Posted 2007-02-28 3:43 PM (#56502) Subject: Rumber vs Wood
Member
Posts: 5
I am buying a new trailer and trying to decide between rumber and wood flooring. I am in the desert and heat and low humidity are facts of life. How do they compare on temperature and softness of ride/ vibration dampening? How easy are they each to clean? I confess when I pull in after a long weekend, all I want to do is unhook and head home. Pulling back mats and washing floors is not high on my list at that point (or ever, but that's a different issue). Experience, technical(in non technical terms, please) would be appreciated.
Posted 2007-03-01 8:59 AM (#56553 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Regular
Posts: 92
Location: iowa
Well if you are wanting less work and have the chance to put in Rumber or wood in your trailer I would go with Rumber. Rumber will be less work than wood with rubber mats over the top.
If you don't have the choice and trailer already has a wood floor put in WERM or cushionease. Like the above add says it will surely ease your work and pulling of mats.
Posted 2007-03-01 9:29 AM (#56555 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Expert
Posts: 1989
Location: South Central OK
I installed a new pressure treated floor in my little trailer about 4-5 years ago and from what others tell me it will be my last. You want the boards to run front to back, not side to side...just an FYI.
Posted 2007-03-01 10:52 AM (#56560 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: high desert, CA.
I have the rumbar floor in my Classic Westerner. I LOVE IT!!!!
When I get home, I just sweep out the droppings, sweep the shavings into the turn out, and go. About once a month I get the pressure washer and hose down the floor,walls, ( yeah mine will poop on the walls!!), and let dry. I use this trailer almost 3 times a week, and it takes almost no care except for sweeping. It also is cooler on the feet, and I live in the high desert of So. Calif., so we get 110 degrees in summer regularly! It has good sound deadening, and unless it is coved in droppings, not slippery. ( ALL floors are slippery when wet!) I also have the rubber walls so it really does kill the sound.
Posted 2007-03-01 11:00 AM (#56561 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Grundy Center, IA
I think rumber is a great product as far as longevity, however, I don't think it has any more cushioning than a wood floor, and would still recommend the use of floor mats for the horse's benefit.
Posted 2007-03-01 1:49 PM (#56577 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
I have had two trailers with Rumber. The first one I kept 5 years. I usually throw a bag of shavings in. I fork out the road apples once a week and change the shavings every 6 weeks. I wash out the trailer with a good high pressure stream from the garden hose maybe twice a year.
Posted 2007-03-01 2:38 PM (#56581 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
I have a '97 2H BP with the rumber floor and love it and wish my new LQ trailer had the rumber floor. It has held up great with a lot of use, no repairs needed and I am the original owner (trailer is for sale by the way since I only have 1 horse, I only need 1 trailer).
If I can figure out how to reduce the size of my picture I will post one of the inside of the trailer
Posted 2007-03-01 6:05 PM (#56594 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Member
Posts: 40
I ordered a 4-horse slant load with rumber flooring. Since I am 5'3" tall with NO upper body strength, it made more sense than rubber mats if I ever wanted to pick up and clean under them. And Yes, I think it provides MUCH more cushioning than just wood. When I first got the trailer, I had a friend haul "me" going down a washboard gravel road. It was actually pretty nice back there.
I find the rumber easy to clean. I hook up hubbys power washer, and hose it down well, then squeegee it out. Once or twice a year I add a little truck wash soap and get the whole thing, walls and all.
OK, gotta question, sorry if I sound DUMB here! This goes OVER your existing wood floor? Soooo, what if the floor goes bad underneath? But maybe if there is no moisture getting to the wood then it should NOT go bad, right? This is an interesting concept, but I have that concern. Otherwise, I LOVE the idea. Very cool.
Posted 2007-03-11 5:45 PM (#57006 - in reply to #56502) Subject: RE: Rumber vs Wood
Member
Posts: 38
Location: Western Washington
I have the Rumber floor in my trailer and love it. Low maintenance, just shovel out the shavings then hose out, or better yet, pressure wash (when/if you feel like getting the pressure washer out) for a really good cleaning. I hated dragging the mats out in my old trailer, hosing down the wood floor and then bringing the mats back in, it killed my back and I usually had to do it alone. Moisture seems to be no problem, this stuff is bullet proof, no absorbtion at all.