A 12 ft. FEATHERLITE conversion

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Being as this thread has shifted to a pleasant conversation about insulation
I've had a question come to mind. How were/are the Airstream trailers insulated?
After all they were kind of the originators of the metal skin on metal frame builders...
Thanks for ya'll's thoughts.

hank

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

HikeDiveExploreEngineerGirl,

I paid an insulation company to do. I drove it to their huge shop. They put a 18-20ish kid with an attitude on the job. He had no concept of even application and thought he was the boss. I made him redo areas where bare metal was still showing. As a result, it was extra thick in some areas, which required me to do a lot of shaving on it when it hardened/set up. Other areas were too shallow. I had to use Tuff Stuff in a can to bring some areas up.

Real pros do it right, evenly and treat their customers with respect.

I'd do it myself if I were to do it again, now that the commercial tanks are available directly to consumers, not just to insulation companies.

(Wear a disposable Tyvek suit and gloves. The kid that did mine wore old Levies and a plaid cotton shirt with logger boots. He ended up wearing some foam on his boots, pants, hair and shirt. He wasn't very accurate with the applicator gun.)

I used to run an insulation company with 50 employees in the late 70's....
blame it on his boss for being a cheap ass low pay employer , who has sub standard equipment & training...
I would just have left his shop if i saw that kind of set up
they used to use the liquid pre mixed EXPIRED foam, 1-2 years out of date - thats what caused thats what caused all the formaldehyde problems
we only used the dry mix power & never had any problems

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

This lady does a really nice air stream only blog ...
and can answer air stream related questions.



http://glamperanairstreamdiary.com/

[crumvoc]

I saw a video of how airstreams are insulated. Fiberglass batts, adhered to the inside of the aluminum skin with a sprayed adhesive.

[Prem]

Thanks for the link! I like the old Airstreams. My buddy lived in a BEAUT! (Polished, totally redone chassis and beautiful interior with multiple exotic hardwoods for the cabinets, etc.)

Yup. Thin fiberglass batts for insulation. Cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Austin is on my list of places to visit in the next 12 months.

[hankaye]

crumvoc, Howdy;

I saw a video of how airstreams are insulated. Fiberglass batts, adhered to the inside of the aluminum skin with a sprayed adhesive.

Thanks, for the memory, found a You tube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PUTQOfURy0
that shows the process.
Thanks again.

hank

[Prem]

Humm...

In that Airstream video, the guys installing the fiberglass insulation are bare-armed, no dust masks and without any protection from the itchy fiberglass.

Not good.

[MtnDon]

There are non itchy forms of fiberglass batt insulation. They make the glass fibers from two types of glass and they apparently do not have irritation. Never used them but I have seen the manufacturers info. Maybe that is what Airstream uses?

[Prem]

Jerry,

In 1990, when I was building a 27' St. Pierre Dory, I ordered 2-part, polyurethane expanding foam in gallon cans for the bow and stern compartments to make the boat float high even if filled with water. I used most of it, but had some left over. I kept those two cans in a metal storage shed for two decades in crazy heat and cold year round. One 100* day in August I pulled it out, mixed it and poured it into the pair of 2 ft. x 5 ft. leaky metal compartments of a trailer I had. It slowly dripped out all the empty screw holes in the metal floor for about five seconds and then expanded so fast that I was amazed. It went from 1/4 inch of liquid to 3 inch thick foam in seconds.

How's that for long past an expiration date?

MtnDon,

Really? Well, let's hope that's what they are using in that factory video!

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Prem

The dangerious foam was made in the early to late 1970's & I'm sure the crap hit the fan before 1983 ....
When mixed with expired dates it gave off the Urea-formaldehyde more
Some people - not all , would get sick from the smell in their houses.
But you make a great point it could still work to today -
As far as I knew it was in 55 gal drums at that time.

Ok I found this :



Safety concerns
Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was used extensively in the 1970s. Homeowners used UFFI as a wall cavity filler at the time in order to conserve energy. In the 1980s, concerns began to develop about formaldehyde vapor emitted in the curing process, as well as from the breakdown of old foam. Emission rates exceeding 3.0 - 5.0 parts per million (ppm) cause a variety of adverse health effects impacting the eyes, nose, and respiratory system. Consequently, its use was discontinued. The urea-formaldehyde emissions decline over time and significant levels should no longer be present in the homes today.[5] Modern replacement options for UFFI include melamine formaldehyde resin, low-emission UF insulation materials, and polyurethane.
UFFI was usually mixed at the location of use while constructing the home’s walls. It was then injected inside the walls, the curing process occurs, and the final product acts as an insulating agent. Because less information was known about the toxic health effects of formaldehyde in the 1970s, extra formaldehyde was often added to the mixture to ensure that the curing process would occur completely. Since the UFFI was not a well-sealed product [open-celled foam], any excess formaldehyde in the insulation would off-gas into the home's living space. The early UFFI materials were also affected by moisture and heat which compounded the offgassing concerns. When temperature rises, residuals of formaldehyde contained in the insulation are released and migrate into indoor air. Remedial actions to take when formaldehyde levels exceed recommended levels include sealing off the any outlets for the vapors; sealing any cracks or openings in interior walls; removing any sources of water or moisture that come in contact with the insulation; applying one or more layers of vapor-barrier paint; increasing the air exchange rate with outside air in buildings that are tightly sealed; or covering walls with Mylar or vinyl paper. Aluminum foil is a useful alternative for barricading vapors. Generally there is not an off-gassing concern with older UFFI insulation, since those materials have already cured. Removal is a costly and tedious option for UFFI, and it requires the installation of replacement insulation.


Health effects
Health effects occur when urea-formaldehyde based materials and products release formaldehyde into the air. Generally there are no observable health effects from formaldehyde when air concentrations are below 1.0 ppm. The onset of respiratory irritation and other health effects, and even increased cancer risk begins when air concentrations exceed 3.0-5.0 ppm. This triggers watery eyes, nose irritations, wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin rash, severe allergic reactions, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans (usually > 1.0 ppm). [6][7] Occupants of UFFI insulated homes with elevated formaldehyde levels experienced systemic symptoms such as headache, malaise, insomnia, anorexia, and loss of libido. Irritation of the mucus membrane (specifically eyes, nose, and throat) was a common upper respiratory tract symptom related to formaldehyde exposure. However when compared to control groups, the frequency of symptoms did not exceed the controls expect when it came to wheezing, difficult breathing, and a burning skin sensation. Controlled studies have suggested that tolerance to formaldehyde's odor and irritating effects can occur over a prolonged exposure. Tolerance, sensitivity, and idiosyncratic reactions should be considered for further investigation.

[Prem]

Sounds like those FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina.

[Prem]

Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/FROTH-PAK-200-Foam-Sealant-Kit-346963/202893698#.UlmJNxAwKvM

[Prem]

Just like commercial buildings' exteriors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJZv5mz7O8k

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Now this is a real camper... Not like the junk we built




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqIUHPr8Jlc&feature=youtube_gdata_player


This is the PURE FORM OF CAMPING

Jerry

[Prem]

So is this. AND it could all fit in a cargo trailer for moving every 3 to 6 months.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toFBj9qBLQo