I just wanted to share my project with fellow RV owners on how I winterized the bottom of my Puma 39PQB Destination Camper. Since we plan on living in it this winter it was very important to not have any tanks or water lines freeze. Fortunately we live in Kansas which isn't known for super cold winters, but it does get below 0 on occasion. We are still planning on putting up a windbreak, but I'll get to that in a moment.
-Supplies purchased (all purchased from Menards).
(9) Panels Johns Manville Foil Faced Polyiso Foam Insulation 1" x 4' x 8' R-6
(5) Packages Guardian R-49 Unfaced Fiberglass Insulation Batt 24" x 48" (48 sq. ft.)
(1) Roll Reflectix R-3.7 Reflective Insulation 24" x 25' (Did not use much, couldn've bought a much smaller roll)
(1) Roll Intertape Polymer Group Film Tape 1.88" x 120 yd
This project was very much like putting together a puzzle. I used the bottom lip of the "I" beams that run along the outside to hold up the foam panels. Basically get as much insulation as you can and fill the cavity. Sometimes it is a bit of a chore holding up the insulation while also pushing up the foam board to fit, but it is doable. On some occasions I would angle the board on one side of the I beam lip, put a few pieces of the fiberglass on top of the board and then angle the other end upward until it was over the other I beam and "click" into place. Some sections underneath lacked a lip on the crossbracing, so immediate taping of the board had to take place in order to keep the foam board up.
The sections with piping had to have a rectangular section cut out in order to fit the foam board. Once the foam board is all up, I came back with the foil tape and pieces of foil bubble wrap and sealed the pipes and surrounding cutouts. Note that in the areas underneath with no tanks you can easily put up full pieces of the 13" thick insulation and it fits perfectly. The areas with tanks I had to cut the insulation into thinner strips and shove on the sides of the tanks, and then tear pieces of insulation thinner in order to fit the small space in-between the tank and the foam panels.
Taping consists of all the edges pipe holes, and a few holes on the "I" beams used for wiring and small holes on the slide bars. One of my biggest concerns is keeping rodents and bugs out from the sealed areas. That is why I used foil backed foam and foil tape. One more note, there were a couple of areas that were a few inches wide left over where a piece of foam board just didn't seem like it would fit well being cut so thin. That is also where I used long stretches of the foil bubble wrap to fill those gaps.
I am hoping this will help keep the heat from the gas furnace runs and the heater pads contained in one area. We will see how it lasts in the long run. I have also ordered a few "J" hook tie-down straps to strap across in some areas where weight in time may sag the panels, especially in those areas lacking a lip to hold the panel up.
As far as a windbreak goes we are planning on putting up this around the perimeter of the camper to cut wind.
http://a.co/d/7L5KbrA Everyone said to use hay bails or wood boards, but I see that as being a huge draw for rodents.
Anyway, I hope you all get some use from this DIY.
Thanks!
-Jayson
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