Insulation

[LarryandJodi]

Going to remove and replace belly pan. What type of insulation do I replace the existing with?

[cliffcharb]

when we did ours we went back with 2" foam board insulation.

[TheGreatleys]

Really whatever you want. I used rockwool since it repels water and is easy to work with. 1/3 sheet laid on top of a full sheet was the right thickness.

Why are you removing and replacing your belly pan?

[HiJoeSilver]

Foam board insulation. You can get a couple inches under there easily. Doesn't hold water. Foam board adhesive backed up by some screws 1/2" longer than the board thickness. Cut some scrap aluminum into little squares to act as washers for the screws.

[Lumatic]

If you use foam board, you can use canned foam to seal and glue it

[ALANSD]

Good advice why put more stuff in there that will soak up water and make a great nest for critters?

[LarryandJodi]

We are removing the belly pan because the aluminum is deteriorating where it attaches to the metal underside.

[TheGreatleys]

I see. Be prepared to open Pandora's box. Deteriorating aluminum often hides deteriorating frame members.

[Dingo Girl]

I used no insulation on the underside of mine. There is nothing under there that can trap moisture and I am putting a hinged, aluminum louvered vent centered between each crossmember. Just to keep a bit of airflow in the belly.
Plus be able to open it up and use a snake cam to inspect.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by TheGreatleys

I see. Be prepared to open Pandora's box. Deteriorating aluminum often hides deteriorating frame members.

In other words "Ignorance Is Bliss".

[Minno]

We did not insulate under the floor either. Instead, we added a floating cork floor to the trailer. Floor is much warmer now, and nothing under the trailer to soak up water or attract critters.

Kay

[A W Warn]

Those that chose no insulation:
Do you camp in cold weather?
Did you protect your tanks from freezing?

[Dingo Girl]

My tanks are inside the trailer on the floor.
I don't plan on camping in any weather below 40 degrees.
I've been shopping for flooring recently and wonder if my furnishings, gaucho, closets etc would shift during travel if they are only attached to the walls?

[Chuck]

I don't think that the insulation that was put there by the factory was doing much to begin with, partly because of the way that it was installed (compressed in many areas), and mostly because of what becomes of it after a short amount of time. (chewed, soaked, sagged, etc).

I used my camper for several years after I first bought it, then decided that the rear floor needed some help. I decided to patch instead of replace, and in that process, I removed a bunch from the back half of the trailer. Never noticed any difference inside, during cool-weather camping.

eventually, I had to completely replace the rear floor, and that has turned into a full monty, added grey tanks, bigger black tank below the floor.
There are 9 2-foot frame bays in this camper, and 5 of them are full of "tank". no room for any insulation. Even if I were to attempt something in the other half that aren't stuffed full of tank, I don't think it is going to make any measurable difference.

waste water isn't going to freeze solid the moment the outside air temp hits 32; it would have to get below that and stay below that for a long time. Around here, the "last hurrah" of the season is typically Columbus day. It might dip below freezing overnight for a short time up north, but thats about it. I really don't think its necessary, unless you are a hard-core winter camper, or a full-timer in the north. Just not practical when the walls (through which probably 90+% of the heat escapes) are only 1 1/2" thick.

[Minno]

We typically do not camp in weather below 40 degrees. We have camped when it got down to 29 or so with no issues for a short time. Our tanks are under the floor, and encompass much of the underside of the trailer between 2 grey tanks, one fresh tank, and one black tank, so there's not much room for insulation anyway. We do not have our tanks heated.
Dingo Girl: we have had no "shift" traveling with things attached to walls. Our recliners are attached to the floor with elongated holes for the bolts, and have not shifted. The refrigerator cabinet is also attached to the floor for safety. Everything else is attached to walls only with aluminum rivets through aluminum tabs into the ribs. Piano hinges were used at the top of the upper cabinets to fasten to the walls. It's all in our thread, "Little Girl Refurb". We did it this way per advice we received at the Four Corners Restoration Rally a few years ago by a high end restorer from southern Ca, Uwe at Area 63 Productions. He is also the one who suggested the floating cork floor we went with. Good Luck!

Kay

[toastie]

Was proven on the forum that 2" insulation board doesn't work in the long haul.


toastie

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by toastie

Was proven on the forum that 2" insulation board doesn't work in the long haul.


toastie

Why not? Do you have a link to the thread?

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Why not? Do you have a link to the thread?

Try this thread, there are others http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...-46536-12.html

Get in your Airstream and have somebody drive you around, you will be shock how the twisting of the inside floor and frame, plus mice love foam. Foam panels are great for things that don't move

toastie

[HiJoeSilver]

Originally Posted by toastie

Try this thread, there are others http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...-46536-12.html

Get in your Airstream and have somebody drive you around, you will be shock how the twisting of the inside floor and frame, plus mice love foam. Foam panels are great for things that don't move

toastie

Post #157 in that thread answers a bit. If you don't keep the mice out it won't really matter unless you use mineral wool. You'll want to keep the mice out anyways. Seal every nook and crannie in the belly otherwise you'll get mice in the belly, walls, cabinets, and anywhere else in the trailer. No holes more than 1/8". Foam has come a long way since the 70's. There are sob trailers similar to AS that had spray foam in the walls that have held up since. If you secure the foam well and leave a small gap around its edges it should last fine.

[HiJoeSilver]

Toured AS today. They're not really putting anything down there any more. They were putting a layer of reflectex down on the frame then dropping the floor and she'll on top of that.