Trailer Flooring
Just bought a new trailer? Before loading it up with dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and other sports toys, it’s important to protect your trailer with a floor that is meant for the job. Find the most durable, weather-resistant flooring here in our trailer flooring buying guide.
Trailers see everything from mud to water to snow – the last thing you want is the bed of your trailer deteriorating after each use. That’s why installing quality flooring is the best thing to do right after you buy a new trailer.
What kind of flooring is best for your trailer? What will hold up over time and look cool? It’s a tall order, but plenty of trailer flooring options are up to the challenge. Let’s take a look at the qualities you need for your trailer flooring and what floors work best for certain types of trailers.
Trailers see everything from mud to water to snow – the last thing you want is the bed of your trailer deteriorating after each use. That’s why installing quality flooring is the best thing to do right after you buy a new trailer.
What kind of flooring is best for your trailer? What will hold up over time and look cool? It’s a tall order, but plenty of trailer flooring options are up to the challenge. Let’s take a look at the qualities you need for your trailer flooring and what floors work best for certain types of trailers.
How to Choose Trailer Flooring
When it comes to trailer flooring, it’s more than okay to be picky and make sure you’ve really found “the one.” Since these floors have so much work to do, they’ll need certain features to make sure they’re up to the task of hauling your heavy automobiles, cargo, or livestock.
Here are some important features to look for:
- Durability: Obviously, your trailer floor needs to be a heavy lifter to transport ATVs, motorcycles, and other toys. You need a beefy, brawny, durable floor that can stay strong through heavy wear and tear.
- Sounds quality: If you prefer quieter floors, look for a softer flooring material (see vinyl rolls and soft PVC tiles below!).
- Look: Most trailer flooring options come in diamond, coin, or smooth patterns, each giving your floor a unique look. If you choose tiles, you have options for all kinds of popping colors and looks you can create.
- Water resistance: With all the spills likely to happen in a trailer, water- and weather-resistant features help keep your floors strong and resilient.
- Low maintenance: Check out how easy/difficult your floor is to clean and if it requires any special cleaners, tricks, etc.
- Chemical resistance: Your trailer flooring may see spills from all kinds of stuff. Chemical-resistant qualities will ensure that your trailer floor looks nice and has a long life.
- Insulation: If you own a livestock trailer or mobile home trailer, you’ll want insulated floors so everybody stays warm and comfortable.
- Slip resistance: This feature is essential for livestock trailers. Animals may get scared and uncomfortable if they fall during transportation. Slip-resistant flooring helps them get better traction.
- Chemical resistance: Your trailer flooring may see spills from all kinds of stuff. Chemical-resistant qualities will ensure that your trailer floor looks nice and has a long life.
Best Trailer Flooring Options
Now that you know what qualities to look for in your trailer floor, let’s talk specifics. What are the best trailer flooring ideas? We’ve got a few favorites that hit the top trailer flooring marks and are getting rave reviews.
Vinyl Rolls
Vinyl rolls are our top pick for trailer flooring. Why?Flooring rolls that are made of 100% premium grade polyvinyl, a.k.a. PVC, are perfect for a trailer floor. This proprietary blend ensures that the floor is flexible, durable, and chemical resistant. The soft PVC material also makes for a quiet floor. This kind of vinyl roll is the same flooring you might use in a garage.
Another option is a vinyl sheet, which is similar to a vinyl garage roll, but typically comes in more styles and patterns. Vinyl sheets have a softer backing as well and are often used indoors, but that doesn’t stop them from performing as trailer flooring. This kind of roll is also known as resilient flooring. It’s a great option for mobile home flooring.
Buying your flooring in rolls ensures that it stays put while you’re loading and unloading your sports mobiles. Whereas with tiles, you run the risk of them popping out with all that movement. Tiles still come with plenty of pros, but if you want to make your travels with your trailer as stress-free as possible, consider going with flooring rolls.
