Why aren't travel trailers made this way ?

[theoldwizard1]

People have complained about the build quality of TT for years. The biggest disaster is a water leak. These typically occur at the roof seam or around a window. Once the water get inside the wall it migrate down to the floor and in a couple of years the floor is rotten and you have a VERY EXPENSIVE repair on your hands !

Now look at the picture of the cargo trailer.



Notice the nice, smooth transition from the roof to the side wall. Sure there is a seam on the vertical surface, but water would run right over that.

How about the horizontal roof top ? How is it seamed to that edge piece ?



That is a continuous 1 piece aluminum extrusion. The joint at the roof (top right) is part of a half lap joint. The roof metal would be formed just the opposite so the 2 would hook together. This is very common joint in HVAC duct work. If pressed together it is a very long lasting LEAK PROOF joint !

Notice the little protrusion on the lower left side ? This "kick out" rain water so it does not run/drip down the side !

WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE TT LIKE THIS !

[down_home]

Because of trickle down. They are almost all built to sell not to buy.
It's almost seems there is a rule not to build better than the next outfit within that price point.
Now that one Investor group has bought most RV outlets look for the cheapest units at the highest prices.
Wal Martization ? most people no longer remember what a real Coca Cola taste like.
Same thing here and everything else.

[noteven]

Painted aluminium is very durable. See "aircraft".

[RGar974417]

I had a 16ft cargo trailer and it was heavy.As has been said, the aluminum skin is very thin. I have also built 3 cargo trailers. The first 2 had aluminum roofs. The second trailer I still have. It started leaking after about 10 years so I covered the metal roof with rubber. The last trailer I built,I didn't cover the roof with aluminum.I used rubber over plywood. No leaks.I believe our current trailer, a Keystone Cougar is well built. At least the outside. Inside I had one cabinet door come off on a long trip and the shelves in the pantry collapsed because of cheap plastic brackets. Easy fixes. Other than that,holding up very well.

[rockhillmanor]

The biggest disaster is a water leak. These typically occur at the roof seam or around a window.

Owner Maintenance.

Checking the seams on the roof and resealing them as needed is imperative owner maintenance.

Those that think this part of "routine" RV maintenance is not needed are the ones with leaking roofs. Not inferior products. Just saying.

[Grit_dog]

I get what you're saying. I have a 13 year old cargo trailer that hasn't spent a day under cover since new and it doesn't leak a drop.
TC about the same age, been in covered storage the majority of the time and it has water damage. Go figure.
No, you can't walk on the roof, but ya could if it was beefed up a little bit.

[ktmrfs]

I have a 14ft pace cargo trailer, dual axle. One, these type of trailers are NOT lightweight. the 14 ft completely empty weighs in at about 4,000lbs. Once I equiped it with reasonable living quarters (stove, fridge, shower, water tanks, AC, furnace, sink, cabinets, insulation etc.) as a toyhauler, it's up near 5000-5500lbs empty.

pretty heavy for a 14ft trailer.

second, that aluminum skin is very very thin compared to corregated siding or fiberglass. It's very very easy to dent, or even rip through.

the roof is NOT a walk on roof. and they are NOT overly leakproof. they usually have at least one corregated seam, and after about 5-10 years, you'll either have a leak at the seam(s) or putting dicor or eternabond on them anyway.

And most of the roofs aren't aluminum, they are galvanized sheet metal. They can have rust issues.

walls are usually 1 inch or less thick, they use square tube for the walls, not necessarily designed for insulation so insulation can be an issue.

they have their place, but having one such trailer and a 35ft travel trailer, each has their own advantages and disadvantages, based on the intended use.

I'd never trade the 14 ft home built toyhauler for another, nor the 35 ft outback either, I love them both, but the cargo trailer design is IMHO not a great start for a travel trailer.

[Earl_E]

Easy. Go buy an Airstream. Are you willing to pay the price for casual weekend or summer use? Most will say no. Is the RV industry really selling obsolescence? I don't think so. They know that most customers don't have the money to buy a Rolls Royce or even a Cadillac RV. Those that have the money have many options to buy a really high quality unit. Most of us have to settle for less. So maybe we should stop blaming the manufacturers when we are the ones that buy the cheap units? If everybody started buying stainless steel Airstreams, that's what all the manufactures would start building. They are only responding to our demands.

