Bumps under vinyl flooring (carriage bolts)

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Bumps under vinyl flooring (carriage bolts)

June 08, 2018, 11:12:52 am

I recently purchased a 1997 24 ft rear bath lazy daze which I love but there's one small issue. In front of the door and in the bathroom are four small bumps ( two in front of door two in bathroom). They seem like they could be the rounded heads of carriage bolts that gave worked up from the floor but gravity makes that scenario seem unlikely. I do plan on replacing the vinyl next year but don't want to cut out one of these spots to see what the bump is and live with that for trips I have planned this summer. Any ideas what's going on under there?

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #1 – June 08, 2018, 11:45:45 am

You are probably seeing and feeling the heads of the carriage bolts that hold the coach to the chassis.
The carriage bolt's nuts can be be found and tightened from below.

Larry

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #2 – June 08, 2018, 12:24:02 pm

Quote from: Sawyer - June 08, 2018, 11:12:52 am

I recently purchased a 1997 24 ft rear bath lazy daze which I love but there's one small issue.

For the record and to avoid future confusion, this model is a 'Front Lounge' (FL). The official 'Rear Bath' model is 26.5' to 27' long, often also referred to as the 'Party Plan'.

Steve

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #3 – June 08, 2018, 03:25:30 pm

I have a 97 TK, and layed down a 1/8th inch subfloor and was able to cut around the bolt heads to make the vinyl lay flat.

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #4 – June 08, 2018, 06:55:06 pm

Quote from: Larry W - June 08, 2018, 11:45:45 am

You are probably seeing and feeling the heads of the carriage bolts that hold the coach to the chassis.
The carriage bolt's nuts can be be found and tightened from below.

Larry

Thanks I'll crawl under and look for them. Sounds like an easy fix if I can get a socket or a wrench in there.

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #5 – June 08, 2018, 06:58:51 pm

Quote from: Steve - June 08, 2018, 12:24:02 pm

For the record and to avoid future confusion, this model is a 'Front Lounge' (FL). The official 'Rear Bath' model is 26.5' to 27' long, often also referred to as the 'Party Plan'.

Steve

Ahh thank you, the newbie stands corrected. I actually wanted the rear lounge model but this one was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. Now that I have it I'm glad it's the front lounge because I really like the big bathroom. Everyone that looks at it can't believe what a big bathroom such a small motorhome has.

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #6 – June 08, 2018, 07:00:35 pm

Quote from: Craig P - June 08, 2018, 03:25:30 pm

I have a 97 TK, and layed down a 1/8th inch subfloor and was able to cut around the bolt heads to make the vinyl lay flat.

If I can't find and tighten them I'll go that route.

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #7 – June 11, 2018, 08:58:59 am

So I tried tightening the bolts from underneath. I could only get to the ones by the door which were definitely loose but for some reason it didn't seem to suck them down inside much. The others are hidden behind the gas tank and waste tanks so I can't even try them. I got the bright idea to hammer them down with a rubber mallet and they didn't budge. Guess I'll have to live with this until I replace the vinyl flooring and see what's going on under there. Might have to add plywood as suggested but that raises the issue of removing the toilet and reinstalling it higher than it originally was. Not sure what all that will involve.

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #8 – June 11, 2018, 10:02:57 am

There's a few posts about changing the OEM bolts that hold the generator with carriage bolts that have a flatter oval head. The carriage bolts have a lower profile. We changed our OEM bolts with the carriage bolts when we had vinyl planking installed in our LD. The planks were thick enough that the installers were able to "carve" out a bit of the planking material to achieve a flat floor over the bolt heads. I thought I had a pic of that area but can't seem to find it. That whole issue with our generator bolts made me grumpy! Please let me know if you have any questions about bolt experience.

P.S.

This was one of the generator bolt discussions.
Carpet Under Dinette

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #9 – June 11, 2018, 10:32:57 am

Quote from: Ed & Margee - June 11, 2018, 10:02:57 am

There's a few posts about changing the OEM bolts that hold the generator with carriage bolts that have a flatter oval head. The carriage bolts have a lower profile. We changed our OEM bolts with the carriage bolts when we had vinyl planking installed in our LD. The planks were thick enough that the installers were able to "carve" out a bit of the planking material to achieve a flat floor over the bolt heads. I thought I had a pic of that area but can't seem to find it. That whole issue with our generator bolts made me grumpy! Please let me know if you have any questions about bolt experience.

P.S.

This was one of the generator bolt discussions.
Carpet Under Dinette

I was considering a wood type floor and wondered if I could maybe file down the bolt heads and carve out a bit of the wood flooring over them. Sounds like it's a good possibility. Thanks

Re: Bumps under vinyl flooring

Reply #10 – June 11, 2018, 11:29:37 am

Quote from: Sawyer - June 11, 2018, 10:32:57 am

I was considering a wood type floor and wondered if I could maybe file down the bolt heads and carve out a bit of the wood flooring over them. Sounds like it's a good possibility. Thanks

The standard fix when installing wood floors is to clearance the back of the wood to fit over the carriage bolts.
You do not want to grind the bolt heads and loose strength.
When installing sheet flooring, a thin subfloor of plywood is laid down first, with holes cut to clear the carriage bolts.

When tightening the frame bolts, do not over torque them or the carriage bolt heads will break loose and spin, making it next to impossible to tighten them again in the future. Snug them down to about 20-ft/lbs.

Larry

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