What really makes vinyl rolls the best trailer flooring option? Along with the features mentioned, vinyl rolls are the most affordable floor for your trailer. Win, win, and win!
What really makes vinyl rolls the best trailer flooring option? Along with the features mentioned, vinyl rolls are the most affordable floor for your trailer. Win, win, and win!
Pros of Vinyl Rolls as Trailer Flooring
- Quiet underfoot: Soft PVC flooring is the quietest trailer flooring option out there.
- Easy installation: Vinyl rolls are so easy to install, a child could do it. They are a bit heavy/bulky and you may need to do a little cutting, but it is a very short DIY project.
- Cost: Vinyl rolls are a true bargain for trailer flooring.
- Style: With a variety of wood-look, stone-look, and other patterns, your flooring can elevate your trailer with a rustic or classy style. It’s all up to you.
- Durability: The resilient materials offer some serious protection, so your floor can last through heavy-duty use.
- Easy Maintenance: To keep your vinyl sheet looking its best, all you really need to do is regularly sweep the floor to remove loose dirt, and mop it down to take care of any bigger messes.
Cons of Vinyl Rolls as Trailer Flooring
- Customization: Unfortunately, there is no way to make a custom design. You will always end up with a single pattern.
- Replacement options: What do you do if the roll does get damaged? Unfortunately, you may need to buy a replacement since you can’t just pop out and replace a section (like you can with tiles).
- Not Fade-Resistant: With extended exposure to sunlight, vinyl sheets will fade or discolor.
- Not chemical-resistant: Vinyl sheets are stain-resistant, but not stain-proof. If exposed to harsh chemicals or spills for an extended amount of time, they may become stained or damaged.
Where to Use Vinyl Rolls
- Mobile homes
- Utility trailers
- Race trailers
- Car trailers
- Motorcycle trailers
- Cargo trailers
Our Top Picks for Vinyl Rolls
- Nitro Rolls: These PVC flooring rolls have it all: sharp looks, easy installation and maintenance, and superb durability. You have the option to choose a coin-top pattern or diamond-plate pattern.
- Mannington Jumpstart 12′ Vinyl Sheet: These vinyl sheets are as stylish, classy, and modern. They come in luxurious, high definition patterns with wood-look and stone-look styles.
- Mannington Revive 12′ Luxury Vinyl Sheet: Don’t let the “luxury” in the name fool you – this is a tough vinyl sheet that’s designed to perform even in demanding settings like a trailer. Choose from a wide range of contemporary patterns to bring a touch of personality wherever you go.
- Mohawk Versatech 13′ 2″ Vinyl Sheet: Enjoy a durable and versatile vinyl roll available in beautiful high definition wood and tile patterns. This vinyl sheet comes with a Spill and Stain Guard wear layer and provides scuff and scratch resistance and provides lasting protection from day-to-day wear.
Soft PVC Tiles
After vinyl rolls, soft plastic tiles are the next best option for a durable trailer floor.These tiles are constructed with the same PVC material as our Nitro Rolls mentioned above, so you can count on your trailer floor to be flexible, durable, and chemical resistant. Additionally, PVC flooring provides anti-fatigue qualities similar to that of rubber flooring.
If you want to protect your trailer in a unique style, tiles are your best route. Whether you go with the soft PVC or hard plastic (see the next option), tiles will give you a bigger selection of colors to choose from. Soft PVC tiles also come in coin, diamond, textured and smooth patterns for different looks.
With PVC tiles, the options are endless and there is something for every budget. They’re built to last and are easy enough for any DIY-er to install on their own. Let’s narrow down the selection with the best options for your trailer floor.
Pros of Soft PVC Tiles as Trailer Flooring
- Durable: Vinyl holds up well to stains, dirt, and heavy use.
- Sound and warmth: Soft PVC tiles are quieter and warmer than hard plastic tiles.
- Look: Tiles come in a variety of colors and surface textures such as coin or diamond, allowing you to customize your trailer however you want.
