Forum Discussion
DrewE
Dec 28, 2016Explorer II
A laminated wall is actually quite strong--certainly stronger than the layers are separately when not attached to each other. It's similar in concept to a hollow core door for a house. A hollow core door is entirely strong enough to use as a desk or table top, despite the skins being very thin plywood, since it's acting as a box beam rather than a sheet. (I speak from experience about the doors; in fact, I'm sitting at a desk composed of a door and two file cabinets that I've used for over a decade and a half.)
An RV wall, if the framework is solid, should be able to resist leaning against it and pressure that isn't completely localized quite well. It will not do so well against a maniac with a hammer or hatchet (though probably the windows and especially skylight would be easier to break through), nor a serious crash on the road, nor a tree falling on the unit. They will also lose a lot of strength if the materials or construction is compromised, say from rotting due to water intrusion.
Incidentally, while car frames are pretty strong, the skin of a car body these days is quite thin metal and it's not at all hard to dent or deform it with plain muscle power.
An RV wall, if the framework is solid, should be able to resist leaning against it and pressure that isn't completely localized quite well. It will not do so well against a maniac with a hammer or hatchet (though probably the windows and especially skylight would be easier to break through), nor a serious crash on the road, nor a tree falling on the unit. They will also lose a lot of strength if the materials or construction is compromised, say from rotting due to water intrusion.
Incidentally, while car frames are pretty strong, the skin of a car body these days is quite thin metal and it's not at all hard to dent or deform it with plain muscle power.
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