Fiberglass or aluminum?

[davehultin]

It's time. We're ready to upgrade to our next travel trailer.

We've had only fiberglass exteriors up to this point, and now are considering a trailer with aluminum siding. Maybe I'm getting hung up on the difference in the appearance, but why would someone choose fiberglass over aluminum or vice versa?

[Vvvv1010]

I automatically assumed fiberglass trailers were more expensive from a retail standpoint, so we mostly looked at aluminum sided trailers. We found the floor plan that worked for us in a Jayco Jay Flight.

As far as wash, wax, and dry, it is probably more work to get between the lines when you wash and wax. I also feel the aluminum can be very easy to dent and ding.

[coolbreeze01]

Fiberglass done correctly is very nice. The problem is, the manufactures have gotten it wrong so often. There is no excuess.........

[tshirtman]

Like de-lam???

[Hannibal]

We went back to stick and tin after our first fiberglass sided 5th wheel started to delaminate.

[NWnative]

We chose aluminum....:)

[rhagfo]

Yes, personal choice.
I will say I would not go to aluminum just because of a floor plan, I would look for that plan in a glass sided unit.
We managed to find it all.
I feel that the glass sided units are tighter, easier to heat and cool, most have solid foam core wall meaning better insulation.

[kennyd63]

davehultin wrote:
It's time. We're ready to upgrade to our next travel trailer.

We've had only fiberglass exteriors up to this point, and now are considering a trailer with aluminum siding. Maybe I'm getting hung up on the difference in the appearance, but why would someone choose fiberglass over aluminum or vice versa?

I prefer the aluminum, but for now I am stuck with the fiberglass. I think it's a lot easier to maintain an aluminum than fiberglass (Oxidation on fiberglass )on the other hand to clean a smooth surface it's a lot easier on ( fiberglass ) Good luck with your search.;)

[Powerdude]

trail-explorer wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
and aluminum will dry rot from a leak.

I've never seen aluminum "dry rot". How can metal "rot"?

Galvanic corrosion.

If you have dissimilar metals, like steel bolts or screws, going through aluminum framing, and you add water from a leak, you get a voltage going across the metals.

Rain is usually acidic these days..

[Durb]

My neighbor has a small toy hauler with an aluminum skin. Some type of reaction of the aluminum and the staples underneath resulted in a bunch of pin holes in the siding. He now has daubs of silicone all over his trailer. Not a happy camper.

The issue above may be due to bad construction practice as this is just a small part of his problems.

[davehultin]

We went to one of our local dealers today to look through the lot. They had lots of units marked down for hail damage. The aluminum trailers looked pretty tough, the fiberglass ones looked great! 'Nuf said, we'll continue the hunt with fiberglass in the lead position.

[rbpru]

While you have read the plusses and minuses of both constructions, most folks buy on floor plan, cost and tow vehicle capacity. The outside wrapping is secondary.

Aluminum is older and evolved out of the old stick and tin construction. It is well established and lends itself to a range of price point constructions.

Fibreglass lends itself to the more sculpted designs currently in vogue, hence it is often considered more modern though it has been around quite a while. Fibreglass also offers a large flat surface for some rather detailed artwork.

[bobndot]

Personal choice for many reasons including those already mentioned and some that were not.
IMO, people buy a floorplan that works and a weight their truck can handle and a length they can park .
I suggest researching the differences of both and researching the differences of wood vs alum framework.

You can have anyone with basic skills and basic tools repair aluminum skin. It gets more involved with Filon and usually takes more time, therefore you need to have a barn or large garage and that can lead you to an RV repair facility ($$$$$).

In the past, there have issues with alum framed units with screws that become loose over time in alum tubes that do not have wood inserts for the screws to bite into. It seems that units that are built so screws have some bite, seem to hold up better. Some mfg.'s corrected it.

[3oaks]

trail-explorer wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
and aluminum will dry rot from a leak.

I've never seen aluminum "dry rot". How can metal "rot"?

The wood framing to which the aluminum siding is secured will dry rot from a water leak and the aluminum itself can oxidize under the right conditions.

But I think you already knew that and were just trying to be a smart whatever.

[westend]

The metal sided trailers are easier to fix, should a leak occur. The fiberglass sided trailers are more convenient to maintain, if you're a polisher. Aluminum siding and fiberglass siding (Filon) are now both being built with aluminum frames. Some mfgs still use a wood frame throughout. A wood frame has less conductive heat/cooling loss than a metal frame (but not by much).