Is it Possible to Seal the Belly Pan?

[Aktundra]

Doing a Frame off rebuild of a 1963 Bambi

Paint is drying on new marine plywood floor, and should be bolting it down by this weekend. I plan to fill the voids with styro insulation boards then will be ready to wrap the bottom with the belly pan.

The original (?) belly pan consisted of two pieces, with a seam down the middle running the length of the trailer. Seems it would be almost impossible to seal.

Can anybody confirm that is the original layout?

Is it possible to seal the belly pan with some kind of caulk, or is the best approach just to assume water will run in, so leave seams open for air circulation and space for water to run back out?

[perryg114]

You want the belly pan to have some air flow in it. Any leaks from above will accumulate below the floor causing floor rot and frame rot. Air circulation down there is a good thing. So folks have put vents in fans down there to make sure it stays dry.

Perry

[r carl]

Fit it so it seals out wasps, mice, and snakes.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by r carl

Fit it so it seals out wasps, mice, and snakes.

Wire-mesh insect screen at all belly pan openings/seams should do for that, and still allow for airflow and drainage.

[GAStreamin]

Originally Posted by perryg114

You want the belly pan to have some air flow in it. Any leaks from above will accumulate below the floor causing floor rot and frame rot. Air circulation down there is a good thing. So folks have put vents in fans down there to make sure it stays dry.

Perry

Tell me more about this. Thanks :-)

[type901]

Restoring a 69 Globetrotter. There were thousands, if not 10's of thousands of spider eggs in the floor space. If spiders pee, I know what it smells like. I think the belly pan needs to be sealed.

[luca16]

Squirrel's bones down there too. This is what I found beneath in my 1959s' aluminum trailer, no bellypan's insulation and/or seal under the floor. She has fifty-five still solid floor and frame. I guess that is the best and simplier solution.

Luca