Aluminum vs Fiberglass TT

It really come down to what you like. As shown each has it advantages and draw backs.

From the industry standpoint aluminum is old technology, well understood and lends itself to basic trailer designs. Fiberglass is a newer technology but still decades old. The big advantages are, it lends itself to more dynamic shapes, a so called "clean" look and offers a large easel for artwork graphics.

Aluminum dents and Fiberglass de-bonds, I have had both and the outside skin makes little difference to me. Floor plan is everything.

However, if you like snazzy, you are more likely to find it in a fiberglass trailer. If you prefer no frills and basic time honored construction, aluminum is hard to beat.

do you live/travel/stay in hail areas? if so, do you like a cheese grater appearance on your RV?
bumpy

Don't assume that fiberglass has better assembly quality. They'really all thrown together.

I can't prove it, but I think fiberglass walls block sound better. I can hear a gnat fart through my aluminum skinned trailer.

I went with Aluminum.

Personally, I had a fiberglass Class C before we bought the aluminum side travel trailer we have now. We live in AZ and the sun just bakes the fiberglass. It will eventually start to yellow white fiberglass here (anywhere hot or a lot of sun). I like the looks of the fiberglass, but it doesn't make sense for us here. I have a theory that the manufactures are starting to change the color to the off white because of this so it's much harder to notice. Either way, my aluminum side travel trailer looks nearly as good as the day I bought it. I don't stress about having it waxed every year like I did with the Class C. I know some people have issues with dents on the aluminum, but I have not had that issue. I keep my trailer in storage and I can tell you there are a lot of trailers in there that are fiberglass that are yellowing badly and have a lot of delaminaton bubbles - really big ones on some trailers. Everytime I see one of those or hear about it on the internet it makes me glad I went aluminum.

I've had both. Never had problems with either.

Pick the one that appeals to you and tell all the nay-sayers who don't agree with your decision to go take a hike!

I have been looking at a new Jayco TT it is aluminum framed and aluminum sides.I have had both and like both. I think it depends on what you like. I have had a fiberglass class a and 5th wheel and 3 aluminum sided TT.

My neighbor has an aluminum sided toy hauler of questionable quality. The siding reacted (or rubbed) with the staples underneath and created a bunch of pin holes in the siding. I'm sure this is rare but none the less. Dabs of caulking and a lot of time to fix. There are fiberglass trailers that are not laminated but they are small and expensive.

TurnThePage wrote:
I can't prove it, but I think fiberglass walls block sound better. I can hear a gnat fart through my aluminum skinned trailer.

Generally, this would be true. Aluminum has a much higher resonance than fiberglass. A fiberglass sided trailer typically has the whole wall sections, including the insulation, bonded together. An aluminum trailer may have spun fiberglass that has settled within the wall frame, allowing an open space between siding and interior panel. What you have then, is a rigid drum.

Fiberglass delamination is much harder to repair than a failed frame in an aluminum sided trailer, from water intrusion. Wooden frames conduct cold and heat slower than aluminum. There is usually no quality difference between the two construction methods, it is more to the price-point and model designation from the mfg.

Buying a travel trailer based on the siding applied is not the correct goal, IMO. I would be more concerned about the floor's construction and the layout of the particular trailer.