many homes they put an adhesive under the vinyl flooring.