Aluminum vs Fiberglass

[dsmith3]

First-time RVers trying to decide between aluminum or fiberglass gel-coat exteriors. Concerned about the wear-and-tear on the paint/finish from sun and weather.

QUESTIONS:

1. To keep the finish and paint looking its best what maintenance should be performed on aluminum vs. fiberglass exteriors?

2. What frequency and what products to use?

3. Is it possible to prevent fiberglass gel-coated RVs from getting dull and faded or is it just inevitable with age?

[jaycocreek]

I disagree that delamination isn't a problem anymore.

Me to. Saw three in the last week pull through with delamination problems but the one that really got me was a beautiful 10ft Arctic Fox sitting on a new Dodge 3500..

Not sure I would go that route. Sticks and tin have treated me well over the years and the look has changed big time.

[majorgator]

I disagree that delamination isn't a problem anymore. All it takes is a slight error in the resin mix, or some sort of contaminant on the core material to cause adhesion failure. I read a brochure recently that talked about how the manufacture only uses "skilled craftsman"' but you know it's bunch of guys out there making $12/$14 an hour, cranking those things out as fast as possible. Or what about the young Amish kids building those things up north with what amounts to be ZERO monetary compensation? All I'm saying is that imperfections still exist.

Why can't RV manufacturers give lifetime warranties on their fiberglass composite work? Boat builders do it all the time...

[Mike_Up]

spoon059 wrote:
He gave up on the 28, was looking at 32 footers. 29 is shorter and lighter than the 32 foot long trailers.

28BHBE is 33.5' long while the 29QBS is 34.5' long. So it's longer and heavier.

[spoon059]

He gave up on the 28, was looking at 32 footers. 29 is shorter and lighter than the 32 foot long trailers.

[Mike_Up]

spoon059 wrote:
OP, check out the 29QBS model as well. We were looking really hard at the 28BHBE until we saw the floorplan of the 29QBS. 3 bunks in their own room with their own AC duct and heat register.

Fiberglass is an option as well.

I prefer the aluminum because its easier to repair. My buddy has a 2014 (forget who makes it) that had delamination on the entire front panel. Thankfully he noticed it with a month left in his 1 year warranty and got it fixed. It would have been really expensive to fix out of warranty.

Aluminum walls give you actual stud framing, whereas the fiberglass is a Styrofoam sandwich. I just feel better knowing that my roof is supported by wood framing.

The 29QBS is longer and 400 lbs heavier. Plus with doubles, older couples visiting could use the bottom bunk opposed to only one small single bunk for '1'. While vistors as grandparents or Aunts and Uncles use the bottom double bed, kids could use the sofa or dinette temporarily. If your kids don't like each other, like when I was a kid 🙂 , separate bunks may work out for you when there's more than 2 kids. We had to share double bunks (upper folding and lower sofa pull out) at the rear of a 17' Shasta TT while my parents slept on the dinette made into a bed. 🙂 BTW, stick and tin as well seen here. Got rid of that Shasta a few years ago. Built in early 70s.

[spoon059]

OP, check out the 29QBS model as well. We were looking really hard at the 28BHBE until we saw the floorplan of the 29QBS. 3 bunks in their own room with their own AC duct and heat register.

Fiberglass is an option as well.

I prefer the aluminum because its easier to repair. My buddy has a 2014 (forget who makes it) that had delamination on the entire front panel. Thankfully he noticed it with a month left in his 1 year warranty and got it fixed. It would have been really expensive to fix out of warranty.

Aluminum walls give you actual stud framing, whereas the fiberglass is a Styrofoam sandwich. I just feel better knowing that my roof is supported by wood framing.

[Mike_Up]

gemsworld wrote:
When I was shopping for a new TT a few months ago, it seemed the only corrugated aluminum TTs were lower-price entry-level units.

Nope, Jay Flight is one of the most featured TT lines in the industry. Has a lot of bell and whistle options. Probably your dealer trying to push the more expensive laminated wall builds to put more money in their pockets. Look at a different dealer. Elkhart county and surrouding counties, have a lot of dealers that offer pretty much everything. (Oh, see your in California, Good luck. 🙂 )

As I said, laminated walls are more expensive to look pretty so they aren't going to be used on the cheapest trailers.

[Community Alumni]

When I was shopping for a new TT a few months ago, it seemed the only corrugated aluminum TTs were lower-price entry-level units.

[doxiluvr]

We have aluminum Keystone Sprinter 300 FKBS and it is 8 years old and it looks brand new. It's all in how you take care of it. I see a lot of laminate ones that look really sharp and modern and maybe down the road we might get one. But some people here have said they think aluminum looks "old and tacky" and I just want them to know ours does NOT and for the first six yeait rs was stored outside in northern Wisconsin. My point is, it comes down to what kind of construction you want and how you take care of it! If you don't wash and wax it and do some general upkeep, any trailer is going to turn to crap........aluminum or laminate.

[Mike_Up]

Bumpyroad wrote:
a little hail storm, disaster.
bumpy

Not entirely true, it requires a large hail storm with dangerous winds.

My trailers been through many hail storms without any problem. The previous 19BH was in a terrible hail storm with tornadoes in the area. Only cosmetic damage. It was damaged but was relatively inexpensive to fix since siding is cheap. The labor is the expense. I used the insurance check on the new trailer and traded the old. They had it sold in a week with the cosmetic hail damage!

[Mike_Up]

donn0128 wrote:
Delamination is a thing of the past with most manufacturers.

I see it just as much with the new trailers (even on lot) as with the older, with most manufacturers. 😉

[CampingN_C_]

OK, makes sense now. We did the exact same thing, almost bought the 28BHBE but decided against it and got the 32BHDS, glad we did. The HUGE shower was nice though!
You can actually order the Jay Flights with smooth sides but it's not the exact same process as the Eagles, perhaps someone can chime in with better specifics.
I have no problem with our old tacky aluminum siding trailer, it was what I chose, not what I settled for.

[dsmith3]

CampingN.C. wrote:
Your signature says you have a brand new Jay Flight..looks like you've already decided??

We thought we were all decided on the JayFlight 28BHBE but hadn't closed on it at the time I set up this RV.net account. In the last month we have changed our minds to the Jayco models with separate bunkhouse (three kids -- two teenaged girls!). The decision is between the JayFlight 32BHDS or the Eagle 314 BHDS. Haven't updated signature page!

[hddecker]

The exterior finish is purely personal choice they both have their own benefits. I agree with don0128 that delaminatation is not the problem it used to be.

If your camper is unpainted fiberglass you are going to have to stay on top of it with something to cut the UV damage. A good quality auto wax applied 3-4 times a year will keep your camper looking bright and shiny. If gelcoat is left unprotected you will have a major job to bring it back, you will need something to cut through the oxidation and clean it off, then start over with the waxing.

If you don't mind paying inflated prices for cleaners and waxes you can go to buy the "RV" or "Marine" products. I like my money in my pocket so I always buy that kind of product at my handy auto parts store.

[chevor]

I agree about the hail. I also like to add fiberglass is more fuel efficient.