Forum Discussion

bowler1's avatar
bowler1
Explorer
Jan 14, 2019

Another Fiberglass Body Question

Posting this as somewhat of a followup to my other post about my 5th wheel's fiberglass siding...

Another thing I have noticed about my Open Range is that the fiberglass siding is not totally flat, but rather it bulges out along what appear to be frame beams.

If you look down the side of the trailer you can see slight vertically oriented bulges where it appears that fiberglass was tightly affixed to the framed body of the trailer such that the underlying beams are visible underneath...like the way a concealed handgun might bulge underneath someone's shirt if the shirt was tight fitting.

Is this normal? I don't recall having seen this on other trailers. Not sure whether it is becoming more noticeable than when I got the trailer (less than a year old).

thanks for your help again

Matt
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jan 14, 2019
    Depends on what the backing is. But yes its normal to see some wavyness on the sides.
  • goducks10's avatar
    goducks10
    Explorer
    Jan 14, 2019
    Unfortunately thats normal. It's where the Luan backer butts together. Some MFG's use two layers overlapping on the exterior which may or may not alleviate some of those vertical dimples. I've got a few on my 5er. Been that way for 6 years.
  • TXiceman's avatar
    TXiceman
    Explorer II
    Jan 15, 2019
    donn0128 wrote:
    Depends on what the backing is. But yes its normal to see some wavyness on the sides.


    Not normal. Our 5 year old HitchHiker is flat a a pool table along the walls.

    If your trailer is the laminated construction, start looking for water intrusion.

    Ken
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Jan 15, 2019
    TXiceman wrote:
    donn0128 wrote:
    Depends on what the backing is. But yes its normal to see some wavyness on the sides.


    Not normal. Our 5 year old HitchHiker is flat a a pool table along the walls.

    If your trailer is the laminated construction, start looking for water intrusion.

    Ken


    If your HH has 16" center studs, you likely won't see the "waves". Newer rigs, which most likely =don't= have 16" center studs, will show the "waves", simply because there's less backing to hold the wall flat.

    Lyle
  • Super_Dave's avatar
    Super_Dave
    Explorer
    Jan 15, 2019
    My understanding was that the walls are vacuum adhered to the adhesive on the studs. I could see the strength of the vacuum creating that kind of wavy look.
  • goducks10's avatar
    goducks10
    Explorer
    Jan 15, 2019
    Super_Dave wrote:
    My understanding was that the walls are vacuum adhered to the adhesive on the studs. I could see the strength of the vacuum creating that kind of wavy look.


    From what I've seen an adhesive is sprayed over the entire wall and the exterior wall material is then laid over that then pinch rolled or vac bonded. Most all fiberglass sided trailers don't have studs 16" OC so they rely on the foam insulation to be an integral part of the wall structure.
  • ACZL's avatar
    ACZL
    Explorer
    Jan 16, 2019
    Cedar Creeks are 16" OC studs and last I knew was not vacuumed bonded
  • Dayle1's avatar
    Dayle1
    Explorer II
    Jan 17, 2019
    goducks10 wrote:
    Unfortunately thats normal. It's where the Luan backer butts together. Some MFG's use two layers overlapping on the exterior which may or may not alleviate some of those vertical dimples. I've got a few on my 5er. Been that way for 6 years.


    Yep, the bulges are at the edge of each panel and should be visible every 48 inches.

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