Why are Truck Campers so poorly made?

free radical wrote:

Desertboy wrote:
(Quote) I think fiberglass will last just as long or maybe longer as aluminum,and can be fixed fairly easy also,
I would also suspect that Aluminum may get easily dented by hail or punctured by tree limbs.
Pricewise aluminum is probably more expensive and difficult to work with then Fglass,

Nice thing about aluminum is it don't rust or get affected by ultraviolet rays. And its very difficult to puncture aluminum. And pound for pound its stronger than steel. The one leg up fiberglass would have is it does not transfer heat and cold like aluminum does, Or electricity. Have you ever payed attention to the old aluminum siding on a mobile home? It just gets dirty but will not ever wear out. Aluminum is so strong it does not require near as much of the product to accomplish said task, Which is why the Campers only weigh half as much.If fiberglass were stronger and cheaper to work with we would all be drinking from fiberglass cans. s.

Aluminum is light,and thats about the only thing I like about it,
I have aluminum siding on a house and while it still solid after 55 years,
it also has many many dings and dents where hailstorms pounded on it over the years,something Fglass wouldnt have,
,and Ive seen beautiful Airstream traliers looks ruined just like that and not realy any way to fix it.
also,Aluminum is expensive,as compared to Fglass,,and I doubt that aluminum camper has roof strong enough one could walk on ,such as if you need to install some solar panels and such.
Ive made my TC from simple plywood glued together and coated with epoxy,similar way one would built a boat,and except for painting it every few years with marine enamel it will never leak as it has no seams,and its been thru hail and snow and rain many times,,and the whole shell only cost me about a Grand..
stil next time I would make it from Fglass and except for ocasional wash and wax wouldnt need any other maintanance..

good luck with whatever you choose