Rubber or aluminum roof
Are there reasons why most travel trailers have a rubber roof not aluminum. Aluminum roofs on trucks and homes last longer in all seasons and less prone to damage. I would not think weight to be a maj...
Forum Discussion
I don't agree that a aluminum roof lasts longer than a rubber roof.
Early rvs/house trailers had painted galvanized steel exteriors. The industry modernized to aluminum exteriors and some folks grumbled that aluminum wasn't tough enough.
Now the industry has modernized again to a better product such as rubber type roof materials and non metallic exteriors.
I had my own rv/mobilehome repair service some years back with exterior repair/structure as our speciality. I've also worked in a mobilhome assy plant for 5 1/2 years much of the time with aluminum exteriors.
Aluminum roofs require more servicing/maintaining over the years especially in areas with lots of sun days and cool nites. Aluminum grows and shrinks which stresses sealants around roof jacks/lap joints and other screwed down roof fixtures.
Hail is another problem for aluminum exteriors. Our last big hail storm hit a large RV dealer. All the new and used RVs on the lot with aluminum roofs had to be reskinned with a rubber roof material. Rubber roof units sitting next to them had no issues.
The new rubber roofs don't have those problems. I'll take a new gen rubber roof over aluminum roof material any day.
Early rvs/house trailers had painted galvanized steel exteriors. The industry modernized to aluminum exteriors and some folks grumbled that aluminum wasn't tough enough.
Now the industry has modernized again to a better product such as rubber type roof materials and non metallic exteriors.
I had my own rv/mobilehome repair service some years back with exterior repair/structure as our speciality. I've also worked in a mobilhome assy plant for 5 1/2 years much of the time with aluminum exteriors.
Aluminum roofs require more servicing/maintaining over the years especially in areas with lots of sun days and cool nites. Aluminum grows and shrinks which stresses sealants around roof jacks/lap joints and other screwed down roof fixtures.
Hail is another problem for aluminum exteriors. Our last big hail storm hit a large RV dealer. All the new and used RVs on the lot with aluminum roofs had to be reskinned with a rubber roof material. Rubber roof units sitting next to them had no issues.
The new rubber roofs don't have those problems. I'll take a new gen rubber roof over aluminum roof material any day.
