In looking for a newer 5th wheel we see different construction methods being used. Of course the mfg all proportion their method as being superior. Would be interested in hearing some opinions on various construction methods. Aluminum rafters vs wood?Laminated side walls, pinch roll or vacuum bonded vs bonded fiberglass sidewalks?Dual pane windows vs single pane. Given them extra cost and weight?

flyfishing48 wrote:In looking for a newer 5th wheel we see different construction methods being used. Of course the mfg all proportion their method as being superior. Would be interested in hearing some opinions on various construction methods. Aluminum rafters vs wood? cost savings. aluminum is going to cost more and IMHO is better at the end of the dayLaminated side walls, pinch roll or vacuum bonded vs bonded fiberglass sidewalks? Here I just don't see a huge difference. Each mfg will tout his method as best, but I don't see history proving that out. Exterior materials are more important to me.Dual pane windows vs single pane. Given them extra cost and weight?Up front cost, but at the end of the day the RV will be warmer/cooler with less heat loss

Lots of opinions . My thoughts are to buy aluminum framing if you can afford it. I am prttial to the aluminum old school siding for ease of repair. I have mixed feelings on the rubber roof. Make sure the roof is crowned. Best of luck

Really think that there are only three types of sidewall construction, vacuum bonded, pinch rolled and hung wall. All work, otherwise they wouldn't use them. While mine is the latter, my opinion is vacuum bonded is the best and most expensive since it requires a large chamber and considerable time to pump down the vacuum. Big issue with this type of construction is difficulty routing wires, etc., so maybe fewer outlets and maybe not too well placed as wires may be routed thru cabinets and interior walls. Anyway, vacuum bonded walls are less likely to have ripples/waves in the exterior skin and a more solid sound. But they may have less tolerance to flexing (could be good or bad) and if they have serious delamination, the entire wall has to be replaced. Same for pinch rolled walls. With hung wall construction, the exterior skin can be removed from the aluminum studs and a new skin installed.Dual pane windows are worth the money in comfort, noise reduction and at resale. Energy savings also, but mostly if you use a lot of propane and hate the effort of refilling bottles. They add very little weight, seems like around 60 lbs.

It really comes down to workmanship.Name a construction method, it's probably used by both "low" and "high" end builders.But as far as dual-pane vrs single. I've had both, I will never go back to single

This from NUWA and is several years old; Why doesn't NuWa use an all aluminum structure like popular Indiana manufacturers? NuWa made the decision to begin the use of aluminum structure based on marketing and the fact that many people were concluding that an "aluminum caged" product was superior in construction technology, weight and strength. Our 40+ years of experience as a leader in 5th wheel design suggests that may be "flawed" information. We have proven that wood construction need be no heavier or less strong than aluminum construction, that is built properly. We now build both materials, and are comfortable doing either, however our opinion is still that wood construction provides a superior product, and today we use both in the construction of our trailers. The strength of the NuWa trailer is actually created by the superior and light weight Blue Dow foam lamination concept.NuWa uses an aluminum substructure in the sidewalls and ends of the coach only. No aluminum in the floors or attics, where metal promotes conduction of cold and moisture resulting in condensation. 90% of the walls are Blue Dow Structural Foam, rather than wood or aluminum. This creates a superior insulation and the only product with a guaranteed sidewall R Factor. (Water absorption in standard white foam reduces R Factor over time, and the use of Blue Dow Structural Foam eliminates this problem.) NuWa's aluminum substructure sidewall is actually a "hybrid" wall, as we core fill the aluminum with wood in those areas where additional strength is required, because aluminum will not hold a screw. Not so with the lower priced brands. With NuWa's combined use of wood and aluminum substructure, you get a superior product because of NuWa's unique Blue Dow foam vacu-bond process, which makes the sidewalls virtually resistant to water penetration.

Construction methods? | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Bamaman11
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
Oasisbob wrote:
Lots of opinions . My thoughts are to buy aluminum framing if you can afford it. I am prttial to the aluminum old school siding for ease of repair. I have mixed feelings on the rubber roof. Make sure the roof is crowned. Best of luck

I have an aluminum sided travel trailer, and the four corners of that trailer have about run me crazy over the years. I don't want to spend any more Springs rebuilding the inside of any trailer. Give me a smooth side fiberglass siding like what's on my new fifth wheel trailer.

