What's with the ridgey exterior walls on the Jayco TTs?

Call me crazy but it has always been my understanding that stick and tin is lighter than the fiberglass sided trailers.

WoodGlue wrote:

Proteus wrote:
I won't even consider a "stick and tin" trailer for the following reasons.
1) it's cheap crap, pushed because it uses residential construction techniques and requires minimal worker training, and no special factory machinery. 1950s era tech.,,
2) wood gets wet, and rots. Insulation "batts" retain water, and shift.
3) it creates trailers that are far heavier than they need to be, and require large trucks to pull. A truck is a horrible daily driver. They handle like crap, with lousy gas mileage. Why buy one just to pull a trailer? Why not buy a trailer at can be pulled with a normal vehicle?

BINGO!!

Thanks for saying what I've been wanting to say on this thread!

WoodGlue

This is what happens, folks, after the unwary inhabit an Adzel composite built RV.

*goes back to the Kumbaya of tin-wood-huggers*

Proteus wrote:
I won't even consider a "stick and tin" trailer for the following reasons.
1) it's cheap crap, pushed because it uses residential construction techniques and requires minimal worker training, and no special factory machinery. 1950s era tech.,,
2) wood gets wet, and rots. Insulation "batts" retain water, and shift.
3) it creates trailers that are far heavier than they need to be, and require large trucks to pull. A truck is a horrible daily driver. They handle like crap, with lousy gas mileage. Why buy one just to pull a trailer? Why not buy a trailer at can be pulled with a normal vehicle?

BINGO!!

Thanks for saying what I've been wanting to say on this thread!

WoodGlue

I won't even consider a "stick and tin" trailer for the following reasons.
1) it's cheap crap, pushed because it uses residential construction techniques and requires minimal worker training, and no special factory machinery. 1950s era tech.,,
2) wood gets wet, and rots. Insulation "batts" retain water, and shift.
3) it creates trailers that are far heavier than they need to be, and require large trucks to pull. A truck is a horrible daily driver. They handle like crap, with lousy gas mileage. Why buy one just to pull a trailer? Why not buy a trailer at can be pulled with a normal vehicle?

And here is the rest of the story. The Koreans bought it in 2007

Welcome to the Hanwha Azdel, Inc. web site.



Our Mission



To create value for our customers, our people, our communities & our shareholders by delivering high quality & innovative composite & material solutions around the world.



Company Profile



Hanwha Azdel Inc. manufactures high-performance thermoplastic composites designed for both interior and exterior applications across many different industries. Major segments served include automotive, heavy truck, recreational vehicles, industrial, and other transportation applications. Hanwha Azdel, Inc. is an affiliate of Hanwha Living & Creative (L&C) Corporation, which is a division of Hanwha Corporation, a major Korean company with 30,000 employees worldwide.

WoodGlue wrote:
Hanwa is a Korean Company. Azdel is manufactured in Virginia!

WoodGlue

Actually some of it is made in Shelby NC.

AZDEL is not affected by moisture, will not absorb or retain water and does not mold, mildew or rot. In fact, AZDEL can be submerged in water and returns to its original weight in minutes. Also, AZDEL is completely comprised of “man-made” materials, which do not contribute to organic odors. “Rain or shine” you know your RV will always be ready for its next adventure.


AZDEL is 50% lighter than plywood, reducing gross vehicle weight and increasing load capacity. This equates to lighter duty tow vehicles, increased gas mileage and reduced wear on your RV and tow vehicle. You have the option to take more with you or spend less getting there.


AZDEL is 3 times better insulated than plywood, which can significantly reduce heating and cooling cost. In fact, AZDEL does not promote condensation and is not affected by changes in humidity. It also stays ductile below freezing and insulating performance creates an overall quieter environment.

AZDEL Ups Composite Panel Production

Print Print


May 5, 2010 by RV Business 2 Comments


AZDEL Onboard LogoThe RV Industry’s leading composite panel producer for wood replacement has increased its annual production capacity by 20 million pounds, or a projected 100 million square feet.

After completing a year?long installation project, AZDEL’s newest production line will start supplying RV manufacturers in June, according to a news release. The growing demand for AZDEL’s unique family of lightweight composite products for transportation markets around the globe has driven the need for its fourth and most advanced manufacturing line.

AZDEL credits expansion to the RV Industry’s increased interest in Lightweight Composite Materials for Wood Replacement. AZDEL has served the RV Industry since 2006 and today has over 20 million square feet of their groundbreaking AZDEL SuperLite Panels in service. Expansion will enable future supply of AZDEL products to meet growing demand and demonstrates AZDEL’s ongoing commitment to the RV Industry and transportation markets worldwide.

RV manufacturers continue to specify AZDEL’s composite panels for their superior light weight and high quality performance over wood?based materials. AZDEL believes its material has not only advanced the RV Industry, but also is enhancing the RVing experience for this and future generations of RVers.

To learn more about AZDEL’s technology for RVs and related markets, visit us at www.AZDELONBOARD.com. AZDEL’s composite panels are distributed throughout North America by Robert Weed Plywood Corp., Bristol, Ind., www.robertweedplywood.com.

pappcam wrote:
Long story short, if you own a stick and tin trailer then fibreglass is garbage and if you own a fibreglass trailer then stick and tin is garbage.

We can now close the thread. :B

I own both, each has its advantages and disadvantages. The fact is that fiberglass is heavier and can suffer delamination. Tin is lighter and does not delaminate. On the other hand a tin sidewall can easily dent and may be totaled after a minor hail storm.

westend wrote:
WG, you need to do some more investigation into process before you make absolute statements like this. Just because your Lance trailer has a pinch roller glue process doesn't make it better than a vacuum bonding process. In fact, most folks that deal with panel bonding will disagree with your absolute statement.
Just think about this in a practical sense. If I have larger panels that need to be compressed to make sure that the glue between them is in contact with the panel, is it better to have force on only a smaller area where the force is provided by rollers or is it better to have the force spread evenly over the entire area of the panels? We can discuss this in greater length as there are other factors at work with panel bonding.

That's why I said "most, if not all" and "almost certain" - these aren't "absolute statements" I stand by my statement that vacuum bonding the wrong way is almost certain to produce delamination processes not seen in pinch rolled lamination production. Also, the layups of luaun is a recipe for almost certain disaster.

Lance uses pinch rolled processes w/ Azdel in a climate controlled room! Show me one other manufacturer that does this!!

You can PM me if you want to continue to discuss this further as I'm always up for intelligent conversation!!

WoodGlue

Long story short, if you own a stick and tin trailer then fibreglass is garbage and if you own a fibreglass trailer then stick and tin is garbage.

We can now close the thread. :B

WoodGlue wrote:
Vacuum bonding the wrong way is an EPIC FAIL on the part of most, if not all RV mfgs. This sets the stage for almost certain delamination issues!

WoodGlue

WG, you need to do some more investigation into process before you make absolute statements like this. Just because your Lance trailer has a pinch roller glue process doesn't make it better than a vacuum bonding process. In fact, most folks that deal with panel bonding will disagree with your absolute statement.
Just think about this in a practical sense. If I have larger panels that need to be compressed to make sure that the glue between them is in contact with the panel, is it better to have force on only a smaller area where the force is provided by rollers or is it better to have the force spread evenly over the entire area of the panels? We can discuss this in greater length as there are other factors at work with panel bonding.