Finally a salesman educating the general public. If this dude is the owner (or one of) of the dealership then it’s worth a visit. I know there are other newer tech like the totally synthetic bonded honeycomb floors that will never get water damaged, etc but this is a primer.
The amount of value you provide to your viewers is off the charts. If we were closer and in the market I would without a doubt shop your store and none other. I WISH there were other RV stores with your knowledge, expertise and humility. Please keep up the great work.
When we ordered our Cherokee 264RL we had a choice and picked stick and tin due to delaminating concerns and ease of repair. Stored under cover, waxed 1 or 2 times a year, 12k miles in 8 years and looks almost new. An inexpensive trailer that has given us outstanding service.
The black label edition doesn't change to aluminum framing and laminated walls by the way. It's still a stick built trailer. You're changing ONLY the skin.
I've had both over the last 25 years. I'll never consider fiberglass again. Too many issues associated with them. Delamination, spider web cracking at stress points, losing the bond with the aluminum studs creating a wavy surface and yellowing over time, regardless of how much wax or UV Inhibitors you use. My campers are stored inside my shop, so they only see daylight when they're in use, and I've still experienced these problems with fiberglass. Once these problems begin, their value tanks and you you can't give one away because the fix is cost prohibitive unless you want to tackle it yourself, have the knowhow, tools and indoor space to do it. These issues are not as bad with shorter units because they don't flex as bad. But all RVs will still flex to some degree. But like he said, it all comes down to maintenance and inspecting seals. If you don't keep it sealed, it's not going to matter either way on either unit.
I had a gut feeling and you and my sales guy agree, they can still delaminate. You mentioned cracks as well. One thing about aluminum, it lasts forever
@Gary, thanks for the honest feedback. I started with a gut feeling to stick with stick and tin. Then liked the looks and features of some fiberglass, weight, etc. Thankfully I have taken my time, watched a million reviews from Josh, and stumbled across your post that confirmed my suspicions. I have a 1967 Trailblazer, stick and tin. If someone didn’t put a house widow Ac in the back which rotted it, the whole trailer would still be nice. The rest of this trailer is still in great shape. I’m inclined to believe if you kept the stick and tin under a covered area, at a minimum all the aluminum would still be in tact, if kept under cover, no significant leaks, JMHO
@@northlander4370 I fear you have been terribly misinformed. That’s not how azdel is used Azdel is not a fiberglass replacement. It’s a lauan wood panel replacement below the fiberglass Sidewalls with azdel still have a fiberglass exterior. The azdel is swapped out for the wood paneling below the fiberglass or potentially on the inside wall of the rv “Azdel sided” rvs are a common misconception. They don’t have azdel siding
Your vids are so helpful...thank you. We were previously burned with a 'lemon' (Fleetwood Pioneer) that was a leak machine, so now we are 'buy-shy' for getting another. We seem to be priced out of the market for a Rockwood/Flagstaff, so I'll keep watching you stuff to gather information Thank You!!!
Thx for revisiting. I was looking back at some old topics and thought "Man.. those are HUGE topics to cover" and realized how much my presenstations and our channel had progressed since. It's kinda crazy seeing how much we've evolved since the original cut here: ua-cam.com/video/Gt-Sx7ro3VA/v-deo.html
Great video but I missed the part 17:45 that he mentions who makes these hybrid campers the ones that are wood Interior and exterior has that protection of the 3/8 plywood with the shiny laminate covering that helps with towing. What are the names of these brands that do this ?
There are several. Cherokee's "Black Label" series is one of the most common. There are also companies like wildwood, salem, and Jay Flight who offer similar skin swaptions now
Your right! Smooth side repair is not cheap and Delamination is NO cheap thing. I love a smooth side BUT bad divorce, lack of funds, so didn’t check my roof as it sat in storage...and a small leak developed and wasn’t discovered right away on a 2006 Outback and now I need a new roof, side wall repair, possible front wall and maybe even some flooring damage. Was just quoted 10-15,000.00 and I still owe on it! Moral to the story, regularly check for leaks and keep up on maintenance if at all possible, or keep it stored indoors. These videos are very informative and helpful. I’m a case of hindsight is 20/20 I say this as a warning to newer campers consider ongoing maintenance, when you buy new or used, it’s a big part of having an RV. And maybe don’t try to keep your RV in a divorce 😕
Great video. After owning two stick-n-tin, I do think the fiberglass exterior is way easier to clean. Time will tell if we like it more...30+ year old stick-n-tin still look good when cared for!
