Can any Rockwood Ultra Lite owners let me know how the underbelly looks?

[strider_gts]

I've had two people tell me that the underbellies on the Rockwood Ultra Lites are different than the ones on the Signature line, but I can't get anyone to tell me how they are any different. Are the Ultra Lite level Rockwoods fully enclosed? Does it just enclose between the frame rails?

I would love any information anyone would have!

Thank you!

[GreenImp]

The descriptions and pictures found at forestriver.com is identical for both series...for what thats worth

Rockwood Ultra Lite Travel Trailers / Fifth Wheels by Forest River RV

[NMWHITIS]

My previous unit (2013 2604ws) had the space between the frame rails enclosed. There is about a foot or so around the entire unit that is not enclosed.

On the Signatures, the underbelly is fully enclosed, and the metal skirting wraps around the bottom, leaving nothing exposed.

[dieselbobcat]

My Signature Ultra Lite 8312SS looks just like the posted image.... Cloroplast underbelly secured to the aluminum skirting the whole way around....completely enclosed

[strider_gts]

Originally Posted by NMWHITIS

My previous unit (2013 2604ws) had the space between the frame rails enclosed. There is about a foot or so around the entire unit that is not enclosed.

Thank you for the information!

So what is exposed by the foot of space that is not enclosed? Does that leave me susceptible to rodent damage or anything else potentially troublesome?

[jeff64]

Originally Posted by strider_gts

Thank you for the information!

So what is exposed by the foot of space that is not enclosed? Does that leave me susceptible to rodent damage or anything else potentially troublesome?

My Super V is built like this too. What I see here in this area exposed is the vapor barrier(I think) on the bottom of the floor. Upon close inspection of this perimeter, I can see in looking at the spray pattern of "mud" from the wheels is that the polyethylene liner in the wheel wells has a gap that I sealed with some leftover eternabond tape to preclude water migration. I also see numerous staples exposed up there and instances along the perimeter where the sheet metal skirt meets the floor, where the screws penetrate the vapor barrier and leave a hole in it. Since I have the left over eternabond and it is way sticky, I'm putting it to use instead of leaving it on the shelf in the garage to get old and unusuable. Maybe these items make no difference, but that's my story and it's not going to hurt a thing

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by strider_gts

Thank you for the information!

So what is exposed by the foot of space that is not enclosed? Does that leave me susceptible to rodent damage or anything else potentially troublesome?

A sheet of plastic like all these Rockwood / Flagstaff units have regardless if it covers the full belly or not will not prevent mice from getting in your trailer. A mouse can get through a hole the size of a pencil eraser and there are lots of holes that size in these trailers. Couple that with the fact that they just hack holes out in the floor to fit wires and plumbing through that are 3 or 4 times the size they need to be and I can tell you from experience that you can feel breezes coming through the openings in the floor.

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by strider_gts

Thank you for the information!

So what is exposed by the foot of space that is not enclosed? Does that leave me susceptible to rodent damage or anything else potentially troublesome?

A sheet of plastic like all these Rockwood / Flagstaff units have regardless if it covers the full belly or not will not prevent mice from getting in your trailer. A mouse can get through a hole the size of a pencil eraser and there are lots of holes that size in these trailers. Couple that with the fact that they just hack holes out in the floor to fit wires and plumbing through that are 3 or 4 times the size they need to be and I can tell you from experience that you can feel breezes coming through the openings in the floor. Not sure if anyone else has this but I even have a vent in the center of the belly on mine.

[dcheatwood]

My 8282ws is fully enclosed underneath.
The difference they are talking about may be the frame size.

[strider_gts]

At this point in this video you can kind of see underneath a new "ultra" Rockwood. It really looks like the underbody covering goes all the way to the edge, although at that angle maybe it's just hard to see that it doesn't?

Or maybe it's changed in the last year or two.

Somehow I have to keep mice out because they get into everything around here. Whether that be from steel wool, spray foam insulation or whatever. That will be job number 1 for me when I pick this thing up!

[raspivey]

I just looked at my 2017. It's enclosed up to the inside of the frame I beams just like the picture in post 2.

[stevejahr]

Honestly the coroplast covering is probably more likely to be an attraction is it provides a sheltered place to live.

That said my impression on my 2604WS is that the covering between the frame rails is fairly well sealed up. They do cut/hack holes for plumbing egress but they they shoot them up with black expanding foam.

The open sides are just the plastic covering over the trailer deck. The deck is about a 1/4" plywood sheet on top and on bottom with about 1 1/2" foam core. After the tanks and some wiring, this is the first part put on the trailer during construction.

They put a lot less holes in the bottom of the deck than they could. As an example the water hoses from the water pump and wires do not pass under nor over that deck, they actually pass *through* the deck in between the skins.

When they do put in a hole they are pretty crude about it though but they must get a great deal on black expanding foam because they use enough of it.

[strider_gts]

Originally Posted by stevejahr

they must get a great deal on black expanding foam because they use enough of it.

As someone who loves expanded foam this is music to my ears =)

Actually your entire post was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you so much!!