Motorhome v. 5th wheel - Do wall thickness and R ratings matter?
Steve C said
11:46 AM Jun 2, 2011
My wife, Evin, and I are back in the RV selection process. Last time we toured six factories where 5th wheels are made. After two years of research and the tours we bought a DRV Mobile Suites 38RESB4 and a Ford F-450. We ended up very happy with both; but, because of family health issues we had to come off the road and sell the RV and truck.
We liked the lifestyle so much we want to do it again and this time we decided to look at motorhomes as well. We are currently at a loss as to what we want to buy --another 5th wheel and truck or a motorhome?
We do have some questions about motorhomes as the result of a recent sit down with the factory rep for one of the brands we are considering. I asked him, "What is the wall thickness and what is the R rating for the sidewalls, roof and floor?" He told me the wall thickness but could not give me a R insulation rating. He said, "There is so much glass in this coach a R rating has no meaning." He assured us we "would be comfortable in both cold and hot climates." His answer, or lack thereof, got me to thinking and so I am starting this topic.
Our DRV Mobile Suite had 3.25" aluminum sidewalls with R16 insulated rating. At the time, highest R rating in the industry. Maybe still is, I don't know. The roof was R25 and the floor was R29. We were comfortable in climate ranges/temperatures from the low 20's to the high 90's.
The motorhomes we are considering are the Monaco Diplomat 43DFT and a yet to be determined favorite from Tiffin Motorhomes. Monaco's product brochure lists 1.5" sidewalls with high-performance thermal insulation and Tiffin list approximate 2" sidewalls with high-performance thermal insulation also. Neither company lists a R rating that I can find.
So, my question or topic is: "Do wall thickness and R ratings matter if you are living full-time in an RV? Especially when you plan to spend time in the Southwest and Canada doing four-season living. Will we be more comfortable climate control wise in a 5th wheel?
Bill Adams said
03:47 PM Jun 2, 2011
We have an older Prevost bus conversion and we do have lots of single pane glass up front so an R value close to that of an open window! The roof and wall insulation is only 1-2" of sprayed on expanded foam and the floor....good question....I don't know about the floor since there are storage compartments below but my guess is....none. We have been very comfortable in -4 degrees over a Christmas visit to Flagstaff and the terrible hot and humid weather in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina. BE sure to get a coach with 50 amp service (that's 100 amps of available service) to ensure you can run all of your A/C units should it be really warm out there. I also highly recommend a coach with diesel heat if you plan on much cold weather camping as there is simply nothing that will keep you as consistently warm (as your storage bays as well) as diesel heat. If you are looking at a gas powered RV this will not be an option so look for a coach with dual furnaces or if a single, get as many BTU's as possible. If you will be camping in moderately cool areas you can get A/C units that also work as your heat source (heat pump) but they are only effective down to about 40 degrees outside temps.
ahoweth said
07:24 AM Jun 3, 2011
Yes R values do matter, perhaps not so much in the floors of a class A motor coach because of basement compartment heating. Most motor coach now have dual pane windows every where accept in the driver's area where it would not be feasible. A thinner wall does not directly correlate to lower R values as some insulating materials will give better R values even though they are thinner. A good coach manufacturer should be able to tell you what the R value is of their wall and roof constructions. I know that Fleetwood RV's American coach series do.
I will tend to agree with a previous comment that an aqua hot heating system, they referred to it as a diesel heating system, will probably give you more comfortable heating, however the propane heaters can work well too. Many newer Class A coaches have electrically heated floors. That really does increase the comfort of the coach.
I might add that most 5th wheel trailers do a good job too. It just works down too which one fits your lifestyle better. That is just my opinion.
-- Edited by ahoweth on Friday 3rd of June 2011 07:26:29 AM
Luvglass said
02:44 PM Jun 3, 2011
It definitely matters, but in lifestyle only to the amount you have to run your furnace in the winter and your air conditioning in the summer. In the winter especially, it can be quite expensive. Our rig is well insulated and we have dual pane windows, but in below zero weather we will go through a 30# propane tank about every 2 days.
The importance of R values is directly related to how extreme of weather you plan on venturing into for extended periods. For most people, it's not too important at all.
