The flooring arrived yesterday, and it was in the bus by this afternoon. We ended up going with TrafficMaster Allure Ultra vinyl plank flooring, which is way too expensive, but totally worth it in the end. This stuff just goes together like magic. I did the entire floor in about three hours. Ouest and Lowe could have done it in four.
Along the way I ran into this hole in the floor which I’ve never figured out the purpose of. There is nothing under there or even anywhere near there. But when I got to it I remember that when I first saw it I expected to pull the cover and find the brake master cylinder. That would have seemed somewhat logical to me. I was wrong of course, but today when I got to that point it forced me to do something that has been in the back of my mind for a while—namely, find the brake master cylinder.
I eventually pulled all the crap out of that hole, and filled it with a new piece of wood before covering it with the flooring. Now on the to-do list is covering it from the bottom and making it waterproof again.
The obvious place to start in the search for the master cylinder was at the brake pedal, and sure enough, that’s where it was. The crazy thing about it though was that the fill cap was located just an inch or so below the floor. Not only that, but there was no way for me to get my hand to it. Not through the engine compartment, and not from underneath. There was essentially no possible way for me to check and fill the brake fluid.
Routine checking of brake fluid is something we learned early on in the VW bus when our master cylinder sprung a leak high up in the mountains.
As so often happens, I was almost finished with one task when all my attention got diverted to another. Just four planks away from finishing the floor I was now ripping up the driver’s floor. I often times wonder how I’ve gone all these years without owning my own angle grinder. I drilled a pilot hole from underneath so I could locate the spot on the inside, then got busy with the grinder. In no time I had a nice access hole cut out for the brake master cylinder. I checked the fluid and found it to be clean and full.
Now I’ve got to figure out a way to keep this accessible while also keeping road spray from leaking inside. Actually I’ve got a pretty ingenious solution cooked up in my mind, but that’s a project for another day.
I finished the main floor. I’ve still got the entryway step and the driver and passenger cabs to do. Man does it feel like a nice little apartment in there now. Can’t wait to get some furniture.
20 Comments on “A New Floor”
Really coming together nicely. Can’t wait for y’all to hit the road, probably not nearly as excited as you are!
Good work on the floor, Pat. Yes, Allure Ultra is overpriced, but it sure does the job, does it quickly and will stand up to a lot of abuse. I’d be curious why you laid the flooring port/starboard rather than fore ‘n aft. Generally, laying flooring parallel to the longest dimension of a room is considered “correct”, though either way is acceptable.
The important thing is that it’s down and you can cross that line-item off the list.
Good job also on making access to the brake master cylinder. Since it was virtually inaccessible, I wonder if anyone had even tried to check it in the past 45 years.
I own a lot of tools, but I always resisted getting an angle grinder. It just seemed like the jobs where it would have been the perfect tool were somewhat rare and there was always another way – even if it took longer. When I finally broke down and got one, I was amazed at how many other jobs it made easier. Now it’s one of my favorite tools.
Keep up the good work, Pat . . . the Bums will be rolling into much warmer weather very soon, I predict.
TJ
We ran it side to side in order to follow the grain of the walls, as well as the lines of the ceiling.
And yes, we should be rolling warmer soon.
I’d live in it! Good work.
Wouldnt you want to flush the brakefuel anyway ? It might also be 45 years old ? Fresh and bled would give me peace of mind 🙂
It received a $1500 full brake job about four months before we bought it.
How did *they* check the brake fluid?
The shape of the hole in the floor makes me think heat vent.
How is the RV heated by the way?
If you get a 4″ hole saw and round out your access hole you could easily seal it with one of these:http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/0481137;jsessionid=dRXTTQXf3LrVTLYL21Z1JFsDvVtdjZyRVyy5CPVfRy9vxzPndrJ6!585753888!1214249990?isPunchout=false
On more than one occasion I’ve had to try to make an existing hole of no particular shape into a round hole by using a hole saw. Trust me, once there’s no longer material in the center to anchor the hole saw’s pilot bit, it generally results in an epic fail. The best you’re likely to get is a “round-ish” hole. 🙂
Unless you drill out a small piece of plywood with the same hole saw first, then anchor that template down over the existing hole and use it as a guide for your hole saw.
Where is your battery currently located? On my 1967, that panel was access to the top of the battery, which was suspended on a metal rack just below that opening.
Oh, yes, I remember now, your batteries have been moved to the front bumper.
Consider changing brake fluid if you think it is old. I reached mountain altitude in the Blue Ridge and the brake pedal went to the floor. I could pump it for brakes but I immediately descended off the mountain. Once at lower levels the brakes worked fine. Cause was old brake fluid. BTW your work looks great and I am ready to follow along on new adventures.
Running the floor in that direction gives the appearance of width in the room. Couldn’t be more perfect…
Umm, yes. Exactly what I was thinking. 🙂
Why not use a port access cover from West Marine?
I got it. The hole is right near the stove and next to the settee, right? It’s a garbage disposal! (or a laundry chute, if you don’t like washing cloths)
I wish. Actually it’s located underneath the couch! Definitely not convenient for throwing garbage (just plastic stuff) away while driving down the road.
But think of all the fun it would provide for the kids as you scoot down the road at 60. A little trail of army men, doll parts, socks along all your travels. Way more fun than a GPS track.
Thanks for sharing your adventures!