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LizardSkin / Tire questions

ckouba

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Oregon
By my calculations to do the hab I'd need to cover 430 sq/ft to cover the walls and ceiling.

Lizzardskin says I need 18 gallons.

So about two grand to coat the hab.

To do the cab is somewhere around 180 sq/ft and about $750.

Not within my budget...
Off the top of my head, I'd say your math is off. I think I used 4 gal for the interior of my box. I can look it up if you want/need me to but 18 gal sounds way too high. Rick just did his and I think he said he got a 5 gal bucket for his 1079 box.

Based on your location, I'd say it'd be worth it.
 

Third From Texas

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Off the top of my head, I'd say your math is off. I think I used 4 gal for the interior of my box. I can look it up if you want/need me to but 18 gal sounds way too high. Rick just did his and I think he said he got a 5 gal bucket for his 1079 box.

Based on your location, I'd say it'd be worth it.
Good to know, but that was from Lizardskin's site.

I calculated the walls and ceiling as 12x8 or 96 sq/ft x left/right/ceiling = ~300 sq/ft
Front and rear at 8x7 or 56 x front/rear = ~112 sq/ft

~400 sq/ft total for the hab.


Says I need 16 gal (that's with the recommended two coats).

16 gal at $224 = 1800 + shipping (from Lizardskin).
*It's a bit cheaper on Amazon

But I'd much prefer real world numbers. I can't locate 5 gal bulk.
 

Bryteayes

Member
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Location
San Angelo, TX
Off the top of my head, I'd say your math is off. I think I used 4 gal for the interior of my box. I can look it up if you want/need me to but 18 gal sounds way too high. Rick just did his and I think he said he got a 5 gal bucket for his 1079 box.

Based on your location, I'd say it'd be worth it.
San Angelo is way hotter than Corpus. It’s worth it to me . It was only 104 there today. Must be a cold front blowing in.
 

GeneralDisorder

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San Angelo is way hotter than Corpus. It’s worth it to me . It was only 104 there today. Must be a cold front blowing in.
You will need it. And if you plan to air condition it.... well it's a challenge. With the truck in direct sun, both awnings deployed, and running two AC units (I have a 24v unit, and a 120v unit) I can keep the habitat around 72-74 with the outside ambient temps around 100 degrees. I can't sustain that for more than about 8 hours on batteries though. If you painted the whole thing a lighter color, parked it in the shade, etc it will help but that also lowers solar energy needed to run the AC..... realistically right now we are on the cusp of some really good solar technology that will make this easier (flexible solar awnings with good power and reliability) but for at least the next year or two if you plan to park up in direct sun you'll need a generator to run enough AC and as much insulation as you can get.

Or use the capabilities of the truck to drive itself up into the mountains where it's cooler..... and get larger windows.
 

Bryteayes

Member
51
91
18
Location
San Angelo, TX
Off the top of my head, I'd say your math is off. I think I used 4 gal for the interior of my box. I can look it up if you want/need me to but 18 gal sounds way too high. Rick just did his and I think he said he got a 5 gal bucket for his 1079 box.

Based on your location, I'd say it'd be worth it.
San Angelo is way hotter than Corpus. It’s worth it to me . It was
You will need it. And if you plan to air condition it.... well it's a challenge. With the truck in direct sun, both awnings deployed, and running two AC units (I have a 24v unit, and a 120v unit) I can keep the habitat around 72-74 with the outside ambient temps around 100 degrees. I can't sustain that for more than about 8 hours on batteries though. If you painted the whole thing a lighter color, parked it in the shade, etc it will help but that also lowers solar energy needed to run the AC..... realistically right now we are on the cusp of some really good solar technology that will make this easier (flexible solar awnings with good power and reliability) but for at least the next year or two if you plan to park up in direct sun you'll need a generator to run enough AC and as much insulation as you can get.

Or use the capabilities of the truck to drive itself up into the mountains where it's cooler..... and get larger windows.
I’ve been weighing 24v bs 110v AC. I hadn’t thought about both but that is a great idea. Our plan after camper conversion is to drive Angelo to NM and hang out in the mountains a week to ten days. Leave it in long term parking at ABQ, fly home and work in ER a week. Fly back to ABQ and head for a week in Colorado. Repeat with Paradox parked at DEN for a week while I’m back in the ER then continue the adventure. Think it should take about eight months to do a two month trip.
What 24v AC are you using?
 

ckouba

Well-known member
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...I'd much prefer real world numbers. I can't locate 5 gal bulk.
Sorry about that- the math may be right on but the practical application feels way overkill.

I just remembered that I only did one coat, but I did everything within the exterior paneling with those 4 gallons, including the sub-floor structure. My interior lengths are 23' long at the top and 16' 8" at the bottom, with a 7' height and 8' width. Then I put the flooring in and the OSB paneling up over all that.

Based on the construction of the 1079 box and seeing Rick's temps first hand, it's probably a buy once/cry once scenario. If you're like me, you'll forget how much the stuff costs and just be able to go on using your rig when and where you desire. I am seriously impressed by it so far (and don't expect that to change).
 

