Carpet Talk

This is the first time I’ve ever fitted new carpet and insulation, and most certainly the first time writing about it. When someone mentions they’re going overlanding across the oceans to a land far away, the last thing that bubbles up from the deep recesses of the mind is carpet talk. I mean, it’s carpet, hearts aren’t going to be racing, are they? Some would say it’s just a pile of . . .

Carpets of Saaaiitann!!!

​So, carpet. I’m not saying it’s going to be the last I’m going to fit it, but am not going to be rushing to the front of a queue to volunteer to do it again. Or if you paid me, I’d also rebuff you, and not in a polite way either. I have seen on many designs the soundproofing being attached to the chassis – like with Dynamat – and then the carpet placed on top with felt underlay. This is a good idea! Auto Car Carpets seem to have a slightly different design. Brace yourself, and by brace I mean, put the kettle on. 

Hate. Carpet. Hate.

​What I had purchased was moulded carpet that needs to be cut into place (fairly standard) and then the waterproof and soundproof barrier glued onto that. This isn’t such a good idea in my know-nothing experience. You’re better off sticking it to the chassis. The reason for this is because it’s an absolute pain in the arse to stick a heavy layer onto a moulded carpet and get the same contours, it just doesn’t work. Seems obvious now, but when trying to do the thing on one of those hot Melbourne days where you feel like your t-shirt and undies have been rolled in treacle, it’s a tough day at the office. There were several times that I thought I was going to just handover my lunch money to the carpet and leave it on the side of the road. I had been owned, by a carpet. And no one cares about carpet, which indicates the level of humiliation I was feeling. As you’d be familiar with by now, I cursed pure filth rather spectacularly and repeatedly. My Landcruiser visibly blanched, poor thing.

Waterproof and Soundproof Goodness

You can see from the pictures that if you glued the whole of the soundproof and waterproof material to the carpet, it would just never make the contours. The only choice you have, since it’s not a very bendable material, is to cut it into various pieces to make the forms you need. Oh and since it was Christmas when fitting it Auto Car Carpets were closed, so asking for advice wasn’t going to happen. Didn’t stop me phoning several times though.
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However, it is in, and looks absolutely superb. But don’t rush to fit this stuff again. Go and get yourself some Dynamat and some moulded carpets. Job done. And maybe even a shopfitter so you can sit back and make it someone else’s problem whilst supping a cold beverage, and trying to wash out the thought of how treacle ever got into Richards underwear. 

Image References:
http://canacopegdl.com/synonym/treacle.html