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turbodiesel09's avatar
turbodiesel09
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014

Construction of trailers

I just got back from camping. While speaking to other campers we were discussing the materials of what they make the trailers out of. I was wondering. Why they do make a one piece of aluminum roof instead of a rubber roof? I think it would out last the rubber roof. These trailers sit out in the sun and weather all year. Why not make them better to the expose weather conditions. I know one thing people are going to say is weight. Most of the people I see have trucks that are set up to pull a lot more then they are pulling. Thanks for any in put I get. Ed

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  • uglybear11's avatar
    uglybear11
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    yrailers are made of many cheap materails and methods. LUAN plywood what a joke. look at the plumbing foixtures - wow

    makers and dealers are wanting to sell cheap for volume..... most people get their first this way

    Most of us do not think/know that roofs etc should be maintained as you do not do this o a car, etc

    we want cheap and we get it
  • hvac's avatar
    hvac
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    We had an irstream, 2004 28 fott Safari. The roof is metal,but most don't know the floor is plywood. Ors began sag from trapped moisture.

    we now have 21 RBS and all metal including the roof. To me, a better choice over the long haul.
  • ed6713's avatar
    ed6713
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    Lazy Daze, a Class C RV, has a one piece alum. roof. Been totally leak and maintenance free since 2000..

    I walk on it regularly. Very sound.

    I think the answer is money. It just costs more to build quality and, by and large, the market is not willing to pay more for a quality product.
  • turbodiesel09's avatar
    turbodiesel09
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    That is a shame. Cost I am not rich by any means. The Airstream trailers I always new were high dollar. They do not impress me. They are small inside and I do not think any offer a slide. I myself like to have room to move around. I wonder what a trailer cost to build. Knowing that it is design and measured to a size, with very little if any waste to be thrown away. Thanks for your answers.
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Jul 24, 2014
    They can leak worse! I did a demo on a mobile home with a 1-piece AL roof. Because it was flat, water crept in at every penetration, and the sealing compounds did not seem to deal as well is Dicor on EPDM membrane. Properly installed maintained, EPDM should last a very long time without leaks.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jul 24, 2014
    gcloss wrote:
    Airstream


    AS's don't have 1 piece aluminum roofs.
    Probably wouldn't be possible with all the compound radius's.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jul 24, 2014
    if they built TT,,Tc,,MH, out of quality material, they,d go broke, if you look a high end rv is big bucks ,only because of the better material used.

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