Outdoor carpet for bed platform question

I am building a platform for the bed of my Tacoma. Just wondering if I put carpet backing or furniture pads under it, is there going to be a problem with mildew and mold if it gets wet? I would like a little padding under it, but not at the expense of trouble in the future. Also any recomendations for the outdoor carpet itself. Looking a Lowes and H.D. cheapest at about 50 cent a square ft. Thanks for any suggestions. Randy.

 

If you put absorbent material under it, it will definitely cause mold/mildew issues.

I would look into ½" or ¼" (depending on how much padding you want) EVA foam mats. Best known for being those tiles of padding people put on their workout gym floor.

Keep in mind, anything water can get under (and it will get under everything) can start to mildew and create mold.
I might consider 1) making sure all wood is thoroughly sealed, 2) gluing or stapling down the carpet directly, instead of trying to put padding under it, and 3) keep EVA foam mats or a rolled up yoga mat back there for when you need it. That way you can use it elsewhere if you need to, it can be cleaned easily, and you don't have to worry about mildew. I keep 2 yoga mats laid across the bed so if i need to crawl around back there, it doesn't wreck my knees!

 

Thanks for the excellent advice. I am going to skip the padding under and just use the carpet. Just got to see what kind of sealer to use. Thanks, Randy.

 

I also have a cheap 20" box fan and any time water gets back there, I'll throw that fan back there, leave the glass window open, and let it run for a while to circulate the air and dry everything up. Works great. Here in AL, its so humid most of the year that water just takes forever to dry on its own