trailer siding??Is one better than the other?
What are the pros and cons to the two types of siding I see on trailers. Some are aluminum that appear to fit together then I see the flat side fiberglass types. Is one better than the other?
Forum Discussion
The differences are more than skin deep.
In many, but not all cases, the different siding materials reflect totally different methods of construction. Many aluminum sided Travel trailers are stick-built like a house, framing in either wood or aluminum. Most plastic covered travel trailers are assembled from pre-built laminated panels, with skin on foam core providing basic strength, reinforced by metal perimeter frames and some internal framing, but not as much framing as a stick built trailer.
Some stick-built or framed TTs offer fiberglass skin as an upgrade option, and many premium or custom built RVs of all types use composite skins of some type over framing, but laminated panel costruction is common on most mass production RVs from just above entry priced to the top of the price scale.
Generally, laminated panels can be shown to have an order of magnitude more stiffness than a stand-alone framed wall, but the strengths of a complete RV structures depend more on how walls, floors, roofs and ends are fastened together, and the best framed RVs are possibly more solild than the most rigid models assembled from panels. These forums contain a number of posts about laminated walls separating from there attachment to the edge of the floor frame, or the ceiling to wall joints opening under the stress of travel or loads carried.
Stll, my choice, If I can't get what I want with fully-molded hulls, will be the box assembled from laminated panels. But I pay attention to assembly detail, and want interlocking frame parts, rather than reliance solely on a few handfuls of metal screws.
In many, but not all cases, the different siding materials reflect totally different methods of construction. Many aluminum sided Travel trailers are stick-built like a house, framing in either wood or aluminum. Most plastic covered travel trailers are assembled from pre-built laminated panels, with skin on foam core providing basic strength, reinforced by metal perimeter frames and some internal framing, but not as much framing as a stick built trailer.
Some stick-built or framed TTs offer fiberglass skin as an upgrade option, and many premium or custom built RVs of all types use composite skins of some type over framing, but laminated panel costruction is common on most mass production RVs from just above entry priced to the top of the price scale.
Generally, laminated panels can be shown to have an order of magnitude more stiffness than a stand-alone framed wall, but the strengths of a complete RV structures depend more on how walls, floors, roofs and ends are fastened together, and the best framed RVs are possibly more solild than the most rigid models assembled from panels. These forums contain a number of posts about laminated walls separating from there attachment to the edge of the floor frame, or the ceiling to wall joints opening under the stress of travel or loads carried.
Stll, my choice, If I can't get what I want with fully-molded hulls, will be the box assembled from laminated panels. But I pay attention to assembly detail, and want interlocking frame parts, rather than reliance solely on a few handfuls of metal screws.
