Aluminum or wood frame?

[Camper76]

Look to purchase a new tt. We camp 3 to 4 times a year. We travel anywhere from 1-6 hrs away. We also looking to go cross country in the next few years. Wondering what's better aluminum or wood frame.
Thank you
Happy Camping

[SidecarFlip]

Bumpyroad wrote:
aluminum can't rot. and RV walls are horrible cold sinks regardless of construction. my first Class A had twin beds and when you rolled over at night and touched the wall, BRRRRRR
bumpy

That is not correct either. Aluminum can rot, it's called white rust and in the presence of moisture (from poor seal maintenance) it will rot and eventually fail.

[SidecarFlip]

If you take care of the unit, it don't leak and thats a fact no matter what the frame is made of.

[ScottG]

I've had a few of both and I would never consider wood again - especially with the corrugated aluminum exterior.
They will leak, mold and rot far sooner than the aluminum and fiberglass type.

[Bumpyroad]

aluminum can't rot. and RV walls are horrible cold sinks regardless of construction. my first Class A had twin beds and when you rolled over at night and touched the wall, BRRRRRR
bumpy

[myredracer]

I think it can matter if you plan to do much cold weather camping. If you don't properly address humidity, moisture will migrate to the outer wall skin and condense. Won' affect aluminum much but can lead to wood rotting & mold.

RVs aren't built properly as far as wall and ceiling construction goes because there is no vapor retarder/barrier on the warm side like in houses & buildings. The foam in fiberglass sided TTs is open cell and moisture will migrate straight through it. I don't any fiberglass TTs use closed cell foam due to cost.

One thing I do know about aluminum framing is that welds can fail due to fatigue if you have a weak frame like some ultra-lites and the higher degree of flexing of the frame. Happened to us on a brand new previous TT. Can't post a photo at the moment due to what photobucket has done. Welds are hidden behind wall and ceiling panelling and you can't see them. I happened to being do a mod. and stumbled across the failed weld. Could have been more, I never did find out.

I understand Outdoors RV TTs have aluminum framed walls but roof trussed are wood - likely to avoid issues from towing on rough roads (their TTs have off-road certified HD frames).

[TurnThePage]

Pretty spot on advice. Wood framed trailers also typically use fiberglass bat insulation, whereas the aluminum frame use foam board. In some cases the bat insulation may settle, leaving gaps. My wood framed trailer easily keeps us warm or cool as desired in any weather we've used it.

It really is all about caring for and maintaining your RV. Many people make the mistake of thinking it's new, I can put off maintenance for a while. But many of these units come from the factory with leaks ready and waiting.

[bobndot]

It's really personal choice.
I've owned both and the wood is warmer and does not transfer cold thru the studs. It expands and contracts with the weather, where alum would crack.

What kind of exterior skin do you like ? Vacuum bonded Filon or alum corrugated skin ?

As far as I know , vacuum bonded filon goes with alum frames. You would need more aluminum framework than wood framework to support the filon walls. Therefore, the added weight of extra aluminum and the heavier filon and glue makes the alum framed trailer, heavy. Wood frame can be 16" on center and aluminum corrugated skin which is much lighter than filon can be used.

[SidecarFlip]

You'll pay more for an aluminum frame and it's really no better so long as you maintain the seals on a wood framed one. I've looked at scores of used units and the common denominator with used units whatever the frame is made from is water leaks from lack of seal maintenance.

There is more to RV'ing than pulling it down the road, lots more.

[Ron3rd]

phillyg wrote:
I don't think it matters much. I think it was Teton that built their FWs with wood frames and they were highly recommended. Wood will rot if you get leaks, but everything else will rot around aluminum, too.

X2, so long as you keep it water tight, both are fine. My old 2004 Trailer with wooden frame and aluminum siding is still going strong in the hands of our friends that bought it.

Water is the biggest killer of trailers.

Also, the aluminum frame trainers tend to be more expensive.

[phillyg]

I don't think it matters much. I think it was Teton that built their FWs with wood frames and they were highly recommended. Wood will rot if you get leaks, but everything else will rot around aluminum, too.