I'm shopping for a camp trailer and the one I'm currently partial to can be ordered with aluminum or fiberglass skin. What is the good, bad, and ugly about these two options?

Thanks!

100 Proof

 

After owning both I would only have glass. The weight is a bit more but it puts an end to most of the dings.

 

Personally I like the fiberglass sides. I just think it looks alot nicer... the aluminum seems like it would be a PITA to keep clean...


Tony

 

There are two types of glass, filon and gel coat. Filon is the cheaper but you can see the fibers in the finish, gel coat is the more expensive but nicer finish I like the gel coat!

KC

 

After two aluminum trailers, we now have the fiberglass Cougar and I won't go back. It's much easier to keep clean and looking good. ;D

 

I like the smooth aluminum they have on the H&R and others but the heat sure can make it look wavvy when its in the sun.
But I have the Cougar with the gel coat which I like so far. 8)

 

Hey RamlovingVet-

First of all, thanks for your service to our country and a big 10-4 on P.E.T.A.

What kind of a weight penalty is there on let's say a 25' trailer with glass?

100 Proof

 

When I was looking for a new trailer I noticed a big price penalty for the fiberglass units. The fifth wheels I was looking at ran about $1000.00 per foot, the fiberglass units were about $10,000 over that.

I've been told, but don't know if it is true, that the aluminum trailers are easier to repair, since you can remove and replace an entire panel. On fiberglass you would need to patch, sand, and paint.

 

[quote author=100 Proof link=board=11;threadid=18896;start=0#msg177370 date=1062011591]
Hey RamlovingVet-

First of all, thanks for your service to our country and a big 10-4 on P.E.T.A.

What kind of a weight penalty is there on let's say a 25' trailer with glass?

100 Proof

[/quote]

On My Trlr its only a few hundered pounds..I would roughly say on a 25 footer 250 give or take

 

Gel coat fibreglass is the easiest to take care of and will not dent easily like the aluminum. Actually, fibreglass is rather easy to repair. A hole in fibreglass can be repaired so that you will not see it without tearing the whole side apart to put in new skin. Can't do that with aluminum. The vacuum bonded walls can be a PITT to repair if the damage is a little larger. The easiest are the framed walls with batt insulation inside.

 

Got my first glass sided about a month ago, I like the looks vs. an aluminum. You will pay a couple of grand more for a smaller 21' range and probably double that for larger trailers. Don't know for sure, I'd think the fiberglass has to be more rigid keeping the seal around windows and doors tighter. One question I have for anyone who would know or have an idea why, why not a fiberglass roof? It would have to be stong as the plywood and rubber. It would have to cut down on the "black streaks" somewhat. Wouldn't have to worry about tearing the rubber. ???

 

I read some were that gel coat adds 31 lbs. per linear foot.

KC

 

The 2002 Itasca motohome I sold had a fiberglass roof. Still got black streaks. It's the dirt that gets on the roof that runs down when the roof gets wet that causes the streaks.

 

Yeah, I thought the rubber "holds" more dust/dirt than the fiberglass surface would. At least it should be easier to scrub.

 

It was fairly easy to wash, if 33 feet of roof means easy. Didn't do it often, don't like high places. Only had it a year, wife needed a bigger snowbird rig. :'(