Forum Discussion

Sabluka's avatar
Sabluka
Explorer
May 06, 2013

Question abt metal studs ect?

I just read and re-read the thread on "Winnebago Quality".

Pretty much decided on a used Winnebago Aspect or Access or another model with low miles.

Which Class C RVs have metal wall studs and joists? I fig that is very important.

As another poster said....how it was maintained is more important. Kinda like Airplanes.

Rifk

5 Replies

  • Sabluka wrote:
    Gosh tatest...most comprehensive description I've ever read. Thank ya thank ya thank ya.

    There's a 2005 Winnebago Minnie 31 C here for, asking $49 and a 2006 Gulfstream Super C for, asking $48.5 said he'd take $46..

    the Gulfstream is awesome but only gets 7-8 MPG. 8.1L Gas..Said he went back east from Ak and spent $4-5k on gas.

    What say you gurus?

    Man,.... Glad I'm a member of the GSC with road assistance even more now.

    Thanks for your help.

    Regards,

    Rick

    Cannot help you on prices. But at least you found a seller (Super C) giving you honest info on fuel mileage.
    The 31' E450 may get about 1 gallon better.
    Handling on our GS is very good. There have been a few problems. But all fixable.
    Check both very close for roof and front window leaks.
  • pauldub wrote:
    Look at the prices on sold units at pplmotorhomes and then you can decide how reasonable those asking prices are.


    thanks Paul.

    Appreciated.

    Rick
  • Gosh tatest...most comprehensive description I've ever read. Thank ya thank ya thank ya.

    There's a 2005 Winnebago Minnie 31 C here for, asking $49 and a 2006 Gulfstream Super C for, asking $48.5 said he'd take $46..

    the Gulfstream is awesome but only gets 7-8 MPG. 8.1L Gas..Said he went back east from Ak and spent $4-5k on gas.

    What say you gurus?

    Man,.... Glad I'm a member of the GSC with road assistance even more now.

    Thanks for your help.

    Regards,

    Rick
  • No wall studs in "modern" C's, neither metal nor wood. Modern RVs aren't built like houses, some brands haven't had studs for more than 40 years.

    These RVs use laminated wall panels, skins bonded to foam cores with aluminum tubing perimeter frames and a modest number of vertical and horizontal members, as reinforcement. Mounting plates laminated in the walls take care of attaching interior and exterior fixtures. These plates might be metal or wood, sometimes metal backed by wood.

    No joists in floors, floor will be a welded steel frame. It is now often foam filled with metal skin on bottom, plywood on top, but in some brands it might be pressed board over a steel frame, undercoating or non-woven fabric on the bottom.

    Ceilings might have joists, as some manufacturers still do that, but most with fiberglass roof have now gone to single piece roof/ceiling panel, again laminated to a foam or honeycomb core. Skin laminated over a core is much more rigid (at least an order of magnitude) than anything that can be pieced together from wood and/or tubing.

    The exceptions:

    LazyDaze and BornFree still have studs in walls, wood. There is also some steel framing. Rigidity comes from the steel frame, while the more house-like construction methods you are imagining fill in.

    Bigfoot, Dynamax and Holiday Rambler used to make C's with aluminum studded walls. Monaco also sold the H-R-built class C (and A gassers) under the Monaco and Safari brands. When Newmar built a C, it probably had studded walls, that's how Newmar builds everything.

    Today, Bigfoot is no longer in the motorhome business.

    The Holiday Rambler (and other Monaco brands) of C, if they are still being made, became laminated wall construction when Monaco Corp turned C and A-gasser manufacture over to the R-Vision factory, shortly before bankruptcy.

    I don't know where Dynamax is, manufacturing technology or product lines, since being sold to Forest River.

    If you are really concerned about RV construction methods, and think you can decide which technologies and methods might be superior, then visit the factories and see how they are made. General principles are the same, but there is a wealth of differences in the details, both material and method. Despite the differences, most C motorhomes hold up well, 10 to 30 years if you make sure the seams and openings do not leak.