Process for side wall build

[Damniyboy1]

Does anyone know grand design’s process they use to build the laminated panels? Is it pinch roll or vacuum bonding?

[tfgd21bhe]

Pinch roll

[Damniyboy1]

Thanks for the reply, I was curious about it because we are looking at the 2800BH imagine , and the salesman told us it was vacuum formed but we had been looking at the jayco just the day before and he said they were
the only ones that did the vacuum forming for the laminated panels

[NB Canada]

Thanks for the reply, I was curious about it because we are looking at the 2800BH imagine , and the salesman told us it was vacuum formed but we had been looking at the jayco just the day before and he said they were
the only ones that did the vacuum forming for the laminated panels

Lol. Sounds like a typical rv salesman. Just make stuff up because they don’t have a clue

But if you are referring to “Azdel” many manufacturers use it other than Jayco

Coachmen uses it as do many Forest river products

Imo it is a far superior build than Grand design
I looked at Cougar,Coachmen Freedom and Whitehawk when shopping

The Imagine had the layout and storage(both compartment and tank) that was much larger than any other
Also it was the cheapest of them all
This is why we bought the Imagine
But the construction and materials inside are much cheaper

Hopefully it holds up


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[Captcolour]

The Azdel you are referring to is a plastic fiberglass composite material which replaces the luan board, not the exterior surface. I retired from the plastics industry and I would guess that the luan is stiffer which would give less flexing of the wall at equal thickness. The vacuum form versus pinch roll refers to how the luan (pinch roll) or the Azdel (plastic composite) is attached to the aluminum structure. With the Azdel, I assume the only manufacturing choice is vacuum forming it as it likely won't adhere with glue. So in the vacuum form process, you are hoping that the plastic composite draws down equally and thick enough to form a good bond. Otherwise it won't hold to the aluminum. In both sub-wall processes, exterior fiberglass walls are likely a similar process. Can't say which is "better" for the sub-wall. Choice is really determined by what the manufacturer has for equipment. If they only have pinch rolls, then luan it is.

[geotex1]

It's a sales tactic. Everyone tries to find something the layperson is not familiar with to accentuate the difference. If my sales team weren't masterful at this, I wouldn't have North of 2000 individual SKUs!

Ignore the "versus" qualitative comparisons and get the quantitative ones. How thick are the walls, what is the framing made from and thickness, what is the structural warranty, does the factory test EVERY sidewall or just a percentage and so on.