Exterior Laminate vs Aluminum

Mickey_D wrote:
We are in Central Texas and get a LOT of hail (State Farm has replaced our 40 year hail resistant roof three times in the last 14 years). Our insurance agent said don't get a tin trailer here because it will just get whooped unless you keep it under something all the time. He said to get a glass one because they hold up a lot better in hail, and if they do get damaged very badly, they total them out and you go get a new one (as well as your home roof).

I have seen several trailers around here that have so many dents from hail that they just look sad, including an airstream that looked like a giant silver golf ball...

Here in NW Indiana, we get Thunderstorms and hail all the time unfortunately. I had hail damage on my previous 2008 Jay Flight 19BH. It had hail damage in 2012. It was not totaled but had significant hail damage.

It was rather easy to fix but parts cost was significant as molding and trim would all have to be replaced as it couldn't be reused with reliability. It was about $4000 for all 4 walls, Labor, and trim pieces. However there was no damage other than cosmetic and it really didn't look that bad. So it didn't have to be repaired at all.

The same can't be said about laminated. I talked to a repairman replacing a whole wall of a laminated trailer because the owner cracked the wall. No it couldn't be fixed right and the wall itself was $4000 and the labor was another $4000 for a grand total of $8000!! Just for a 6" crack (all the way through front skin and backer) in the wall. That was also in 2008 dollars which would had been a lot less expensive than the 2012 dollars that were on the hail damage I had.

So IMO, stick and tin still rules there. Also what about simple mistakes people make. I seen people back into the campsite number pillar and dent their aluminum siding. No repair needed, just an ugly spot. Do that with a laminated trailer wall that doesn't give, you'll be replacing the wall or have a bad attempt at a repair that won't hold and look bad.

Also with 'bad' hail damage, you'll end up breaking all skylites and essentially getting terrible rain water damage in the interior of the camper. Then no matter what walls it has, it may possibly be totaled out.

I'm still saying Stick and Tin is the best choice in 99.5% of situations. Just my take.

We are in Central Texas and get a LOT of hail (State Farm has replaced our 40 year hail resistant roof three times in the last 14 years). Our insurance agent said don't get a tin trailer here because it will just get whooped unless you keep it under something all the time. He said to get a glass one because they hold up a lot better in hail, and if they do get damaged very badly, they total them out and you go get a new one (as well as your home roof).

I have seen several trailers around here that have so many dents from hail that they just look sad, including an airstream that looked like a giant silver golf ball...

There are pros and cons to each. Which you pick is up to you. (My trailer is 7 years old, and has laminated walls, roof, and floor. It has no delamination, no leaks, and no issues with any of those items. I can, and do at least twice a year, walk on the roof.)

Pros for each:
- Aluminum weighs less (all else being equal).
- Aluminum costs less (all else being equal).
- Aluminum can be replaced, but it's most likely not a DIY task.
- IMO, aluminum usually looks nicer in older trailers.
- Laminated can be significantly better insulated.
- Laminated is stronger (all else being equal) - the wall itself is structural rather than just the framing.
- Laminated can look nicer when new/clean/maintained.

Cons:
- Aluminum dents very easily, and can't really be undented.
- Aluminum can make it hard to detect a leak within the walls until it gets to the point of the framing having rotted.
- Aluminum trailers are usually insulated with fiberglass batting, and there can be significant gaps in the insulation due to quick/low quality construction, as well as settling within the walls over time.
- Laminated will delaminate if there is a leak. If you notice and fix the leak quickly this isn't necessarily a serious issue, but if not it can be.
- Laminated trailers can be repaired but it's costly, difficult, and visible.
- Seems harder to maintain the good looks of laminated walls.

I've been very happy with my laminated trailer, but actually prefer aluminum due to the lighter weight. At the time I bought mine though, there weren't any aluminum sided hybrids available with a floorplan I liked. (There are now.)

Buy the floorplan you like, then take care of the trailer, and you'll be fine with either one.

I've never had anything aluminum rot out. a tin side after a hail storm is rubbish.
bumpy

Another vote for Stick and Tin or aluminium siding over 2"X2" wood studs.

I've personally see about 2 out of every 3 fiberglass laminated trailers have some sort of delamination.

Plus many laminated trailers also have laminated floors and roof which is a big no-no in my book. Soft/weak floors and weak roofs scream short term disposable unit.

Plus Stick and Tin is so much cheaper for so much more.

If you want better rated insulation, just get the winter packages and you'll have that covered.

I think more and more makers are going back to Stick and Tin with the every increasing failure rates of laminated walls.

I went camping last week and every Travel Trailer there was Stick and Tin. 1 5th wheel and 1 motor home was laminated, but on those types, you rarely have a choice of anything but laminated build.

Good luck on your camper choice.

Thanks for input I'm leaning towards sticks and tin

The floor plan is what sells the TT, then the construction method.

Personally I prefer stick and tin (aluminum). Old school but well proven. I have seen some ugly fading with aluminum but delamination over time seems worse to me.

agree

Fiberglass sure looks nice, but good ole aluminum n wood is the way to go...... no delamination

For myself I would go old school aluminum. I think the pre fab laminate walls are more for the convience of manufacturing than for the consumer. With aluminum you can replace a section if damaged and no chance of delamination we all read so much about.