Wood vs Aluminum/Paper vs. Plastic
There are certain things in life that guarantee a lively discussion and the "no wood, no rot" construction mantra is no exception - at least it is in the boating industry. Seems like there is a similarity here with RV's. I am migrating from the boat culture to the RV culture and see myself drawn to the truck camper strongly. Having grown up on the Chesapeake Bay I knew my way around boats and recently sold off my second boat, a solid wood and fiberglass sportfisher from a higher end manufacturer. I bought this craft with an eye to seaworthiness, solid build and craftsmanship, and eventual resale value (if there is such a thing in boats). I was not disappointed.
Now that I have been transplanted to the wilds of Idaho the siren song of the truck camper is calling me to begin the search for my own portable camping unit. The days of sleeping on the ground are over and I want the security and comfort of a four season camper that is easy to park and will provide my wife and I a place to rest at night.
I have now run into the same wood vs. aluminum debate, however the parameters and circumstances that affect the camper decision are somewhat different. Allow me to begin a conversation by stating that there are certain things that concern me as a prospective new TC owner:
1) Durability of construction, i.e. how the camper superstructure will fare in the long run. Will aluminum welds outlast the life of a wooden framed model? Will rot prove the eventual downfall of most wood TC's? Or is the wooden model the best compromise for most of us, including its relative ease of repair and resistance to mechanical stress?
2) Both wood and aluminum seem to be offered in relatively lightweight models, so is there really a difference between them in terms of weight? Will a wooden camper soak up enough moisture over time to tip the scales?
3) Not to imply that these brands are superior to any others, but (for example) the new offerings from Camp Lite and Travel Lite seem to compare head to head weight-wise, yet are worlds apart in terms of design and construction philosophy. Is this just the age-old more taste, less filling debate? Surely there is some type of rationale for wood to still be a material of choice?
4) Some will probably tell me to forget about this and concentrate on features and suitability rather than design differences under the skin, but I can't shake the feeling that this is somehow going to mean a great deal to me after the ink is dry on the sales contract.
What are the other elements of this comparison that I am not seeing? I would rather go beyond the hype of the advertising slogans and base my decisions on real-world experiences. No agenda here, just a desire to spend the hard won cash from the sweat of my brow on a product that won't make me wince when I see it sitting on my truck. My first boat was a foam-filled fiberglass yard monument that shuddered with each wave and felt totally incapable on the water. The second one still makes me smile each time I remember how it parted the seas with confidence and gave me an assurance of a solidly built craft that would get me home when the going got tough. Is this satisfaction and pride of ownership too much to expect from a TC borne of an industry that is pumping out product on a slim margin and has to cut many corners in order to out sell the competition? Am I actually still making sense?
It's late and I'm kinda confused after looking at TC web pages for the last eon. Thanks for listening to the rambling!
Idling in Idaho
Now that I have been transplanted to the wilds of Idaho the siren song of the truck camper is calling me to begin the search for my own portable camping unit. The days of sleeping on the ground are over and I want the security and comfort of a four season camper that is easy to park and will provide my wife and I a place to rest at night.
I have now run into the same wood vs. aluminum debate, however the parameters and circumstances that affect the camper decision are somewhat different. Allow me to begin a conversation by stating that there are certain things that concern me as a prospective new TC owner:
1) Durability of construction, i.e. how the camper superstructure will fare in the long run. Will aluminum welds outlast the life of a wooden framed model? Will rot prove the eventual downfall of most wood TC's? Or is the wooden model the best compromise for most of us, including its relative ease of repair and resistance to mechanical stress?
2) Both wood and aluminum seem to be offered in relatively lightweight models, so is there really a difference between them in terms of weight? Will a wooden camper soak up enough moisture over time to tip the scales?
3) Not to imply that these brands are superior to any others, but (for example) the new offerings from Camp Lite and Travel Lite seem to compare head to head weight-wise, yet are worlds apart in terms of design and construction philosophy. Is this just the age-old more taste, less filling debate? Surely there is some type of rationale for wood to still be a material of choice?
4) Some will probably tell me to forget about this and concentrate on features and suitability rather than design differences under the skin, but I can't shake the feeling that this is somehow going to mean a great deal to me after the ink is dry on the sales contract.
What are the other elements of this comparison that I am not seeing? I would rather go beyond the hype of the advertising slogans and base my decisions on real-world experiences. No agenda here, just a desire to spend the hard won cash from the sweat of my brow on a product that won't make me wince when I see it sitting on my truck. My first boat was a foam-filled fiberglass yard monument that shuddered with each wave and felt totally incapable on the water. The second one still makes me smile each time I remember how it parted the seas with confidence and gave me an assurance of a solidly built craft that would get me home when the going got tough. Is this satisfaction and pride of ownership too much to expect from a TC borne of an industry that is pumping out product on a slim margin and has to cut many corners in order to out sell the competition? Am I actually still making sense?
It's late and I'm kinda confused after looking at TC web pages for the last eon. Thanks for listening to the rambling!
Idling in Idaho
