Real scoop on Fiberglass skin trailers?

We had a 2000 Jayco with aluminum. Though the decals were faded and peeling, the aluminum was still shiny white and looked great. We just ordered a 2015 Jay Flight 26BHS and stuck with aluminum. Added just about every option but fiberglass. Good luck on your purchase. As others have said, you will probably be happy either way. Just make sure to keep it sealed. I would be more worried about the frameless window issues than the siding. Lots of reports of issues on the jayco owners forum.

If there is an option of fiberglass vs aluminum skin, the TT is most likely stick built, not laminated, so there is nothing to delaminate.

If you are talking about two different families of trailers with almost the same name and similar floorplans, then one family might be stick built and the other laminated construction. Not a skin option, two completely different TTs. Jayco sometimes does this with names, 2-3 model lines starting with name Jayflight, 2-3 lines starting with name Eagle.

I'm looking at a Jayco TT as well . I have owned 3 alum and 5 filons . I choose aluminum on a special order build .

Im also looking into the Livin lite with Azdel trailers. nothing to rot here .
I think Jayco generally is a good customer service company but the filon bonding that they advertise is not any different than others. I don't think you are getting any kind of magic here.
In 2014/2015 they probably all vacuum bond over pinch rolled method. However, a dealer making a filon repair does not VB. Therefore, the vacuum bonding is only as good as it lasts unless you take it back to the mfg. Not so with aluminum skin, anyone can do a professional OEM repair job with no special tools.


alum. is a little harder to clean, experiment to find the right cleaners.
alum. is lighter (helps a lot if your T.V. is a 150/1500 truck )
alum. is much easier/cheaper to repair (consider out of warranty repairs)
alum. does dent , but its an easy fix .


Therefore, it seems to me that filon is only as good as its last as an OEM covering.
Alum. gets repaired by any dealer in the same manner as the mfg does it . More bang for your buck ?

good luck in your decision . Happy trails .

look at evergreen everlite no wood under fiberglass to delaminate

Check the construction. Most fiberglass RVs use bonded panels. The stick-n-tin trailer with fiberglass option is probably now just stick-n-glass, not the same as bonded panels.

My Fleetwood Prowler Lynx is over 12 years old and the fiberglass sides are doing very well. Still look as good as new and clean up very easily.

Mitch

Alum on wood is the easiest to take apart, repair, and put back together. Know 2 who have done it themselves in the last 3 months. Of course no one plans on needing repair.

I don't see the negatives on frameless windows. No caulking as they use a rubber seal for sealing. Not maintenance. Keep up on the caulking on the rest of the TT and you should be fine. Bigger issue is all the fiberglass front caps that fade. Take a tour of other brand forums and you'll see that front cap fading is a common issue. Not all do but enough to inquire about whether the front cap is gel coated or painted. Our next trailer will have frameless windows and painted front cap.

Like anything else, there are pros and cons to either choice. This is a common question with many defending their stance, no different than the 5er or TT and diesel or gasser TV posts. Do what you feel works best for your particular situation, btw I've had both fiberglass and aluminum exteriors and neither gave me much problems that would prevent me from purchasing them again. Enjoy your new rig!!!

Delamination on the one hand, hail damage on the other ... take your choice! I've now had both, and really, don't see much difference as I've never had delamination or hail damage either.