Aluminum vs Fiberglass Siding?

[placergold]

Hi fellow RV'rs.
We are searching for a new or used travel trailer, and this questions has come up, and we are hoping you can help. Does anyone know the approx cost difference of repairing damage to an aluminum sided travel trailer, vs a fiberglass sided travel trailer? I have had a fiberglass sided RV gouge repaired before, it was repaired by a local paint and body guy. It was fast and relatively inexpensive for $250. My understanding is a regular auto paint and body shop, could not repair a gouge, vertical scrape, dent, etc, on aluminum siding. That only a RV service center with a paint and body dept could do this. I'm talking paying cash with no insurance company involved. When I posed this question to the only RV center near us with a paint and body shop, they didn't even want to guess, if it wasn't going to be paid for by an insurance company!
Appreciate your comments,
Thank you.

[RedRocket204]

Homer wrote:
I am coming back into this conversation to reinforce my opinion earlier. I have owned RV's with both types of siding. A woman backed her car into my aluminum sided class C years ago. Repair was difficult to find some one who could do it. They had to replace a number of laps of siding to get it right, even then the color was way off and visible for as long as I owned the coach. I have damaged two Class "A" RV's with fiberglass siding and I actually repaired them my self, including the paint which I was able to get a terrific match on. On fiberglass it is important to repair it as soon after it happens as possible. If necessary tape over the hole or scrape until you can get to repairing it permanently.

You can carry a tube of this stuff to repair small fiberglass siding issues onsite. It also usually includes a small sanding board with the kit.

Ding All Sun Cure Repair Kit Polyester Fiberfill

The SunCure stuff is great and creates a permanent fix, I've used it many times for surfboard repair and filling a small hole on my fiberglass sided RV. Keep in mind if you instead choose to tape over with something like duct tape, it can leave residue which has to be removed prior to fiberglass repair and that can be difficult at times especially if the tape was heated up by the sun.

[colliehauler]

After owning both I prefer fiberglass over aluminum. The fiberglass was easier to heat and cool and quite along to being more resistant to hail damage.

The aluminum was lighter and cheaper to purchase.

[Homer1]

I am coming back into this conversation to reinforce my opinion earlier. I have owned RV's with both types of siding. A woman backed her car into my aluminum sided class C years ago. Repair was difficult to find some one who could do it. They had to replace a number of laps of siding to get it right, even then the color was way off and visible for as long as I owned the coach. I have damaged two Class "A" RV's with fiberglass siding and I actually repaired them my self, including the paint which I was able to get a terrific match on. On fiberglass it is important to repair it as soon after it happens as possible. If necessary tape over the hole or scrape until you can get to repairing it permanently.

[jfkmk]

Had a glass class c and now have an aluminum TT. Don't see an appreciable difference between the two regarding cleaning. Had some delamination on the class c, though.

[coolbreeze01]

I've had both and glass is easier to clean.

[placergold]

We are not using siding as the primary factor in our buying decision, but it is important to us. This will be my 7th RV, I've had 2 with aluminum siding. That experience, and a week of researching this subject in relationship to new RV's tells me the only advantages to aluminum siding is that its lighter now, and in most cases cheaper than fiberglass. The downsides are the pain it is to clean and detail it, and the higher expense to repair it. That, I was "finally" able to confirm by a RV dealer's paint & body shop manager, who writes their estimates. Also, a couple people told me mfg's don't stock the color selections per model as long as they used to. One of these people said he had to order some aluminum siding while on the road last year and the freight was more than the siding. Since were going to be on the road for a year or more, I think we are going with fiberglass siding, that any good paint and body shop can repair, anywhere, even Mexico and Canada.
Thank you all for your input!!!

[Lynnmor]

placergold wrote:
Thanks for your input Homer. Lynnmor, I understand about just replacing the panels. An issue would be that they are painted, I think, whereas fiberglass siding, from what I've seen, is usually solid white, with decals. If you dented a aluminum panel toward the top of your trailer's side, would they all have to be taken off to replace it, or? Thanks for your reply.

There are some youtube videos on replacing a single piece. Most types and colors of aluminum siding are available, of course some mismatch might happen due to fading.
Both types of construction have their advantages and I would not use siding as the primary factor in choosing a trailer.

[jfkmk]

GordonThree wrote:
Some types of damage to aluminum siding might be repaired with a technique called PDR or paintless dent removal. Not many auto body shops offer the service. It is usually provided by a specialist.

There's videos on uTube showing how it's done - pretty neat IMHO.

I had hail damage on my SUV repaired this way, and the results were amazing. Did it through a body shop where the specialist came once a week.

[GordonThree]

Some types of damage to aluminum siding might be repaired with a technique called PDR or paintless dent removal. Not many auto body shops offer the service. It is usually provided by a specialist.

There's videos on uTube showing how it's done - pretty neat IMHO.

[placergold]

Thanks for your input Homer. Lynnmor, I understand about just replacing the panels. An issue would be that they are painted, I think, whereas fiberglass siding, from what I've seen, is usually solid white, with decals. If you dented a aluminum panel toward the top of your trailer's side, would they all have to be taken off to replace it, or? Thanks for your reply.

[Lynnmor]

Aluminum is easy, just replace damaged panels. If the framework is damaged, that too is easier to fix. Fiberglas takes more skill, and framework damage might require replacement of the entire panel.

[Homer1]

Fiberglass is I think the most easily repaired. Aluminum usually requires replacement of some areas. I have repaired several holes and scratches on fiberglass myself, was not a big problem.