- Easy maintenance: Maintaining vinyl flooring is super simple. All you need to do is sweep or hose off the flooring as needed.
- Resistant to most chemicals: The main chain of the polymer is made by single bonds of carbon atoms, making PVC an excellent floor for chemical resistance.
- Easy to install: Snap the locks together and go. What could be easier?
- Cost: These tiles are middle-of-the-road price-wise, but it’s a great deal for the quality.
Cons of Soft PVC Tiles as Trailer Flooring
- Stain-resistant but not stain proof: Street tar can cause staining to light-colored tiles and in most instances, this staining can be remedied with a cleaner called Purple Power. For a race car trailer or utility trailer floor, you may want to go with a darker tile.
- May see more movement than with rolls: Unfortunately, interlocking tiles are more likely to pop out or come undone than flooring rolls. Usually, the weight of the finished floor is enough to keep the tiles together, but you can always apply double-sided tape around the perimeter to ensure the tiles stay together.
Where to Use Soft PVC Tiles
- Sports utility trailers
- Race trailers
- Cargo trailers
- Storage trailers
- Motorcycle trailers
Our Top Picks for Soft PVC Tiles
- Coin Flex Nitro Tiles: Coin Flex Nitro Tiles are made of the same durable, soft PVC material as our Nitro Rolls, but come in a variety of colors and offer more flexibility in terms of appearance. The coin pattern offers a unique look, and you can mix and match colors to create your own custom pattern, including checkering, borders, and more.
- Diamond Flex Nitro Tiles: Get the popular tread plate design in a tile that is both durable and comfortable underfoot. Available in several colors, this tile is perfect for a trailer floor. Easy to clean and maintain, these tiles feature a hidden interlocking design that will give your space that high-end finished look you have always wanted.
- Smooth Flex Nitro Tiles: These interlocking garage tiles feature a textured, smooth surface that is great for items with wheels or casters. With a hidden interlocking system, these tiles will prevent liquids from penetrating to the subfloor below and will give you a more finished tiled floor look.
Hard Plastic Tiles
Hard plastic tiles are another great trailer flooring option because of their durability, easy installation, and stain-resistant properties. The drawback to the hard plastic, however, is the noise. These tiles are going to be louder than a floor made of soft PVC material, but if the noise isn’t an issue for you, there are plenty of good qualities about installing hard plastic tiles for your trailer floor.First, their durability comes from a high-quality, impact-resistant polypropylene construction. This material also ensures their chemical resistance, a nice quality to have in a trailer that stores automobiles.
Second, they’re perfect for creating a customized look in your trailer. If style is what you’re after, hard plastic tiles come in a variety of colors to create unique patterns. We’ve seen tons of customers get creative with their trailer floors.
Pros of Hard Plastic Tiles as Trailer Flooring
- Easy installation: These tiles are among the easiest trailer flooring to install. A little time consuming than a roll, maybe, but still easy.
- Professional look: Hard plastic tiles come in diamond, coin, vented, and smooth surface, as well as a variety of colors. This is your opportunity to get creative with cool floor patterns and colors in your trailer. We recommended using diamond, coin, or smooth tiles for a trailer, since vented tiles could allow dirt under the surface.
- Chemical resistant: These tiles are made to resist staining from oil, gas and other chemicals.
- Easy to clean and maintain: A simple sweep and damp mop with gentle cleaning solution after each trip keeps these tiles in good shape.
Cons of Hard Plastic Tiles as Trailer Flooring
- Loud: Hard plastic tiles are louder than other trailer flooring options. However, to dampen the sound, you can add an underlayment, such as the 2mm shockpad.
Where to Use Hard Plastic Tiles
- Utility trailers
- Race trailers
- Motorcycle trailers
Our Top Picks for Hard Plastic Tiles
- Nitro Tiles: Nitro Tiles are one of the toughest garage flooring products that also lends well to utility trailers. With nine vibrant colors to choose from, you can create a custom look in your trailer for a good price.
