Camping Caravan & Motorhome Show. NEC

[Black Countryman]

Thanks for the comments.

From the replies it looks like I'm going to be using wooden boards.

I think I'll go for 25mm marine ply and give it the same treatment as my boat bits - a few coats of epoxy and then marine varnish - to make it last longer and be easier to clean.

I assume that by walk, people mean that the legs slide about on the boards so I'll put some stops to prevent the legs moving about. If the actual boards wander |I could look at putting some studs or something on the bottom.

Please comment if you think I'm skimping at 25mm but I'm concerned about the weight. I know these boards won't weigh that much but it all adds up.

We've been using off-cuts of 25mm or 30mm styrofoam for this sort of thing for 20 years or more. It's tough enough that we also use it for chocks for transporting the cabins on a truck or trailer. It weighs nothing, is completely impervious to water and it won't damage anything while being stored. If you have the 4 pieces, all bigger than you need, and cut 2 shorter that the others you can use them as levelling ramps too. The only problem is the wind can blow them away if you're not careful (seriously). Your ply would work perfectly of course but quite frankly 25mm is completely over the top. If using ply I'd also be inclined to paint it with something grippy rather than slippery varnish. If you want to varnish them maybe sprinkle some dry sand on your wet varnish on the top side (to give some friction between leg and pad).

Best wishes

Gary

Thanks for such a detailed reply. I think I'll go for your styrofoam suggestion as weight bothers me.

Is 25 mm styrofoam good enough or would I need something thicker?

I know I can play about testing it myself but my block paving won't be the same a soggy grass.

[Gary W]

Thanks for the comments.

From the replies it looks like I'm going to be using wooden boards.

I think I'll go for 25mm marine ply and give it the same treatment as my boat bits - a few coats of epoxy and then marine varnish - to make it last longer and be easier to clean.

I assume that by walk, people mean that the legs slide about on the boards so I'll put some stops to prevent the legs moving about. If the actual boards wander |I could look at putting some studs or something on the bottom.

Please comment if you think I'm skimping at 25mm but I'm concerned about the weight. I know these boards won't weigh that much but it all adds up.

We've been using off-cuts of 25mm or 30mm styrofoam for this sort of thing for 20 years or more. It's tough enough that we also use it for chocks for transporting the cabins on a truck or trailer. It weighs nothing, is completely impervious to water and it won't damage anything while being stored. If you have the 4 pieces, all bigger than you need, and cut 2 shorter that the others you can use them as levelling ramps too. The only problem is the wind can blow them away if you're not careful (seriously). Your ply would work perfectly of course but quite frankly 25mm is completely over the top. If using ply I'd also be inclined to paint it with something grippy rather than slippery varnish. If you want to varnish them maybe sprinkle some dry sand on your wet varnish on the top side (to give some friction between leg and pad).

Best wishes

Gary

Thanks for such a detailed reply. I think I'll go for your styrofoam suggestion as weight bothers me.

Is 25 mm styrofoam good enough or would I need something thicker?

I know I can play about testing it myself but my block paving won't be the same a soggy grass.

We've always found 25mm sufficient (assuming you have a small 2" or so square plate on the bottom of the leg as opposed to open box section). If there's no plate just knock up some small alloy or steel plates (or big washers would be perfect if you can find them) with a small coach bolt up through them to locate within the legs and all should be well. It really doesn't need to be terribly strong on grass/sand or mud (or even what must have been extremely thin concrete!), it's not spanning anything, it's just spreading the load.

Best wishes

Gary