:cry Al,
Somehow you got to get the backing up or your carpet will be lumpy. Either you got to use good-old-fashioned elbow grease or someone else's elbow grease. But grease it is.
After I got mine all up I prepped the floor for linoleum by
painting it with the old leftover house
paint everyone has in the garage. Great way to use the otherwise hazardous waste that
paint is now classified as. Double benefit. Don't worry about colors, it's the seal you care about.
Let me ask you... why carpet? why not linoleum with rugs or pergo with rugs? Can take up rugs and wash or beat them. or replace them altogether. You might get stains on your new carpet right away and what do you do then? Elbow grease again I guess...
Reason I ask this is that I have rugs on my linoleum. I also put drain holes in the front and rear floor. I can wash down the interior and then hose out all the soap.
Sorry if I say too much. Enjoy your new caarpet.