Thinking of New Aluminum Sided Travel Trailer

[Mike_Up]

I had a 2012 Jayco Jay Flight travel Trailer. It started getting corrosion spots vertically along the front corner of the camper. I fixed everything that was there, but new spots were continuing to pop up in different areas. So I fixed what I seen and hopefully that was the last of it.

I went to a pop up mainly for storage and low cost preventive maintenance along with easy towing and overall yearly tax and insurance costs.

Been doing a lot of research and seeing many stick and tin or aluminum sided campers have this galvanic corrosion issues with Jayco being the worst on their Jay Flights. My coworkers friend had the same issue with his newer Jayco Jay Flight and got rid of it.

I am thinking of ditching my Forest River pop up because their quality is pretty pathetic. I'm on my second camper, 1st was a lemon, and the second has been nothing but a garage queen as well. Every trip something falls apart and this is a brand new 2020.

So I won't be getting any more Jayco or Forest River campers, but looking at Gulf Stream and Grand Design aluminum sided camper, but if this is a wide spread issue of galvanic corrosion, I'll skip campers all together and start renting cabins.

I seen makers should use zinc coated staples or Galvanized staples which is suppose to stop galvanic corrosion. I don't know why Jayco has such bad aluminum panels. First 2008 Jay Flight had to have them all replaced due to paint peeling off. Second 2012 got corrosion spots as I stated. maybe Jayco isn't using galvanized staples and/or their aluminum panels have impurities and alloys causing the corrosion.

BTW, I'm not a rooky. I have had 6 brand new camper including the lemon. 2 Jay Flight Travel Trailers, 3 Forest River Pop ups (all poor quality including lemon. 1st was 15 years apart from the 2019 lemon and the 2020 pop up), and a Starcraft Pop Up.

Thanks for your help

[kellem]

Hmmm with all your knowledge of various manufacturers self destructing on the lot....wondering why an opinion was necessary.

[time2roll]

My entry level Keystone Springdale has the corrugated aluminum sides and wood frame. Have had no issues. Or maybe I just ignore it. No real maintenance in 15 years except to infrequently hose it off.

[dodge_guy]

I had my stick and tin trailer for 13 years. Only a couple of issues that were taken care of easily. Like any RV, you have to stay on top of the roof and inspect all seams and caulk as needed!

BTW, my trailer was a Forest River. My buddy had a Keystone Outback. Same as me not many issues.

Amy RV will have issues. So don't expect zero problems!

[LadyRVer]

I, too, was trying to figure out what your question was.

I have an aluminum sided trailer, 3 sides, front is fiberglass/diamond plate.
Hideout by Keystone. So far, very pleased with it.

[Mike_Up]

I've always been against laminated wall, floor, and roof campers.

I've seen brand new campers delaminating right on the dealers lot, which had been Jayco Jay Feathers and Keystone Outbacks.

I've seen so many laminated wall travel trailers delaminate, I swore I wouldn't buy one and why I had stuck to stick and tin.

Also negatives being that many makers use hollow core aluminum tubing where cabinet can fall off the wall because the screws don't have good anchors. Some have used wood core aluminum tubing to keep that from happening.

Also others have complained that the aluminum tubing in the laminated walls conducts the cold and cause condensation on the inside of the walls in the camper.

With this galvanic corrosion and delamination, seems like all are built as disposable. Not sure if I even want to buy another camper if they will only last around 7 - 8 years without major structural deterioration that costs more to repair than the camper is worth.

[Mike_Up]

IDman wrote:
You said a lot but you never did ASK a question.

Sorry, somehow that line was erased from this paragraph.

"So I won't be getting any more Jayco or Forest River campers, but looking at Gulf Stream and Grand Design aluminum sided camper, but if this is a wide spread issue of galvanic corrosion, I'll skip campers all together and start renting cabins."

Here's the question that should had been there.

So is galvanic corrosion a widespread problem on all makes?

Thanks for pointing that out.

[IDman]

You said a lot but you never did ASK a question.

[jdc1]

Too bad SunnyBrook is no longer around. My 5th wheel is aluminum framed (including roof structure), smooth sided aluminum. The BEST of both worlds. It won't dryrot, and it won't delaminate like all those filon sided trailers out there.

[Vintage465]

Well, at the risk of following suit with the other replies....I say go with a good fiberglass over aluminum frame that has vacuum/laminated walls. I noticed you were pretty specific about wanting to know only about aluminum sided trailers.....I like Outdoors RV Mfg and Northwood products. I think Lance is a good unit too. But I actually think any aluminum framed with laminated fiberglass walls is better than any wood framed and aluminum unit for long term durability. Just my opinion..........

[Mike_Up]

If I wanted a fiberglass wall trailer, I wouldn't had posted this thread.

Unfortunately, all the laminated fiberglass trailers have very poorly laid out bunkhouses, are larger than I want, or are more expensive. Plus I've seen and heard of more laminated fiberglass trailers with delamination problems than corrosion problems on the aluminum sided trailers.

I have found a handful of aluminium sided trailers that are nearly perfect.

So, can anyone answer my question that I asked??

Thanks

[kellem]

Get fiberglass and maintain the roof....4 trailers zero delamination.

[WNYBob]

Check out Lance "no wood" build using Al frame an Azdel fiberglas backer.
Should last a long time, but you get what you pay for.

WNYBob

[nickthehunter]

Just get a fiberglass sided trailer.