Wood vs Aluminum framed travel trailers

Loco-diablo · July 12, 2017

With the RV boom over the last few years (sales have doubled), all brands are suffering from quality issues. They can't build them fast enough to meet demand. Thor industries is the biggest player. They own airstream, Jayco, crossroads, keystone, Dutchman, KZ, just to name a few. Be sure to perform a thorough pre delivery inspection. Buy from a reputable dealer even if it costs a few bucks more. Some manufacturers (only a few) come with 2 year warranty rather than the standard 1 year. Be diligent and patient in your research. Good luck!

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Donstar · July 12, 2017

With the RV boom over the last few years (sales have doubled), all brands are suffering from quality issues. They can't build them fast enough to meet demand. Thor industries is the biggest player. They own airstream, Jayco, crossroads, keystone, Dutchman, KZ, just to name a few. Be sure to perform a thorough pre delivery inspection. Buy from a reputable dealer even if it costs a few bucks more. Some manufacturers (only a few) come with 2 year warranty rather than the standard 1 year. Be diligent and patient in your research. Good luck!

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I have noticed that there seems to be a lot of people buying RV's! I wonder if my perceived convenience of owning a trailer will be dashed by full camp grounds and restricted hours in mall parking lots. A couple of years ago it was a common sight to see several RV's at our local wal-mart early in the morning. Now the mall has signs prohibiting overnight stays and I wonder where people passing through town park at night? We want to travel through Canada and United States but don't want to be limited by hotel reservations. Is the RV market too congested?

sdeeter19555 · July 12, 2017

The boom is because the price of gas is down...you should have seen the rigs that went up for sale (cheap I might add) when diesel was $5/gallon!!

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Loco-diablo · July 12, 2017

I have noticed that there seems to be a lot of people buying RV's! I wonder if my perceived convenience of owning a trailer will be dashed by full camp grounds and restricted hours in mall parking lots. A couple of years ago it was a common sight to see several RV's at our local wal-mart early in the morning. Now the mall has signs prohibiting overnight stays and I wonder where people passing through town park at night? We want to travel through Canada and United States but don't want to be limited by hotel reservations. Is the RV market too congested?

Funny you mention that. Yes! I've read on a couple of different forums that reservations are becoming harder to get. Many folks book up to a year in advance for popular camping destinations such as national parks.

As a seasonal site guy.. I'm thankful I don't have to compete for a campsite.

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2017HD · July 13, 2017

Back to the topic at hand - wood vs alum. I have had 4TTs since 1983 the first was a wood framed 1965 Kit that I bought used in 83. In 86 I traded it for another wood framed Komfort - 12yrs later I traded it for a 99 TrailLite Which was alum cage framed, in 2005 I traded that for an Arctic Fox 22H (wood framed filon skin) I recently traded that off for a 17 ORV Timber Ridge. All three of my wood framed trailers lasted many years with no major issues - my one alum cage framed TT was a pain from day one and sprang several leaks resulting in a very expensive repair that involved rebuilding the entire front wall.

I also believe that it is more about the quality of the construction more than the materials used. We will see how well my new ORV unit holds up. A couple of things that I think will make a difference is the full fiberglass front cap and the covered wagon rear end that makes that joint easier to maintain with little stress on the filon.

The biggest thing I don't like with new RVs is the rubber roof - I loved the sound of rain on a tin roof.

Donstar · July 13, 2017

The biggest thing I don't like with new RVs is the rubber roof - I loved the sound of rain on a tin roof.

I think a one-piece aluminum roof would be ideal!

Donstar · July 13, 2017

A properly designed and maintained trailer should not leak. If they do have a leak I understand the wood framed/aluminum skinned trailers are easier to repair. However, If an aluminum framed/fiberglass structure has a leak I assume repairs would not often need to go beyond the source of the leak. If water gets into the walls of a wood framed trailer, repairs have to be made or mold and odor will follow. A trailer constructed with non-organic material should eventually dry out with the source of the leak repaired. I know that a lot of the construction talk with trailers is marketing. A well built wooden frame is undoubtedly superior in strength and quality to economy brands boasting about aluminum in their side walls. However having a six sided aluminum structure as the foundation for a structure on wheels travelling at highway speeds makes much more sense than a trailer with a frame built from smaller dimensional lumber than you use on a garden shed!

elchilero53 · July 18, 2017

We've had several wood-framed trailers and they were only slightly heavier than the equivalent aluminum-framed one. Aluminum-framed trailers don't flex quite as much as a wood framed one and aren't as easily crushed in a wreck. I've seen a number of aluminum-framed trailers largely intact after a major windstorm or tornado but the wood-framed trailers demolished. The wood inside aluminum is even stronger. Pick one you like and enjoy.

idnative1948 · July 19, 2017

Also, being on TT number three, you may want to add type of usage to the question. Will you ever be towing it on gravel or a bumpy two-track goat trail? When we start pushing senior citizen age it starts to be not so much fun to have to crawl over your spouse or them you during the middle of the night. Therefore a model with walkaround bed if next on our list. Also, depending on whatever part of the country a person resides could/would cause you to consider a three-season TT with upgraded windows and insulation.

As far as we are concerned, the longest we will ever own would be a 21ft and hopefully a three season with one small slider. We would rather camp at a Forest Service campground and some of them have TIGHT turns. Our current 19ft has been to OR, WA coasts, the Grand Canyon, Redwoods and in September a three-week trip to Canada and Glacier. In that we have some *windshield time* would be willing to answer your questions.

Here is a great RV forum that I follow which could aswer most questions as a bunch of folks have been doing it longer than us and some are full-timers. http://www.irv2.com/forums/

Loco-diablo · July 20, 2017

Here's a pic of my Jayco 38FDDS. Aluminum over wood. We love it.

Disclaimer: it doesn't move from my seasonal site. So I can't comment on road wear.

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CKNSLS · July 20, 2017

Funny you mention that. Yes! I've read on a couple of different forums that reservations are becoming harder to get. Many folks book up to a year in advance for popular camping destinations such as national parks.

As a seasonal site guy.. I'm thankful I don't have to compete for a campsite.

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This has been going on for several years and is nothing new. National Park attendance is booming generally-so it stands to reason the limited number of camping spots are hard to get.

Loco-diablo · July 21, 2017

This has been going on for several years and is nothing new. National Park attendance is booming generally-so it stands to reason the limited number of camping spots are hard to get.

Not just national parks either. RV parks in general are busier than ever. Many now requiring a minimum number of nights and reservations months and months in advance.

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Donstar · July 24, 2017

Here's a pic of my Jayco 38FDDS. Aluminum over wood. We love it.

Disclaimer: it doesn't move from my seasonal site. So I can't comment on road wear.

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That is very large trailer! It must take a very special truck to pull!

Loco-diablo · July 24, 2017

That is very large trailer! It must take a very special truck to pull!

Actually, the dealer delivered it to cape cod from the dealership 130 miles away with a 2006 gmc 2500 duramax. The truck had 230k on the odometer.

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Donstar · July 24, 2017

Actually, the dealer delivered it to cape cod from the dealership 130 miles away with a 2006 gmc 2500 duramax. The truck had 230k on the odometer.

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Impressive! Nice looking setup by the way! A wood framed structure makes the most sense for this size of trailer. It is not going to see a lot of frequent maneuvering on and off the main roads!