bellypans

[mainebme]

Is the bellypan in my 32' 89 Excella just protection from the road or is it a structural part supporting various other parts under the floor? Mine is getting ragged in places.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by brookseeker

Is the bellypan in my 32' 89 Excella just protection from the road or is it a structural part supporting various other parts under the floor? Mine is getting ragged in places.

The belly pan is dual purpose, if you wish.

First it helps with a smooth air flow underneath the trailer.

Second, it protects the "under the floor" components, as well as the frame.

It does not offer any structural benefits.

An important note, the underbelly must be able to breathe.

If you replace it, do not seal it at the seams.

Also, use large head pop rivets to reinstall or install the underbelly.

Most underbelly problems come from unbalanced running gear, that makes the underbelly flutter, thereby shearing off rivet heads. The larger rivet heads will offer far more protection.

Andy

[Zeppelinium]

Replacing the pan is a bit of an exercise, since it's wider than 48". You have to figure out where to put the seams is you use standard 4x8 sheets of aluminum.

If you want to do it without seams, look around for what is called "roofing roll" aluminum. It comes very wide and is affordable, relatively speaking. We've got a surplus aluminum dealer in Denver who often has several rolls of it.

Zep