Under Belly Fly's off at 60 MPH

[LegalEagle]

Driving for a long weekend on Wednesday, highway speed, and the entire black under belly of my 2015 323LKTS rips off the frame and flies off. I pulled over, cut what little was left, zip tied the wires left hanging, and limped into my destination, about 40 miles down the road. I made an appointment with a repair shop to order the material and fabricate a new one next week.

My question: I saw a silver, foil like material also fly off when the under belly gave way. Is that a moisture barrier? And can/should I install some insulation this time? I have a similar email into Jayco customer service, but concerned if they will get back to me timely. Thoughts?

[RoadrunnerII]

I would add insulation. The silver was likely reflectix foil bubble insulation. Big box stores carry it.
I pulled the coroplast off mine to string a wire. Cleaned up the wiring some and fixed the wet insulation under water tank. I added a bundle of fiberglass from basically the basement to the rear. I have reflectix between it and the coroplast. I also used gorilla tape and taped the edge of coroplast to the frame. Plugged all holes thru frame as well. Put a flexible rubber seal around slide shafts. Underbelly is now truly insulated and no rain spray water getting in to wet the fiberglass.

RoadrunnerII

[Scottenj]

Originally Posted by LegalEagle

Driving for a long weekend on Wednesday, highway speed, and the entire black under belly of my 2015 323LKTS rips off the frame and flies off. I pulled over, cut what little was left, zip tied the wires left hanging, and limped into my destination, about 40 miles down the road. I made an appointment with a repair shop to order the material and fabricate a new one next week.

My question: I saw a silver, foil like material also fly off when the under belly gave way. Is that a moisture barrier? And can/should I install some insulation this time? I have a similar email into Jayco customer service, but concerned if they will get back to me timely. Thoughts?

The silver is aluminized bubble wrap insulation called reflectix. On my RV there is one giant sheet covering the whole front third. Adding fiberglass or foam panels would be a good idea too.

While your bottom is open tie up any loose wires and support any that hang in mid air. Also look at all the penetrations for plumbing, electrical and HVAC and seal them up with copper wool and spray foam to keep critters from getting in there. Find the big air vent opening from the cabin that provides air to the furnace and put screen over it.

When you put your new coroplast on use lots of Stainless Tek Screws with Stainless Neo washers. Go up a size on the Tek screws because the original ones strip out. Also seal every crack, gap and hole in the new Coroplast to keep critters out.

[Ohiofinlander]

This is interesting to me as the same thing happened to my wife and I. Our 2019 Whitehawk 28RL only had a couple short trips before this happened. Our dealer took care of everything, and all has been good since. Pretty frustrating and dangerous at the time as an oncoming car had to swerve onto the shoulder to miss the flapping underbelly. I feel your pain.