What do you folks think of aluminum sided trailers?

[BeerBrewer]

What is your opinions on wood frame aluminum sided trailers? What are the pros and cons?

My wife and just saw a brand new 2019 Grand Design Transcend 26RLS travel Trailer and we loved the lay out. The trailer is wood framed and aluminum sided. We are seriously considering buying it.

Thanks!

[colliehauler]

suprz wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
Buddy of mine has an older Springdale. He hates it. Always something denting it. Accidentally hit the sidewall with what ever and it will dent.
Pro's. Cost.
Cons, less insulation and usually but not always lower end finishes.

Tell your friend to take off his rear tail lights and see hiw they made the holes for the wiring. We had one come into the shop, and it looked like the guy at the factory used the claw end of a claw hammer to make the holes in the siding. Talk about dead shorts in the wiring! I cut myself twice trying to clean up the jagged aluminum

Unfortunately the hammer is the primary drilling tool for wiring. Get them out the door attitude seems to prevail. Most people never see this until they have a issue.

[suprz]

goducks10 wrote:
Buddy of mine has an older Springdale. He hates it. Always something denting it. Accidentally hit the sidewall with what ever and it will dent.
Pro's. Cost.
Cons, less insulation and usually but not always lower end finishes.

Tell your friend to take off his rear tail lights and see hiw they made the holes for the wiring. We had one come into the shop, and it looked like the guy at the factory used the claw end of a claw hammer to make the holes in the siding. Talk about dead shorts in the wiring! I cut myself twice trying to clean up the jagged aluminum

[K-9_HANDLER]

I have had two aluminum sided TTs and one pop up. One TT was over 30 years old when I sold it and the pop up was 26 years old. We were still camping in them when sold. Got more for the pop up when I sold then what I bought it for and that was after us using it for 7 years. Current Springdale is 13 years old.
I monitor the sealing edges on the roof, windows, doors, etc. I wash the springdale once a season. I have waxed it once in 13 years and have never cleaned the roof. So the maint requirements are reasonable on AL. If its the floorplan u like go for it.

[Atlee]

My Jayco J Flight 23RB is the old school "stick and tin" (wood frame, aluminum frame) type travel trailer. We've had it almost 2 years now. So far it's been fine. My previous trailer was a "light weight" trailer with aluminum frame and Azdel backed fiberglass sides.

The fiberglass trailer was a little easier to wash, IMO, because it's just a little easier to wash a flat surface than a corrugated surface.

I think the fiberglass sided trailer was a little warmer. My current "stick and tin" model is harder to keep at a set temperature. Of course this my partly due to my current trailer being a couple of feet longer and a 1/2 foot wider.

I can't speak to ease or cost of fixing either type of siding since I never had a problem with the old one and haven't with my current one either.

As has been mentioned, the floor plan is what's most important. I sold my prior trailer only because it was too small for the two of us. Our current trailer is just the right size for us.

If we had had the next model up in the now defunct Skyline Koala line of trailers, we'd still have it.

[roadrat2]

We have a 2011 Aluminum trailer that sits exposed year round and still cleans up looking brand new.

One caution though...don't use acetone to clean stains or caulk. It'll take the paint off.

We also Had a class C with fiberglass and had no problems.

If properly maintained, both are fine.

[Guy_Roan]

In the past 30 years I have had 3 trailers all constructed with wood frame and aluminum siding and I have never had a problem with any of them
I wash and wax them once a year, and they take a beautiful shine.
In between waxing, if it gets dirty, I'll wash it.

When I sold my last one, the buyer commented how it looked brand new.

Guy

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, I like my aluminum sided trailer. :B

[colliehauler]

I own both. The aluminum is harder to heat and cool, less sound deadening from outside noise, harder to seal the windows and doors from water intrusion because of the corrugated metal, lighter and easier to tow, cheaper to purchase and more prone to hail damage and dents. Easier to repair damage.

If you take care of it and keep it sealed properly you can get 20 years out of it. Water intrusion and ultra violet sun do the most damage. Storing under a carport will contribute to longevity and keep it looking nice .

[the_e-man]

That’s a nice unit. Aluminum siding is fine. It worked well enough on our first camper that we recently bought a Transcend. Take a look at the Grand Design Imagine as a comparison with similar quality but with fiberglass siding. The Transcend is very similar, mostly the same appliances and features, but at a significantly lower price point.

[Bobbo]

If my Airstream is ever in a hailstorm, I will just name it the GOLFBALL.

[CincyGus]

Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Second opinion

Aluminum PRO's

Cheaper-more trailer per $$$.
Easier and cheaper to repair if you have water issues behind a side wall.
Heavier to tow with wood framing construction vs. aluminum in most laminated trailers.
No Delamination
Don't fade as bad over long haul. Painted surface.

Aluminum CON's

Harder to clean and maintain caulking with all the ridges in the aluminum.
Not as "Clean" a look/attractiveness (Subjective).
Dent's/Hail damage.
Fiberglass insulation in Aluminum trailers not as effective as block foam which is often used in fiberglass trailers for cold weather camping.

I've known a lot of people that have owned both and were happy with their choice.

[downtheroad]

All good advice above.....but, it is a real common floor plan (rear lounge). If you are set on fiber glass siding and aluminum framing, there are lots of choices out there with an identical floor plan.

Good luck with it.

[rbpru]

Floor plan, floor plan, floor plan, what it is wrapped is comes later. If you live in the hot sunny south, you chance delamination and as mentioned, hail is the bane of aluminum.

Aluminum is old school, well established and easy to repair. It will be around for a long time to come. Flat panels are also well established and lend themselves to detailed artwork. They too will be around for a long time.

Living in Indiana, so I have no particular preference between the two.

[jfkmk]

Had one for 6 years and never had a problem with it. I’m not sure what folks mean by they’re harder to clean and wax. I never found that yo be the case.

[RICK-ards_Red]

Have had both types of trailers, no issue with either type. If you like the floor plan and it works for you - go for it. To me a floor plan that works for us and our travel style is more important.