Carpet in Camper

"New" carpet

We've been using several throw rugs to cover our floor for years. Made it easy to take out side and shake-save were on the linoleum. But we hated it-looked messy and even with the semi sticky backing always moving around. We had found a bunch of different sizes that allowed us to pretty cover the area, but it breaks up the floor making it look to 'busy' & cluttered. Always wanted to carpet but just isn't practical.

Was looking when out for replacement throws, they needed to be replaced. Then while I was In Cosco, 'guarding the cart' while Margaret wandered into another isle, I looked around and I'm standing in the throw rug section.....

Carpet

Yup I stumbled upon this indoor outdoor at Cosco (but struck me odd, the few times I go 'shopping' and I'm left alone in the rug section..hmmm). Large enough to cut a single pieces. Cheap enough that's its disposable. Light enough and no backing easily cut to fit, and removable from main floor for taking outside shaking or hosing off. Color is a light beige-just a tad darker than the shag under dinette. Matches well. This will be nice!

I also covered the top of the slide step (it is trashed), top of step (water tank box) to bed and the front panel on wall under bed. Around bed is carpeted and rolls over front edge. I just carpeted what shows on the end. The floor area seems twice as large, covering the steps the same as the main floor makes it appear huge.

Looking down from bed...its just inviting. A very inexpensive and easy change-up that dramatically improved the overall appearance of the camper. Margaret was just wowed-as my self. Always wanted to get rid of the throw rugs but had no idea improvement in appearnce. We do have a door mat but not here in pic for the 'effect'.

I don't know how long this will hold up- its a recycled material, water bottles if I remember right. Looks like berber carpet.
To install:, our floor except for under fridge is straight along the slide step, so I started with that. You could make a pattern but I just measured & cut. Starting few inches from edge (allowance for wrapping step box) I measured and cut out for width & length of step box minus a bit so I can use the piece to cover top of step. Fortunately I didn't cut full length of box, it isn't square to front wall like a 1/2" and I would have had a gap along front wall if I would have cut as measured. Didn't take long to figure nothing is square so leave a bit and trim to fit. Once I got it to fit around step and under fridge and to front wall I then measured and cut off scrap allowing 2" for mis-measuring, Then trimmed to fit around stepped sections. Used the 'scrap to cover the steps/wall. Not tooo bad. Carpet doesn't slide but we bought a couple of rolls of the non slide shelving material from the dollar store to put under the carpet if needed.

Wrapping the lids & wall I just stapled over existing carpet, if the new stuff doesn't hold up I can easily remove. The wall piece wraps and goes under bed a ways.

Id really like to replace all the shag carpet around the dinette with real carpet, but its going to be a lot of trimming because its under the cabinets. When/if I get around to replacing Ill probably redo every thing except main floor area, though I really like the steps the same as main floor. But that's on the rountoit list.

Update 9/2016: finally replaced ALL the carpet Real carpet replacement page
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