NorCal Dan said
10:40 PM Jun 3, 2011
The 1st year we owned our coach we spent the winter in Verdi NV. Our propane tank (100#) would last us almost exactly one month, and that was running both furnaces. Since then we have purchased electric space heaters and only use 1 furnace, I also added an external 40# tank so I don't have to move the coach to fill the propane. This past winter was spent in Long Beach WA. right on the ocean. Temps ranged from daily highs in the 40's to lows in the 20's and I filled the 40# tank every 7 to 10 days. I don't know the R values for our Diplomat but it does have dual-pane windows. If your parked where electric is included the space heater will take a load off the furnace and help stretch your propane. I looked at the new 43' tag axle Diplomat a couple weeks ago at the dealer and it sure is nice!
RVRon said
06:10 AM Jun 5, 2011
Luvglass wrote:
The importance of R values is directly related to how extreme of weather you plan on venturing into for extended periods. For most people, it's not too important at all.
R-values aren't a big concern for us either. Having spent most of our lives living in a northern climate and the last few enduring Florida in the summer, we will definitely seek places with moderate temperatures. Our RV has single pane windows and unknown insulation in the walls and although we'd like double pane windows for more sound insulation it's not worth worrying about.
My wife, Evin, and I are back in the RV selection process. Last time we toured six factories where 5th wheels are made. After two years of research and the tours we bought a DRV Mobile Suites 38RESB4 and a Ford F-450. We ended up very happy with both; but, because of family health issues we had to come off the road and sell the RV and truck.
We liked the lifestyle so much we want to do it again and this time we decided to look at motorhomes as well. We are currently at a loss as to what we want to buy --another 5th wheel and truck or a motorhome?
We do have some questions about motorhomes as the result of a recent sit down with the factory rep for one of the brands we are considering. I asked him, "What is the wall thickness and what is the R rating for the sidewalls, roof and floor?" He told me the wall thickness but could not give me a R insulation rating. He said, "There is so much glass in this coach a R rating has no meaning." He assured us we "would be comfortable in both cold and hot climates." His answer, or lack thereof, got me to thinking and so I am starting this topic.
Our DRV Mobile Suite had 3.25" aluminum sidewalls with R16 insulated rating. At the time, highest R rating in the industry. Maybe still is, I don't know. The roof was R25 and the floor was R29. We were comfortable in climate ranges/temperatures from the low 20's to the high 90's.
The motorhomes we are considering are the Monaco Diplomat 43DFT and a yet to be determined favorite from Tiffin Motorhomes. Monaco's product brochure lists 1.5" sidewalls with high-performance thermal insulation and Tiffin list approximate 2" sidewalls with high-performance thermal insulation also. Neither company lists a R rating that I can find.
So, my question or topic is: "Do wall thickness and R ratings matter if you are living full-time in an RV? Especially when you plan to spend time in the Southwest and Canada doing four-season living. Will we be more comfortable climate control wise in a 5th wheel?
We have been very comfortable in -4 degrees over a Christmas visit to Flagstaff and the terrible hot and humid weather in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina. BE sure to get a coach with 50 amp service (that's 100 amps of available service) to ensure you can run all of your A/C units should it be really warm out there. I also highly recommend a coach with diesel heat if you plan on much cold weather camping as there is simply nothing that will keep you as consistently warm (as your storage bays as well) as diesel heat. If you are looking at a gas powered RV this will not be an option so look for a coach with dual furnaces or if a single, get as many BTU's as possible.
If you will be camping in moderately cool areas you can get A/C units that also work as your heat source (heat pump) but they are only effective down to about 40 degrees outside temps.
Yes R values do matter, perhaps not so much in the floors of a class A motor coach because of basement compartment heating. Most motor coach now have dual pane windows every where accept in the driver's area where it would not be feasible. A thinner wall does not directly correlate to lower R values as some insulating materials will give better R values even though they are thinner. A good coach manufacturer should be able to tell you what the R value is of their wall and roof constructions. I know that Fleetwood RV's American coach series do.
I will tend to agree with a previous comment that an aqua hot heating system, they referred to it as a diesel heating system, will probably give you more comfortable heating, however the propane heaters can work well too. Many newer Class A coaches have electrically heated floors. That really does increase the comfort of the coach.
I might add that most 5th wheel trailers do a good job too. It just works down too which one fits your lifestyle better. That is just my opinion.
-- Edited by ahoweth on Friday 3rd of June 2011 07:26:29 AM
The importance of R values is directly related to how extreme of weather you plan on venturing into for extended periods. For most people, it's not too important at all.
R-values aren't a big concern for us either. Having spent most of our lives living in a northern climate and the last few enduring Florida in the summer, we will definitely seek places with moderate temperatures. Our RV has single pane windows and unknown insulation in the walls and although we'd like double pane windows for more sound insulation it's not worth worrying about.