Stick-Built Versus Molded Fiberglass

Bigfoot also has a 17.5' model. Because of the current exchange rate, Canadian-built trailers have a 20% off sale going on now.

I have owned both,for me FULL gel coat is the way to go.No roof leaks,walk on roof without worries.

I have an Escape 17B, a 2 piece molded fiberglass trailer. I have double pane windows & the extra insulation option, and rarely have cold weather condensation problems as long as I leave the Maxx fan roof vent cracked.

As to holding up, the trailer is 4 years old, has 56,000 miles of towing on it, and still looks like new. I've met individuals at rallies that are still towing 40 year old trailers, something that not too many stick built trailers can accomplish. As to size, Escape Trailer Industries makes 17', 19', 21' & a 21' fifth wheel trailers. Other companies including Oliver & Bigfoot make 24' - 25' molded trailers.

While you will pay more for a molded fiberglass trailer, I feel they are worth the cost.

BroncosFan wrote:
Op asked about molded fiberglass

"I owned a Jayco, tin and stick. The lower corners ripped out. I now own a Sunny Brook fiberglass TT"

The fiberglass panels are molded? Stress doesn't go away despite the shape, it moves!
MM49

This perspective from a major trailer manufacturer;


" 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. "

I've owned both and lived in both for short periods (3-9 months) in the summer and winter.... we much prefer the wood framed units for a quieter/warmer unit.
However just for camping in spring/summer/fall either one should work fine. Just remember a leak can happen to any type unit and each have there downside from water intrusion.

We had a 16' Scamp for 9 yrs & never had a problem with mold or condensation, other than on the windows. The ceiling & walls are covered in insulation & a marine material which is mold resistant (not carpet as Casitas). So you shouldn't worry about mold, nor walls & ceiling dripping water.

Never had a problem with the seam band or seams, never remember reading about anyone have that problem on 3 different molded fiberglass forms. Shouldn't be a concern, IMHO.

Scamps are nice TT, but the are not very large inside. We did fine with the two of us, a third person could be done, but very comfortable. We had very little trouble with our Scamp. They are, like all moldered fiberglass units, pretty 'bullet proof'.

I'm about 8 years your senior & my wife a little less senior by about 3 years. We decided this past spring we wanted to have more room with a full sized queen bed we could walk around, but still wanted not to go gigantic. One which would have room for at least two others.

My son has a Lance TC which is made very well. We looked a Lance TTs & a few other makes & went with a 2015 Lance 1985 TT with one slide out. We liked over the others because it was lighter, roomy & not as high profile (nor as high from the ground to have to step).

We used it a lot this past year after getting in 31 April 2014 & made several camping trips in fact. Some with my daughter & her 5 yrs. old son. The Lance has surpassed our hopes.

Casita has more bed layouts than Scamp. Egg Campers are all electric I believe. But might be more roomy than Scamp.

We have used rented Aliners twice in Alaska & our daughter & her hubby have rented two in Tucson. They are very good trailers & easy to setup & are roomy for sleeping & have a lot of head room.

But for long time, you might consider a slightly larger non-moldered fiberglass with or with a slide. We were considering a FunFinder, which seem to be a rugged TT.

But we are sold on our Lance, which made a couple smaller units than our 23'4" trailer.

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Good luck in finding a rig right for you.

MM49 wrote:
The framed TT vs a fiberglass wall is totally different dynamics. The two trailer will still flex. The final location of the flex is the question. I owned a Jayco, tin and stick. The lower corners ripped out. I now own a Sunny Brook fiberglass TT and the flex ends up in the roof seams. I have to keep a much closer eye on the rubber sealing on the Sunny Brook. The occurrence of cracks in the rubber is 1000:1 Sunnybrook:Jayco
MM49

This is something that I did not think about in comparing, not the fiberglass wall (we had one of those, two thumbs down), but the molded fiberglass in that the only real place the body could flex, I think, would be the seam and the Scamp, Casita, Oliver, Escape, Trillium, etc. have a belly band where joined while the EggCamper, and out of production U-Haul and Burro have a vertical seam. The seams are fiberglassed after joining with compound, I think that is how it goes.

We have seen a lot of used units over the years and remember seeing those edge seems pulling apart on the traditional build. Now, I do like it when they have the molded end caps and think that must help but not a lot of manufacturers do that.

Oliver is very nice but more than we want to spend. EggCamper is also double-shelled, a little smaller and less luxurious but 1/2 the price of Oliver and made in the great state of Michigan where I grew up, I know, that shouldn't be an element in the final decision.

I've had both stick built and fibergass. The fiberglass we owned was a 17' Casita. It felt well built, but space was so limited we didn't keep it very long. Due to the egg shape, as opposed to square corners, storage is very very limited also. For an example, the single battery sat in a compartment, and there was nowhere I could find to put a second battery. Resale is very good on these egg shaped trailers.

From my research, I believe that the Casita may be a bit better quality than the Scamp. Others may have a different opinion, but I believe that is the consensus amongst the egg-trailer crowd.

Good luck and good camping!

We rented a 25 ft. fiberglass TT and we purchased a stick and tin 25 ft. TT. The fiberglass units are newer technology and very attractive. The stick and tin TTs are a well-established technology that has stood the test of time. Our purchase was dependent on floor plan and cost. Construction method was not a consideration. Both towed okay.

Prior to all that, the DW and I spent a lot of time and consideration on A-Liners, Trail Manors. HI-LOs, Scamps and Casitas. After a lots of thought the decision came down to,
• The DW and I are late 60s and I am 70. We are retired and want to travel.
• Though we have spent long years as canoe/campers and PUP owners we thought it time to minimize set up. But, more importantly we wanted a bed where you did not have to crawl over your spouse to get up. Access to the kitchen and bath when sitting in a parking lot. Full use of the TT when parked for the night without unhitching.
• Finally we needed room for two adults and a 60 lb. dog without tripping or squeezing by. Our choice came down to 22 to 26 ft. TT.

Your choice and decision will be based on the variables that are important to you. Remember, it is not a race. We had two years before retirement to plan. As mentioned, we even rented a TT for 10 days before we purchased, It helped determine what we wanted.

Good luck

Have you looked at Oliver TT's?