RV wood framing, types of lumber used

I think they use the pallets they get deliveries on for some of it

Yeah, I snapped the shank off my favorite 3/4" auger bit today while boring a hole through a fir 6x10 to install a new hose bib. I think that one piece of timber is probably enough board feet to build a couple 5th wheels out of.

bartlettj wrote:

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Fir gets very hard with age and is more prone to splitting with flexing and movement. That's one of the reasons fir is not suitable for RV application.

I have a house built in 1895 out of old growth fir. I've been doing some remodeling, and if I want to reliably sink a nail or screw into a stud without breaking the fastener, I have to either use a nail gun, an impact driver, or predrill.

I've reworked some really old fir over the years too. Remember when 2X4's were 2" X4"?
Yeah it can get pretty hard alright! Even with my Bostitch N80 coiler set at 120 PSI it still won't run the nail all the way in. Gotta follow it with a 28oz Estwing and all that does is bend the head over!
Tough stuff!

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Fir gets very hard with age and is more prone to splitting with flexing and movement. That's one of the reasons fir is not suitable for RV application.

I have a house built in 1895 out of old growth fir. I've been doing some remodeling, and if I want to reliably sink a nail or screw into a stud without breaking the fastener, I have to either use a nail gun, an impact driver, or predrill.

goducks10 wrote:

Hammerboy wrote:
Go to the lumberyard and ask for #2 pine 2x whatever,rip it to size, (you need a table saw anyway ;-) that's all it is and can be found everywhere.

Dan

Except on the west coast where Fir reigns supreme. All we have out here are 1x's in pine.

Actually, I see a lot more hemlock and douglas fir as structural lumber (Oregon and Washington), and it's usually hemlock. True fir is usually reserved for millwork.

NMDriver wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
The cheapest soft wood they can buy...rarely is it pine and never pressure treated.

X2 and luan for the roof decking.

I suspect cardboard would be used if they could get it to last until the warranty expired.

Watch what you say about cardboard. I have a friend who works for a cardboard manufacturer and he showed me where they are working on cardboard studs. He claims they will be stronger than a normal 2x4.
So who knows!:E

Hammerboy wrote:
Go to the lumberyard and ask for #2 pine 2x whatever,rip it to size, (you need a table saw anyway ;-) that's all it is and can be found everywhere.

Dan

Except on the west coast where Fir reigns supreme. All we have out here are 1x's in pine.

I used Doug Fir when I rebuilt the front and back of my TT some years ago. Doug Fir is stronger and more decay resistant than most of the softwoods. I saw Doug Fir studs at Home Depot in Chicago a week ago and that's a pretty long way from where it was grown.

Go to the lumberyard and ask for #2 pine 2x whatever,rip it to size, (you need a table saw anyway ;-) that's all it is and can be found everywhere.

Dan

Northwood MFG (Nash) and Jayco (Jay Flight) each make a wood framed TT with fiberglass sides. That wood (pun) seem to make it stronger than the old school corrugated aluminum. Not sure on the wood type though.