Covering the floor in a cargo van with wood will protect the original floor from the wear and tear of daily use. Heavy items will mark and indent the wood instead of the van's original factory floor or paint job. A wood floor will prevent tools and equipment from sliding around and shifting as much as they do with an original, metal floor. When the wood wears out, it can be easily replaced to continue protecting the floor.
Place cardboard in the van floor to create a template for marking and cutting the plywood. Cut around wheel covers or any curved areas that extend above the floor. If necessary, tape several pieces of cardboard together to obtain the floor shape that is desired. Mark on the template locations for screw's holes that will be drilled and used to fasten the plywood to the van floor.
Lay the cardboard template on top of the plywood. Mark the edge of the template and the screw locations on the plywood, using the template as the guide.
Use the circular saw and jig saw to cut the plywood to the exact shape of the template. Lay the plywood on the van floor.
Drill pilot holes through the plywood and the cargo van's metal floor. Adjust the drill bit so it does not protrude below the van floor and strike anything underneath by accident.
Secure the plywood to the cargo van floor with the self tapping screws. Use as many screws as desired to prevent movement of the plywood.
