1) My current trailer has white MDF walls and while it looks great, it's a PITA to keep clean. On the next trailer, looking at adding a medium gray outdoor carpet to the walls (about 3/4) the way up. Has anyone had any good/bad experiences with this method. 2) Lighting. The LED route seems the best way to go but those strip lights seem to go bad after 1-2 years. I've seen regular 12v Tube shop lights that could be fixed to the ceiling (finished) and or the walls. Any ideas?
Did exactly that with my trailer (but I two toned it with black outdoor carpet on the bottom....and gray on top). Used a chrome carpet edge to hide the transition. Super easy to do and dramatically changes the appearance of the trailer (not to mention bumps up the sound deadening and insulation....) Couple of tips: 1) mark off the studs at the top so you know where to drill when the carpet it up. 2) get a hand held carpet roller tool to smooth down the carpet against the walls after you spray the adhesive on 3) use the strongest spray adhesive you can find....I went one step down from the strongest and it started to come off.... 4) wear a respirator and sealed googles when using the spray adhesive (learned that when it started gumming up in my nose hairs)....also put a covering on the floor because the overspray will get on the floor....
I can tell you this stuff works. Local shop uses it when installing boat carpeting and it sticks great and holds up. https://www.dap.com/products-projects/product-categories/adhesives/contact-cement/landau-top-trim/ You will absolutely need a respirator mask when spraying this!
carpet holds hair and blood DNA samples more than a smooth hard surface. Just sayin. Just in case. Also use an adhesive with high temp resistance. That will help it stay on longer if its just a regular contact adhesive.
3m 90....used the 77 at first....didnt hold.. It's mainly a concern for the bottom edges....with all the stuff mounted on the walls, the screws help hold it in place....if you can plan it out so the tracks/anything hanging on the walls is lined up with breaks in the carpet, that helps as well. it dries quick so only spray sections that are about to go on the wall then roll it on....rinse and repeat.
Our trailer build was pretty "comprehensive" in regard to electrical. Joe would know as he's an electrical wiz. Feel free to PM as he might he helpful.
FYI 3m spray 90 has a heat resistance of about 60F more than spray 77. spray 90 loses bond with 100g over 1” surface at 210f For vehicles getting heat resistance up above 200 and even better closer to 240f really helps. 150f of spray 77 is too low for something on a trailer wall