Third From Texas

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Location
Corpus Christi Texas
Sorry about that- the math may be right on but the practical application feels way overkill.

I just remembered that I only did one coat, but I did everything within the exterior paneling with those 4 gallons, including the sub-floor structure. My interior lengths are 23' long at the top and 16' 8" at the bottom, with a 7' height and 8' width. Then I put the flooring in and the OSB paneling up over all that.

Based on the construction of the 1079 box and seeing Rick's temps first hand, it's probably a buy once/cry once scenario. If you're like me, you'll forget how much the stuff costs and just be able to go on using your rig when and where you desire. I am seriously impressed by it so far (and don't expect that to change).
Good stuff for sure...

I've never questioned the benefits. It's just that so much that I'd love to do (and in many cases need to be doing) is simply beyond my means. I'm lucky to not be living in the damned truck by now, to be honest. FJB
 

serpico760

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San Diego, CA
We are getting ready to start on our Paradox (1998 M1079) and would love to learn from your experiences. If money was not an issue, would you insulate your cab with LizardSkin or Kilmat?

What tire pressure do you run on the highway. I’m going through the every light on CTIS blinks workup.
I put dynamat in almost all the panels, automotive grade foil backed floor insulation across the entire floor, dynamat 3/4-in hood liner underneath the dog house, Rockwool insulation inside of the back panels under the back side windows, several layers of intricately cut foam insulation all over the back and top of the cab, triple expanding spray foam insulation and all the nooks and crannies in the back and roof, mylar foil bubble insulation underneath the high density fiberboard rear and ceiling panels which are carpet covered. I would have done lizard skin but that was a bit outside my budget. IMG_20220515_173738.jpgIMG_20220518_201015.jpg
 

Bryteayes

Member
51
91
18
Location
San Angelo, TX
I put dynamat in almost all the panels, automotive grade foil backed floor insulation across the entire floor, dynamat 3/4-in hood liner underneath the dog house, Rockwool insulation inside of the back panels under the back side windows, several layers of intricately cut foam insulation all over the back and top of the cab, triple expanding spray foam insulation and all the nooks and crannies in the back and roof, mylar foil bubble insulation underneath the high density fiberboard rear and ceiling panels which are carpet covered. I would have done lizard skin but that was a bit outside my budget. View attachment 905474View attachment 905475
Thank you for your help.
 

GeneralDisorder

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Location
Portland, OR
What 24v AC are you using?

I'm running one of these units but I got it off ali-express for about $450 shipped - about twice the lead time due to slower shipping. Same thing though. Actually works pretty good. Have to crimp your own hoses and charge it yourself, but I own a performance shop so I have all those tools on hand. Fit perfectly within the area of the ECU block off plate and I can actually remove the entire ECU plate, disconnect it's power, and the whole unit drops right out off the wall. When I sprayed the lizard skin I actually removed it, pulled the evaporator unit off the plate, and coated lizard skin behind it and then reinstalled.

PXL_20230813_185954006.jpg

Working on my windows right now. Putting in 64" x 32" double-awning windows on either side and an 18" x 20" window in the rear door. Ventilation and light on these habitats are both lacking and also the factory windows are absolute trash. The aluminum frames sweat and conduct heat and the glass is just single pane - no insulation value at all. Almost worse than if they didn't bother putting them in. :rolleyes:

PXL_20230902_040042766.jpg

PXL_20230902_035958325.jpg

PXL_20230909_045841316.jpg

PXL_20230909_051215637.jpg
 
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Third From Texas

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That's the same a/c unit I have in my cart ! LOL

The first one is going in the cab. I know, everyone insists that the cab needs 60,000 btu as per the Army specs , but I'm a rebel (and this is what I can afford to do and the install is a "wee" bit easier than doing the mechanical a/c). If it works out, I'll slap one on the hab as well (already have a 5k 110v unit installed).

The AAR shelters are really well insulated and sturdy, The issue is the damned thermal bridging No matter the solution type, you've gotta break that bridge via additional insulation. Most RV manufacturers use a layer of wood or other non-heat conducting material in their walls. I really can't afford Lizzardskin. My hopes are that the 1" foam/foil R 6.0 panels going up behind my internal paneling will do the job (those I've had for a year). I'll get a season in testing it out before I button up the walls for good.

Speaking of windows, did you encounter any issues removing the OEM slide-up blinds? I drilled the rivets out, but the damned channels are not gonna budge. Mine is the small window box like I assume yours was. I've beat on those things for two years and still haven't gotten one off yet. They act like they are thru-bolted but I know that they aren't. I'm about ready to take my air hammer to them and rip 'em like sheet metal. I'm going to stick with the OEM windows (again, budget). But I really need those channels gone so I can frame up flush to the window frame. I had the same issue with the steel plates on the walls. In that case, it was the adhesive that they used It was like they were welded on there. Tore the hell out of the aluminum skin getting them off. I'm thinking the window slider might have the same glue in there.
 
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