Why some floors rot

[LI Pets]

Now that I've gotten into this retrofit upto my eyebrows I've come to the conclusion that the pink Insulation may be the culprit.

When it gets wet it sags down and rests in the belly pan or bannana skins. It bunches up over time and through the movement over the road into a ball like wet sponge.

I read that it dries out no big deal, well I let mine dry out over 3 weeks and when I dropped the pans water was dripping from the insulation. So it doesn't dry out all that much.

When it falls down into bunch it no longer serves its purpose to insulate.

The other thing that happens is the insulation that is crushed between the plywood floor and steel frame remains and the wet bunched up stuff wicks up into this part that is touching the frame ...... result rust.

I removed a section of floor that was soft and if you look at the pic you can see the outline of the steel frame and rot from the pink stuff.

What I'm doing is removing ALL the pink insulation under the floor.

Since I gutted the interior I plan on laying down the foil insulation R-14, on top of the floor then putting Pergo over it. I think that will end the rust (after cleaning it up and POR treatment)


What are your opinions?

[Jim & Susan]

You're right on the money. Water leaks into the belly and makes a wet mess. On many of the '70's model trailers, the way the belly pan/banana wrap attaches to the trailer allows water to simply run down the side of the trailer straight into the belly pan.

I don't intend to put any insulation back in my pan, FWIW. And I'm going to great lengths to stop the leaks into the pan. I'll be starting in the morning putting the belly pan back on mine. If you want to read about it, you can see it here: http://www.airforums.com/forum...nte-15132.html

It's a long thread, so just poke around in there for the belly pan stuff.

Jim

[LI Pets]

Right on point!

I even found the part #'s for the stair bolts.

Now onto a second cup of coffee before wire brushing the frame

[nickcrowhurst]

Originally Posted by Lipets

Now that I've gotten into this retrofit upto my eyebrows I've come to the conclusion that the pink Insulation may be the culprit.What are your opinions?

Bob, I agree, as at post 14 here:
http://www.airforums.com/forum...-rot-2607.html?
Nick

[LI Pets]

Nick, now having done that, have you taken a peak in one of those inspection ports, like after a rain or driving in rain?

I see that you didn't supplement with other insulation do you notice any differance without it?

[Stefrobrts]

I did not put insulation back in when I replaced the front half of my floor in the Caravel. I have not noticed any problem from this. I think insulation is far more important in the walls. I wanted to leave the floor exposed to the belly pan so the floor can dry out quickly when it gets wet (and it seems inevitable that it WILL get wet).

[LI Pets]

I was laying underneath and wire brushing the outriggers and the sunlight came in behind the top of the bannana skin

I thought the Bannana skin would be under the sidewalls, so water would run off outside the shell.

So we are all inviting water into the belly and it has no drain holes to release any accumulation. If fact in the rear portion behind the wheel wells the bannana skin is calked tight to the frame, trapping water.

GEE I wonder why there was so much rust there

One of two things needs to be done remove the moulding and seal it or put a bead ontop of the moulding if you use masking tape it can be done real nice.

Or

make weep holes in the skins to allow water a way out.

I think more water damage is done when the trailer sits for long periods so water is pooling, then when it is traveling on the road.

We all know which it does more of.

[nickcrowhurst]

Originally Posted by Lipets

Nick, now having done that, have you taken a peak in one of those inspection ports, like after a rain or driving in rain?

I see that you didn't supplement with other insulation do you notice any differance without it?

Bob, I haven't used the trailer in wet weather since I cut the ports, and I won't be back with the trailer until the end of November. However, when I finish spraying through the inspection ports, I thought I would seal the hatches with butyl tape or Vulkem. I will leave one low hole open, to allow any plumbing leaks to drain away.
As regards any difference without the insulation, again, I haven't used the trailer in cold weather. I wouldn't expect to notice any difference, as heat rises, and my Airstreaming is in the Florida "winter" !
Nick.

[prairieschooner]

Guys, the floor rots because it gets wet. Stop the water in the first place, if possible.
Steve

[scottanlily]

Im not sure why the design of later vintage coaches was changed at the banana wrap .The early trailers as our 60 ,has the bellypan on first then the side sheets of aluminum skirt down over the outside of the bellypan ,water cannot drain in in that fashion ,but as we know it can in many other ways
Im afraid .Im for sealing the floor with Steves method or any other that
preserves the wood from water penetrating it whatever is .

Scott

[LI Pets]

Scott, I decided not to fight it any longer, let the water into the bannana skins just don't trap it there give it a way out.

If needed drill a weep hole here and there.

With the frame POR'd a little water s/b no problem.