Jayco vs Forest River Salem vs Open Range

mtofell1 wrote:
OR seem like nice trailers and I well may buy one someday. However, I'm not sold that the different slide type directly equates to them being 10-15% lighter. The example given a few posts back about the beams being smaller since there's no need for a hole doesn't completely hold water.

Boring a small hole in the middle of a beam's web has a minimal impact on its strength in most cases. Steel beams, wood beams and floor joists are routinely bored through in all types of construction with a very minimal impact. There are notching and boring guidelines that allow any framing member in a house to be bored through up to a point.... as long as it's done in the right place.

For OR to be touting this as the sole reason for their light trailers doesn't pass my "smell test" but I'm largely just basing this one what I've read online. I honestly haven't looked into all phases of their construction. I just don't see how boring a hole small enough for a cable would somehow require a beam 10-15% heavier than it would otherwise need to be. Any engineers out there care to offer an opinion?

You are not understanding. The hole is not bored at all in the OR beam. It is the shaft driven slide systems that require the hole to accommodate the drive shaft for the slide.
Also consider the slide mechanisms themselves are a bit lighter on the cable systems vs. shaft driven systems.
Nevertheless compare for yourself OR RV's are typically lighter than comparable models.
You can attribute the weight reduction to the slides,beams,quality of construction,or types of material but OR models are typically lighter.
I don't firmly believe that lighter weight equates to better,in some cases reduced weight can be a bad thing.
When comparing the 3 models listed above weights and slides are just a couple of factors to consider.
I also don't believe OR is a better unit because it is lighter.
But I do believe that the cable slide systems do not require slide shafts which allow/contribute to an overall lighter unit.

In construction, yes you can bore and notch according to guidelines. However I have seen in more than one case a house fail a framing inspection because a plumber or electrician drilled or notched a board in the wrong place.
Drilling and notching without a doubt affects the structural integrity of a component. A component with no holes or notches will always be stronger than one with notches.