Insulating Ribs?

[Tiangong]

The ribs are connected directly to exterior and interior skins. They are all metal. This is a perfect heat sync system to transfer thermal energy right around the insulation. Any ideas to mitigate this flaw? Maybe some foam tape on the ribs under the interior skin?

[GMFL]

Airstream put a layer of butyl tape on the outsid of the ribs to help prevent leaks at. The rivet lines. That’s probably the best you can do. It’s juts the nature of the beast.

[Bubba L]

You are thinking along the same lines as I am. Any type of thermal break on the ribs or cavity side of the exterior skins would be a plus. There have been a lot of discussions and ideas on how to achieve this. I have yet to see any results of what someone used. Mylar thermal barrier tape seems to be popular as is foam tape. I went a different route and painted the ribs and cavity side of the interior skins with Hy-Tech ceramic paint additive that they claim is a thermal break. We’ll see. The main reason I went with a paintable product in lieu of tape was so I could see the old rivet holes and re-attach the original interior skins back in the exact location. This may work, or it may not. Good luck, Bubba

[HiHoAgRV]

I have used 2 layers of prodex with the inner layer covering the ribs. This will not work if you try to use old panels and rivet holes. Does it help? I have no idea. Even the best insulation is offset by single pane windows. I can say that the condensation lines on the ribs are less pronounced.

[TheGreatleys]

I have foam tape on my ribs. I think it's worth the price of admission if you have your interior skins off already.

[sgschwend]

Certainly the heat flow will cause some issues for the extra hot or cold days. The ability to make improvements when a owner is reworking a trailer is a big plus. For those jobs money is less important.

From what I have seen in three trailers of different years non of which had any thermal break I concluded that AS may have put something on some of the years but not all of them.

[kidjedi]

I use the blue foam you put between a house's foundation and the sill plate.
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://...czoaUf4PuPQwRf

[traceyduffy]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

I use the blue foam you put between a house's foundation and the sill plate.
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://...czoaUf4PuPQwRf

Hi Kidjedi, just wondering if the sill gasket has proven okay for you in reducing/eliminating the condensation on the ribs? I was thinking of the same thing.

[kidjedi]

Originally Posted by traceyduffy

Hi Kidjedi, just wondering if the sill gasket has proven okay for you in reducing/eliminating the condensation on the ribs? I was thinking of the same thing.

I live in Colorado, so I don't know what "condensation" is.

However, I've placed a laser thermometer on skins at the rib area with and without the blue foam between, and it makes a HUGE difference in temperature (sometimes 50 degrees in direct Colorado sun), so I know the foam is working as a thermal barrier. If you use it, be sure to find a good way to hold it in place so it doesn't slide out of position before you get to rivet the skin to the rib (3M spray or something similar works well).

[traceyduffy]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

I live in Colorado, so I don't know what "condensation" is.

However, I've placed a laser thermometer on skins at the rib area with and without the blue foam between, and it makes a HUGE difference in temperature (sometimes 50 degrees in direct Colorado sun), so I know the foam is working as a thermal barrier. If you use it, be sure to find a good way to hold it in place so it doesn't slide out of position before you get to rivet the skin to the rib (3M spray or something similar works well).

Thx! Good to know - big help!

[BayouBiker]

Addition of a bit of rubber can make a big difference. Aluminum has a thermal conductivity of 237 W/mK while foams and rubbers are around 0.15-0.2 so addition of 1/16 inch of rubber is equivalent to a 40+ inch deep rib. In terms of inner wall temperature if there is say a 30 degree temperature difference the at rib wall temperature will be about 5 degrees warmer, but that understates the effect because a lot of the heat from within 6 inches of the rib is also being conducted to the rib and outside (assuming trailer inside is 30 degrees warmer than outside).

[ShinyLife]

Originally Posted by TheGreatleys

I have foam tape on my ribs. I think it's worth the price of admission if you have your interior skins off already.

Hi, TheGreatleys, I have arrived at the rib insulation on my 24' 67' tradewind.

would you share with me the foam tape you used and if you are happy with it?

Thank you!

[TheGreatleys]

Originally Posted by ShinyLife

Hi, TheGreatleys, I have arrived at the rib insulation on my 24' 67' tradewind.

would you share with me the foam tape you used and if you are happy with it?

Thank you!

http://www.findtape.com/shop/product...vid=440&tid=14

Worked great. I added will gasket on top of the tape for extra thickness, since I didn't really want to tape my interior skins in place.

https://thegreatleys.com/insulation

[TheGreatleys]

Originally Posted by TheGreatleys

http://www.findtape.com/shop/product...vid=440&tid=14

Worked great. I added will gasket on top of the tape for extra thickness, since I didn't really want to tape my interior skins in place.

https://thegreatleys.com/insulation

*sill gasket