Aluminum vs Wood construction

[Helipilot]

Narrowing down our final choices for a fiver. DRV Mobile Suites have an aluminum frame and cold weather capability. Excel have a wooden frame and also cold weather capable. For long term use with proper maintenance which would be better?

In full disclosure, we have owned an Excel tow behind and found it comfortable but heavy. Currently have a 2015 GMC 3500 crew cab, 8' bed, DRW diesel as our proposed TV.

[goducks10]

It is a smart idea:)

[campinghut]

I was just trying to be a smart :).

[goducks10]

campinghut wrote:
Not to start an arguement but some manufactures put wood inside the aluminum frame.

I have one of those trailers. But the wood is encased by the 4 sides of the aluminum stud. It's mainly used for backing purposes. Even if there was some wood rot the aluminum framing would still be intact. Not so if it was just a wood stud by it's self.

[campinghut]

Not to start an arguement but some manufactures put wood inside the aluminum frame.

[goducks10]

Why give your trailer another option for failure.

[mbrower]

After seeing what a water leak done to the framing of my designer, as long as aluminum is an option, I will never buy another wood frame trailer.

[Kennedycamper]

Aluminum trailers still have wood in the roof & other places.

[wilber1]

Dick_B wrote:
Aluminum doesn't rot.

It can corrode. Corrosion resistance also varies with the alloy being used.

[Slownsy]

Timber is a better insulater than alluminium so les condensation on inside which also leads to dark lines.
Frank

[Helipilot]

Thanks so much for all the feed back on my question. You folks have a lot of experience and I appreciate your willingness to share with a noob.

As a licensed pilot and aircraft mechanic I realize the issues with aluminum. Have repaired a lot of aircraft exposed to sea air and chemical residue. Not pretty.

[jerem0621]

N-Trouble wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
Aluminum doesn't rot.

Yes it does 🙂

Yes there are certain chemicals that can cause Aluminum to oxidize/rot however in the application of RV construction where your dealing with potential water intrusion wood will rot in no time. Not the case with Aluminum.

So don't try to compare the two when talking an RV application. Unless your just trying to be snarky...

Not snarky at all, just factual, and if you don't think Aluminum can oxidize in a RV you are mistaken.

I have not seen any evidence to show that a water leak is found any faster in an aluminum frame trailer vs wood. I personally appreciate the merits of both construction methods though....just pointing out that aluminum is not immune to decay.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[N-Trouble]

jerem0621 wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
Aluminum doesn't rot.

Yes it does 🙂

Yes there are certain chemicals that can cause Aluminum to oxidize/rot however in the application of RV construction where your dealing with potential water intrusion wood will rot in no time. Not the case with Aluminum.

So don't try to compare the two when talking an RV application. Unless your just trying to be snarky...

[mpfireman]

Our fiver is going on 16 years old now, and it is aluminum frame. We were struck by an auto a few years back, all the damage was done to the right front by the landing jack, about $2,500. The repair co stated that if this unit was of wood construction, the damage would have been greater, ( Harder to patch) and the repair bill also greater.

[jerem0621]

Dick_B wrote:
Aluminum doesn't rot.

Yes it does 🙂