construction materials

[dakasa47]

I was looking at this RV today as I am retiring in June and husband is already retired. We have a 21ft travel trailer but we are thinking about getting something a little bigger and easier to handle. The Axis seems to fit most of the things we are looking for. The only problem is that my husband is dead set against anything constructed with OSB. Can anyone tell me if the floor of the Axis is sob or plywood or composite?
Thank you

[dakasa47]

Effy wrote:
What's wrong with osb? MH's have been designed with it for years. If you want to pick apart materials there would be a long list ahead of OSB for flooring.

Its not me its him. He just doesn't like it.

[Sully2]

SooperDaddy wrote:
The issue with OSB is that if and when it gets wet it will swell up and crumble into the sawdust it was made from.

Exterior grade or Marine Grade plywood will not. And the newer Azdel and synthetics will out last the Pyramids!

Also picking an RV made with welded Aluminum tubing and High Pressure Vacuum Laminated walls, roofs and floors such as all Jaycos and Forest River RV's have will also pay off in a long lasting structure. Jayco says that Vacuum lamination is 10 times less likely to leak than others, and Jayco also doubles the sealant in their seams.

Evergreen RV, CampLite a few Dutchmen and a very few others use 100% composite walls, and the price of the unit will reflect that! 30% to 60% higher.

#2...aint no maker of RV's using waterproof marine plywood. So you are out of the ball game with that miss

#1...aint so "Joe". Subglooring in my home here is 29 years old...and OSB was using for subflooring. ( NOT "particle board" thats used under carpeing...but OSB board) There was one weird cut piece for a corner that I saved and tossed outside and eventually placed leaning at an angle against the foundation.....just as a "check". Its been there for 28 years and hasnt delaminated yet!!!

[sailor_lou]

"What other Mfg's use this hung wall concept?"

In addition to Newmar, I know Travel Supreme did and Entegra currently uses hung wall construction. I'm sure other will chime in with additional manufacturers.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

[Gjac]

dougrainer wrote:

Gjac wrote:

bsinmich wrote:
You may want to check out Newmar. Their walls aren't laminated so delamination is never a problem. So far I have not found any OSB in mine. OSB is very heavy and I don't know why anyone would want it in an RV.

How are these walls made? Are they mechanically fastened?

Newmar does have delam, but it is extremely rare. ALL RV's can have delam, but it is very rare. Newmar has what is called a HUNG wall. That means they install Sikaflex adhesive up and down and sideways to all the aluminum studs and then the wall which is hung from clamps is then pressed onto the sidewall of the RV. The sidewall has already been secured to the RV floor. It is then blocked with wood rams that press against the wall and is left overnight. They clamp 2 to 4 or 5 units this way overnight. The only time I have seen delam on a Newmar was when they missed a stud with Sikaflex and that was years ago. Due to the aluminum studs and the Sikaflex adhesive, water penetration will not cause the Newmar to delam. Water penetration is the usual cause of Delam when they use wood studs and styrofoam and the studs get water and the adhesive lets go. Water damage on OSB or any type wood will NOT cause a problem UNLESS the water is left to sit for weeks or months. Having a water leak and then drying it out will not cause any floor material to swell up immediately. Doug

If I understand your explanation of the hung wall the only place that it could delaminate is at the frame bond because there is just a FG skin with no foam core.I supose they would just use regular insulation between the frames with luan or some other material for the inside wall. What other Mfg's use this hung wall concept?

[Horsedoc]

I think some of you guys are mistaking OSB with the old particle board that was/is used in cheap furniture. Particle board looks like sawdust formed in large sheets. Once wet the stuff will swell and begin to disintegrate into what is almost powder. OSB on the other hand is a composite wood but is large flakes of wood, maybe and inch or so in diameter, that are stranded flat sides down and layered on each other. Prior to layering, these flakes are coated with glue/epoxy/adhesives that are water resistant or water proof. Heated presses are used to put terrific pressure and heat to produce sheets of stranded board.
It is much, much better than the old particle board. It is also better as sheeting for roof construction in house building than the old 1/2 inch plywood that could have areas with no glue and/or voids between layers.

[ArchHoagland]

OSB defined

I had never heard the term OSB although I've used it.

[dougrainer]

Gjac wrote:

bsinmich wrote:
You may want to check out Newmar. Their walls aren't laminated so delamination is never a problem. So far I have not found any OSB in mine. OSB is very heavy and I don't know why anyone would want it in an RV.

How are these walls made? Are they mechanically fastened?

Newmar does have delam, but it is extremely rare. ALL RV's can have delam, but it is very rare. Newmar has what is called a HUNG wall. That means they install Sikaflex adhesive up and down and sideways to all the aluminum studs and then the wall which is hung from clamps is then pressed onto the sidewall of the RV. The sidewall has already been secured to the RV floor. It is then blocked with wood rams that press against the wall and is left overnight. They clamp 2 to 4 or 5 units this way overnight. The only time I have seen delam on a Newmar was when they missed a stud with Sikaflex and that was years ago. Due to the aluminum studs and the Sikaflex adhesive, water penetration will not cause the Newmar to delam. Water penetration is the usual cause of Delam when they use wood studs and styrofoam and the studs get water and the adhesive lets go. Water damage on OSB or any type wood will NOT cause a problem UNLESS the water is left to sit for weeks or months. Having a water leak and then drying it out will not cause any floor material to swell up immediately. Doug

[Gjac]

bsinmich wrote:
You may want to check out Newmar. Their walls aren't laminated so delamination is never a problem. So far I have not found any OSB in mine. OSB is very heavy and I don't know why anyone would want it in an RV.

How are these walls made? Are they mechanically fastened?

[Effy]

bsinmich wrote:
You may want to check out Newmar. Their walls aren't laminated so delamination is never a problem. So far I have not found any OSB in mine. OSB is very heavy and I don't know why anyone would want it in an RV.

Delam is a thing of the past. New glues and epoxies even on laminated coaches don't separate any more.

[bsinmich]

You may want to check out Newmar. Their walls aren't laminated so delamination is never a problem. So far I have not found any OSB in mine. OSB is very heavy and I don't know why anyone would want it in an RV.

[chuckftboy]

My coach floor is a double layer of 3/4 plywood. I know because I installed a new vacuum cleaner bought at the Atlanta GS rally. My guess is som manufactures don't use OSB on gas rigs.

[path1]

Agree with OP on "no OSB" and wife said "carpet must have carpet padding". We did gave in a little bit and agreed to allow staples.

So far we've determined that we are in the wrong century. If anybody did make something really well built I think it would cost a fortune in todays market place. The market did however dictate to the builders that really built their units that very few customers wanted to pay the price they needed, those manufactures are now history.

[jtfcons]

Effy wrote:
What's wrong with osb? MH's have been designed with it for years. If you want to pick apart materials there would be a long list ahead of OSB for flooring.

Amen

[SooperDaddy]

The issue with OSB is that if and when it gets wet it will swell up and crumble into the sawdust it was made from.

Exterior grade or Marine Grade plywood will not. And the newer Azdel and synthetics will out last the Pyramids!

Also picking an RV made with welded Aluminum tubing and High Pressure Vacuum Laminated walls, roofs and floors such as all Jaycos and Forest River RV's have will also pay off in a long lasting structure. Jayco says that Vacuum lamination is 10 times less likely to leak than others, and Jayco also doubles the sealant in their seams.

Evergreen RV, CampLite a few Dutchmen and a very few others use 100% composite walls, and the price of the unit will reflect that! 30% to 60% higher.