alum frame vs. styrofoam?

[coon_creekers]

after talking with a dealer we have learned most new manufacturers are switching to a cheaper much less durable construction, not a metal frame but rather a Styrofoam like product, in walls floor AND ROOF! how, and where, can we go to find out what manufacturers are still designing with a metal box frame? we are thinking of traveling extensively for a year, and were told with the new design, there wouldn't be much left to pull home! he did have a 2000 carri-lite with a metal frame, are there others??

[hmar1]

Keystone Montana's are metal frame

[lynndiwagon]

I'll tell you one thing, styrofoam in the walls and ceilings is one heck of an insulator. I've owned many rigs before this one, and this one holds it's temperature the best. Even the AC ducts are molded into the ceiling insulation. BTW, the styrofoam is not structural.

[coon_creekers]

I thank you all so very much for your info! we want to make an informed purchase, not a knee-jerk reaction to fluff, and you all are so helpful in your knowledge. I appreciate it

[avvidclif1]

www.crossroadsrv.com

The older Cruiser Series had a 6 sided aluminum cage(Gorilla Cage)on 16" centers. The frame itself is steel and the "cage" sits on it. Now they have gone to 5 sided with wooden trusses for the roof. Block foam insulation. I like mine. The Cruiser Series are a mid range 5er, think mid 5 figures list.

[JEBar]

coon creekers wrote:
after talking with a dealer we have learned most new manufacturers are switching to a cheaper much less durable construction, not a metal frame but rather a Styrofoam like product, in walls floor AND ROOF!

some, sure .... most, not at this point .... if it proves to be a cheaper process that can withstand the stress and doesn't cost the manufactures much in warranty, it would be likely that others will follow

coon creekers wrote:
how, and where, can we go to find out what manufacturers are still designing with a metal box frame? we are thinking of traveling extensively for a year, and were told with the new design, there wouldn't be much left to pull home! he did have a 2000 carri-lite with a metal frame, are there others??

Jayco ... Rockwood .... Salem .... three different types of construction with very different levels of quality .... all are still built using metal frames with various types of wall construction

Jim

[Jerry_B]

My 35 ft National Dolphin Motorhome had very little framing. Even the windows weren't framed out. Sidewalls were laminated fiberglass skin over Mende board on the outside, foam in the middle and plywood on the inside. I was never thrilled about it, but it never gave me any problem(sidewalls that is).

[notruffinit]

I visited the factories to see how the various models were made. The high end (most expensive) had frames that were studs set 16" on center with fiberglass insulation and the less expensive had "frames" but the studs were about 4' on center and filled between with laminated foam construction. I know that Mobile Suites and now the Lifestyle 5ers are built with 16" stud frame construction. I have a Cameo and I too is 16" studs with fiberglass.

[2oldman]

coon creekers wrote:
and were told with the new design, there wouldn't be much left to pull home!

Nah.

I've been pulling an Okanagan 5er around for 10 years, and it's still all there. AFAIK, its walls are all foam. The only gripe I have is that it isn't very soundproof.

[Allworth]

You can tell when they are lying! Their mouths move.

[goducks10]

Aren't Big Foot TT's made that way? As long as it's durable I don't care how it's made. IIRC Lance TT's have minimal framing and rely on the wall construction to part of the integrity. Just watch the Lance factory tour vid on YouTube and while you can see some studs in the wall, it looks like the majority of the wall is just block foam. Don't hear of any issues from their walls falling off. Times are a changing and new technologies will be hard for some to accept.

[B_O__Plenty]

I would throw the B.S. flag on this one. Go on the various RV manufacturer websites and see how they're built. Almost every one has a metal or wood framework and rafters...Let me guess..The brand he sells has a framework also.

B.O.

[BB_TX]

coon creekers wrote:
.........
, and were told with the new design, there wouldn't be much left to pull home! he did have a 2000 carri-lite with a metal frame, are there others??

I don't care how well known he is, that is typical salesman talk. I can just see trailers being towed down the road with no tops on them because they disintegrated and fell off. :Z

Be careful of any bad claims on brands that a salesman does not carry or does not want to sell.

[jerem0621]

I love wood construction in good ole sticks and Tin trailers. Jayco, Puma, Zinger, Artic Fox...etc etc.

However, the foam construction in the trailmanor is anything but cheap.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

[Turbo_Diesel_Du]

I have a 35 year old boat ( McKee Craft that is filled with foam as is Boston Whaler and many others I'm sure that is as solid as the day it was made. 17 foot and I run a 140 HP Johnson. Must be pretty strong as it takes fiberglass about 20 years to cure for max strength. JMHO