5rv with the highest R factors
I'm looking for the manufacturer that has the highest R factors for insulation. We full-time in Missouri and currently are in a Montana. The Heartland Big Country is about the highest I'm finding. ...
Forum Discussion
The Carriage RV's of the past and now Lifestyle RV's which are simply a Carriage RV with a name change are head and shoulders+ above Arctic Fox and other Northwood RV's as to true verified effective insulation R-values and air infiltration sealing. Both passive and reflective and there's Thermo Test Chamber documentation to show it. Northwood doesn't have any actual Thermo Test Chamber documentation or they'd print such in their brochures to back up their claims/hype but Carriage and Lifestyle both do/did and so does Jayco for their Eagle etc product lines with their Thermal Package Option. Misleading brochure wording is cheap and easy to print but actual Thermal Chamber Testing with verifying documentation is NOT cheap but is factual and proven!
For those who do not know where heat loss or cooling loss areas in a structure are most importantly addressed, here is the average formula to consider where the biggest bang for the buck is for R-values effectiveness VS $$$ spent:
Heat or cooling general average losses in structures as was determined and accepted per the Assoc of Building Contractors, US Green Building Council, HUD, and many more:
Roof - 50%
Floor - 25%
Sidewalls - 25%
Think about the square footage of surface of each and what you'd gain and where. The roof (50% loss) is only one side as is the floor (25% loss). However the sidewalls are 4 surfaces or about 3 times the square footage of exterior ambient exposure of either the roof or the floor but only effect 25% of total thermal losses. Heat always rises naturally and cold always sinks naturally and the walls are vertical. Whether an RV wall is 2" thick or 3-1/4" thick with both having the same type of insulation fill would not make hardly any difference in actual structure thermal losses. The roof is where it's at for both passive and radiant losses prevention/addressing. The floor is second in priority and mainly the surface/area adjacent to the exterior ambient. The walls are a distant third in importance.
Do your research and you'll understand that heat and cold in an enclosed structure only rise or fall! Sun's rays infiltration thru glass heats objects inside the same whether the wall is 2" or 12" thick. Same with cold radiation thru glass. Thermopane (dual glass panes with air between) do help some but only a little as the airspace is so thin. Removable storm windows which provide 1" to 2" of dead airspace are far more effective in preventing thermal losses and so are white or reflective drapes, shades, or similar inside the structure very close to the window surface.
Some people are only hear what they want to be told or will hear by a manufacturer or sales person who has a vested interest it selling their products and many will say or print about anything whether true or not to get your money as without your money they will have no sale! Documented verification is where it's at or just happy words are simply meaningless!
For those who do not know where heat loss or cooling loss areas in a structure are most importantly addressed, here is the average formula to consider where the biggest bang for the buck is for R-values effectiveness VS $$$ spent:
Heat or cooling general average losses in structures as was determined and accepted per the Assoc of Building Contractors, US Green Building Council, HUD, and many more:
Roof - 50%
Floor - 25%
Sidewalls - 25%
Think about the square footage of surface of each and what you'd gain and where. The roof (50% loss) is only one side as is the floor (25% loss). However the sidewalls are 4 surfaces or about 3 times the square footage of exterior ambient exposure of either the roof or the floor but only effect 25% of total thermal losses. Heat always rises naturally and cold always sinks naturally and the walls are vertical. Whether an RV wall is 2" thick or 3-1/4" thick with both having the same type of insulation fill would not make hardly any difference in actual structure thermal losses. The roof is where it's at for both passive and radiant losses prevention/addressing. The floor is second in priority and mainly the surface/area adjacent to the exterior ambient. The walls are a distant third in importance.
Do your research and you'll understand that heat and cold in an enclosed structure only rise or fall! Sun's rays infiltration thru glass heats objects inside the same whether the wall is 2" or 12" thick. Same with cold radiation thru glass. Thermopane (dual glass panes with air between) do help some but only a little as the airspace is so thin. Removable storm windows which provide 1" to 2" of dead airspace are far more effective in preventing thermal losses and so are white or reflective drapes, shades, or similar inside the structure very close to the window surface.
Some people are only hear what they want to be told or will hear by a manufacturer or sales person who has a vested interest it selling their products and many will say or print about anything whether true or not to get your money as without your money they will have no sale! Documented verification is where it's at or just happy words are simply meaningless!
