Airstream Goes Composite Sub Flooring

[dbj216]

Great news I think. Airstream announced in September that they are now building with a composite subfloor material. It is manufactured by TransCore and is a combination of recycled glass and polyethylene all squished together with heat. Airstream says the stuff is waterproof, a bit lighter than wood products, and strong. They buy the subfloor as one big sheet with all the necessary cut outs. They also say the floor is marked with screw locations making assembly more accurate.

It is great news to me. I sure hope the testing was done. We will know pretty soon. I think the 2021 trailers will have this new subfloor material. Here is a link to the announcement. (I hope)

David

https://www.airstream.com/blog/compo...avel-trailers/

[GMFL]

We have it in our 2020 GT and love it.

[blickcd]

I recently learned of this and was thrilled.

If they take some additional measures to rustproof the frame, things will really be great.

[skyguyscott]

Yes, this made a little bit of a splash here on this very forum earlier in the year, but not nearly enough, IMHO, given that this is probably the biggest and best news about airstream trailers in many many years. (Apologies to those who pine for and gush every year about the latest fabrics and color options in the newest models)

There is an entire sub topic on this forum dealing with replacing the rotten and rotting plywood floors. Some here advocate going with Coosa bored, but this trans core sounds even better because it will take a screw directly. Does anyone know if trans core is available after market?

[TouringDan]

David- Thanks for pointing out this improvement and for the link that provides detailed information.

Dan

[dbj216]

Hooray! The link worked. I found the Rivet article very interesting. You and I both have patched up rotted out plywood subfloors. How about the OSB floor you may have in your big trailer? Our 86 has held up pretty well. Only two patches over rot holes so far.

David

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Hooray! The link worked. I found the Rivet article very interesting. You and I both have patched up rotted out plywood subfloors. How about the OSB floor you may have in your big trailer? Our 86 has held up pretty well. Only two patches over rot holes so far.



David

David- No OSB in my 95 34’. A friend of mine has an early nineties model with an original OSB floor that has magically been replaced with Coosa Board.

Dan

[Drtrash]

Is there a after date or a plant that installed composite floors in 2020 trailers?

[dbj216]

I don't know the incorporation date. The article implied the 2021 model year trailers. Maybe someone else will know the start date.

David

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by dbj216

I don't know the incorporation date. The article implied the 2021 model year trailers. Maybe someone else will know the start date.

David

My 2020 GT has composite flooring.
Trailers that came out of the new factory will have the new flooring.
So 2020 units that were built in the old factory = old flooring vs 2020 trailers built in the New factory = new flooring.

[syclone93]

That is great news ! - all they need now would be automotive quality assembly - better adhesives - better sealants - better plumbing materials - and far better clear coating

[Drtrash]

What and where is new factory?

[B. Cole]

Originally Posted by syclone93

That is great news ! - all they need now would be automotive quality assembly - better adhesives - better sealants - better plumbing materials - and far better clear coating

Exactly , don't hold your breath lol
These are great threads for potential new buyers of Airstreams to read also.Should be fun!
How long did it take Airstream, to stop putting cheap untreated / rotting wood floors in the most expensive trailers in the world??
Maybe one of the fan boys here can fill us in , about how relentless their quest for quality is ...��

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by Drtrash

What and where is new factory?

The new manufacturing facility is located a couple of miles down the road from the previous plant. Production was moved to the new location in early 2020, but was suspended in March due to Covid-19.

[Peter417]

Has anyone been able to purchase this flooring for their vintage rebuild?

[Colmullis]

I'm getting ready to replace the floor in my 1988 32 ft Excella 1000 and have the shell off. I'm wondering about getting the c channel detached from the shell so I can use it to install the new sub floor. I was going to use Advantec after coating/painting it to repel water in case of future leaks. Better would be to get the new floor Airstream now installs in new trailers. Has anyone been able to purchase that new floor for older trailers? How do I get the c channel to separate from the shell? Help.

[tbrowne]

I don't have an answer to the question but I'll guess that the price will be exorbitant. If you've ever priced polypropylene decking you know that it's very expensive. The one piece floor Airstream uses is purchased in quantity under a contract with the supplier. Their price will be substantially lower than a one off purchase. Shipping and handling is another issue.

[dbj216]

I bet Airstream composite subfloor will never be available for vintage trailers. There has been several body design changes through the years. Shipping a 25' long by 8' wide piece of flooring would be, well let's just say challenging.

The c channel is riveted to the exterior skins (lots of bucked rivets) and the interior skins. It is bolted down to the outriggers and screwed to the subfloor. Remove and label the lower interior skins and you will see how it is manufactured. Many people pull the c channel with the body like you did. Then you have a decent pattern for a new subfloor. Or maybe you can use the old subfloor as a pattern.

Others with more experience may reply with better information.

David

[blickcd]

I have an area of subfloor that needs replacement and wanted to use some of this new material so I called the factory and asked if I could buy some from their parts department. Was told I can't buy from them and would have to contact a dealer.

Called the nearest dealer and asked if I could buy some, just a 4'x8' sheet. They said they have never tried to order it and if they could get it, the shipping charges that they would pass on to me would be outrageous. Suggested I just use exterior grade treated plywood.

[Peter417]

This is an existing product right? There probably isn't any reason to go through airstream or any other kind of rv network.