keep the ply?

[joe34]

I've just got myself a new van and just waiting for the paint to arrive so I can waterproof the back I've got to take the ply up .might sound a stupid question but would you put the ply back once it's dried?

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

No, I was of the same position, when I took out the ply floor I realized how heavy it was and in a game like ours where we are constantly trying to keep weights down I decided it was best to get rid. Been over a month now and I haven't missed it.

 

[Eclipse]

I've kept mine, the whole floor weighs 25kg so no big deal. I'm laying 20kg of fibreglass over the tanked half of mine soon too.

 

[joe34]

Yeah I didn't even think about the weight ..when I got my last van the system was already in it and the guy had painted the bottom but then put the ply back down.I always wondered having that wet ply down against the floor if it speeded up the process of rust as its gone completely rotten underneath.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

My ply was sodden and it came out in pieces almost crumbling, and as wet weighed a ton.

The floor underneath was still sound, perhaps cause it's not a Vito /emoticons/tongue.png

 

[spruce]

Yeah I didn't even think about the weight ..when I got my last van the system was already in it and the guy had painted the bottom but then put the ply back down.I always wondered having that wet ply down against the floor if it speeded up the process of rust as its gone completely rotten underneath.

Joe, I think you have already answered your own question.

I've seen rotten ply lifted and how rusty the floor is underneath. For me its ply floor out and then painted with Protectakote.

We have some matting over the Protectkote coat under the hose reels to stop the paint from wearing away. What I like about Protectakote is that it has rubber granules in it and they make the floor non slip. I once slipped on a new van floor with wet shoes before it was plylined and feel back out of the van and badly hurt my back when I landed on the rear bumper. I learnt from that as I was in agony for weeks.

 

[steve garwood]

Painted over mine. I put two thick towels in the back and dry them at the weekend, works a treat

 

[joe34]

Thanks for all the advice,my old van was a 15 year old fiat ducato its a shame as the engine was great in it, it never let me down just the body work was gone!just one other thing I was going sand of all the shiney paint in the back is there anything eles what needs to go on before the protectakote?

 

[spruce]

Thanks for all the advice,my old van was a 15 year old fiat ducato its a shame as the engine was great in it, it never let me down just the body work was gone!just one other thing I was going sand of all the shiney paint in the back is there anything eles what needs to go on before the protectakote?

No. We also removed the ply on the sides and painted a inch or so up the side as well. We fitted the ply back on the sides after it had dried. We did the same with the wheel arches.

 

[peter rogers]

if u waterproof the meatl floor then waxoil and protect the undersside u could put the ply back down if u wantged but tbf why would u want to put it back down unless u need to use it for somethin ?? i replacing mine with 3/4 inch ply as i need a good fixing point

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Same as spruce but as I had a 4L can which is loads I went all the way up and only thing I didn't paint was the roof.

 

[Eclipse]

I out 25mm ply down in mine, makes the van quiter and easier to move on when resale time comes. Ideally the van should never get wet, your tank shouldn't leak and if you avoid hose locks you shouldn't get any weeping joints.

 

[MrBump]

I left my van fully ply lined and then protectakoted over the top. I wanted to keep my ply to help deaden the sound a little, to have all of my surfaces flat and to be able to screw things into it. I first used bathroom sealant along all joints and around edges and then protectakoted over the lot. Water sits on the protectakote so if ever I spill anything on it I put a rag down to soak it up (as you would with or without ply).

The instructions say to paint ply first to prime it before painting with protectakote, I did on some and not on others and notice no difference and wouldn't bother doing it myself, just paint straight on with protectakote. Try to get two coats if possible.