Replacing rubber matting in lorry

[madginger]

Just wondering if anyone has replaced the rubber matting on a ramp and lorry floor themselves? What type of rubber did you use and how difficult is it to do? Alternatively how much would it cost roughly for someone to do? The floor is ok but the rubber has torn on the ramp and floor so want to replace it before the Wally of a horse trips over it!!

 

[AFB]

I bought my lorry un-matted (3.5t) and did it myself, I bought lightweight EVA as it doesn't get the hammering a stable would and keeps my weight down. It was really easy and EVA can be cut with a stanley knife and manouvered by a single person with no effort.

My ramp was carpeted so I haven't touched that, and personallly prefer carpet in case of rain on ramps.

 

[Hanno Verian]

Hi not particularly difficult all kinds of different products are available, from thin rubber sheeting to the thicker hanging sections suitable for the heavy flaps on the bottom of lorry partitions as well as generic stable matting to do the floor.
I did a gym floor with four 6' x 4' 12mm thick matts with a chequer plate pattern, coist me £160 incl delivery, if you are doing a lorry floor look for lightweight matting because it can add significant weight to the lorry.
I used a company called Delta Mart

 

[chaps89]

I did this over summer. (I say 'I', I mean my friends very tolerant partner did it for me)
I spoke to ark rubber matting as I've used them in the past for stable mats and found them to be good.
They do a larger, lighter piece of rubber matting for horsebox floors but it worked out fairly significantly more expensive and when I calculated the weight saving it was negligible. So I went for standard rubber stable mats, 2 of them cut to size with a Stanley knife. Didn't glue them down so that it's easier to check the state of the floor underneath, although they are effectively pinned down by edging strips.

I replaced rubber on the ramp too, with carpet (if you have a search, milliepops on here recommended the company to me) And it was glued down with contact adhesive with the edging strips and wooden grips/batons screwed in.

Those parts of the renovation cost about £200 in materials I think. But beyond some beers I didn't pay for labour so you'd need to add that on - my ramp was a pain to do because of how well glued down the original rubber was so that took a lot longer than expected.

 

[PeterNatt]

I used industrial grade coconut matting for the ramp and rubber matting for the floor, however when I took the old rubber up I discovered that the supporting wood on the floor and ramp was going rotten so I took it all out and then found that the supporting metal structures where rusting so also wire brushed them them all down and then re-painted them before replacing the wooden floor panels and then putting the new rubber and coconut matting down.

 

[milliepops]

i used equimat horsebox eva mats on the floor which were excellent. slightly more squishy than normal EVA so horses get plenty of grip on the move, also a bit thinner (as not getting the wear of a stable mat). they are sold in 1x1m squares and interlock together. if you buy around badminton time they normally do a discount (even did in 2020 when it didn't run, so may get lucky this year).

as above I just have carpet and batons on the ramp.

 

[EventingMum]

When we had a lorry we used EVA mats in the horse area and Kraiburg ramp matting. The ramp matting had built-in ridges so great for grip and stood up to studs etc. The downside was it is heavy so your ramp springs have to be up to the job.

 

[Louby]

Just be careful of weight, Im meaning weight on top of the ramp. My friend changed hers, was simple enough for her hubby to do but she couldnt lift the ramp after!!

 

[ycbm]

In prefer carpet on the ramp and wood for the floor. I don't like how rubber mats hide a rotting wooden floor or how, if they aren't sealed or the seal leaks, liquid gets underneath, won't dry out, and encourages rot.

 

[madginger]

Thanks for all of the replies definitely lots to think about! The ramp is hydraulic so hopefully will still lift! I like the idea of having rubber floor mats so they can be taken out occasionally to check the wooden floor underneath!

For carpet on the ramp does this last as long as rubber? Just thinking about wear and tear and leaving the ramp down to the elements when out and about!

Thanks

 

[ycbm]

If you get tough synthetic carpet, the wiry kind used in office corridors, it lasts well.

 

[milliepops]

Yeah my carpet has a rubbery back, its horsebox carpet so pretty tough.
I didn't seal the mats down exactly for the purpose of being able to inspect the floor. My horses don't tend to pee in the box so a bit of absorbent bedding stops and leaks, the interlocking stuff fits pretty tightly anyway.