RV environmental survey - can you help?

[ES72]

Hi folks,

I’m an environmental researcher currently looking into the use of Indonesian timber in the RV industry. As part of the project, I’m hoping to chat to or conduct a survey with a few US-based RV owners whose vehicle may contain lauan/ luan (meranti wood). I’m interested in better understanding the following:

• how aware are potential RV buyers of materials used in RVs
• sustainability as a possible motivating factor in making purchasing decisions
• what kind of information or claims about sustainability is available to potential buyers
• how different products are marketed

The aim of this research is to explore the possible use of unsustainably-sourced timber and to look at how the RV industry could address sustainability concerns; and so ultimately to better protect crucial rainforests in Indonesia.

If you think your vehicle contains luan (it seems that most of them do!) and you’d be happy to chat with me, please comment and I’ll get in touch directly. Thanks very much in advance! Any contribution would be greatly appreciated

 

[bullfrog !]

Hi folks,

I’m an environmental researcher currently looking into the use of Indonesian timber in the RV industry. As part of the project, I’m hoping to chat to or conduct a survey with a few US-based RV owners whose vehicle may contain lauan/ luan (meranti wood). I’m interested in better understanding the following:

• how aware are potential RV buyers of materials used in RVs
• sustainability as a possible motivating factor in making purchasing decisions
• what kind of information or claims about sustainability is available to potential buyers
• how different products are marketed

The aim of this research is to explore the possible use of unsustainably-sourced timber and to look at how the RV industry could address sustainability concerns; and so ultimately to better protect crucial rainforests in Indonesia.

If you think your vehicle contains luan (it seems that most of them do!) and you’d be happy to chat with me, please comment and I’ll get in touch directly. Thanks very much in advance! Any contribution would be greatly appreciated

Many people here are building as inexpensively as possible if they are building. If buying an RV again many are doing so based on costs. I have done both. When building I used it for light weight structural composite type panels. Many here are first time builders and use thicker plywood’s. Most feel our lifestyle conserves resources and therefore money compared to conventional housing therefore they are doing much more with less and even though energy costs are some of the main expenses still “green”.

 

[eDJ_]

This forum used to be known as "Cheap RV Living" as founded by Bob Wells. The idea was originally for taking an empty Van or Delivery Truck of some sort and building it out with second hand lumber saving money in that to afford various hardware gear. It expanded to commercially built Class A, B, and C RV's, camping Trailers, used School Busses, Shuttle Vans, and so on.

When I've been around Lumber Yards I haven't noticed any of the lumber labled to indicate the country of origin. Only the name of the Company that produced it. Similar at used building supply businesses.

Most factory built RV's are built with quality wood materials such as plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and medium density fiberboard (MDF). These materials are strong, durable, and can be used in many parts of an RV. Buyers of these vehicles will likely not be informed of the country of origin the wooden components came from. But the builder will be aware of the life cycle of RV's and understand it may pass thru several owners. Likewise fiinancing by various institutions. (thus be inspected and approved before financing takes place)

Here is some information regarding the life span of factory built Motor Home RV's:

How Long Do RVs Last: Lifespan of RV Classes

If you were to Poll RV owners inquiring if they know the countries of origin the lumber used in building their RV originated from, I doubt most (if any) would know. Further, manufacturers and sales teams wouldn't consider it vital information to their sales effort or the customer's interest.

 

[Sky King]

Yes luan or lauan is very common in US housing and RVs as it's much better than particle board.
Mainly 5.2 mm aka 1/4" for subfloors. I ran a real lumber yard not a big box store & was the lumber buyer.
Philippine mahogany it's also called. We only sold it made with exterior glue but box stores used interior glue. Ours came from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia as was stated on the units of 115 sheets. It's used in furniture also and IMHO is a good product. I don't want to do a survey but wanted you to get correct info, Good luck

 

[bullfrog !]

This forum used to be known as "Cheap RV Living" as founded by Bob Wells. The idea was originally for taking an empty Van or Delivery Truck of some sort and building it out with second hand lumber saving money in that to afford various hardware gear. It expanded to commercially built Class A, B, and C RV's, camping Trailers, used School Busses, Shuttle Vans, and so on.

When I've been around Lumber Yards I haven't noticed any of the lumber labled to indicate the country of origin. Only the name of the Company that produced it. Similar at used building supply businesses.

Most factory built RV's are built with quality wood materials such as plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and medium density fiberboard (MDF). These materials are strong, durable, and can be used in many parts of an RV. Buyers of these vehicles will likely not be informed of the country of origin the wooden components came from. But the builder will be aware of the life cycle of RV's and understand it may pass thru several owners. Likewise fiinancing by various institutions. (thus be inspected and approved before financing takes place)

Here is some information regarding the life span of factory built Motor Home RV's:

How Long Do RVs Last: Lifespan of RV Classes

If you were to Poll RV owners inquiring if they know the countries of origin the lumber used in building their RV originated from, I doubt most (if any) would know. Further, manufacturers and sales teams wouldn't consider it vital information to their sales effort or the customer's interest.

We may soon if 40% tariffs go into effect! Lol!!! And your link fails to consider how quickly RV can deteriorate if not fully maintained like water damage for instance.

 

[bullfrog !]

Luan with Poor Man’s Fiberglass (canvas, glue and exterior paint) can last an extremely long time even as a roof surface.

 

[bullfrog !]

The biggest detractor of luan use in manufactured RVs is the use of staples and lack of workmanship. Luan works well when used and installed correctly, which it seldom is in my experience.

 

[eDJ_]

^^^ Bullfrog wrote

And your link fails to consider how quickly RV can deteriorate if not fully maintained like water damage for instance.

I doubt the "industry" that produces & sales RV's sees the after market behaviors as their problem to address. Those are things they have no control over. Some owners will act responsibly and others simply won't. But of course the industry will take an optomistic view and make their projections based on that.

 

[Sky King]

I think all RVs should have one PC seamless steel roofs as that's a major cause of damage & most don't check the roof but RVs are made as cheaply as possible for use a few weeks a year.

 

[eDJ_]

Some friends of mine and I attended an RV show once. The RV's were year end close outs where they were advertising huge discounts etc etc. While I was inside this one Terry camp trailer I heard a couple of salesmen talking outside where they thought they were alone enough to disccuss some of their tricks in closing
a sale.

I stayed in my place just listening to them. I remember one explaining that he would explain how the Terry Trailer had an all "one piece" aluminum roof......and an all aluminum bottom too. (he laughed explaining to his sales associate that the bottom was in "three" pieces. But the way he stressed the roof was all one piece metal that when he said the bottom was all metal the customer assumed it was all one piece metal.) I could see how effective this would be when selling to first time buyers who weren't accompanied by a friend with experience in these matters. But they went on discussing inferences, ommisions, half truths, and other whiz-bang closing secrets. I got a kick out of listening to them speak to each other about their "art of the deal".

I have known one person since who had purchased a used Terry Tarus trailer to tow to Florida to snow bird in. When he got to Florida he discovered the rear bedroom floor had rotted and he had to get a carpenter to repair it. When he got back in the spring I explained the three piece metal bottom and he got under the trailer and found the seams. After some cleaning he used some silicone RTV calking to seal the seams up to prevent any water getting back into the flooring. The next year he towed the trailer back to Florida and found a Senior's Park in the Kississime area where he left it there after. He and his wife finally retired from snow birding and stayed in their home for the rest of his life. He told me he was always focused on roof leaks but never dreamed of floor problems. That the trailer had been well taken care of and he knew the person who had it before. (but hadn't used it for a couple of years other than a guest house for friends on occasion)

This photo is quite similar to his trailer.