Foam Board or Rubber Mat For Under Camper?
I have ordered a new Northern Lite camper for delivery next spring. I see on Northern Lite's website they recommend putting a 3/8" soft rubber mat in your truck bed under the camper. The dealer t...
Forum Discussion
Different models of Bigfoot have different structure underneath, but the common theme is that the only reliable support is across the front and down each side at the perimeter. Then depending on model, some crossing structure near the rear of the bed.
I have used a plywood sheet in the bed with a pickup bed rubber mat on top, the type with the rubber nubs underneath. The plywood sheet is painted white. After a few hundred miles, you can clearly see the black imprint of the rubber nubs on the white plywood where the pressure from the camper is applied. The pattern was a bit different in detail between my 9.6 and my 10.4 model but similar in general.
Foam has the compressive strength necessary, provided the load is spread over enough area. The only way to insure that is to put plywood between the foam and camper, 1/2" plywood should be plenty.
When you go around a corner or the camper rocks while entering a service station ramp at an angle, most of the weight of the camper will be on one edge. Hit a 1.2G bump at the same time, you are getting pretty close to compressing the foam. With 1/2" of plywood, you are effectively spreading the load to 2 or 3x the area adding considerable safety factor. From the bed up I would do: foam, plywood, rubber mat, camper.
I have used a plywood sheet in the bed with a pickup bed rubber mat on top, the type with the rubber nubs underneath. The plywood sheet is painted white. After a few hundred miles, you can clearly see the black imprint of the rubber nubs on the white plywood where the pressure from the camper is applied. The pattern was a bit different in detail between my 9.6 and my 10.4 model but similar in general.
Foam has the compressive strength necessary, provided the load is spread over enough area. The only way to insure that is to put plywood between the foam and camper, 1/2" plywood should be plenty.
When you go around a corner or the camper rocks while entering a service station ramp at an angle, most of the weight of the camper will be on one edge. Hit a 1.2G bump at the same time, you are getting pretty close to compressing the foam. With 1/2" of plywood, you are effectively spreading the load to 2 or 3x the area adding considerable safety factor. From the bed up I would do: foam, plywood, rubber mat, camper.