- Diamond Grid-Loc Tiles: Grid-Loc Coin series floor tiles are designed to handle extremely heavy rolling vehicle loads and are resistant to oil, grease, antifreeze, petroleum products, and many other household chemicals. These tiles are also stain-resistant, odorless, slip-resistant, and UV stable.
- Octane Tiles HD: These tiles feature a 6-loop interlock system and a true diamond tread pattern, and are rated for commercial use. With one of the highest rolling weights in the industry at over 50,000 pounds, these interlocking tiles will perform in even the most demanding trailers.
Rubber Mats
Rubber flooring is known for its extreme durability, a sought-after quality in trailer flooring. Not only can rubber protect your subfloor from heavy equipment and automobiles, but it holds up well against water and other messes.This is why rubber flooring is also great for livestock trailers. Plus, rubber is comfortable and warm for animals, and the material allows them to gain good traction and footing.
Pros of Rubber Mats as Trailer Flooring
- Slip-resistant: Rubber trailer flooring provides good traction and footing for animals.
- Comfort and safety: These mats provide a soft cushion for animals and keep them warm from cold subfloors.
- Antimicrobial: That’s a fancy way to say you won’t see weird things growing in your floor.
- Durable: Rubber is a highly resistant material that can withstand the weight of heavy equipment, sports mobiles, or animals, resulting in a long-lasting trailer flooring option.
- Low maintenance and easy to clean: Rubber trailer flooring makes for the easiest cleanup. Simply hose off any dirt or debris after your trips to keep your animal mats looking nice.
- Eco-friendly: The rubber in these many mats comes from recycled tires and other materials.
Cons of Rubber Mats as Trailer Flooring
- Price: Rubber trailer flooring can be costly to start, but you’ll have a long-lasting, quality product that’s easy to clean and maintain.
Where to Use Rubber Mats
- Utility trailers
- Cargo trailers
- Storage trailers
- Livestock trailers
- Open trailers
Our Top Picks for Rubber Mats
- 3/4″ Extreme Mats: Constructed of highly durable and shock absorbent recycled rubber, these rubber mats are designed to protect flooring from heavy free weights. These straight-edged rubber mats are heavy enough to offer a permanent gym flooring solution, and can also work as a portable gym mat.
- 1/2″ Mega Mats: Mega mats are made of durable and shock absorbent recycled rubber. They absorb impact from dropped weights and protect the subfloor. They are safe to use indoors and outdoors.
- 4′ x 6′ Premium Mats: This machine-cut and vulcanized mats are made of 100% recycled rubber tires. They’re durable, non-porous, low odor, and long-lasting. The smooth top surface is easy to clean and maintain.
Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles are a great flooring for mobile home trailers and RVs specifically. They wouldn’t be our first choice for a trailer carrying sports mobiles, horses or anything else you’d typically haul with a utility trailer (although they are garage-floor approved, so still a viable option!), but for the mobile home trailer owner, carpet tiles make for a stylish, comfortable floor.The carpet tiles we’ll feature here are durable and capable of holding up to heavy foot traffic. They come in over a dozen beautiful colors so you can find the perfect match for your mobile home or design a custom pattern.
Pros of Carpet Tiles as Trailer Flooring
- Durable: Carpet tiles are meant to withstand high traffic and lots of abuse. Many options are stain, soil, and wear-resistant.
- Easy peel-and-stick installation: Carpet tile installation is typically a DIY endeavor. All you need is some double-sided carpet tape or adhesive and a spare afternoon to spend in your trailer.
- Easy to replace: Spill a glass of pinot noir? No problem! Just replace that tile, and your whole floor will look like new!
- Cost: Carpet tiles make for an affordable way to cover your RV trailer floor.
Cons of Carpet Tiles as Trailer Flooring
- Not as soft as other carpets: Carpet tiles lack the softness of broadloom because they aren’t as thick.
