Bedroom slide carpet replacement: remove the bed frame?

[RicTrim]

We are replacing the carpeting in our 2017 3791RD. The initial thought is to cut the carpet around the bedframe and replace it - leaving the original carpet under the bed. But thinking about that old carpet under the bed now being loose on 3 sides - when the slide moves in and out - that is just a different problem in the making?

I'm sure that the bedframe is somewhat simple to remove...once the mattress is moved down to the kitchen area

I know that someone here on the forum has replaced the carpet in their rig - just need some guidance.

 

[scottz]

Watching; have the same question. Also, how do you handle the loose edge/flap that slides in/out with the dining slide? It would have to be a finished edge. I want to replace with new carpet or laminate flooring. Options?

 

[Mikendebbie]

I think there are two different issues here...
1. new carpet for the bedroom and what to do under the bed
2. New carpet/floor covering on the dinette slide, and how do you treat the leading edge of the slide floor

1. Here is a link to a thread from November 2022 where ColoradoKampers rebuilt his bed frame as it had pulled away from the head wall. He reinforced the frame using corner brackets. There are pics in the thread. His rig was a 2024, and you will notice vinyl sheet flooring below the main bed box. My 2018 had carpet in the whole room. The pics he posted will help you understand how you might install new flooring below the bed. Maybe you figure out how to remove the bed box to get clear access to the floor. I think my bed box has two floor rollers that roll over the carpet. I think forum member Daryles added more rollers to the end of his bed box to spread out the weight. I can remember other members posting about issues with the bed box stating it was poorly constructed. So far mine has worked well.

Bed is loose from slide

I can’t find any current pictures, or any that look exactly like my set-up, so I wanted to see what everyone’s opinion is. One corner of the bed has come loose from the slide wall. As you can see from the first picture, the obvious problem is that two left-most screws have pulled loose from...

www.montanaowners.com

2. Dinette flooring and slide edge treatment - this is a tough one. The edge of my dinette slide carpet "jambs" up against the island...of course it just bends up a bit no problem. Whatever you use for the edge has to be flexible, but rigid enough to move with the slide.

I have no experience installing roll goods carpet...knee stretchers...staple guns...nope not me. I have no experience installing sheet vinyl. We did install carpet squares in our old 1995 Alpenlite fifth wheel years ago, but I don't remember the specifics (except the old carpet was pink). I do remember pulling 1 million staples from the factory roll goods carpet area. Carpet squares are easy to deal with. We used them in our S&B remodel 10 years ago. A flooring subcontractor friend of mine cleaned out the warehouse and gave us boxes of left over tiles. We used them in 3 bedrooms. If I was planning to install new flooring for the bedroom and/or the dinette slide - I would start looking at carpet tiles/squares, or maybe LVT - luxury vinyl tiles that look like wood flooring. However, slide edge treatment would be a problem for LVT. I thought maybe a hinged metal expansion joint cover or (say) 5" wide piece of flat aluminum plate...but it would have to be hinged...the transition would be ugly...would the plate/joint cover simply bang up against the island every time you retract the slide?? I don't know. I might try to figure out how to "cantilever" (say) 1/3 of a carpet tile off the leading slide edge. I would need to figure out how to "bind" the tile joints together to keep them from separating along the edge (some might think that would be ugly...like DW). It would be a big experiment...but I am a firm believer in my ability to work with carpet tiles. Some tiles have tacky backs, but I might consider additional glue to hold them in place. If I had all the money in the world I would pay somebody to do the flooring - but I can't do that. Presently I have no issues with the carpet in the bedroom and the dinette slide, and DW is not asking for new flooring...so it all looks good to me! Edit: 10 years ago at age 60 scooting around on the floor during the remodel beat my butt…it was hard work. Now at age 71 - I would really need some motivation from DW.

Edit: a few weeks back something came up in the forum about flooring options, and I tried searching the forum for CARPET TILES...did the same thing on IRV2...nothing came up. I don't know if that is because nobody has ever tried it, therefore no war stories to post about the process...OR if maybe long long ago someone tired carpet tiles and it was a big fail due to movement or shaking or who knows what...so therefore due to "overwhelming bad press in the forums" - nobody uses carpet tiles in RVs any longer. I think carpet tiles will cost more than roll goods carpet, sheet vinyl or LVT based on my past life in construction cost estimating...but I have forgotten most of what I use to know! But just like all cars don't cost the same - there are variations in carpet tile prices.

Edit #2: concerning the leading edge of “cantilevered” carpet tiles…carpet tiles have a rubber backing. I wonder if i could cut a 4” wide strip off an extra tile and glue the rubber backs together over-lapping the joints in the finish side of the carpet all the way across the slide edge. This would put the carpet side of the strip sliding across the floor during slide movement…probably better than the rubber back sliding on the floor.

Edit #3: the default carpet tiles pattern for commercial office building spaces is to stack them at 90* to each other for a checkerboard effect. Look on amazon and you will see pics of the tiles in checkerboard pattern. I would probably run them straight/continuous/linear in the RV like wood plank floors.

 

[rickybobby]

Watching; have the same question. Also, how do you handle the loose edge/flap that slides in/out with the dining slide? It would have to be a finished edge. I want to replace with new carpet or laminate flooring. Options?

Scott, I just replaced my slide carpet on my 17 3160RL and I had a carpet place bind the new carpet. Although I had used my old as a template, the carpet folks said next time bring in your old piece and let them cut the new carpet. It looks and works great

 

[Kfinnert]

Good morning RicTrim -

Cutting around the outer edge of the carpet below the bed could be an issue as you mentioned. The three sides would not be anchored down. The result could be the bed balling up the carpet underneath and jamming the slide.

The first thing I would do is talk to a carpet installer and have them look at the job. Get their opinion on securing the new flooring to the deck of your Monty. These are small jobs for the pros, if the area in which they are working is clear of furniture and clean.

I am going to remodel the bedroom in our 2008 Monty, and I have looked at this project which will require the complete removal of the closet and bed. These are my observations and how I will approach my job!

As mentioned by Mikendebbie, there are two rollers under the bed frame at the foot of the bed that cause the bed to roll across the carpeted/vinyl flooring. Check underneath the frame and you should see them there.

Once the slide is out, and if there have been no modifications, you can remove the entire bed. The mattress is easy, but there are other components to manage. You will have the deck the mattress rests on, and the mechanisms used to move the slide. I have a hydraulic slide, so that component, the ram, must be removed.

The bed's headboard is held to the slide with a few screws unless there had been a modification and additional fasteners were added. You might be able to remove the bedframe without removing the headboard. Disassembled the bed to the greatest extent possible and then moved it out of the room. You will then have complete access to your floor.

Now it is time to remove the carpet. Here is a good video discussing the removal of carpet from an RV. Not much different than removing carpet from a stick-built home. You may find that portions of the carpet are under interior side panels. The carpet should not be under the wall frame. Also, there could be a zillion staples to be removed.

removing bedroom carpet from a RV - Bing

Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you.

www.bing.com

For the replacement of the carpet, I will go to the pros! I would suggest having them look at your project prior and hear how they would approach the job.

If you do the majority of the dismantling and replacement of the bed. The costs to have the carpet should be very low; and putting the bedroom back in order a fun project!

When reinstalling the bed, I really like the use of the rollers. However, I have seen DIY projects where plastic runners/skis were used. My lovely bride would like modifications under the bed to enhance storage and easy access.

Anyhow, this is my approach and what assessments I made. Best of luck and I would like to see photos of your project, if you don't mind sharing!

Cheers