Every camper dealer needs a Josh. Just found your videos as I'm searching for the best choice in trailers, moving up from full timing in an older motorhome, and quite impressed by the content. Subbed.
TY so much for joining! I have over 7,000 videos on this channel for you. Most are various walk-thru tours showing the ups and downs of each model but I also have hundreds of purely informative vids like this designed to help you "learn how to fish"
We're good with having ordered a Rockwood Mini-Lite 2516S where we did, but had we known about you guys before ordering, we would have stopped in to see you. Great Vids!
I appreciate your honest feedback, which affirmed my suspicions. Thankfully I have an honest sales guy here that admitted even on brand new fiberglass campers of all of them can and on occasion de laminate. You also mentioned cracks, etc. I’m glad my gut told me to still avoid them. The stick and tin has worked for 75 plus years, proven by the fact they’re still around and can and are being restored in large numbers. I can promise that far in the future, the fiberglass ones will be in the landfill.
Super excellent video. Back in the early 90’s Kit Mfg had units with fiberglass over wood frame. RE Azdel, years ago you’d have heard people saying vacuum bonded and brand X adhesive solved delamination. It didn’t. Azdel I believe is an improvement, however, but I agree it didn’t end eventual deterioration of Rv’s. Foam core laminate is also more difficult to modify/retrofit. Hard points to add a ladder or grab rails/mobility assist in a bathroom, for example- generally a simple task on a stick/tin. Of the newer units that get dismantled for recycling and sent to land fill, often the main reason they couldn’t be fixed is delamination. Some don’t seem to show water intrusion, and I suspect years of sun on 110 degree days, winters below zero, high humidity, and flexing down the road takes its toll. That said, I do prefer smooth sides.
Thanks for the videos with RV wisdom. We live in the desert southwest with extreme temps reaching 123 at times. Have seen many laminated RV with what they call delam, large areas with bubbles and aren’t pleasant to look at. We have had 2 stick and tin with no issues and now have a motor home which is all aluminum roof and side walls with the end caps fiberglass.
Very helpful! I was originally all about fiberglass until I started noticing delaminations on units I see on the road. That scares the heck out of me despite its many advantages.
Personal care maintenance and upkeep is truly the most important thing on any RV. And regardless of how the walls are built or what skin they have it’s always those seals said are the lowest common denominator. And every RV with any type of construction shares them
Thanks for referring this video to me. It's one of the best, if not THE best - and well articulated - responses to the traditional vs. laminated RV question that I've seen and you're doing the entire industry a favor sharing it. Thanks for sharing awesome content, being great at it, and by all appearances really enjoying what you do.
I love your channel. So informative and I learn so much by watching it. The part I really like is the straight forward approach about the good and bad on the units that you review. Thanks so much for what you do. It makes a difference!
Thanks, I need the smooth one this time because I’ll be pulling it further and more often then I did when I had kids and a metal and wood camper. Your very helpful.
Great advice and Video i’ve owned many boats and Campers and as a general advice when freinds and family ask me for my Advice on either Purchase i tell them to purchase what they can afford and use the heck out of it to enjoy their large purchase as much as possible because often at some point in their ownership it may be some cost that is prohibitive of repairing the unit for use again things like a roof leak or needing a replacement of one if it’s insured will often have the Insurance Companies just totaling the Unit out and buying the Policy owner out of the Policy One Exception to the rule is Airstream built units that miraculously do hold their Value fairly well
I appreciate all the education I've gained by watching your videos. I'm off to look at my first TT (aka teeny-tiny) and am loaded with questions for them.
I see a lot of delamination in the fiberglass and I understand it is tricky and expensive to fix. As a single woman, I don't think if want to take the chance unless I were to get it new and keep up on the maintenance. This was awesome in being able to see the pluses and minuses of both. Thank you.
Excellent video and person explaining tin vs fiberglass . Very good communicator ! I had no idea about the hybrid construction . Would like to see a Starcraft 145 with laminate . We are leaning that way even more.