Where to Use Carpet Tiles
- RV trailers
- Mobile homes
Our Top Picks for Carpet Tiles
- Hobnail Carpet Tiles: These carpet tile squares feature a self-adhering back, which means no need for messy adhesive or tape. With resistance to mold, mildew, and staining, Hobnail Carpet tiles are designed to last. They’re also UV stable, meaning they won’t fade with extended exposure to sunlight
- Spyglass Carpet Tiles: This is the perfect DIY friendly carpet solution for your mobile home or trailer. These eco-friendly carpet tiles are approved for outdoor use and won’t fade or get ruined in the outdoor elements.
- Weave Carpet Tiles: Installing Weave Carpet Tiles is simple – just peel the plastic backing and place the tile on the floor. With a high-quality releasable adhesive, removal of these carpet tiles is a breeze. Unlike cheaper peel and stick tiles, these commercial carpet tiles will not leave a residue when removed. These modular tiles are resistant to mold, mildew, staining, soiling, and wear.
Best Flooring by Trailer Type
The qualities you look for in your trailer floor depends largely on the type of trailer you have. Whether you have livestock, cargo, a utility trailer, or a mobile home, the best flooring will both look nice and hold up to your specific use. Here are the best flooring products for specific trailer types.
Open Trailer
Any of the following trailer types can also be an open trailer, and a trailer that isn’t enclosed has its own list of flooring needs. You want a floor that is durable and weather-resistant, won’t fade in the sun, or rot under rain. Here are your best flooring options for an open trailer.Recommended Floor for an Open Trailer
- Coin Nitro Rolls: These PVC flooring rolls have it all: easy installation and maintenance, superb durability, and slip resistance when wet.
- Diamond Nitro Rolls: Just like the coin pattern version, these flooring rolls are made from100% premium grade virgin polyvinyl for durability and slip-resistance.
Race/Car Trailer
If you’re hauling vehicles in your trailer, you want a durable floor that’s similar to garage flooring. Chemical resistance is a nice quality, as well as the ability to easily load and unload. You might even want to support your ride in style. Here are the best flooring options for a race trailer or car trailer.Recommended Floor for a Race Trailer or Car Trailer
- Octane Tiles HD: Octane Tiles have one of the highest rolling weights in the industry at over 50,000 pounds. They’re also stain-resistant and won’t discolor from race car tires.
- Nitro Tiles: Easy to install and maintain, these hard plastic tiles have been engineered to resist staining from oil, gas, and most household chemicals.
Utility Trailer
You may use a utility trailer for a variety of purposes, hauling everything from motorcycles to ATVs to lawnmowers. With that in mind, you want a strong multi-use floor that can hold up to anything – heavy equipment, rolling automobiles, chemicals, and liquids – whatever the adventure may be. Here are the best flooring ideas for utility trailers.Recommended Floor for a Utility Trailer
- Coin Nitro Rolls: These PVC flooring rolls have it all: easy installation and maintenance, superb durability, and slip resistance when wet.
- Diamond Nitro Rolls: Just like the coin pattern version, these flooring rolls are made from100% premium grade virgin polyvinyl for durability and slip-resistance.
Cargo Trailer
For transporting cargo, you might not be as concerned about the look and style of your floor as you are about the ability to easily load and unload items, quietness underfoot, and easy cleanup and maintenance. Here are the best flooring ideas for a cargo trailer.Recommended Floor for a Cargo Trailer
- Textured Nitro Rolls: Made from 100% premium grade virgin polyvinyl, these smooth-top garage rolls are perfect for rolling cargo dollies back and forth.
- Smooth Flex Nitro Tiles: These smooth-top tiles are great for rolling carts into your cargo trailer.
- ¼” 4’x10’ Tough Mats: Also great for rolling carts, rubber is a warm, sound-insulating floor. Rubber’s antimicrobial and water-resistant properties make these mats perfect for easy cleanup and maintenance.
