Coachmen RV has partnered with materials technology company Supersede to introduce waterproof composite floor decking in its Catalina travel trailers, replacing traditional plywood or oriented strand board with a recycled polypropylene alternative designed to improve durability and moisture resistance.
Announced July 1, the partnership integrates Supersede Marine Board into the floor structure of Catalina travel trailers.
According to Coachmen RV, the material is a direct replacement for plywood or OSB and is incorporated into the company’s existing manufacturing process without requiring additional production steps.
The composite panels are manufactured using a patented extrusion process from recycled polypropylene. Coachmen said the material provides structural integrity, resistance to moisture and rot, reliable fastener retention, and protection against splintering and warping. The panels are also recyclable and do not contain formaldehyde.
Mike Gaeddert, general manager of Coachmen RV, said the change reflects the Catalina brand’s continued focus on improving construction materials and product quality.
“Catalina’s mission is to continually raise the bar on the materials we use, how we build, and the quality our customers take home,” Gaeddert said. “To my knowledge, we are the first conventional travel trailer manufacturer to use composite decking.”
Gaeddert said the new flooring material provides “a stronger, more durable structure with 100 percent moisture resistance in our floor decking boards.”
“For our customers, that means a travel trailer built to last — made with exceptional materials, at the value Catalina is known for,” he said.
The partnership also includes a recycling initiative intended to reduce manufacturing waste. Under Supersede’s buyback program, Coachmen RV will return production offcuts and end-of-life composite panels to be recycled into new products.
Sean Petterson, CEO and co-founder of Supersede, said the agreement supports both product durability and sustainability.
“Coachmen Catalina is raising the bar for quality and sustainability in the RV industry,” Petterson said. “By building with Supersede Marine Board, they are delivering a product that is stronger, longer-lasting, and better for the environment.”
Coachmen RV, a division of Forest River, manufactures its products in Middlebury, Indiana.
Featured image by Coachmen RV