Our first camper was a Mallard 27X....waxed it once....that was enough in the 5 years we had it. Weight doesn't seem to affect gas mileage much. We pulled the 7200 lb. Mallard at around 8 mpg. current camper is 10,000 lbs being pulled by a 3/4 ton and the mileage usually runs between 10 and 11 mpg....with a 6.4 hemi engine.
Josh, you're a salesman. What I appreciate you for is that you seem to be reasonably honest. I'll drive 1k miles to buy from you guys (even though ya'll sold out to Bish's) because I would rather buy from someone who will point out flaws as well as what makes a unit worth buying.
Yeah apologies there. When we joined the ranks of Bish‘s RV our website changed and I no longer control our website. We have a lot of things in the works right now so it’s likely not something I’m going to be able to get the team to fulfill for me In the near future anyway
This video, while not very new, is great info without adding in personal bias. Indeed, proper care is absolutely the biggest factor in how long anything lasts and this is especially true with travel trailers. If you're buying new and keep up on proper inspections and maintenance then chances are you'll have a very positive experience and will have a trailer that shows this when you go to sell it. However, if you don't know what you're doing or you don't care about your equipment then it will definitely show when you go to sell it. This was the problem I ran into recently while looking for a used trailer, the laminated fiberglass trailers made it very easy to tell who cared for the trailer and who didn't. Finding a used, laminated trailer with zero delamination was nearly impossible and this was for trailers that were less than 10 years old. I'd been looking for something roughly 2015 or newer and they were either very faded or had one or more areas of delamination due to leaks. They claimed the leak(s) had been fixed, but by that point it's too late. The damage had been done. Now, I'm not saying leaks aren't a problem with stick&tin trailers. Any trailer will leak if not properly sealed/maintained, however if a stick&tin trailer has a leak it's much easier to repair and get back to new condition. I also see folks saying that aluminum lasts forever. While not wrong, that's skipping over the problems that aluminum trailers can have; Fatigue, especially in sub-par welds. Wood-framed trailers aren't without potential problems, but to suggest that aluminum-framed trailers will last forever and cannot develop problems is simply false. All else being equal, I'd take a laminated trailer over a stick&tin trailer if both were new or in like-new condition. I know myself and my maintenance routines would ensure the trailer would stay in very good condition. Used? All bets are off, and in fact it's purely due to the generally-poor/rough care that a lot of "nice" trailers have been subjected to that drove me to buy a used stick&tin trailer this time around, it was well cared for and was the layout we wanted. Previous trailer was laminated and while it never had a leak there was a very minor delam problem over one of the vertical frame pieces that caused a small bubble to form, possibly due to frame flex. Josh nailed it when he said one isn't better than the other, they're just different.
One of your very best Vids ever Josh....Three Thumbs Up LoL!!! For every push there is a pull, for every give there is a take. You explained the benefits and the downs so very well. Thank you Josh for the honesty. Honesty and Haylett's go together like turkey and stuffing! Happy Thanksgiving!
Another way to look at it is. If it's your first camper and have no experience with towing Rv's or towing a trailer in general. Get a stick and tin unit for your first RV. Until you get the experience of getting used to trailer swing out around corners and maneuvering them around in tight spaces. A lot of new inexperienced RVer's may tend to be more accident prone and a stick and tin unit would be more cheaper and easier to fix if something happens, backing into a tree at a camp site, miss judging a corner and the rear of the trailer swings out and smacks something causing damage to the RV's rear blind corner.
Every potential RV buyer should be required to watch this video. Well Done... I have always considered "Molded Fiberglass" bumper pulls to be the best quality units on the market. But, with the Introduction of Azdel and Vacuumed Aluminum Frame side walls, they have probably surpassed that typical "Molded" quality. Now if these manufacturers can just implement dual side Azdel, full aluminum Roof Trusses, and anti-moisture man made subfloor materials like the Marine industry has implemented for years, we finally have a near Bulletproof Formula. Bringing over more of the UK/Australian modern design cues also wouldn't hurt. C'mon U.S. RV industry, your getting close!
