Fleetwood Elkhorn Construction

I work on my Fleetwood Caribou quite a bit and this is where I know aluminium goes
- rear vertical corners
- edges of sides under the walls
- cabover sides
-slide around
There is no aluminium in main floor, no aluminium in cabover floor and nose beside the outside edges, no aluminium in the rear wings, no aluminium in bathroom floor and compartments under.
The rear bumper/step is all big aluminium but looks like bolted to main floor - can't tell if it is connected to rear aluminium frame.
The biggest bummer is weak front wall, that holds most of camper weight when set on the truck, or pallets. Not only no aluminium, but build with toothpicks and symbolic shear wall.

KD4UPL wrote:
I have an '03 Fleetwood Elkhorn 11X. It has graphics on the sides saying "aluminum frame". A guy stopped to talk in a CG once; he said he used to work for Fleetwood. He told me it was really mostly just aluminum studs that only went as far forward as the front wall. The cabover, according to him was all wood studs.
I've done enough work on the camper to know the roof is wood framing and a lot of the sides and floor are wood framing. So, thee must be some aluminum in there somewhere but there's also a lot of wood.

Maybe it should state: Aluminum frame somewhere.....

I have an '03 Fleetwood Elkhorn 11X. It has graphics on the sides saying "aluminum frame". A guy stopped to talk in a CG once; he said he used to work for Fleetwood. He told me it was really mostly just aluminum studs that only went as far forward as the front wall. The cabover, according to him was all wood studs.
I've done enough work on the camper to know the roof is wood framing and a lot of the sides and floor are wood framing. So, thee must be some aluminum in there somewhere but there's also a lot of wood.

AnEv942 wrote:
Not sure on an 2003, '02 and earlier 9D were wood frame, the 9D designation was for Angler model though. Metal skin.

Found one picture of an '03 listed as a 9D, definitely an Elkhorn, shows filon siding which makes me think 'possibly' aluminum framed sidewalls.
But also an Elkhorn LT (previous years were LE, model between an Angler and Elkhorn, wood frame). Last year of production.
Pics
***Link Removed***
***Link Removed***
oops removed for sale add

pdf sales brochure 2002 fleetwood t/c
***Link Removed***

That one looks exactly like the one I am looking at, but it doesn't have the LT on the side.

On my Fletwood the first thing that rotten was plywood under the sides.
It was wallpapered with vinyl and my assumption was that all the condensation + leaks went down there and vinyl would keep the moisture in the plywood.
Wasn't that big deal as this is sandwiched floor where upper plywood still hold.
I peeled the lower 2 layers of plywood, leaving the last layer still glued to frame and laminated whole thing.
Just like a boat ;)
Than what I know, all slides do have aluminium frame even when camper is all wood.

Kayteg1 wrote:
Coincidentally, my camper spend most of its life in Michigan.
I think that participated a lot in fact that not well maintained leaks lead to damages regardless aluminium frame.

Thats right I remember you stating you came here and got it...in the winter of all times...Me thinks his (looking at) has water intrusion damage to some extent.

If it is sheathed in fiberglass sheet. You can sight down the side or across the nose and see if there is issues underneath, the skin will show 'bulges'

Had the side of my 03 elkhorn lt opened for some repairs and it is a mix of aluminum and wood

I'm not saying there aren't good Fleetwood Elkhorns. But, there are others with a better reputation.

Not sure on an 2003, '02 and earlier 9D were wood frame, the 9D designation was for Angler model though. Metal skin.

Found one picture of an '03 listed as a 9D, definitely an Elkhorn, shows filon siding which makes me think 'possibly' aluminum framed sidewalls.
But also an Elkhorn LT (previous years were LE, model between an Angler and Elkhorn, wood frame). Last year of production.
Pics
2003 9D
2003 9D rear
oops removed for sale add

pdf sales brochure 2002 fleetwood t/c
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8TWuVKuPPzDZVNnS21ZblExYzg/view

Coincidentally, my camper spend most of its life in Michigan.
I think that participated a lot in fact that not well maintained leaks lead to damages regardless aluminium frame.