mold/rot fighting strategies? Anyone tried this?

[sbshaver]

It's tricky, ventilation is a primary consideration for comfort and mold/rot mitigation. But every time you ventilate, you make the trailer more vulnerable to moisture intrusion. Catch 22. For sure I'll try and replace whatever hold my panels onto the studs with threaded holes or something to facilitate easy access to walls. And no glue!

Another thing, I never hear much talk of redwood or teak ($). I've owned ocean boats, it's great stuff. Plywood is strong and cheap, but I hate it for it's lack of weather resistance. It always, sooner or later, starts checking, softening, warping, delaminating. Not saying substitute redwood for plywood, but it's good stuff and it seems to be off the radar here.

Sorry to obsess, but I have horrific mold allergies.

[chiefb711]

This just came to me...I just bought the dang tool last week and I'm surprised it took me this long to engage my brain. Nutserts/rivet nuts/rivnut (whatever you want to call them) would work perfect to do a modular wall. You can use the existing steel/aluminum studs and just drill into them, add the nutsert and appropriate bolt, and then use a finishing washer and overlap panels of FRP. I might actually do this, because I like the idea of dark wainscot panels with some classy trim and brass hardware. Oh the ideas are flowing now! Here's a video of the tool in use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz2yZNqGNqo

[sbshaver]

This just came to me...I just bought the dang tool last week and I'm surprised it took me this long to engage my brain. Nutserts/rivet nuts/rivnut (whatever you want to call them) would work perfect to do a modular wall. You can use the existing steel/aluminum studs and just drill into them, add the nutsert and appropriate bolt, and then use a finishing washer and overlap panels of FRP. I might actually do this, because I like the idea of dark wainscot panels with some classy trim and brass hardware. Oh the ideas are flowing now! Here's a video of the tool in use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz2yZNqGNqo

Jackpot! That's it!

[chiefb711]

Jackpot! That's it!

Modular panels...free chicken.



Now granted, this is not the sturdiest solution...but it could be modified to work fairly well if you wanted to have simple access to the insulation. Once a year check maybe? What are your thoughts?

[sbshaver]

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-T ... rds=rivnut

This might be the ticket. Not sure because I haven't picked up the trailer yet.

[chiefb711]

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-Tool-1427-Rivet/dp/B004KLVJAA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410586310&sr=8-1&keywords=rivnut

This might be the ticket. Not sure because I haven't picked up the trailer yet.

That, or something similar. I always shop at HarborFreight for one-off tools...way cheaper and typically have a lifetime warranty for WHEN I break it...not IF lol. Make sure if you go this route that you use the right rivet nuts. If you have aluminum studs, use aluminum rivnuts, Steel/steel rivnuts...you get the idea. If you decide later that you don't like the idea, you're only in to it about $20 plus hardware...not a bad deal if you ask me!

[sbshaver]

I can't think of a reason it wouldn't work. It might not produce the most aesthetic trailer, and it might not be worth it if you're doing a lot of cabinetry, and cool woodwork. I'm not a mechanic, carpenter, or shipwright, but have tinkered with cars boats and houses and evil always lurks in walls and hard to get at places. Every time I've purchased such an item, or in one case BUILT a house, I always look for ease of access and I've never regretted it. If something is hard to get to, I'll make every excuse not to address the problem. "Oh hell no, I'm not gonna rip the floor out just to get at that little Wolf den under my house! The little buggers are kinda cute and they keep the cat population down!" So this type of thing should suit me.

I've actually had good luck as well at harbor freight, and amazon for that matter. ebay not so much. Used items have a habit of not being quite what the seller describes. I think because too many sellers don't really know what they're selling, they're just flipping stuff.

[abqlloyd]

The interior panels of cargo trailers are engineered to provide rigidity and structural support. Make that part of your design process and you shouldn't have any issues.

It seems like a lot of work to me. We have used cargo trailers on the job site for years. The oldest trailer we have in service now is 16 years. It spent 2 years in New Orleans after Katrina and it hasn't rusted or molded. The interior walls are real plywood. The roof was coated with mobile home sealer (the white stuff) when it was in New Orleans, and a couple of the interior panels were replaced due to damage. When they were pulled there was zero signs of rot.

[sbshaver]

Abq thats good to know. What brand? And do your trailers have windows?? Are they insulated? Vented roofs?

[abqlloyd]

We have had Passport, cargo mate, Look, and others. They all have roof vents and side vents. No windows and minimal insulation.

[abqlloyd]

My plan on my conversion is to run a computer fan 24/7. Some of the new RV's have adopted this strategy. They are basically silent and draw minimal power. Even a small solar panel and battery can power one indefinitely.

[abqlloyd]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1410626997.003356.jpg (16.9 KiB) Viewed 2025 times

Something like this...

[abqlloyd]

Or maybe:

http://www.etrailer.com/Enclosed-Traile ... 45001.html

[sbshaver]

Or maybe:

http://www.etrailer.com/Enclosed-Traile ... 45001.html

Brilliant. I'm all over that bro.

He's another question. Why does everyone put a wall treatment over the luan? Luan isn't half bad, what's wrong with a coat or two of paint or varnish as long as the fumes aren't too bad?

[abqlloyd]

I'm not sure other than aesthetics.