Those advances are certainly possible now, but it's a matter of cost vectors. Nicer stuff demands a higher cost & market trends strongly support current build production My hope is as time rolls on more and more advances will work into at least SOME more mainstream brands to give buyers more options
I'll see what I can do. Ironically wood studded roofing is the strongest and most robust out there (which is why the majority of upper end fifth wheels still use it) Regarding cleaning -- I don't think there's any one that wins out there. You still have the same square footage to manage and all the same seals
This discussion reminds me of similar ones in the bicycling community. Folks try to rationalize which frame material is best for them; steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and even titanium. Each has advantages and disadvantages. The biggest thing I hear about aluminum against others is that it is much more rigid. It gives less and absorbs less road chatter and the rider feels that. In RV’s, perhaps that long term vibration of towing might wear other things down further that are attached to an aluminum frame versus wood which absorbs more vibration. I’d like to a video that highlights differences in RV chassis types and materials (steel vs aluminum).
Had a aluminium skin once. Did get some little dents, hair dryer low and slow, dents almost disappeared. With my White hawk I will admit towing is wonderful. Get on the interstate and it is smooth sailing. Just hope I never get any exterior damage.
@@JoshtheRVNerd hey Josh!! I sent an email to yall last night via the website. You answered 2 of biggest concerns at the beginning! How easy/affordable to repair and tow ability. It's a very well done video !!! ( It took a couple days before me and my husband had time to sit down together and watch it due to work and Thanksgiving aftermath haha)
In the mid 80's I worked several years as an RV tech. I got to tour the Pace Arrow Motorhome factory in Pennsylvania. They were fiberglass laminated with aluminum frame and luan on the interior. They had a demonstration set up for us with a sledgehammer to see if anyone could put it thru the lamination. Absolutely nobody could. Yes it dented the fiberglass but that's it. Very strong rigid construction. I think it looks better and is easier to maintain also. Thanks for the video.
Thank You for the breakdown on the two builds! And I saved the link for upkeep guide.😁 I'm the type of person when I buy any electronics or expensive item FIRST thing I want to learn is maintaince. My stuff lives WAY past any warranty. 😁
Great video!!! Repairing floor in my 04 r vision now. They went crazy for lightweight using1/4 plywood with foam and something under then compressed them together. I see today's rvs use5/8 s plywood even on lightweight rvs for flooring. Old Holiday Ramblers didn't use corrugated aluminum. Personally hate rubber roofs 😀
Those old R-Visions had some REALLY awesome qualities, but they were lighter than everyone else for a reason. A lot of people like to say things like "they don't built them like they used to" which is true -- RVs are thicker and heavier now than ever before. But.. along the way there have certainly been some growing pains. I bet that'll be a great rig once you're done touching it up!
@@tbamagic So... I can't say anything officially since nothing is "done" yet but we MIGHT be popping up a lot closer to your doorstep in the future... just gonna leave that here and let it marinate
I was really thinking about how much easier the cleaning would be on a smooth sided camper. But Man I never thought about the surface area of tin! Thanks Josh for all the great info!
Excellent informative video Josh and I learned a lot from it about the construction differences in RV types. Thank you very much. A must watch for really anyone looking to buy a RV these days. bill in Florida
It could be construed that since you are selling RVs with both types of construction, you are being "diplomatic" and don't want to piss off buyers of either kind of RVs. However, I do appreciate how you lay everything out, being honest with the pros and cons. You are absolutely right that everyone has their own priorities, and they should be able to choose armed with the knowledge you are sharing here. The advantages and disadvantages of wood vs metal roof trusses is something that I've never thought about. Love your videos. Please keep up the good work. Wishing you a belated Happy Thanksgiving.
There's always someone that says something to that extent, but when I say things like "This one is Heavier and that one is more expensive" those are clearly *NOT* positive factors and just straight facts. Through the video I certainly share the benefits of each method of construction, but not JUST the benefits. Thx for watching and having an open midn.
These small ones with Lamanated tend To look not so good after year or two I noticed on a lot of brands it like they don't press them right you see water marks an bubbling an color fading so if I went small I would go tin
Josh!, great info, you are wearing a hat as I do to protect my MPB head from the elements. One other little tidbit as I have considerable experience with 8 years fulltiming in a rv and I like to boondock in national forests and BLM land as it's free. If boondocking consider fiberglass as branches and sticks will crease and dent the aluminum...if you own an Airstream it can get real expensive. Fiberglass usually just leaves a scratch which buffs right out.
