outdoor mat recommendations?

[Cougguy]

Looking to order an outdoor mat (around 8'x12'). Would like to use summer & winter (skiing). Any suggestions on what to look for?

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by Cougguy

Looking to order an outdoor mat (around 8'x12'). Would like to use summer & winter (skiing). Any suggestions on what to look for?

We just went to Home Depot and just had them spool off a length of the greet AstroTurf to our specifications. It has a much stiffer and more industrial backing than the ones that you get at the RV stores. Because of this it has lasted us over 10 years now and is still looking great. The only downside is that because of the heavy duty backing it has to be rolled up not folded.

[rockwood06]

We did the same thing ,but we got ours from Lowe's and it's 14x19. I fold mine in two different directions then roll the remaining so it fits on the bumper of the camper between the spare tire rack and body of the camper. We have had this one for 6 years now and it still looks great.
We had one of those fancy high dollar rugs with the wird print (blue) and the sun broke it down, it lasted about 3 years. The good thing about buying off of a spool is that you can cut it to the size you want.

[KyDan]

Check the RV isle in WalMart the next time you're there.
I bought 2 fold up light weight mats from an online dealer only
to find the same ones at Wallyworld for much less.
Don't rule out getting 2 smaller ones to make the size you need.
2 small ones are easier to pick up shake out and put away.

We also bought a piece of green grass turf at Home Depot.
It was precut and rolled and sticking out of a barrel.
When we went camping the first time and unrolled it we found
the black rubber backing was flaking off like crazy.
It makes a mess every time we unfold it.
Obviously there are different grades of this stuff!

[cfsoistman]

We've had just about every type describe in the previous posts. Our current outdoor mat is 15' x 8' , got it at Camping World while in Myrtle Beach a few years ago. The one very positive thing I will say about it is it dries off pretty quickly. Since it always seems to rain when we're on vacation this was definitely a factor when we chose it. It folds up so we're able to place it in one of the storage compartments. The backing is holding up pretty good. We had one of the green type when we had the trailer and the backing was falling off in little pieces each time we used it.

[NWJeeper]

Don't know what kind of mat you guys are buying that the backing is falling off from but the stuff on the roll at Home Depot we bought has a backing similar to carpet , no black backing at all. Never had a problem with that. There obviously has to be different grades as I have heard of this before but never experienced it with ours and have had it for 10 years now.

[gregm59]

Does anyone get flak from the campgrounds for putting out mats? Here in Michigan, we've been to a number of CGs that post "No Mat" signs.

[cfsoistman]

Originally Posted by gregm59

Does anyone get flak from the campgrounds for putting out mats? Here in Michigan, we've been to a number of CGs that post "No Mat" signs.

Not yet and hopefully we never will. Quite a few places we've been have gravel everywhere so we'd only be helping to keep the grass from growing between the stones.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by gregm59

Does anyone get flak from the campgrounds for putting out mats? Here in Michigan, we've been to a number of CGs that post "No Mat" signs.

Commercial campgrounds don't like them on the grass otherwise there is no problem, however there are very few of them that we have been to that have grass where the mat would be on it. Mostly we really like them for dry camping in the woods where you seem to track a lot of pine needles and dirt inside. Most of our State parks have concrete parking pads so the mats don't lay on the grass there either.

[huntr70]

Buy an Rv Awning Mat...

Do a Google search and find their site.

They look like they are weaved from coffee stirrer type plastic, but they let sand and water through them, and WILL NOT kill grass...

I did the astro turf thing for a year, but after putting the thing away wet a few times and it weighing a ton, the RV Awning Mat is well worth the money. Going on 3 years now and still looks new.

[rthrbelsewhere]

Prest-o-fit patio rug is what we bought.

We got a good deal on it, but it is worth every penny if you're looking for one that won't allow water and sand/mud to come through after a rainy day. My wife and I used it for a 2 month stretch and then sprayed it down with the garden hose...layed it out to dry and then folded it up and put it away for the season. A very good buy in my opinion, but more expensive then the astroturf.

They also make a color matched step wrap that you can attach to the outdoor fold out steps if you wanted to. We have two of those as well and found that we didn't have to sweep out the floors nearly as often as we did without them. Good stuff!

I just checked their website and they do make one that is breathable as well if your area is "anti-mat". For the winter, I'm not sure which one would be better...the aero-weave style that would drain the melt off or the rubber backed mat that won't allow the moisture to come through from the ground. Good luck either way.

[Bill U]

Lowes...14X24 astroturf type mat. 3 yrs old, love it. Worth the hassel.

[kvtaylor]

There are a lot of mats out there. Just be sure they are the breathable type so they don't kill the grass. That is what a lot of parks do not want happen. These types also dry a lot faster. We got ours at Camping world years ago and its still good. you can fold it and role it so it will go into the bottom compartments. The only problem is squrels, they can smell food under it and have eaten a hole in it.

[Radio]

For those anti-mat parks and sites, kids, door mats, high water and a host of other reasons, have a look at this, to go along with whatever mat you get.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ead.php?t=3321