need advice on materials used in TT construction

Many thanks to all for your advice, it has been very helpful.
After much discussion & what seems like months of pouring over catalogs and web sites, we felt the Puma 25RS best meet our needs and our wallet. And according to the specs it shouldn't put a strain on our TV.

Nearly everybody on RVNet who has a Puma, especially the 25RS, likes them, and all the one's we've looked at at dealers & shows show good attention to details.

We're picking it up in about 10 days and have already got 2 trips booked!
Again, many thanks!
Best

The proof is in how long they last. How long do the aluminum TTs last? Avion and Airstreams seem to last a long time, except Airstream has some frame and floor issues. I would seriously consider a Livin Lite all aluminum frame trailer. No wood to rot.

If there is any wood in the floors, a full laminated flooring is a much better bet.

WoodGlue

beast_3 wrote:

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We had a 2nd hand class C that was OK until it developed a hidden leak and the exterior walls started delaminating and mildew set in.
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Just remember that even if there's azdel in the walls, the roof and floors are usually plywood. A hidden leak can cause roof or floor plywood to rot and mildew just as easily as lauan in the walls.

I see a lot of people here recommending frequent pressure tests (cover the trailer with soapy water, blow air into it, look for bubbles) to find any leaks. Seems like a good idea to me.

Alternatively there are Trailmanor folding trailers that only have a layer of plywood in their floor (they don't make the upright Elkmont any more). Or the all aluminum trailers like CampLite or Airstream. None of these are cheap though.

This from NUWA forum website;

Why doesn't NuWa use an all aluminum structure like popular Indiana manufacturers?

NuWa made the decision to begin the use of aluminum structure based on marketing and the fact that many people were concluding that an "aluminum caged" product was superior in construction technology, weight and strength. Our 40+ years of experience as a leader in 5th wheel design suggests that may be "flawed" information. We have proven that wood construction need be no heavier or less strong than aluminum construction, that is built properly. We now build both materials, and are comfortable doing either, however our opinion is still that wood construction provides a superior product, and today we use both in the construction of our trailers. The strength of the NuWa trailer is actually created by the superior and light weight Blue Dow foam lamination concept.

NuWa uses an aluminum substructure in the sidewalls and ends of the coach only. No aluminum in the floors or attics, where metal promotes conduction of cold and moisture resulting in condensation.

90% of the walls are Blue Dow Structural Foam, rather than wood or aluminum. This creates a superior insulation and the only product with a guaranteed sidewall R Factor. (Water absorption in standard white foam reduces R Factor over time, and the use of Blue Dow Structural Foam eliminates this problem.)

NuWa's aluminum substructure sidewall is actually a "hybrid" wall, as we core fill the aluminum with wood in those areas where additional strength is required, because aluminum will not hold a screw. Not so with the lower priced brands. With NuWa's combined use of wood and aluminum substructure, you get a superior product because of NuWa's unique Blue Dow foam vacu-bond process, which makes the sidewalls virtually resistant to water penetration.

WoodGlue wrote:
AzdelOnboard

Glad to see this site is back online again!

Although, it lists Jayco as being an Azdel "user" that couldn't be further from the truth. Jayco put out 1 model of trailer made with Azdel (the 2012 Skylark) and pulled out of the composite material usage after this.
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And what about Forest River's Flagstaff and Rockwood lines? They seem like similar, sister brands but neither one mentions azdel online or in their brochures AFAIK.

We were just talking about this in another thread. Not sure if the list is complete but here it is:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26916968.cfm

AzdelOnboard

Glad to see this site is back online again!

Although, it lists Jayco as being an Azdel "user" that couldn't be further from the truth. Jayco put out 1 model of trailer made with Azdel (the 2012 Skylark) and pulled out of the composite material usage after this.

Every model of Lance (Truck Camper & Travel Trailer) uses Azdel.

There is also the EvergreenRV material called Compositek which is similar to Azdel.

Lance doesn't use OSB.

WoodGlue

beast_3 wrote:
My wife & I want to buy a TT, 25-30', maybe 1 slideout, for travel this summer. I've found many makers use similar floor plans in a wide range of prices. I've looked at several and researched far & wide, but find it hard to get accurate information for a TT made with the best basic materials, real plywood instead of OSB or particle board, Adzel walls instead of luan plywood, etc. Salesmen make widely inaccurate claims.

We had a 2nd hand class C that was OK until it developed a hidden leak and the exterior walls started delaminating and mildew set in.

So, has anyone any recommendations on a TT model without luan, OSB or particle board, the best insulation R ratings, welded instead of bolted chassis, and any other of the more desirable materials used in mid-priced travel trailers? I know Lance units are well made but they seem too expensive.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Beast

http://azdelonboard.com/
IMOP. Azdel is the best material going. Has been used since 2006 on high end RVs. It is extremely strong, extremely lite, and will not rot. It also has a 50% higher insulation value then luan. And has no Formaldehyde, and will not mold.
As for models. Coachmen (Forest River)uses it on their Apex models. Lance, and Koala campers also use it. It's true that is has been limited to higher end RVs until recently. But now it has become so cost effective, that it is avaliable in RV / TTs that even I can afford. I like to think it is the mid range, But are prolly closer to entry. I do known that my 2013 288BHS weighes by the yellow sticker 4811lbs. Over 100lbs lighter than my previous 23T6 Pioneer, and it is 5 feet longer, and has a slide. The pioneer did not. I also know the same size AC kept the Apex cooler in the July heat of a Myrtle Beach Campground.

So IF you have a choice. Azdel should be it.

The materials used in a RV are selected for two reasons, low cost & light weight. And as Downtheroad pointed out, they are used in RV's across the price spectrum, except maybe custom build bus conversions.........