Diamondplate

[Luftstromer]

I’ve been perusing the forum to learn about all manner of things Airstream. I think I could spend months doing this.

Using the search function did not return any relevant results for ‘diamondplate’ or ‘diamond plate’ in the flooring section.
Is that because aluminum diamond plate is not a viable floor option for aluminum ASs, and if so, why not?

[TomW]

Interesting question. A Google search was able to find a pretty good thread on the topic from 2006:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ing-23173.html

I do not think I would like it for flooring, but you may still want it.

Tom

[Luftstromer]

Ooh thanks for that. I wonder why my search didn’t turn that up.

[Foiled Again]

Mold would form under it. Even vinyl lets out some moisture. Oh, and it scratches like crazy. And imagine jumping out of bed on a crisp.fall morning with bare feet hitting a 45° floor. Go ahead, TRY to make it to the "oval office".
Rubber diamond plate maybe.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

... imagine jumping out of bed on a crisp fall morning with bare feet hitting a 45° floor...

Too funny. But it sums it up well!

Tom

[Luftstromer]

Ok. Mold is a valid point.

I see I need to learn. lot more about the construction of ASs. Could the plywood floor be replaced with tread plate (isolating steel frame and aluminum plate of course to avoid galvanic corrosion).
Hmmm ... I guess we’ll just have to buy some cheap old junker and strip it down to its constituent parts til we know how they’re made

[Foiled Again]

Some of.the Argosy trailers were built.with aluminum floors. They warped or compressed over time but still endure. There have been other brands that have used some kind of aluminum planking. Try a Search from your laptop. I may be dead wrong, but I think the Oliver has an aluminum frame and floor. You'll probably still want to cover it with vinyl or carpet for comfort. Anything can be done if you've got the pocketbook to try it.

[Zardoz]

The BORG and other places sell rubberized diamond plate (not polished SS or aluminum) on a roll, primarily used as garage floor covering.

[LAWBC]

The ultimate sub-floor would be this product.

https://www.kingplastic.com/products/king-starboard/
It will never rot .

[Luftstromer]

Originally Posted by LAWBC

The ultimate sub-floor would be this product.

https://www.kingplastic.com/products/king-starboard/
It will never rot .

HAH! That is indeed very good. Earmarked.

[Luftstromer]

That starboard is fairly heavy though - ca. twice as heavy as same thickness marine ply.
How thick is the plywood used for subfloors? Trying to work out what flexural strength etc a replacement material would need to have ... which might be achievable with thinner stuff, getting back to original weight ... or even below it.

[Foiled Again]

Read some "full monte" threads before going nuts with a sawzall... the subfloor is an integral part.of the semi-monoque structure. The frame is lightweight, the floor reinforces it, the C channel ties the floor to the walls, etc. Airstreams have.been built.with everythimg between 1/2 and 3/4 inch plywood.... and for a few years with OSB... an unmitigated disaster.
Be wary of products that do not play well with aluminum or mild steel... chemical reactions that cause the aluminum to corrode, or the frame to rust. And ask for advice too. Re-Pete is doing his with Coosa board, not cheap, and fasteners need to be chosen with care, but he won't be redoing it in a decade or two.

[Bob662]

Care is always needed when aluminum is attached to steel. There must be some insulator, like paint, to prevent these two dissimilar metals, plus moisture, from creating galvanic corrosion. These two metals must not be screwed together for the same reason.

In the aircraft world, aluminum and steel separated by paint, are connected using clamps and bolts, not screws.

The Brits used magnesium rivets to assemble the Spitfire -- that's why a Spitfire restoration almost always involves all new aluminum skin because the original is corroded due to reaction of the aluminum and magnesium. The same happens with aluminum and steel.