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Temperature?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:13 pm
by egjacks
I live in a hot sunny place, and was wondering how different skins reflect temperature. I know that light colors are cooler but what about different materials? I especially want to know if polishing the outside of a metal trailer would be cooler inside than an unpolished trailer of the same metal.

So I would love to hear about all y'all's experiences with different siding materials and finishes!

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:24 pm
by citylights
egjacks wrote:I live in a hot sunny place, and was wondering how different skins reflect temperature. I know that light colors are cooler but what about different materials? I especially want to know if polishing the outside of a metal trailer would be cooler inside than an unpolished trailer of the same metal.

So I would love to hear about all y'all's experiences with different siding materials and finishes!


Long time camp secret for staying cool... Park it in the shade! Solar gain over ambient temperature is huge! Shade minimizes solar gain.

With that said, the more light you reflect the less temperature gain you have. White reflects all colors and absorbs less, stays cooler. Black reflects less colors and absorbs more, gets warmer.

Mine is a shiny aluminum skin over 3/4 plywood for the sides. Around the front and top is the same aluminum with 1/8 th inch plywood, 1 inch foam, 1/8 th inch ply sandwich. I don't know how that will compare with others regarding solar gain and heat, but I have an air conditioner too! As long as I can jack into the grid, I can stay cool.

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:49 am
by egjacks
thanks for the reply John, and I must say that I have enjoyed looking through your build journal. Yes shade is definitely a desired commodity in the desert. I spent a few years down in Vegas, and it gets hot down there. We get almost as hot on this side of Washington and the mountains block most of our rain and clouds.

I am planning on skinning my tear with stainless steel sheets (already purchased) and was wondering if it would be worth it to polish it up to a mirror or near mirror finish. Aside from the "wow factor", which might be worth it in its own right, would it be justified in the time and effort involved?

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:07 am
by Nobody
Ya might want to think about other drivers when considering the 'polish'. Depending on the shape/contour of your TD, you might cause some distress with a mirror finish. My TD is covered with 'mill finish' aluminum. In certain sun/weather conditions I've had other drivers remark on the glare or reflection from my TD & is is far from a mirror finish. Just something to think about... :thinking:

Image

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:07 pm
by citylights
egjacks wrote:thanks for the reply John, and I must say that I have enjoyed looking through your build journal. Yes shade is definitely a desired commodity in the desert. I spent a few years down in Vegas, and it gets hot down there. We get almost as hot on this side of Washington and the mountains block most of our rain and clouds.

I am planning on skinning my tear with stainless steel sheets (already purchased) and was wondering if it would be worth it to polish it up to a mirror or near mirror finish. Aside from the "wow factor", which might be worth it in its own right, would it be justified in the time and effort involved?


Thanks!

I thought about stainless too, but decided against it because it is harder to work than aluminum. The finished product would be stronger and longer lasting, but... Lots harder to build. I'm interested to see how it goes for you.

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 5:36 pm
by egjacks
Hmmm, Glare and other drivers is not something I had considered. I have seen pictures of a few really polished trailers and I think they look cool, but I don't really want to piss off or endanger anyone because my trailer is so shiny...

The reason I went with stainless was pretty simple. I found a number of 5x10 sheets at the metal recyclers for about $60 per sheet. Up till then I had not really thought I could afford metal sides, so I jumped on them. My plans keep changing but I should have enough for the roof and sides with enough left over for a tongue box and maybe the galley.

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:21 pm
by Shadow Catcher
We have 1.5" of EPS and a white Filon exterior, we also have a 5,000BTU AC
80999

Re: Temperature?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 7:02 pm
by egjacks
hey shadow catcher, how well does your ac work? is it over powered for the space inside a tear?