Got a new van. Protecta cote question?

[steele]

Just picked up a new van today, '57 Transit 330 with a 1400kg payload so i'll be putting a 2 man 1000 litre system in it /emoticons/smile.png

The currently has good quality flooring with a hard wearing plastic laminate on top, it fits the space well with a few small gaps.

Would you seal the metal underneath with protecta cote or not bother. I had budgeted for protecta cote but with the floor being good quality and no signs of rust I'm not sure I need too.

If i used protecta cote should I just ditch the ply floor?

What would you recommend.

Cheers

 

[Tuffers]

I protectakoted my van recently. New van with new plylining. I sealed the edges with silicone and then painted the floor. It took well over a day to dry, I would recommend two coats. I used the surplus paint to use on the side ply panels to make the van look smart. I wouldn't rip the ply up and paint the metal floor instead as I think the ply will give you more grip for gear that's left on the floor.

 

[spruce]

I've seen a van that had protectakote over the plyfloor and it wasn't pretty.

Water will get between the ply and the floor and will slowly be absorbed by the wood. In this case the wood was soggy and was the perfect breading ground for rust. Being a Transit, I don't think they did protect their vans at manufactrue by dipping them in a galvanising tank, so I would do everything I could to ensure I didn't create a problem. In all vans we've had, we have removed the ply on the floor, ProtectaKoted the bare metal floor and have now got some rubber mats to save the areas where the hose reels have worn it away.

We are finishing off a van for son that we fibreglassed and top coated with a non slip final coat. We did that to ensure the inside of the van was totally waterproof as I have overfilled his van several times in the past which filled up the footwells with water. Now that we have done this we believe the only exit point is out of the rear doors.

We have a few pieces of rubber matting which we will put on the top of the topcoat for the hose reel.

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