Side walls that interlock with floor/roof

[tuffr2]

I have heard of two companies that build their MH's with interlocking side walls, floors and roof. They are Fleetwood and Winnebago. Do these MH's rattle and shake less then other MH's. The interlocking parts seem like a very good thing. How do other builders do it? Newmar, Georgetown, Damon. Should the interlocking walls put one MH above another?

[Daytripper63]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I have heard of two companies that build their MH's with interlocking side walls, floors and roof. They are Fleetwood and Winnebago. Do these MH's rattle and shake less then other MH's. The interlocking parts seem like a very good thing. How do other builders do it? Newmar, Georgetown, Damon. Should the interlocking walls put one MH above another?

I dont know if they rattle or shake less than other brands but I can say I am very happy with the construction of my 08 Fleetwood it seems solid going down the road

[stink]

I have seen an episode of How its Made showing the winibago interlocking system. Looks good. My 02 discovery is like a rock down the road with no body noise or twist. Just some rattling dishes sometimes on realy rough roads.

[ahicks]

Our 16 year old Holiday Rambler doesn't rattle either?

"Interlock" sounds great, but seems like sales hype to me....

[scoutmstr]

Rexhall welds the sidewalls to the roof and welds the side walls to the floor. Solid

[KC1BUD]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I have heard of two companies that build their MH's with interlocking side walls, floors and roof. They are Fleetwood and Winnebago. Do these MH's rattle and shake less then other MH's. The interlocking parts seem like a very good thing. How do other builders do it? Newmar, Georgetown, Damon. Should the interlocking walls put one MH above another?

I have owned two MH from new. A 2012 Winnebago, and a 2007 Damon Daybreak. Out of the box the Winnebago is tons quieter, although they all squeak and rattle to some extent. Of course it will be a while before we get 10k on the clock.

[Lault]

My Revolution with inter lock system is sooo much quieter and rattle free than my 11 Phaeton was with out the interlocking wall top and bottom.

[tuffr2]

I was thinking that as the MH was used and things loosened up that the interlocking walls would then show their benefit. You know 3 to 5 years down the rode. Kinda surprised it seems like right out of the box they rattle and shake less.

[George Lewis]

After 12 years, my Bounder is quiet on the Interstates...However, drive IH35 south of Dallas down to Waco, TX and if your unit does not rattle, shake, bang, creak and sound like a boxcar, let us know the make and model, because you have a winner.... ha ha

[autofish]

My 11 yr old unit is still quiet and rattle free after 68k miles also leak free.

[GaryKD]

Hi tuffr2,
The walls on a Newmar coach are:
1. wall frame is aluminum on 16" centers (just like your house)
2. wall frame is bolted the the sub floor
3. vertical side walls are glued to the aluminum wall frame and then screwed to the aluminum wall frame.

After over 88K miles, my coach is very quiet going down the road.

[scoutmstr]

Interlocking is better than non interlocking, Welding is better than interlocking. Only two gas units I know that weld sides to top with steel are National and Rexhall. Only gas unit I know that welds sides to floor is Rexhall, National screwed sides to floor although they were interlocked

[Papa_Jim]

Monaco Dynasty, Executive, Signature coaches are all welded steel roof, wall and chassis framing. Ours is rattle free, squeak free, quiet as can be after 17 years and 140,000 miles.

Now that most coaches are being built with aluminum wall and roof frames, I guess interlocking might be the next best thing to welding.

I don't know how long a coach can remain rattle and squeak free with aluminum side walls simply bolted down on a wood sub floor or onto the steel chassis. I suppose if heavy enough gussets were installed on the aluminum side wall frame where the bolt attaches, it might stay tight for quite a while. Aluminum can have a kind of nasty habit of collapsing under the squeeze pressure of any kind of bolt, allowing the bolt to become loose. I'm kind of talking out of my hat on this, because I'm not at all familiar with how the different manufacturers are securing their aluminum sidewalls to the chassis.

[billyb]

my 5 year old is is very quiet, nothing, but i'll have to see how it is after 5 more years