wood or metal trusses
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?
Forum Discussion
Either method is a great way to build a trailer. MANY trailers are built with aluminum studs in the side walls but the front, rear, roof and floor are all still constructed with wood studs or truss's. The benefit to aluminum is that it is machined and true. Also, when aluminum is laminated in a side wall that wall is stronger than a wood framed wall. The downside to aluminum is that it will conduct cold and therefore condenstate more and this construction method is more expensive. It does not matter what type of construction you have if you don't do your maintenance and allow water to leak in. Wood will of course rot and the laminated sidewalls will delaminate after a while causing major problems as well. Water penetration is the enemy either way. I have owned many of both types of construction and have been through 4 factory's and have watched it done. Contrary to popular belief, aluminum is NOT used because of rot, it is used because you can build a stronger wall. If the reason to use aluminum was to prevent rot they would use it throughout the coach, but many manufacturers don't.
The quality of raw materials, the detail in construction and the maintenance by the owner are the main factors in having an RV that has a long life, not what type of studs are in the wall.
The quality of raw materials, the detail in construction and the maintenance by the owner are the main factors in having an RV that has a long life, not what type of studs are in the wall.
