Different Siding

[ykcamom]

Am curious on people's thoughts on the different types of siding. It seems some looks like aluminum and others are more flat. What are the pros and cons of each? Thx. (Sorry if it's a stupid question, but am just trying to do as much research as possible before making the purchase!)

[norty1]

For me it is not even a question. Gelcoat fiberglass is all I would consider if available.

[33 RLDS]

It not a question for me either after seeing so many smooth campers being wavy from delamination including our last camper after only one year. We will take the aluminum all day long.

[Nighthawk 96]

Aluminum might not be as pretty, but is easier and cheaper to repair.

[Camping Couple]

We haven't experienced the delamination problem on either our current TT or the previous one we owned. I am on the roof of our TT at least 3 times a year and after every trip we come back from in the summer inspecting the seams. I hope doing this will prevent delamination. Our 2 yr warranty will expire in September 2014, so if we have that problem in the future, I'll see what the cost to repair it is then. Every product has its pros and cons. The aluminum siding dents easily. A friend of ours has a 5yr old Jayco with the aluminum siding. Some accidental dents here and there from bikes etc. With either siding, you still have to inspect and maintain the TT to prevent water intrusion.

Just my thoughts

[norty1]

I'm on my 3rd fiberglass sided rig. No delamination problems noted .

[clutch]

We have some small bubbles on the kitchen slide. I would take aluminum any day. It is also lighter.

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by norty1

For me it is not even a question. Gelcoat fiberglass is all I would consider if available.

I would agree with Norty1, however most fiberglass siding I have seen isn't Gelcoat except maybe the front cap. That said for me personally it's easier to keep aluminum siding looking better longer.

The other comments are valid too. Alum dents easier, but fiberglass has a tendency to de-laminate.

It all comes down to personal preference. Each had its positives and negatives.

EDIT -- I want to be clear, most current smooth wall trailers are in fact gelcoat...I attempted to refer to gelcoat fiberglass like what is used in boat construction. RVs sidewalls are actually a thin coat of fiberglass with a gelcoat bonded to luan plywood. It's the wood that makes de-lamination possible and that wood layer doesn't exist in boat construction. Further it appears to me that many fiberglass/Filon walled RV do not infect have any gelcoat. This is why you will see so many smooth walled trailers that are only a few years old that have lost their shine and look worn.

Jayco touts their vacuum bonded sidewall process, but they don't mention Gelcoat. Therefore specific to Jayco I don't believe they gelcoat side and rear walls, the exception being font caps on the Eagle line.

[Crabman]

The choices in aluminum siding can be somewhat limited, the Eagle, Whitehawk and Jayfeather TT lineups only come in smooth glass siding, and Jayco does not even offer a Fifth wheel in aluminum siding. Many manufactures offer similar lineups, with their higher end units being glass sided. Airstream of course being the exception. If I ever buy another trailer, the floorplan will be more important then the type siding to me.

[krackeer]

I prefer aluminum. Read far to many issues with the smooth on this forum. The cost of repair etc. I admit though, that the smooth looks better.

[CruizinKim]

I prefer the smooth sided because it looks alot nicer, but we have the aluminum because hubby said it was cheaper. Lol! He wrote the check.

[slabat]

I prefer the fiberglass siding, looks nicer and is easier to clean

[usmc616]

When TT shopping we had a specific floorplan we wanted. In the Jayco line we saw the same floorplan in different lines. We really loved the smooth look but found those TT's weighed more and cost more, probably because they were in more expensive lines, so we bought one with aluminum siding. The aluminum requires a little more upkeep to keep clean.

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by krackeer

I prefer aluminum. Read far to many issues with the smooth on this forum. The cost of repair etc. I admit though, that the smooth looks better.

X2

[grayco]

No more fiberglass for me! That's all I have to say about that.

Marty

[norty1]

Originally Posted by grayco

No more fiberglass for me! That's all I have to say about that.

Marty

Your choices will be limited if you ever go to a larger rig.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Crabman

If I ever buy another trailer, the floorplan will be more important then the type siding to me.

x2

I had the same dilemma when we were buying ours earlier this year. So I asked my dad. He runs fleets of commercial trucks with (according to him) the same siding as on smooth-sided RVs. He says he would take RFP (Reinforced Fiberboard Panels) all day long over aluminum. But down in the back of my mind I remembered all those rigs I've seen running down the road with bubbles, and even some with panels flapping in the wind from delamination. Dad says "no big deal, delam's easy to fix". I say "That will never happen with my trailer, and a few dents here and there do not affect functionality".

Ultimately for us, it came down to the floor plan. One siding or the other would not have been a deal-breaker, so we bought the one DW loved.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by clubhouse

snip..... but they don't mention Gelcoat. Therefore specific to Jayco I don't believe they gelcoat side and rear walls, the exception being font caps on the Eagle line.

Actually Jayco does offer full Gel-coat sidewalls in the Eagle Premier TT's, and the Eagle & Pinnacle FW's.

Bob

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Actually Jayco does offer full Gel-coat sidewalls in the Eagle Premier TT's, and the Eagle & Pinnacle FW's.

Bob

Thanks for the clarification.

[grayco]

Originally Posted by norty1

Your choices will be limited if you ever go to a larger rig.

I don't need a bigger one ;-) My wife likes the one we have.

Marty