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04-10-2010, 01:22 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Miami FL
Posts: 5
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2000-2005 Newell's exterior skin?
As an admirer and --hopefully-- future owner of a Newell, I was wondering if the outer skin of 2000 - 2005 Newells were built with an outer aluminum skin, as current Newells are. The following describes the current construction of the Newell body (from the Newell webpage):
The Body: Lightweight and Refined
The same aluminum fuselage construction techniques used to build aircraft make the Newell body exceptionally strong yet light in weight. An aluminum skin is securely attached to extruded aluminum bows with space-age 3M mastics. This produces a smooth, rivet-free finish. Body panels are secured at each seam by flush, heavy-duty fasteners that meet Newell's high standards for strength and refinement. Molded, reinforced, fiber-composite panels are used for the front-end and rear-end caps and in some of the more complex trim forms of the Newell body. These allow for the complex shapes of the Newell's unique, advanced styling.
The Newell base-coat/clear-coat paint system produces the ultra-smooth, eye-appealing surface you'd expect to see on a fine automobile.
So, my specific --and very newbie-- question is: were 2000 - 2005 Newells constructed in a similar way?
Thanks!
Ray
Miami FL
2009 Fleetwood Pulse 24A
(And future Newell owner)
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04-10-2010, 01:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 1,221
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I would assume they are. I have a '93 and the skin is aluminum except for the front and rear caps which are fiberglass. A few guys here have older Newells which are all aluminum.
Welcome and good luck finding your Newell.
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04-10-2010, 05:33 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,558
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Newell has used aluminum skin for the sides and roof since the beginning. The major difference is the way the skin is attached. Until at least 1994 or so, the skin was riveted on with round head buck rivets. Then Newell began using flat head rivets. These were less visible and made a smoother surface. I will have to do some research to determine what model year Newell replaced the rivets with a space age adhesive but it was during the 2000's. Likely around 2005-2006. Newell has a history of building a coach with a new feature or construction technique, evaluating it while continuing to build coaches without the new feature or construction technique. Once they are certain that there are no issues, they incorporate the change into all subsequent builds.
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04-10-2010, 06:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 424
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My 1993 has visible rivets around the perimeter of the aluminum. The field area has no rivets. The door was bonded originally. That bond was damaged when it was vandalized so I riveted the edges of the door.
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1993 Newell 45'#316, 1976 Trans Am 455, 1967 GTO, 1953 Chevrolet 3105 (panel truck),1952 Chevrolet 3600,1969 Airstream Overlander. Always fixing something!
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04-10-2010, 06:25 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 1,221
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On my '93 the rivets on the sides have the flat caps, makes a very smooth surface, but still visible. The rivets on the roof are of the rounded type and more visible.
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04-11-2010, 01:01 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 326
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My understanding is that they did use the alumimum on coaches of your time. My 88 is alumimun with the front and rear caps being fiberglass. This has been their policy for a lont time. Micheal may know how long. I had a 78 that had aluminum on the entire coach, including the front and rear caps, so the change took place sometime after that and before the 88. I know another with an 86 that is that is the same as mine.
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Wally and Phyllis
1988 Newell Coach #163
40' with tag 8V92
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