Travel Trailers with Aluminum Frames

Tequila wrote:
Northwood trailers (except the nash line) are aluminum frames. Do not assume no rot. All Aluminum framed RV's are still 60% wood.

Not all are 60% wood. The Camplites are aluminum chassis and frame, and no wood. They use aluminum sheet metal for the sides, and the roof is aluminum. The interior, cabinets included, is aluminum framed, integral to the outer frame, and azdel is used as a cover. The floor is tongue and groove aluminum planking.

Click Here for a video explaining the construction

Northwood trailers (except the nash line) are aluminum frames. Do not assume no rot. All Aluminum framed RV's are still 60% wood.

WayneAt63044 wrote:
SunnyBrook (now Winnebago Towables) has been building with aluminum frames for years, dunno if they still do. I had no problems with the 3 I had made in 1995, 2000, & 2005.

Just now viewed the video & I see the chassis is aluminum. The SunnyBrook chassis was steel but the framing for the body was aluminum.

I could be wrong, but being that I have toured their facility, I don't think I am. SunnyBrook/Winnebago doesn't use aluminum frames as the foundation/running gear. Only the trailer box itself. Mine is aluminum framed but sits on a Lippert steel frame underneath.

I'd be a litte afraid of the quality of aluminum welds given the steel welds I've seen. Aluminum welding is a little more critical and a hsndful of cold joints would lead to disaster. If the welder were competent then yes. But I've seen very little competence when it comes to quality construction of any sort relating to travel trailers.

That is a well made looking frame. To bad they don't put as much care and thought in building regular steel ones.

Aluminum is only as good as the welding quality. This pic is what can happen to aluminum framing in the superstructure with poor welding:

I assume we are talking about the "frame" (big beams that run the length of the trailer do most of the structural support) vs the "framing" (studs that form the walls).

Aluminum framing is quite common as an alternative to wood.

Aluminum frames are far less common and typically only used in smaller trailers.

The cost to use aluminum frames is a good deal more and much of the weight savings is eaten up by needing thicker beams as aluminimum is not as strong as steel.

It is also harder to work with aluminimum. Welding requires special attention.

A big concern is dis-similar metals. If you put steel and aluminimum in contact with each other (say where the suspension connects to the frame), if it gets damp and salty, the aluminimum will sacrafice itself to protect the steel and in the process rot away. It can definetly be addressed but if not done right can cause problems very quickly. Given the fact that it's nothing for a steel frame on a trailer to be perfectly fine other than some surface rust 25-30yrs on, I wouldn't count on aluminimum to be an advantage in terms of corrosion.

For similar size trailers, I wouldn't count on much MPG advantage since the bulk of the fuel economy issue at highway speeds is wind resistance.

Ron3rd wrote:
See no reason why it wouldn't work, all it takes is $$$$$$$$. Aluminum per pound is more expensive than mild steel and probably more expensive to weld up. I'm not a welder so I'll let the welders comment.

The only advantage I can see would be the weight savings, and of course, Aluminum won't rust, but can corrode badly.

The corrosion problem can be overcome by an electronic anti-corrosion module or using sacrificial zinc strips.

The zinc strips work great, but they must be monitored and replaced once they have wasted. Think anode bar in a hot water tank, same principle.

bgum wrote:
What about Airstreams?

Nope steel frame, aluminum superstructure.

69 Avion wrote:

mountainborn wrote:
This one seems to have an aircraft grade aluminum frame. Are there advantages to this ? Is it the only one ? Is it practical cost wise ?
YouTube video of all aluminum frame in the factory

That is a very nice looking frame. I like the way that they used an additional piece of aluminum to attach the axles to. I wonder why the cross members are only attached to the bottom of the main frame rails. The idea is to keep the frame rails from twisting which will reduce strength if they do. Maybe the trailer structure mounts to the top and keeps the frame rails from twisting.
I also notice that the axles don't appear to have much camber to them.
Maybe I missed it, but what brand trailer is it?

It's made in Tennessee by Oliver Travel Trailers they make a molded fiberglass trailer.

69 Avion wrote:

mountainborn wrote:
This one seems to have an aircraft grade aluminum frame. Are there advantages to this ? Is it the only one ? Is it practical cost wise ?
YouTube video of all aluminum frame in the factory

That is a very nice looking frame. I like the way that they used an additional piece of aluminum to attach the axles to. I wonder why the cross members are only attached to the bottom of the main frame rails. The idea is to keep the frame rails from twisting which will reduce strength if they do. Maybe the trailer structure mounts to the top and keeps the frame rails from twisting.
I also notice that the axles don't appear to have much camber to them.
Maybe I missed it, but what brand trailer is it?

Yeah, I caught that same thing with the rail connections. It may be that additional cross braces are added once tanks and other under-floor connections are made. Or, as you said, the cabin structure ties the rails together.

I believe the trailer frame is an Oliver.

If you are willing to pay a little more for a little less weight, aluminum is the clear winner over steel. I prefer aluminum for most trailers with exposed structure like ATV and utility trailer...but for TT's and other enclosed trailers...buy what you like and don't base it on frame material.