ol trunt wrote:Hey SC, can you give me more info on the now defunct Nu-wa ? Thanks,Jack
Better than that....their web site is still there. And they are kind of in business, just not building 5th wheels anymore - service and sales. And you just opened up a can of worms with that little question - I tend to get long winded on topics that interest me. So, here is a short detour down the rabbit hole...may need to do a post with pics...I just reviewed some pics I have, bringing it all back to me last week!!
I lived in a 1997 Kit Sportsmaster for the first 7 years - don't hold me too close to these times...I may be months to 1 year off on the time frame. Raggedy-a$$ POS, but keeps MOST of the rain off my head...well, except for the leaks...
One day, my sister bought a used NuWa Hitchhiker on my recommendation, lived in it for almost a year, didn't want to do that full time, so rented it to me. I moved in I think in early 2014 - maybe late 2013 - went through a few months winter then into summer, next winter, then on up to May 6, 2015. That day was an adventure - we had our typical huge thunderstorms and I was out storm chasing....and being chased!! About 8:00 that evening, I had been running around a few hours and the last big storm of the day just blew up out of no where. Came rolling across the RV park, destroying a hotel next door, a mini-storage, and all 68 trailers in the park. I was on my way back and when I got there it looked like one of the night scenes from Apocalypse Now. 19 people went to hospital. 6 critical. All survived and several of them are back at the park now. I wasn't hurt, and I am back there. Oh,...and this unit had slideouts - I hate slideouts - just like sunroof in a car, they are a built in leak. Always.
So, I had to get back into the Sportsmaster again...geez - RV manufacturing in this country is a horrible mess! And it ain't getting much better! Finally, getting back to NuWa - the trailer had a small previous owner modification in the generator compartment that created a 2" x 20" gap to the outside that brought cold air in the first winter. "Fixed" it with a bath towel under the cabinet in the bedroom where it entered the room. Fixed it for real in the spring. Next winter was snug and cozy!
They are really good trailers. If I could find a good used one I could afford, I would buy it in a second. Others just as good - Excel, late model. Teton. Doubletree seems to be pretty good - one of my neighbors was in one and it was totaled, but really held together well during the storm. Like anything, ya gotta check it out. Or have someone who knows them check it out. I still want my bus converted, though!!
They used the blue Dow closed cell insulation. When bonded to the outside it formed a structural element, along with the frame. Was NOT the white styrofoam stuff!! Much better. I was skeptical, so made my own little wall cross section just to see how it worked. Used 1/2" blue dow - they used 2" - and 1/8" plywood. Made a piece 2' x 2'. Put it through some weight tests - laying stuff on it - couple of inches of two opposite sides supported on concrete blocks. My 215 lbs didn't break it, but deflected maybe 1/4". I found that astounding. Then I started jumping on it, and after about a half dozen jumps as high as I could, it cracked. Still held me up off the floor. Blue Dow is great stuff.
They made nicely finished units, but they are not the high gloss, granite encrusted high end, half million dollar type thing. Much better than anything made by Fleetwood or Forest River. Pilgrim International makes Open Road - run away!! Horrible piece of garbage!!
On the topic of RV's in general - here is a guy who understands perfectly! The industry has an amazing array of problems, and while there are some companies that are trying to address them, most are still in the mode that the only thing that counts is getting the units out the door. No matter what. I think there is a market opportunity there, but it would take a lot to get started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP_u2JR51_Y
There used to be some good manufacturing videos on , but it looks like they took them down. I just sent an email complaining about that!
http://www.nuwa.com/
All right...enough for now, I guess. Hope this answered maybe at least one or two questions for you...