Armoring the floor above the tires.

DJ252

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2023
Messages
662
I saw a vid of TT blowout and other than ripping the fender apart and some brake wires, it also did damage to the under side of the floor above it.

Been chewing on armoring that.

I have some hvy duty PVC wall board, that it is used to protect the walls of transport trailers from fork lift drivers.

Could also be metal flashing. Just not sure how thick would be thick enough. So long as it was smooth, it might not take much.

It would have to be glued, as I don't think you'd want screws there.

Anyone done this, or seen it done?
 
I used thin sheetmetal to do this to a former trailer. Glued and screwed, never had a screw come out. I used some silicone caulk on the screw threads to add a little insurance against them working out.
 
I used aluminum diamond plate, with glue and screws. My trailer had existing damage from tire rubs when I bought it so had already planned on doing something to reseal it up. Did a 4,000 trip and all stayed in place without issue.
 
I have seen a tire failure tear through 2x6 deck boards topped with 1/8" diamond decking on a flat bed trailer. Have also seen heavy gauge metal fenders shredded on stock trailers.

Can't imagine what could protect an RV wheel well.
 
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I have a TPMS and I've already learned the ageing out lesson, the hard way. I'd like to think I'd get at least some sort of warning, so maybe not have to protect against worse case but lessen whatever might happen.

Those PVC panels I mentioned are pretty tough and slick. Not quite teflon slick but headed that direction.
 
This has been discussed previously. Lots of recommendations but no practical experience.
Like Scott mentioned, I've seen tires come apart and rip up steel fenders and hard oak decking.
With many tires up under slides and no real good way to hold anything there, I can't imagine anything that wouldn't get knocked loose and cause even more damage.
 
The floor section of my trailer is a Lauan, foam sandwich, with some sort of ... hard to describe ... Not tar paper, way tougher than that but it reminds me of it, glued to underside of the lauan. Its some sort of fabric.

Anyway, not much protection from anything. Its probably waterproof but structurally, practically nothing. Doesn't seem like much of a rock being thrown at it, couldn't tear it, let alone a blow out so, doing nothing, isn't going to happen.

I can give the glue proper cribbing and time to cure. Its just a matter of what glue and base material.
 
We use the best tires and tpms system.

Commercial tires.

We had a tire blow and wipe out sheet metal. $1500 to fix.
 
The floor section of my trailer is a Lauan, foam sandwich, with some sort of ... hard to describe ... Not tar paper, way tougher than that but it reminds me of it, glued to underside of the lauan. Its some sort of fabric.

Anyway, not much protection from anything. Its probably waterproof but structurally, practically nothing. Doesn't seem like much of a rock being thrown at it, couldn't tear it, let alone a blow out so, doing nothing, isn't going to happen.

I can give the glue proper cribbing and time to cure. Its just a matter of what glue and base material.
Best of luck... let everyone know what you've done so it could possibly help others and I hope you never have to try your modifications out.
 
I saw a vid of TT blowout and other than ripping the fender apart and some brake wires, it also did damage to the under side of the floor above it.

Been chewing on armoring that.

I have some hvy duty PVC wall board, that it is used to protect the walls of transport trailers from fork lift drivers.

Could also be metal flashing. Just not sure how thick would be thick enough. So long as it was smooth, it might not take much.

It would have to be glued, as I don't think you'd want screws there.

Anyone done this, or seen it done?
These roofing screws are available at all hardware and big box stores. They are heavily plated and come with a "rubber" washer. The flange head makes them really easy to drive with a variable speed drill/screwdriver. They come in various lengths.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Teks-9-x-1-in-Zinc-Plated-Zinc-Plated-Self-Drilling-Roofing-Screws-120-Count/3316530https://www.lowes.com/pd/Teks-9-x-1-in-Zinc-Plated-Zinc-Plated-Self-Drilling-Roofing-Screws-120-Count/3316530
 
I have seen a tire failure tear through 2x6 deck boards topped with 1/8" diamond decking on a flat bed trailer. Have also seen heavy gauge metal fenders shredded on stock trailers.

Can't imagine what could protect an RV wheel well.
This^^^^

One needs to consider that the force released from a tire blowout/ tread separation at speed Is not much less than that released by an M-67 grenade. Just no shrapnel. The larger the tire, higher the pressure and speed, the worse it can be.
 
Race cars have been armoring there vehicles for years so I did a quick search on steel wheel well tubes and come up with the following. Take a peruse through this list see if anything will work or at least get some ideas.


Thinking most of these are going to be to large but at least it's a start.
 
Race cars have been armoring there vehicles for years so I did a quick search on steel wheel well tubes and come up with the following. Take a peruse through this list see if anything will work or at least get some ideas.


Thinking most of these are going to be to large but at least it's a start.
Not that those wont work, but just for information those are used to “tub” cars for wider rear tires.
 
You also have to consider what the cover will be bolting into. Most are just wooden or lightweight aluminum framework.
I've seen steel fenders on cargo trailers ripped completely off.
 
I had a 2005 Sandpiper 33 foot travel trailer. I had a blowout which took out both plumbing and wiring in the right wheel well. It also took out a sewer outlet just in front of the wheel well.

What trailer designer would run plumbing and wiring across the top of a wheel well with steel belted tires which could rupture and turn into flailing metal straps?

Actually, most all of them, because it's a cheapo way to build a trailer.

I had a nearby metal fabrication shop fashing a thick sheet metal fender inside the wheel well and down the front and rear sides to protect the structure of the trailer. Never had an issue after that.
 
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Why not just replace the trailer tires with good quality tires and problem solved? Drive the correct speeds and keep the tire pressure at the proper levels. That is what I did and never had an issue.
 
I saw a vid of TT blowout and other than ripping the fender apart and some brake wires, it also did damage to the under side of the floor above it.

Been chewing on armoring that.

I have some hvy duty PVC wall board, that it is used to protect the walls of transport trailers from fork lift drivers.

Could also be metal flashing. Just not sure how thick would be thick enough. So long as it was smooth, it might not take much.

It would have to be glued, as I don't think you'd want screws there.

Anyone done this, or seen it done?
A couple years ago an old friend visited with his 2109s. Had a blow out along the way. We studied the situation for a patch option. Ended up buying some aluminum roof flashing. We cut a piece big enough to fit above the frame and below the factory under covering to avoid screws. A good adhesive silicone around the edges before placing and again after. Spoke with him recently, said it's still holding up fine.
 

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