Pilgrim RVs Go Green

Indiana RV manufacturer, Pilgrim, says they're rolling out a new line of RVs that will be completely formaldehyde free. In addition, the new technology will completely eliminate plywood from their rigs, and make the a whole lot lighter.

A company press release touts: "'Every week, the recreational vehicle industry across North America runs through hundreds of thousands of square feet of Luan and plywood. Much of this is cut from old-growth forest all around the planet. We now have the technology to put an end to the use of these natural resources and become a greener industry as a whole,'”said Dave Hoefer, Founder and Chairman of Pilgrim International.

“'Using CosmoLite in the manufacturing process also results in less waste when compared to wood products as our new material is coil fed for more uniform fits, reducing the amount of scrap, and cutouts are easily recycled,' Hoefer concluded.

"When used in the floor system alone in a 28-foot trailer, CosmoLite eliminates close to 100 pounds of weight yet is 3 times stronger than wood products. The CosmoLite used in a Pilgrim engineered floor is .53 pounds per square foot—about one third less weight than wood products. Lighter weight translates to improved fuel efficiency and the added ability to use smaller tow vehicles."

So what is this mysterious CosmoLite? It's fiber reinforced plastic. Some may immediately wonder just how "green" their fifth wheel can be when built with plastic, but the company hastens to assure their rigs will be 100% recyclable. They say the composite material can be ground up and recycled, while the styrofoam insulation can be pulverized and used as blown-in insulation in other applications.

While Pilgrim's initial rollout will be a travel trailer, fifth wheels using this same technology are making their way to the assembly lines.