Hard side vs aluminum side trailers
I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on these trailers. We have owned both and have liked both. What are your thoughts good and bad on these.
Forum Discussion
We've had several of both and each has it's definite pros and cons. While aluminum can dent, it's so much easier and cheaper to simply replace a dented panel. Very expensive, difficult, and many hours to replace a smooth side of an RV.. Aluminum lasts a heck of a lot longer than glass or filon in the hot sun areas of the country. Almost no maintenance with aluminum siding but you'd better clean and wax smooth sides or they will look horrible in just a few years.
Aluminum siding and especially when used as one piece roof material very rarely develops any leaks and never delaminates or ahs large bubbles form but smooth sides do on a lot of various RV brands and especially as the RV gets old. A resale value killer! Smooth side filon or fiberglass sure does have it's share of problems as wittnessed by the gobs of owner reports/posts/complaints on this and other forums. Aluminum looks old school but doesn't cost anywhere near what having smooth sides does as many manufacturers have offered both and several still do. Then there's the weight factor as smooth sides add a lot more weight.
Smooth sides look more modern if that matters to the RV owner. Aluminum siding allows the sidewalls to breath and dryout moisture thru the joint cracks while smooth sides keep any moisture trapped inside the walls. 1/4" Foam Core sheets or a building wrap to seal out wind is normally used under the aluminum siding in the good RV's but none can be used under a smooth side material as most are pressure laminated together. Pinch rolled!
Neither one is perfect so you have to choose which one does what you want amd floats your boat for as long as your will own the RV.
Aluminum siding and especially when used as one piece roof material very rarely develops any leaks and never delaminates or ahs large bubbles form but smooth sides do on a lot of various RV brands and especially as the RV gets old. A resale value killer! Smooth side filon or fiberglass sure does have it's share of problems as wittnessed by the gobs of owner reports/posts/complaints on this and other forums. Aluminum looks old school but doesn't cost anywhere near what having smooth sides does as many manufacturers have offered both and several still do. Then there's the weight factor as smooth sides add a lot more weight.
Smooth sides look more modern if that matters to the RV owner. Aluminum siding allows the sidewalls to breath and dryout moisture thru the joint cracks while smooth sides keep any moisture trapped inside the walls. 1/4" Foam Core sheets or a building wrap to seal out wind is normally used under the aluminum siding in the good RV's but none can be used under a smooth side material as most are pressure laminated together. Pinch rolled!
Neither one is perfect so you have to choose which one does what you want amd floats your boat for as long as your will own the RV.
