Travel Trailers with Aluminum Frames
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
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
