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Topic: Foretravel Fiberglass, quality and construction methods (Read 794 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from Re: Painting options

Foretravel Fiberglass, quality and construction methods

Attempting to break out a new thread. I don't know how to include the reply that came after my originating post, except to include it as a quote, which follows the quote of my post. This new thread came out of a thread entitled "painting options". It is a subject of great interest to me as it reflects on the beauty and long term durability of our coach, and for the most part, I believe it sounds the horn for the mothership. The long term durability and appearance of a well taken care of Foretravel coach is well proven by all of the examples still on the road, as well as the many outstanding vintage coaches owned by the membership of Foreforums, but I think that a thread that addresses the specifics of the construction of the Foretravel shell may help explain the longevity we enjoy from our coaches.
Don
What you are describing is true also for the endcaps and, I believe the hatches as well. No question that the sidewalls are done differently, since the endcaps and hatches are not "infused" with metal framing like the roof and sidewalls. Obviously, the steel sidewalls and aluminum roof structure is welded up first and then the foam board insulation fitted in-between the frame members. The question in my mind is how the outer skin is applied and laminated to the framing and to the rigid insulation underneath. I think perhaps the layer under the gel coat comes as a sheet of resin infused fiberglass mesh and possibly Foretravel would outsource that component as smaller individual sheets that could be glued to the wall assembly and the joints glassed over to make a seamless substrate to which FOT would apply the outer Gel coat. The roof is a bit different since the roof has plywood decking over the aluminum frame and then the fiberglass substrate and Gel coated over that. I could be wrong... but that is my guess. Here are a couple of pictures. The first picture is the roof structure at the refrigerator vent opening where you can clearly see the plywood roof decking. The second picture is a 4" diameter plug from the dryer vent hole I drilled when I installed the Splendide 2100XC. The gelcoat is on top and there is two different types of rigid foam insulation and the luan inside paneling is the bottom layer. I call this my "Foretravel Sandwich".
Don
Edit: Oops! It appears I have taken this subject away from the original topic... Moderators feel free to remove or move it. I will try to be good from now on.
Not sure how to move either but those pictures should be searchable so a new thread is a good idea.  Thanks for posting those two pictures.  They will be very valuable in the next two weeks.  First the roof picture helps me understand how I may want to proceed to fix the holes from the original satellite dish.  I had it replaced as part of a rework of the AV in Nac.  When the new dish was added they left all the old holes open.  During three days of rain, water started coming into the interior thru the front ceiling light.  I own it because I did not check the work.  I will probe and probably seal the wood ends with west system and redrill for small stainless bolts and then caulk.

The second, sandwich, will also be helpful.  We are having windows resealed next week in Hudson FL.  I noted two fiberglass repairs, after the buff out, next to two windows on the passenger side.  They were professionally done as they end in proper angles but the gelcoat was not of the same quality.  Not sure what I will see when they come out but knowing the original layup will be very helpful.
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Foretravel Fiberglass, quality and construction methods

Reply #1
I forgot to mention that there is a layer of what appears to be filon FRP sheet material similar to what is used on the basement skins just before the inside wall panel that is bonded to the rigid blue foam board insulation. The bottom layer would be whatever is covering your walls on the inside above the wainscoting in the years that don't have paneling from floor to ceiling. Of course, this is from our 99' and FOT could;d have done this many different ways in different years and models.
Don
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Foretravel Fiberglass, quality and construction methods

Reply #2
John, are you sure that Foretravel uses finished sheets made by someone else? I had many conversations with Rance and Greg while at Xtreme, and unless I misunderstood them, Foretravel handlayed up the fiberglass for everything but the basement section which is a filon sheet material.
Don
Don,
I can't be proof positive as I'm relying on wisps of brain cells tucked away in a far corner of my mind and have no idea now how they got there.  Of course, what might be true in one model year maybe false in another.  One thing that might be telling is this "feature" I have found on my side walls; vertical seams every 130 inches.  I happen to have a bay door off where one seam is and I can see the edge of the fiberglass panel; the seam is only the thickness of the gelcoat which is about .020".  The seam is straight, only .030" wide and I can feel a groove when I run my fingernail across it .  I decided to look for seams on the roof and couldn't find any.  I would think if they could lay up a roof without seams, they could do a side wall too where it would be more visible.  I'm curious if other year coaches have these seams.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Foretravel Fiberglass, quality and construction methods

Reply #3
Don,
I can't be proof positive as I'm relying on wisps of brain cells tucked away in a far corner of my mind and have no idea now how they got there.  Of course, what might be true in one model year maybe false in another.  One thing that might be telling is this "feature" I have found on my side walls; vertical seams every 130 inches.  I happen to have a bay door off where one seam is and I can see the edge of the fiberglass panel; the seam is only the thickness of the gelcoat which is about .020".  The seam is straight, only .030" wide and I can feel a groove when I run my fingernail across it .  I decided to look for seams on the roof and couldn't find any.  I would think if they could lay up a roof without seams, they could do a side wall too where it would be more visible.  I'm curious if other year coaches have these seams.

Foretravel used large pieces of plate glass for many years to make there own sidewalls on.  Tiny drips formed between the panes.

They were snapped off after removal from the glass.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4