padding in Cobra trailer

[BobWa43]

The carpet in my Cobra trailer is shedding badly. I would like to replace or cover it. Open to any ideas on how to remove the old carpet or can you just put some new material on top of the old? What material would be best? Soft felt, hard felt, carpet?

[John Sinclair]

On Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 6:10:14 PM UTC-7, bob...@gmail.com wrote:
> The carpet in my Cobra trailer is shedding badly. I would like to replace or cover it. Open to any ideas on how to remove the old carpet or can you just put some new material on top of the old? What material would be best? Soft felt, hard felt, carpet?

The padding’s I have seen have a rubbery under-service that deaerates . I removed everything with a wire brush and acetone. Wings & Wheels has replacement material in red or blue.
JJ

[jfitch]

Under no circumstances would I replace the Cobra carpet/padding with the same material. It is a great deal of work to remove the adhesive sheet they use, and the material self destructs on a regular time table. There are better materials available that will last much longer.

[John Sinclair]

On Monday, April 26, 2021 at 8:42:35 AM UTC-7, jfitch wrote:
> Under no circumstances would I replace the Cobra carpet/padding with the same material. It is a great deal of work to remove the adhesive sheet they use, and the material self destructs on a regular time table. There are better materials available that will last much longer.

It’s not the same material! Spindleburger (owner of Cobra Trailers), continually evaluates every aspect of his product and frequently makes changes. New fabric without the padding is just the latest example of a company that really tries to improve their product.
JJ

[Jason Leonard]

I've been using closed cell neoprene sheets with decent success. Its more grabby but it can be cleaned, and won't scuff. It grabs, but it doesn't scuff or hold dirt that will scratch like carpet or felt. It also has a nice give to it that does protect.

[Guy Acheson]

This is a great question that all Cobra owners will have to face.
I have two trailers and replaced the original carpet about five years ago with indoor/outdoor carpet that I put in place with rubber cement.
The hardest part is removing the crumbly foam rubber backing on the original padding. Aweful product.
My second trailer has the padding starting to fall off.

So...JJ...is there a heavy felt product or carpet that has self adhesive backing appropriate for this use?

[6PK]

The foam back carpet was a terrible idea, left over relic from the seventies, it was used as "kitchen carpet" in the US, I'm surprised Cobra was and I guess still using it. They are most likely not even available in the US any longer.
The easiest way to replace this crap is with regular commercial grade "tufted" carpets, readily available at your neighborhood flooring stores . Than once again the problem is the weight with these goods which makes it harder to install once all the previous crap has been removed as I think JJ described it well previously.
The best results can be obtained from automobile carpets (without the foam back) , these are light weight and go around compound curves much more easily. They can be purchased at the neighborhood auto upholstery shops. Even if more expensive remember you don't need a large quantity, so it won't brake the bank.
And since on this subject, please use a good quality contact cement BUT NOT THE GREEN KIND as you may end up with the carpet as headwear- they just don't hold. Unfortunately the old fashioned contact cements are only available in small cans any longer which makes them more expensive.
I could be wrong here as I only tried the local hardware stores and not online.

[Nicholas Kennedy]

On my Cobra I used a Painters 5 in 1 tool as a scraper sharpened up.
You can put a lot of force on as these fit in your hand nicely.
Then I buffed it out with a wire wheel in a battery drill.
The wire wheel did a good job of taking the bits and pieces completely off.
Nick
T

[John Sinclair]

We removed some old padding and replaced it with carpet from Wings &Wheels. Thinner because it didn’t have a foam back. Used the old contact cement.........the new green contact is pure crap! Read the label on the old contact cement which says, in part...........stir before using........ then apply to both surfaces........then let dry for :15 minutes!
Worked for us and customer was happy!
JJ

[2G]

I have used a paint scraper such as this that I attached to a longer handle for this kind of work:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-4-in-Floor-and-Wall-Razor-Scraper-with-5-25-in-Handle-and-Stainless-Steel-Blade-62920/311182302
Tom

[Guy Acheson]

I used Goo Gone, waited an hour and used a paint scraper.
Then you have to wash off the Goo Gone.
Was not that big a deal.

Taping off the areas for the new padding and painting on the rubber cement was intoxicating.
Must do that outside or the fumes will become overwhelming.
New glued on outdoor carpet is still holding strong.

[jfitch]

It is easier to use spray contact adhesive. Use 3M 90, not 3M 77.

[Dgtarmichael]

Anybody ever use boat carpeting? Rubber padded
backing and holds up to the elements.

-Doug
W24

[Darren Braun]

> The carpet in my Cobra trailer is shedding badly. I would like to replace or cover it. Open to any ideas on how to remove the old carpet or can you just put some new material on top of the old? What material would be best? Soft felt, hard felt, carpet?

The carpet generally comes off surprisingly easy, I found. That's the best property of the original carpet. But it makes a powdery mess as you do so wear mask and probably gloves...
What is left behind is a bit of a sticky that I didn't care to remove. Instead I used loctite spray adhesive and a basic low pile outdoor carpet as the replacement. You will want to save the old pieces to use as a template.
Darren

[Mark Mocho]

Adhesive carpet tiles. Cut to fit. You also can work with one at a time rather than wrestling with a large piece of carpet. Pick tiles with either no padding or something other than the foam on Cobra carpet, which disintegrates in a dry climate.

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/7442575094315953842?q=adhesive+carpet+tiles&prds=epd:18165453031383880840,eto:18165453031383880840_0,prmr:1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEjeH0-rPwAhUSM30KHQ_dDasQ9pwGCAY

[Chris Behm]

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 7:04:36 PM UTC-7, Mark Mocho wrote:
> Adhesive carpet tiles. Cut to fit. You also can work with one at a time rather than wrestling with a large piece of carpet. Pick tiles with either no padding or something other than the foam on Cobra carpet, which disintegrates in a dry climate.
>
> https://www.google.com/shopping/product/7442575094315953842?q=adhesive+carpet+tiles&prds=epd:18165453031383880840,eto:18165453031383880840_0,prmr:1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEjeH0-rPwAhUSM30KHQ_dDasQ9pwGCAY

What is the latest consensus to the deteriorating carpet problem?

My new to me trailer is dusting my new to me plane....

Thanks in advance.

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

One idea for replacing Cobra trailer carpeting is to try "bunk carpeting" from a boating supplier. https://www.westmarine.com/c-e-smith-deluxe-marine-bunk-carpet-P017_513_002_501.html

BTW: "Bunks" are the long boards on a boat trailer that supports the boat's (typically gel coat) hull.

My $0.02.

- John (OHM)