Is there any unbiased data out there that shows laminated FRP/rigid foam/aluminum frame is better than aluminum siding, fiber glass insulation and wood studs. ?My "gut" says the laminated side should be better, assuming they are designed and assembled properly, with adequate "studs", proper welding and proper lamination. The rigid foam board insulation should help prevent the wall from "racking".But, I have heard horror stories about delamination. I guess that is one benefit for the "old fashioned" way. It is easier to repair.

My sticks and tin trailer has held up very well, and is obviously impervious to delam. My next one won't be aluminum sided though. They are much easier to damage. Once on a narrow road, I ended up dragging a tree limb along the side of the trailer and decided to back up. The limb dug in and poked right through the aluminum. You also hear stories about hail damage all the time.The key is almost always simply taking good care of your RV. Preventive maintenance makes either variety last a good long time.

fiber glass insulation can absorb water leaks and is fatal.bumpy

I've now had both. It's really 50/50. Flip a coin, hope for the best. Each one has advantages and disadvantages.

I've had 2 Alum sided and 1 Smooth sided TT.The Alum Siding if easier to fix if you dent a panel. Ours is 10 years oldnow and still looks brand new.Our only smoothie had a leak and delaminated 4 years into our ownership.As a result - I have a bias towards Alum Siding

In the past 10 years, I have rarely seen delamination. We sell and service a lot of RV's that are laminated. It appears the RV makers have found a good system and glue to make almost perfect laminated sidewalls. While this is true for lamination, what I have seen in the past 15 years is, inadequate staples used on aluminum siding. This causes the metal to pull loose from the studs. I have seen this more often than delamination. Now, Delamination can happen when there is a water leak. The wall did not fail, but reacted to the water leak. That is why almost all OEM's state that adding or cutting extra holes in a sidewall voids the warranty for the sidewalls. Doug

Laminated sides vs aluminum siding | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

fitznj
Explorer
Nov 03, 2016
I've had 2 Alum sided and 1 Smooth sided TT.

The Alum Siding if easier to fix if you dent a panel. Ours is 10 years old
now and still looks brand new.

Our only smoothie had a leak and delaminated 4 years into our ownership.

As a result - I have a bias towards Alum Siding
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Nov 03, 2016
I've now had both. It's really 50/50. Flip a coin, hope for the best. Each one has advantages and disadvantages.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 03, 2016
fiber glass insulation can absorb water leaks and is fatal.
bumpy
TurnThePage
Explorer
Nov 03, 2016
My sticks and tin trailer has held up very well, and is obviously impervious to delam. My next one won't be aluminum sided though. They are much easier to damage. Once on a narrow road, I ended up dragging a tree limb along the side of the trailer and decided to back up. The limb dug in and poked right through the aluminum. You also hear stories about hail damage all the time.

The key is almost always simply taking good care of your RV. Preventive maintenance makes either variety last a good long time.

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Laminated sides vs aluminum siding

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