BeerBrewer wrote:
Ralph Cramden wrote:
BeerBrewer wrote:
I was at that Web site and when I read the technical specs it said "MADE WITH CARB PHASE 2 COMPLIANT LAUAN". As stated above I'm not sure what that is but it sounds like lauan plywood that meets some CARB (California Air Resources Board) spec. Now I probally missed it, but no where on that spec sheet did I read that it says it was wood free. Where did you read that?
Crane Composites Website.
Noble® Select | NS
All-Composite Wood Free Sheet Glass Panels
An all-composite, wood-free exterior panel with superior surface and weathering performance. Noble Select is designed for both laminated and free-hung wall applications and is preferred where full-body paint is required.
Of course the fiberglass panel itself is "wood free" LOL, not sure why they would even bother to state that. Then Winnie buys that product from Crane, and laminates it into the wall panel using Luan plywood for the substrate layer and inner wall surface.
Ralph.....I agree that Nobel Select panels are wood free. Unfortunately, the Winnebago Mini TT uses Nobel Classic panels and NOT Nobel Select panels. The Crane Technical Data sheet for the "classic panel" has the following statement in it "MADE WITH CARB PHASE 2 COMPLIANT LAUAN" (http://www.cranecomposites.com/pdf/65147.pdf). WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN????? To me Lauan is nothing more than very cheap WOOD PLYWOOD that will rot once it meets water.
I sent an email over to Winnebago Tech support for clarification. Hopefully...they will respond.
riven1950 ....I looked at the Apex TTs and they do look nice...thanks for the tip!
One things for certain, and that is Winnebago uses Luan plywood for the substrate, no matter if they are laminating it or Crane is. I certainly do not get excited about Azdel. On Coachmen products, Heartland, and some others its used for the outer substrate but only for the sidewalls. Get water in the wall and the fiberglass can still delaminate from the Azdel, or the Azdel from the foam layer, and the inner wall surface is still plywood. So is the floor, the roof, and most likely the end walls although a lot are fiberglass laminated to a material a lot like cardboard.
IMO its nothing more than marketing hogwash. Better than Luan? Yes. But since 75% of the rig is still some type of plywood you're not gaining much. A lot of people with Coachmens think they have a miracle trailer, they're confused.
The best bet is buy what you like and do preventative maintenance regularly.