Livestock Trailer
Livestock trailer flooring is a whole other animal, no pun intended. Safety and comfort are the two biggest concerns for the animals, and for your sake, you’ll want a floor that’s easy to clean. Here are the best flooring options for livestock trailers.Recommended Floor for a Livestock Trailer
- 3/8″ Heavy Duty Rubber Rolls: This heavy-duty commercial rolled rubber flooring is the highest quality rubber flooring on the market. It is built for extreme durability and can be used indoors and out.
- 3/4″ Extreme Mats: Made from ultra-durable recycled crumb rubber, these mats absorb impact and can handle heavy traffic. They’re easy to clean and maintain.
- 4’x6′ Premium Mats: These mats can withstand heavy animals and provide a warm, comfortable surface for them.
RV Trailer
RV and mobile home flooring should be comfortable, easy to clean and maintain, and, frankly, should be nice to look at. Style is a bigger concern for a trailer you’re living in, but you also want insulation and comfort underfoot. Here are your best flooring options for an RV trailer or mobile home.Recommended Floor for an RV Trailer or Mobile home
- Weave Carpet Tiles: This affordable option is a customer favorite for ease of installation and maintenance.
- Premium Hobnail Carpet Tiles: These tiles give your RV or mobile home a sophisticated style.
- Mannington Jumpstart 12′ Vinyl Sheet: This vinyl sheet is stylish, classy, modern, and best of all, affordable.
Maintaining Your Trailer Floor
Traveling with a trailer can be a dirty job. Spills, animal messes, mud, soil – trailer floors are susceptible to plenty of filth and grime. Low-maintenance floors can go a long way, but it’s still best to do some routine checks and cleanup.
Check Regularly For Soft Spots
Whether from a leak in the roof or occasional spills, water on your trailer floor can lead to trouble. Soft spots on the trailer floor can lead to mold, rotting, and damage to walls and other aspects of your trailer. Check your trailer floor regularly for soft spots and replace your flooring as soon as you spot them.Cargo and Utility Trailer Floor Maintenance
With cargo, sports and utility trailers, damage to the floor can happen when doors are left open and rainwater gets in.It’s also important to think about how you’re loading and unloading materials and equipment onto your trailer. If you’re using a forklift rather than a pallet jack, take into account the combined weight of the forklift and the product being carried.
Here are a few tips to preserve your cargo and utility trailer floors:
- Instead of power washing the floor, sweep or use air pressure to protect the subfloor.
- Inspect the bottom side of floors to determine any damage from overloading.
- Keep doors closed on the trailer at all times.
Livestock Trailer Floor Maintenance
These tips will help you keep up with the cleanup between road trips:- Remove manure, wet bedding, and dropped feed.
- Keep a bucket in your trailer or store a wheelbarrow near your trailer storage area to make it quick and easy to clean up after a trip.
- Hose off rubber flooring. Pay close attention to the cracks where the floor meets the wall, joints at doors, and other spots where your trailer tends to accumulate debris.
- Allow the trailer to dry completely prior to restocking.
- Once the trailer is dry, sprinkle baking soda on the subfloor before replacing the mats. This will help neutralize animal urine so it doesn’t do as much damage to your trailer floor.
Mobile Home Trailer Floor Maintenance
Help keep your mobile home floors clean with these tips:- Lay down an outdoor rug to help scrape dirt off shoes before they enter your living space.
- Place small rugs throughout the trailer, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Sweep daily.
Get Started with Quality Trailer Flooring
It’s nice to finally have your own trailer to do your hauling, whether you haul ATVs and sports mobiles or cargo and livestock. If you want to get the best use out of your new trailer and extend its life, it’s important to install high-quality flooring right away.
We’ve broken down the qualities to look for and the best products for your type of trailer, now where do you start? Order a free sample of any of these trailer floor products today to get a better idea before you buy.
We’ve broken down the qualities to look for and the best products for your type of trailer, now where do you start? Order a free sample of any of these trailer floor products today to get a better idea before you buy.