Aluminum Interior skin?

ltcinfantry · September 26, 2022, 10:57:19 AM

Many of the builds I've looked at installed wood, drywall or a laminate for the interior walls. Has anyone done an aluminum interior skin like those found inside of Airstreams? Cost is obviously a concern but what reason would you or would you not use aluminum?

freds · September 26, 2022, 11:22:40 AM

Self tapping metal screws for mounting items to the roof?

My 1980 Prevost motorhome shell had a interior aluminum skin encapsulating the insulation.

windtrader · September 26, 2022, 11:23:01 AM

Never heard or seen an aluminum interior skin. Almost always some form of insulation, then some backing board to support the interior fabric.

Dave5Cs · September 27, 2022, 07:57:30 AM

MCI's have an interior Aluminum skin and if you don't have it, it is because someone took it off. Not a good idea because it helps support the whole body from twisting etc.

windtrader · September 27, 2022, 08:24:25 AM

?
Nearly every picture I see shows the interior showing the square tubing that is the structure of the shell. Maybe I did not understand the question. I'm sure during conversion everuone did not rip off all the interior metal siding, maybe hey did. LOL

lvmci · September 27, 2022, 08:34:27 AM

Gary Bennett and Van once put an aluminum interior in an Airstream trailer, looked nice! lvmci...

TomC · September 27, 2022, 08:42:44 AM

I used 1/8" plywood on the ceiling since it easily conforms to the curve of the roof and 1/4" plywood on the walls. Never regretted it. Cheap and easy to work with. Good luck, TomC

Dave5Cs · September 27, 2022, 07:35:55 PM

Quote from: windtrader on September 27, 2022, 08:24:25 AM
?
Nearly every picture I see shows the interior showing the square tubing that is the structure of the shell. Maybe I did not understand the question. I'm sure during conversion everuone did not rip off all the interior metal siding, maybe hey did. LOL

Yep Don some did actually do that and some did it before they blocked the body and then it sagged in the middle. It is structural on MCI's. You have seen Eagles with all the tubes showing that way and some MCI's that had been blocked first and then they can take it off and most after fixing the rust or whatever then put it back and like mine it has 1/8" ply over it.

richard5933 · September 28, 2022, 04:05:16 AM

The aluminum skins in an Airstream are not all they're cracked up to be. We have an older one which has them but they are either fabric or vinyl covered. The newer ones have bare aluminum throughout the interior.

One of the common complaints we hear at rallies and from owners of newer trailers regarding the interior are temperature transfer to the interior, especially in the winter. The newer trailers are pretty well insulated, but the bare interior skins still feel cold in the winter, especially when you roll up against one sleeping.

To me the other downside is the cold appearance. Not much warmth and coziness gets exuded from sheet metal.

If you're talking about having the aluminum skins be exposed like it sounds, then I'd also be concerned about noise. Especially when running down the road.

Our 4108 had the original OEM skins all around, but they were covered with fabric, vinyl, or Formica-covered panels. The result is that going down the road the interior was relatively quiet. I imagine that too many exposed sheet metal panel on the interior would put it closer to the way a school bus sounds going down the road and less like a coach.