Floor Construction?

The tear drop may well be plywood walls and floor as noted in the link; however the T@B is absolutely not.  The walls are 1" foam core and I'm about 99% sure the floor is also foam.  Mine sure was not plywood when I installed my table mount.  As for the floor under the seating, I don't know.  

sabel said:

Rad,
What did you encounter when doing your table mount? How did you secure it? I'm sure it's the same under the seats.

I was very careful and predrilled small shallow holes, then ( to prevent any moisture from entering) I filled the holes with nonadhesive caulking and used fairly wide but very short stainless steel screws.

 There must be aluminum braces in the floor much like in the sides and roof, or at least that would be my guess.

The picture is the closest I can come to showing the construction of T@B during a factory tour at Tearstock, and yes, I know it's the front, not the back.

The best answer I can give, and I've already given this answer two other times this evening, is to call the factory and talk to whomever answers the phone.  Be patient, yes, you have been patient, but the office personnel can't always get to the correct person with the answer you want when you call.  Ask for any one who has knowledge of where you can put the bolts.  I'm thinking there isn't 3/4" plywood in the T@B's, to keep the weight down. 

Good luck, Sabel. 

Does anyone else find it a bit frustrating that something as fundamental as a floor construction question can't get an answer from the factory? This has been asked before.

I have to say, I don't email questions to the factory anymore, they don't get answered.

Verna said:

Rad, that's why I recommend calling and talking to whomever answers and asking to be transferred to someone there.  Both Ed and Marvin are great sources of information, but that means that they have a lot of work in the factory--answering questions, helping with problems, trouble-shooting, etc.  That's why I don't refer to anyone to specific people.  Emails and returning phone calls are last on their list, unfortunately.  Talk to a live body, if at all possible. 

If you get the opportunity, take a factory tour.  It's non-stop action, and no time for chit-chat.

I understand, sort of. I always found it much easier to give good customer service in my working days by email rather than phone.  I could pick when I responded.

I'm working on an answer......I've asked the question, so please be patient.....I know this answer won't come today.

According to this video of a T@B being constructed in Germany, the base is made of plywood. Pretty sure it would need to be something like that in order to be strong enough to walk on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbFV-b0drXA

Thank you, Sandra.   I found the definition of "azdel" as being a composite being made since 2006 for the RV industry, but I was unable to find "miranti", but I would assume it is a composite also.  So, not much to anchor to in the floor.

Bentr said:

According to this video of a T@B being constructed in Germany, the base is made of plywood. Pretty sure it would need to be something like that in order to be strong enough to walk on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbFV-b0drXA

Makes sense, other than when I drilled my pilot holes for my table it sure did not respond or feel like wood.  There was no resistance to the drill bit or any wood shavings or splinters that came up or stayed on the bit.  Could be I was not paying attention, who knows.  I look forward to the factory answer.

I'm m not upset with the factory, I like the products they produce. However, we all soon learn what companies we deal with have prompt customer service and what ones do not and we learn to just live with that.

My policy with all my staff during my many years in management was that every phone call or email was responded to by the end of that day, no exceptions.  If a staff person did not have an answer yet, they called or emailed back that info  and a specific time line when they would have the answer.  It was very gratifying to hear just how happy people were to get a quick response even if the answer was not available.  

Good prompt customer service is not an accident.  It starts at the top.

Verna, you are a perfect example of good customer service.  You responded quickly and keep us updated on a possible answer.  Thank you, you ROCK!

Verna said:

Thank you, Rad. 

By the way, Scott is in the "factory", so Sandra's answer from Scott is the way the floor is constructed. 

Thanks, I missed that post....guess what, I'm  not crazy, read the floor construction noted above in Sandra's post........no plywood.  That does not make it a weak floor, the aluminum framed foam makes sense.  Sounds even better for a wet bath rig.  Less chance of a delaminating plywood floor like some of the Airstream Bambi's have been known to do.

After personally seeing the damage to plywood in a 2007 LG 6-wide owned by Indycamper on the LG forum, I'm also glad the T@B's are going away from having wood as a structural member...says the woodworker here.  Indycamper's 6-wide cabin's plywood floor and walls were disintegrating within the walls.  Pleasant Valley replaced the entire cabin (for a very good price, of course) for a 2013 cabin on her 2007 frame. 

So, if the composite floor is being used in the T@B's, I applaud them for their changes.  I remembered that Cyclonic said that his T@B's floor was spongy (or something like that), so I figured there couldn't be plywood in the floor.

(And, by the way, the 2007 LG was made by the previous company, The Little Trailer Company out of Elkhart, Indiana, not the current manufacturer, Pleasant Valley Trailer Company.)

By the way. The Livin Lite RV's use an extruded aluminum box channel that are welded together to make the floor. You can see the aluminum construction both from the underside and inside. This is quite different than what has been described for the T@B. When I placed my battery switch, three out of 4 screws seemed to grab, but one did not. I tried to allow the screws to self tap, but a couple need the assistance of a pilot hole, as I seemed to have hit some metal of sorts.  I wish to install a table pedestal, and am planning to use bolts through the floor, so hopefully it is substantial enough to take the bolts and hold the base secure. I will use large washers on the underside.

mawebb said:

I wish to install a table pedestal, and am planning to use bolts through the floor, so hopefully it is substantial enough to take the bolts and hold the base secure. I will use large washers on the underside.

Might consider a plywood (or other hard material) backing plate under the T@b floor to spread the load more than the washers will. Assuming the underside is clear where you need the backing plate, of course.

Verna said:

Thank you, Sandra.   I found the definition of "azdel" as being a composite being made since 2006 for the RV industry, but I was unable to find "miranti", but I would assume it is a composite also.  So, not much to anchor to in the floor.

I wikied Meranti and it's Luan, so Azdel would be a far better choice for flooring. 

I checked under the T@B yesterday and the grey water tank extends under where the table mount would be bolted, so it's not looking like a viable option. Now I am thinking of placing a piece of 3/4" plywood, covered in carpet tiles in the area under the table and using it to screw the table base to. I would make it a snug fit and not fasten it in place. I will have to look again to see if this will work. I am going to use rails either way, it's just what to do about a table. I find the standard table heavy and it seems to get in the way, no matter what you do. This seems to be such a common issue, I would like to see what LG could come up with as a better solution for the table / bed.