Shopping for new TT. Aluminum or fiberglass?

[The_Rhino]

the Airstream will be around 30 years from now and still worth a ton of money used...

The depreciation won't keep-up with inflation & updates... 35 year-old units sell for less than $8K which is like $3K in 1980 dollars & then you have to factor-in replacing all of the appliances a couple times & reupholstery at least once. It's kinda like owning an antique car... Unless you have the knowledge, shop space & tools to do all of the work yourself they can get expensive to keep in working order...

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

So is Aluminum.

This is a pointless post. It was stated that aluminum is thin. I pointed out that the fiberglass is thin, too. Then you state that aluminum is. Is it now my turn to point out that fiberglass is thin???

[Stovebolt]

I'm surprised Old Jerry hasn't found a way to fine you for that too!

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by D_B Travelers

Wow...so you are tent camping now?

Nope...to old and fat and spoiled to "rough it" anymore. 😎


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[Stovebolt]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

This is a pointless post. It was stated that aluminum is thin. I pointed out that the fiberglass is thin, too. Then you state that aluminum is. Is it now my turn to point out that fiberglass is thin???

Sometimes repetition is necessary to point out how dumb this whole post was to begin with.

[larryo]

I think the question was fair enough but then you got one comment stating that aluminum trailers look "old and cheap ". Of course that is going to rub some people the wrong way! But yes, this thread can end.

[mjones12]

Is there a reason why aluminum trailers could not have aluminum frames instead of wood? Just wondering.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by mjones12

Is there a reason why aluminum trailers could not have aluminum frames instead of wood? Just wondering.

The aluminum is stapled to the wood studs. It would be "problematic" to attempt to attach the skin to aluminum framing.

[schrederman]

Most aircraft these days are being made of fiberglass, aramid fibers, and carbon fiber. Yes there are still some being made of aluminum, but the trend is going away from it. The techniques and glues being used to laminate RV walls have been improved a lot but as said before... not all fiberglass is fiberglass as we might know it from boats and other stuff... and where luan is used, you have to keep the water out. If it gets wet, the luan plywood layers separate and delamination is the result.


The aluminum framed, foam filled walls consist of an outer, very thin layer of some form of glass matting that was laminated to luan, with the outside finish already applied. That gets bonded to the aluminum frame, foam block insulation, and another sheet of luan with the inner finish applied already. They bond this with a polyurethane glue and use either a roller system or vacuum pressure (my preference), and heat. In my opinion, this makes a much stronger and lighter structure than the stick and tin of yesteryear...


Aluminum skins could be pop-riveted to aluminum framing, but the amount of framing needed would be very expensive... Couple that with the fact that this is very labor-intensive, and the cost jumps way up there.

[mjones12]

Thanks for those answers. Makes sense.
Also might be helpful to note there is a difference in molded fiberglass campers - like Casita, Scamp and Bigfoot- and the fiberglass panels like most of us have.

[harderd]

Coachman is using Azdel backing instead of luan. It is a tyoe of plastic and less prone to delamination. As for the statement on weight, aluminum vs fiberglass. I had to replace a bunk door on a hybrid. I am betting a 4x8 sheet of the FG weighs more than entire aluminum panel. I also have been looking close at similar floor plans and lengths and the FG campers weight more than the aluminum by about a 1KLbs.

[Steelframer]

This thread is about as good as the old miller lite commercials.....tastes great! Less filling!


TT-2015 Cherokee 274dbh TV-2010 Jeep Commander Limited