Aluminum vs. Fiberglass Siding

myredracer wrote:
If you have a TT that has one of the frames (the main I-beams) made from 3 pieces of sheet steel welded together, they flex a lot more. The frame flex can lead to failure in the welds of the superstructure aluminum framing. An aluminum superstructure is a heavy rigid welded "assembly" sitting on a base that moves up/down from towing or using the jacks. In comparison, wood framing has some give in it. The photo is what was found in a previous TT we owned not long after we owned it from new. Substandard welding at the factory could have contributed as well.

Both types of framing have various pros and cons. It's my understanding that wood roof trusses are preferable due to movement and I believe that's what Northwood uses in their units along with aluminum framing for the rest. We've owned both types. Fiberglass is def. easier to clean and wax and looks sexier. Regardless, preventing leaks is paramount along with ensuring moisture is exhausted from the interior if used in cold weather.

Lets split some hairs. If you have that much frame flex, and the vast majority of RV frames used since Lippert cornered the market starting 09/10 for the most part have fabricated, (ie welded) beams as main rails, do you not think that the light gauge wide or narrow crown staples used to attach the wood studs to the bottom plate are going to pull loose in a stick and tin trailer also? The frame on our 17 Rockwood is/was a Lippert joke. I say was because I did a lot to it before it ever hit the campground.

I've pulled a few walls apart for others doing repairs, and seen those tack welds on the aluminum tubes broken on a few. Seems to be when they only tack one side of those studs as opposed to a continuous weld on both sides.

We had a 2013 lam wall Keystone trailer that used stamped steel roof trusses which were flat on the bottom and crowned on top. They stapled the roof plywood into those. I never had a staple pull on top but had a few come out inside where they stapled the ceiling panels into them.

We had a 2011 Aerolite lam wall trailer that had a laminated roof the same as the sidewalls, was strong as can be be but flat on the top which sucked. Looking out and seeing the water lay on it was always on your mind.

Our 17 Rockwood has an arched (top and bottom) vacuum bonded laminated roof, which is one of the things I like about it. Strong too, I go 230 and can dance on it, no movement or flex whatsoever.

Roofs are all over the place as far as how they're constructed.

A Rockwood / Flagstaff roof