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valhalla360's avatar
valhalla360
Navigator
Aug 22, 2023

"Laminated Aluminum Floor" Definition?

Stopped to pick up a tube of lap sealant and dear wife said let's look at that 5er the dealer had parked next to the door.

Not sure that I want to sink the money into a new rig but I told her I would look into it. Everything I see regarding the layout, I really like. It's got some nice added features. She has me half thinking about it.

But in looking at the specs, it says it has a "Laminated Aluminum Floor". I think I know what it means but I can't find any source that provides specifications or details to confirm.

I believe it just means they use aluminum tubes as stringers to support a thin plywood sandwich with a foam core...which wouldn't be my preferred design.

I can't find anything on the forest river or other official sites that provides details. Does anyone have a link to actual (not hearsay) info?

Look under "construction" in the below website:
https://www.forestriverinc.com/rvs/impression/235RW/7851
  • spoon059's avatar
    spoon059
    Explorer II
    Aug 22, 2023
    Not sure. I find that Forest River does an awful job of explaining the construction details. That leaves me feeling concerned...
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Aug 22, 2023
    Their web site construction information states it has “Laminated Aluminum Front Wall, Laminated Aluminum Sidewalls, Laminated Aluminum Slide Boxes, and Laminated Aluminum Floor”. So I would read that as all those have aluminum framing with the various materials bonded to that framing.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Aug 22, 2023
    BB_TX wrote:
    Their web site construction information states it has “Laminated Aluminum Front Wall, Laminated Aluminum Sidewalls, Laminated Aluminum Slide Boxes, and Laminated Aluminum Floor”. So I would read that as all those have aluminum framing with the various materials bonded to that framing.


    But how is it put together...that's what I'm asking about.
  • Thermoguy's avatar
    Thermoguy
    Explorer II
    Aug 23, 2023
    I have a horse trailer with an aluminum floor - its great. No worries about water, corrosion, breakdown or anything. Would be good if they did that on a 5th wheel.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Aug 25, 2023
    Thermoguy wrote:
    I have a horse trailer with an aluminum floor - its great. No worries about water, corrosion, breakdown or anything. Would be good if they did that on a 5th wheel.


    That would be nice or actual marine grade plywood (and before anyone poo poos it, the real stuff can sit outside for 15-20yrs and still be good as new. Medium size road signs are made of the stuff and the maintenance guys snag it rather than putting it in the dumpster because there is nothing wrong with it.).

    Unfortunately, on checking with the dealer, it is what I thought though they couldn't provide any specifics...aluminum joists with moisture barrier, thin sheet of plywood, foam and 2nd thin sheet of plywood.
  • GaryUT's avatar
    GaryUT
    Explorer II
    Aug 26, 2023
    Looks like the top is plywood, then foam, and lauan with welded aluminum framing.

    They show the floor in this video, but all they say is plywood top. They don't say how thick it is looks like 3/8" thickness.

    Impression factory tour.
  • StonedPanther's avatar
    StonedPanther
    Explorer III
    Aug 27, 2023
    The top layer in a Forest River laminated floor is 8mm Luan plywood and is sourced from China. Its roughly 5/16" thick. The foam and aluminum tube in the middle of the sandwich are 1-1/2". The bottom layer of luan plywood is 3mm thick, roughly 1/8".

    Those floors are great until they're not. They tend to fail at high travel / traffic areas. At the entrance door, in front of the sink, in the bathrooms. The foam compresses and the adhesives fail. If the owner/users are of great bulk, good luck.

    Some Forest River brands / divisions stopped using the laminated floors altogether, an example is Rockwood/Flagstaff. They switched to 5/8 tongue and groove plywood floors (not OSB) mid way through the 2017 model year. Laminated floors are garbage.

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