[rickeoni]

My adventurer TC from 2006 has an aluminum over plywood roof. My Haulmark cargo trailer has the wrap around aluminum roof, it is only supported by metal crossbeams and cannot support any weight.

Think how easy the rubber membrane is to install vs aluminum,just pull the rubber over some OSB (again cheaper than plywood) and glue it down, cut an X where the roof protrusions are and voila roof finished. Aluminum requires special bonding techniques and opening must be cut with shears, much more $$$$$.

Just another example of the consumer shopping for price over quality. Most RV consumers have no clue about construction & materials, all they notice is the size of the television, how plush the sofa is and the price tag.

[DiskDoctr]

"solar oven" 😉

[free_radical]

fj12ryder wrote:
What does it weigh, and how much does it cost?

Id wager its much lighter then any wooden or fiberglass camper..

sheet of 0.025 gage aluminum 4x8 feet big is about 50$ retail,,.
Thats what old Avion was made of..

No idea what square tubing costs and how much would labour to weld the cage cost,but for the longevity this type of structure has it would be worth it imo..
Also one could use epoxy adhesive to glue all the panels on instead of riveting,making it easier and totaly waterproof..

I have done just that on my wooden camper,using 0.020 gage on roof and now working on the sides..was considering EPDM membrane on the roof but its heavy weight turned me off..
Used about six sheets so far,,so do the math..
Also used about 10 tubes of adhesive at 70$ a pop,,dam expensive but its the only glue that hold aluminum to all or metal..

Aluminum to wood you could use PL urethane construction adhesive and or
Carpet exterior glue,,Ive used that on the largest areas to save few bucks

[Dutch_12078]

The aluminum roof on our 1986 Class C had to be replaced due to pinholes in the metal, said to be from acid rain. Our 1995 Class A had just one roof leak in the rubber roofing for a brief period due to a tree branch penetration, and our current 2001 Class A with a rubber roof has had just one leak so far, and that was seal on a skylight over the bathtub. If you're going to have a leak that drips inside, that's the place to have it... 😉

[valhalla360]

A lot of stock trailers are built this way and larger ones have RV style living quarters. Would make a nice toy hauler.

A few issues though:
- That traile has no windows. Most people don't want to live in a dark box. Those windows are potential leak sources.
- If you look at a typical RV roof, there are many penetrations. These holes can be sealed with aluminum roofing but more of a hassle.

That said your average RV lasts 20+ years. By that point it's looking dated and has little value. There's not much point in building a 50yr roof for a trailer that has aged out at 20yrs.

[DutchmenSport]

Doesn't everyone realize that RV's are no different than any other product being manufactured and sold? Yes, we've had the technology to make a light bulb that will last 100 years. But "they" won't manufacture it, because once someone buys the 100 year light bulb, they will never have to buy another one again, and maybe even their kids won't have to buy one either when they inherit that light bulb. If they are made that well, there is never any resale. Build them so well, no one will ever need another one, means the manufacturer WILL go out of business, socks will fail, and the CEO won't get his Christmas bonus.

They are designed to fail, forcing the consumer to purchase another one in time. That guarantees repeat business for the manufacture. It's not just RV's, it's EVERY single product we purchase!

[DrewE]

Can you walk on an aluminum sheet metal roof? (I'm guessing not typically, but I don't know for sure.) Can a roof with that sort of structure be made that will support an air conditioner or two? (I'm guessing yes, perhaps with the addition of carefully placed trusses or other framework.)

[fj12ryder]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
What does it weigh, and how much does it cost?

It can't weigh much it is aluminum.

The RETAIL cost for 28' per side is $122.

It does require an aluminum sheet metal roof, but NO coating/rubber roof !

I didn't mean the actual cost of the sheet metal, but the cost to install it, the cost to build the support under it, and all those related costs and weights.