Finally got around to installing the washer, a Splendide 2100XC. I had blithely assumed that comments I had read about there being nothing but foam and glass between the vent location (straight out the back of the washer) and the outside were correct. After carefully measuring I started my 4" hole saw drilling from the inside. While drilling I'm thinking...."damn, these Fores are built tough. There must be a heavy inner layer of glass on this thing behind the ply liner. Would have thought I'd been through by now but this is an old dull hole saw...." WAIT A MINUTE, THOSE ARE STEEL SHAVINGS!
Pried out the plywood plug, the inner glass layer and found that I had neatly sawn into a piece of
what looks to be 2X2 steel tubing, the horizontal structure of the wall. The hole wasn't centered on it but the tubing was in the upper third of the cutout. Fortunately I had found this from the inside, had I started outside would have been a blowed toad. I offset the outside penetration approx 2" down so the top of the hole would miss the structure, sealed cuts in tubing, built a sheetmetal shroud to connect the offset and finished the installation.
For a guy who prizes himeself on being able to unerringly locate studs in a wall with a few taps, it was a humbling experience. Whether you are doing the install or having it done by a pro, I'd suggest caution.
Chuck
The way to locate sidewall and roof framing members (aluminum) is to look at the outside skin in the early morning. Dew will condense at the frame members giving you a clear look at their loaction.
The topic of locating structural members piqued my curiosity. Indeed you can see that beautiful structural framework outlined by the moisture on the outside of the coach in the morning.
I checked a couple of other methods for finding structural members. A magnet will help identify the location of steel under the fiberglass skin of the coach. I could not find any steel in the walls when I used the magnet inside. However, my Stanley "IntelliLaser Pro" stud sensor did a reasonable job finding the steel members from the inside and the outside of the walls. It has a setting for choosing wood framing or steel framing. When set for steel framing, the sensor gave indications one could use to help find the steel structure in a wall.
Thanks to Chuck for sharing his "D'oh!" moment so that someone else might be saved from the same error.
I use a heavy magnet to find them from the inside....
As someone who is about to do the same install in a 1999 U270, I am wondering if yours has the same washer/dryer location. Is it in the center wardrobe closet on the passenger side of the coach? I guess that of course depends on the floor plan you have... Is it a WTFE? Also, am I to understand that the structural member you found a horizontal brace between the vertical studs?
Thanks, Don