wood or metal trusses

pipers family wrote:
I know sales people will sometimes say whatever they think will sell the trailer- but are metal trusses really that much better than wood? What do you think?

No dry rot. Seems metal trusses are more in high end RVs.

Wood = rot - water damage - noisier
Metal (Aluminum) sturdy - no water damage or rot - quieter

When you combine aluminum with 2" thick extruded polystyrene and a composite material like Azdel (used in Lance Travel Trailers) you have what is basically a bullet proof RV.

Info On XEPS - Extruded Polystyrene

Info On AZDEL - via CoachmanRV

WoodGlue

Metal is better :) of course I'm a welder, so I'm a little bit biased LOL

Thanks, sure hope we don't need to be worried about that bullet proof point, but you never can tell these days. Wonder why Jayco and Lacross are sticking with the wood roof trusses? We were really liking these two trailers.

Wood is a less expensive alternative, and some (most) RV manufacturers know one thing. That potential clients are only interested in dodads and floorplans and don't give a wits end to construction.

You asked an excellent question. More people should be concerned with the actual construction and materials used in their RV.

WoodGlue

I installed my own fantastic fans and I noticed that my TT had metal trusses, which means to me I don't have to worry about the roof folding up on me.

WoodGlue wrote:
That potential clients are only interested in dodads and floorplans and don't give a wits end to construction.

More people should be concerned with the actual construction and materials used in their RV.

WoodGlue

Yep, you always hear here that it's floorplan, floorplan, floorplan. Yes, the floorplan must be useable of course but I would certainly take a slightly less desirable floorplan (still totally functional) on a unit that is built of my desired materials than one without the "proper" materials.
bumpy

When we went shopping for our Teardrop I looked for what failed in old trailers,(I come from a QC back ground) and found rust and wood rot.
I also wanted lite weight as we would be pulling it with a Subaru Outback. Ours has an all aluminum frame and the cabin is 1.5 X 1 X.060 aluminum frame stress panel construction and is strong enough to stand on. The one area of concern is that the floor is OSB (actually more waterproof than conventional plywood) which is wrapped in plastic sheeting. Forest River at least used to use Composidek which is impervious to water and would be the materiel of choice given a choice.
To sum up, what aint steel don't rust and what aint wood don't rot. You are building an aircraft not a tank and most RV manufacturers are stuck in the dark ages of construction methods.

Sorry but wood means no cold bridge to outside and quieter,metal more condensation more noise as metal expand and contracts as well still got timber in most roofs walls and floors, it is hove it is build that counts.
Frank

pipers family wrote:
I know sales people will sometimes say whatever they think will sell the trailer-

Sometimes :? :B :B