Plywood floor - using 3rd row seat rail bolt holes?

[Jude99]

Morning all

I've been researching the best way to secure a plywood floor in my Mk5 camper conversion and there seem to be 3 trains of thought:

1. Self tappers. I don't fancy this as I'm worried about damaging something under the floor and possible corrosion.

2. Using the lashing point bolts. I'd only be able to use 2, though, as the rear two are under the black plastic trim that runs along the back of the loadspace.

3. Glueing battens to the floor and screwing the floor to them.

As I'm removing the 3rd row seats and their 8 rails, I wondered about using the bolt holes to bolt down the floor. The seat anchor bolts screw into some kind of captive nut under the floor.

Is there any reason why this is a bad idea? I'm probably never going to refit the 3rd row seats and this seems like a solid way to fasten the plywood floor down without making any permanent change to the van's metal floor. Any comments?

[axxxxe]

I have a wooden floor in my Caddy Libery, mounted using the lashing point bolts. I popped off the plastic trim and just do without it. Note that the lashing ring base plate has spacers under it, which are captive to the plastic trim. I used a stack a washers instead.

But your idea of the seat rail screws sound even better. And using those holes will keep water from the underside of your floor!

[PJD]

I glued 9mm ply battens and screwed the floor down. This is because you can only get a whole floor in a maxi van if you do the floor in two parts with the join in the middle. Might be different if you have a van with the second row seats.
I also used the lashing points. That's because I use them to secure my campervan furniture.
If you check my build you will see where I cut the rear plastic trim. This also traps the floor in place.

The 9mm battens are a bit of a compromise as that does not leave much to screw into but the raised ribs of the floor are only this high so it's the best thickness to use.

The third row seat fixings will be very secure. Just get some countersink allen bolts

I hope that helps. Link to my build below

[Nicklouse]

3 is the best way.

[Jude99]

Thanks PJD. Nice build. I'd seen how you'd fastened down your kitchen unit when I was at an earlier planning stage but I'd not paid attention to your floor. (So many different thoughts fighting for brain time).

I notice you have 8 tie-down points. I only have 4, probably as the Maxi Life is designed more as an MPV than a van.

I've decided I'm going to screw the floor to battens. Thanks for the tip about trimming the threshold strip. I'll have a look at that when the rain stops!

[Handyandy]

I left mine loose no fixings and it's been totally fine i didn't fancy gluing it down or fixing it with screws and to be fair it hasn't moved or rattled at all but it is being used as a builders van at the moment so does get very messy inside