Outdoor Mats

[jibocach]

We are new to RVing having purchased a little Starcraft 18RB HTT last fall (only got to use it once). We are starting to compile a list of things we need to get for it since we are traveling a lot this summer with it. I know that some campsites don't allow outdoor mats because of the grass, but I'm wondering what kind of outdoor carpet/mat you have gotten for your trailer?

We have looked at the "breathable" mats and friends of ours had interlocking rubber mats that allowed grass to grow and could be hosed off. I'm just wondering what you have and what we should be looking at.

TIA

[nitrohorse]

Chuck&Gail wrote:
Bought one. Used it so infrequently we threw it away. Note we tend to move a lot, not just sit in one spot. We travel, not park.

So I guess you threw your folding chairs away too?

[Bill___Kate]

We use a couple of the woven polyester patio mats - got ours online, but I forget where. They work great. They do not absorb water, so they don't get heavy when wet, the water runs right through, and they dry very quickly. They feel good on the feet, and sweep off and fold up easily - ours get stored in the under bed storage area.

While a nice concrete patio pad would be nice, we seldom stay in parks like that - the coastal places we frequent are usually packed sandy soil or crushed stone. We are pretty good at wiping our feet before entering, but the four legged members of our crew are not as careful.

Another nice thing about the woven patio pads is they will not kill the grass like an outdoor carpet. Check out this picture - when we broke camp after a week, the grass was actually greener under the mat than around it. You can see the mats folded up on the picnic table.

[dcason]

We got a cheap, fake grass looking mat...works well to catch dirt. Small, easy to shake out, flip it over to dry while you are getting ready to move.

Donna

[tomdinwv]

We use one of the woven mats from Wal-Mart too. It's on it's 3rd season and still looks new. As far as the mat getting muddy when it rains, that has happened to us once in 3 years. I just folded it up and put it in the bed of the truck. Sprayed it off when we got home, let it air dry then put it back in the TT. No harm, no foul, and no muddy mess in the TT.

[Ron3rd]

Another vote for the woven polypropylene RV mats. Easy to clean. We bough ours off Ebay about 5 years ago for around 60-70 bucks and it's still holding up fine. Ours is a large mat, around 18 ft long.

I've tried the indoor/outdoor carpet and "astro turf" looking stuff too and prefer the woven mat.

[ata3001]

beemerphile1 wrote:
I like to keep setup and pack up as simple as possible. I don't want a big mat to fold and store. I especially don't want to deal with it when wet and muddy.

We have two door mats of approximately 18" x 30". one stays inside the door and one stays outside the door. When packing to leave the inside door mat is tossed inside the door with the inside mat. Takes all of 4 seconds.

Edited for typo

X2

[TyroneandGladys]

Just went to Lowes had them cut us the size we wanted from the lowest price indoor outdoor carpet roll up and loop it over a ladder rung and two straps to hold it.

[wa8yxm]

We have a small "Garden path" wooden slat mat that we often use, The big mat I do not put on grass, Just on gravel or concrete

[prolandsurveyor]

At a flea market near ,y house a guy sells the revserible patio mats for $20 each. I love mine. Very durable and comfortable to walk on barefooted.

[beemerphile1]

I like to keep setup and pack up as simple as possible. I don't want a big mat to fold and store. I especially don't want to deal with it when wet and muddy.

We have two door mats of approximately 18" x 30". one stays inside the door and one stays outside the door. When packing to leave the inside door mat is tossed inside the door with the inside mat. Takes all of 4 seconds.

Edited for typo

[Inchonem2]

ok

[bikendan]

we bought ours from the oldest distributor of RV awning mats:

RV Awning Mats

we've had ours for 5 years now and so glad we got one. this company offers a huge variety of pattern/color choices which is why we bought from them. Walmart only offers one pattern.
these woven mats are so easy to clean and sweep. and super lightweight.

[Mocoondo]

For whatever reason, I seem to recall this question being asked before.

In any case, we do not use a large mat. If the weather turns and you get rained on overnight (or at any other time), you now have a soggy mat sitting out on your campsite. If it gets dirty or muddy, now you have to deal with packing that soaking wet mess up and storing it somewhere in your RV. No thanks.

We make a concerted effort to stay at campsites with an improved surface and then we use a small household type of outdoor "Welcome" mat that sits at the steps and which catches whatever foot debris that we do not want to carry inside.

I see a lot of people with outdoor mats covering their site, but it's just not for us. I've seen far too many of them struggling to get a wet, soggy mess sorted out that I really don't want any part of that.

[Hondavalk]

Amazon has plastic open weave patio tile that snap together.