And I still have not found any chemical that'll remove black streaks off an aluminum sided travel trailer.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
Oasisbob wrote:
Lots of opinions . ...I have mixed feelings on the rubber roof. Make sure the roof is crowned. Best of luck

I don't. I'd avoid one at all costs.
bumpy
Cool_Canuck
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
I believe what NuWa says about wood vs aluminum, however, when you get water into the wall and we know that happens more often than not, I'd rather have wet foam to deal with than wet fiberglass. I've had both.

Further to the NuWa statement, they also did not see much benefit from dual pane windows. They do not offer much 'R' value for the price. I, like others here would not be without them. The reduction in sweaty windows in cold weather and the reduction in noise are worth it to me.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Nov 16, 2014
This from NUWA and is several years old;

Why doesn't NuWa use an all aluminum structure like popular Indiana manufacturers?

NuWa made the decision to begin the use of aluminum structure based on marketing and the fact that many people were concluding that an "aluminum caged" product was superior in construction technology, weight and strength. Our 40+ years of experience as a leader in 5th wheel design suggests that may be "flawed" information. We have proven that wood construction need be no heavier or less strong than aluminum construction, that is built properly. We now build both materials, and are comfortable doing either, however our opinion is still that wood construction provides a superior product, and today we use both in the construction of our trailers. The strength of the NuWa trailer is actually created by the superior and light weight Blue Dow foam lamination concept.

NuWa uses an aluminum substructure in the sidewalls and ends of the coach only. No aluminum in the floors or attics, where metal promotes conduction of cold and moisture resulting in condensation.

90% of the walls are Blue Dow Structural Foam, rather than wood or aluminum. This creates a superior insulation and the only product with a guaranteed sidewall R Factor. (Water absorption in standard white foam reduces R Factor over time, and the use of Blue Dow Structural Foam eliminates this problem.)

NuWa's aluminum substructure sidewall is actually a "hybrid" wall, as we core fill the aluminum with wood in those areas where additional strength is required, because aluminum will not hold a screw. Not so with the lower priced brands. With NuWa's combined use of wood and aluminum substructure, you get a superior product because of NuWa's unique Blue Dow foam vacu-bond process, which makes the sidewalls virtually resistant to water penetration.
n7bsn
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
It really comes down to workmanship.
Name a construction method, it's probably used by both "low" and "high" end builders.

But as far as dual-pane vrs single. I've had both, I will never go back to single
Dayle1
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2014
Really think that there are only three types of sidewall construction, vacuum bonded, pinch rolled and hung wall. All work, otherwise they wouldn't use them. While mine is the latter, my opinion is vacuum bonded is the best and most expensive since it requires a large chamber and considerable time to pump down the vacuum. Big issue with this type of construction is difficulty routing wires, etc., so maybe fewer outlets and maybe not too well placed as wires may be routed thru cabinets and interior walls. Anyway, vacuum bonded walls are less likely to have ripples/waves in the exterior skin and a more solid sound. But they may have less tolerance to flexing (could be good or bad) and if they have serious delamination, the entire wall has to be replaced. Same for pinch rolled walls. With hung wall construction, the exterior skin can be removed from the aluminum studs and a new skin installed.

Dual pane windows are worth the money in comfort, noise reduction and at resale. Energy savings also, but mostly if you use a lot of propane and hate the effort of refilling bottles. They add very little weight, seems like around 60 lbs.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Nov 15, 2014
Lots of opinions . My thoughts are to buy aluminum framing if you can afford it. I am prttial to the aluminum old school siding for ease of repair. I have mixed feelings on the rubber roof. Make sure the roof is crowned. Best of luck
donn0128
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2014
flyfishing48 wrote:
In looking for a newer 5th wheel we see different construction methods being used. Of course the mfg all proportion their method as being superior. Would be interested in hearing some opinions on various construction methods.
Aluminum rafters vs wood? cost savings. aluminum is going to cost more and IMHO is better at the end of the day
Laminated side walls, pinch roll or vacuum bonded vs bonded fiberglass sidewalks? Here I just don't see a huge difference. Each mfg will tout his method as best, but I don't see history proving that out. Exterior materials are more important to me.
Dual pane windows vs single pane. Given them extra cost and weight?Up front cost, but at the end of the day the RV will be warmer/cooler with less heat loss

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Construction methods?

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