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a_flyfisher's avatar
a_flyfisher
Explorer
Oct 25, 2016

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 that I am getting the camper from includes a foam board instead of a rubber mat. I believe he said it is 1" thick, which they prefer to use and say it is better to use than a rubber mat.

Is one of these - a rubber mat or a foam board - better than the other? Or will they both serve the same purpose?

Don't know if it matters, but I do have factory installed rails for a 5th wheel installed under my truck bed, and the capped holes where the 5th wheel hitch mounts protrude somewhat above the truck bed's surface - I didn't measure them, but believe they protrude just 1/2" or so.

Appreciate your thoughts.

John

P.S. I don't have a lot of confidence, generally speaking, in my Dealer based on prior experiences there.
Truck Campers

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  • covered_wagon's avatar
    covered_wagon
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    I have a NL camper. Don't use rubber matts for horse stalls because the corrugated truck bed is bent right where the camper needs its support. Bent down with a valley corrugation right at the side support walls of the camper when centered in the truck bed. That's where most weight is and needs to be held up/ supported there.

    I use 1/2 inch plywood with 1/4 inch strips in the low spots to bring the key areas of weight up level with the higher corrugation in the truck bed, if that explains it.

    Another key area where the truck bed corrugation fails to support is the front corners weighted down from the cab over. Just place some 1/4 inch plastic or wood blocks under the plywood to bring it up flush with the rest of the bed.
  • a_flyfisher's avatar
    a_flyfisher
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    I am not concerned,about plywood weathering. My truck and camper will be stored inside except when I'm using them, which will be mostly during the summertime in Montana. I will look at thos rubber mats at Tractor Supply. There is one just down the road from me.
  • punomatic's avatar
    punomatic
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    When I first put my TC on my F350, I discovered that the cabover was resting on top of the cab. What to do? After some research, I got a 4'X8'X2" sheet of insulating foam for the truck bed. Someone told me the foam would not support the camper, but in doing the math I discovered that the load on the foam was about 1 lb. per square inch. I used that foam sheet for several years before it appeared to be deteriorating. I sold the camper, but had I not, I would have simply replaced the foam sheet (about $40 IIRC).
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Oct 25, 2016
    I use thicker horse stall mats around my gooseneck hardware mounted in the bed. They add some weight but do a good job of keeping the camper floor off the hardware and keeping it from shifting.
  • Wardster's avatar
    Wardster
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    I have a NL and use one of the thick horse stall mats available at you local Tractor Supply store. It is dense enough to provide the necessary support for the TC and doesn't allow it to slide around in the bed of the truck. With respect to plywood, I would be concerned about the long-term effects of its exposure to the elements.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    a_flyfisher wrote:

    P.S. I don't have a lot of confidence, generally speaking, in my Dealer based on prior experiences there.

    I think you answered your own question....
  • a_flyfisher's avatar
    a_flyfisher
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    SugarHillCTD wrote:
    There have been pictures posted where foam board deforms in areas of concentrated camper weight but doesn't deform and actually pushes up into less supported areas of the camper bottom.

    On the other hand I have not seen any posts about any heavy rubber mats doing any damage. I have used one under all 5 of the TCs we have owned without any problems.

    IMHO, if a foam board is used a sheet of plywood over it would be a good idea.


    Thanks for the reply. I guess I should have done a search before making my post. I just did, and here is one post that I found:

    "I asked this very question of Northern-lite. Here is what I was told: foam has too much give to it and can cause stress on the camper. He told me to use plywood, followed by a 3/8 inch soft rubber mat. I had a foam board, but got rid of it after NL said the preference is plywood. "

    I think I will follow NL's recommendation. Better to follow their suggestion, I think, than not follow it and then have problems downs the road.
  • SugarHillCTD's avatar
    SugarHillCTD
    Explorer
    Oct 25, 2016
    There have been pictures posted where foam board deforms in areas of concentrated camper weight but doesn't deform and actually pushes up into less supported areas of the camper bottom.

    On the other hand I have not seen any posts about any heavy rubber mats doing any damage. I have used one under all 5 of the TCs we have owned without any problems.

    IMHO, if a foam board is used a sheet of plywood over it would be a good idea.

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