Really appreciate your Channel! Can you cover the used RV Market a little better...and more recently? Also what is the difference between the aluminum skin RV sun fade resistance versus the fiberglass wall RV?
I actually put out a monthly series touching on the status of things including the used market here ua-cam.com/video/aJON1ZjnKLw/v-deo.html Between the last few episodes you should have some idea of what things are looking like :) For fade resistance I generally give the nod to painted units (whether that's painted aluminum skin or a full body paint on a fiberglass unit)
Josh you were kind of annoying the first video I watched of yours, but you have turned into one of my more favorable personalitys on youtube. I am very grateful for your honest opinion. Thanks again
I know I tend to have a bit of a "mouth" at times and some of my personal views/opinions often slip into the videos, but I'm passionate about my work and I guess that goes with the territory TY for hanging with us a bit. Hope to see your name among the comments section a bit more here in the future :)
I prefer a stick-built aluminum siding for the simple reason it still keeps looking newer than a fiberglass unit after many years, and you never have to worry about delamination which does happen with fiberglass and it is much easier to clean and keep looking newer than fiberglass, you have to be real protective of a fiberglass unit for the reason the sun really fades them out if you're not on top of it. Plus a wood built unit is easier to repair and you can do repairs On it
Lol...we/I got hooked on the Azdale aspect along with one other feature that our first trailer has. Was completely blinded by many other features that turned out to be just as important. Lesson learned.
I’m in the process of setting up a semi permanent dwelling up in Northern California on my moms property. She lives in a deteriorating custom house by my grandmother and grandfather (dream home). It’s still livable and in the woods. It’s packed full of stuff that only a couple who had five daughters and lived to 100 can accumulate. We’re waiting on her sisters to come and chop away at the accumulated crap. I digress. Since my grandparents passed one after the other she is alone and only my cousin and a couple sisters live somewhat close and I’m a disabled vet (non combat) though I can still get around pretty good. My last kid (got four) is just a year away from finishing high school so I plan on making a place I can stay on the property to check on her till I get situated for a long term stay. I though about tiny homes but I want a trailer (have a 1/2 ton ram 2018) or camper of some kind so my mom can somewhat quickly pack her pets and use it as a bug out vehicle as she lives in an area affected by the fires of recent. Your video help me figure out which I’d like to go with and I wish you were close as I got a budget of 30+ grand to play with (I don’t mess with credit) and want something pretty luxurious, not to spacey or gigantic, not hard to manage but with a full shower and oven. It’s going to be off the main house so it will be hooked up year round and I plan on putting it under awning. While I want a full shower I’ll mainly use moms house for that stuff to save on wear. At most it will only ever have to sleep 3 mainly one or two. I’m leaning towards a trailer type something under 24 feet and 1/2 ton towable though even that’s not locked in as it might be at the location years and I plan on getting something else at some point in the 3/4 ton range. Mostly just the wife and I would use it or my mom if she wants to. I really appreciate you laying out all the facts on what’s what as I don’t want to get ripped off or something not suitable to my needs so I’m researching the hell out of it on UA-cam before I head to a lot. My moms care I’m not playing with as I just lost my dad to Covid. A lot of my branch family lost homes in the fires of Northern California last few years. That’s why I don’t just want to go BIG.
I applaud you for the value you place upon family and the dedication you have to yours! If we can assist further down the line, then just let us know :)
The couple I have seen in bad accidents, the laminated popped open like a card house, the wood one was battered but not wide open. Obviously something you never want for either but can happen.
There's only three people that have ever called me Joshie. I questioned the mental stability of all of them. You make number four and based on our banter back and forth I don't think that statement is in danger of becoming invalid any time soon
Catalina and Transcend are my favorite looking travel trailers. I did buy, though, a fiberglass and aluminum camper due to floorplan, length, weight, and features.
@@JoshtheRVNerd Hi Josh, I am stuck betweeen Apex nano 208bhs or Catalina summit 184 ? I really like catalina but not being azdel and not having double axle makes me go for 208bhs. your though ?
@@neelca08 Without an idea of exactly what you're seeking to accomplish I can't offer much in the way of insights. This is where our team of outfitters comes in - to help you make sure you're getting matched up with the RV that best fits your goals
Lance and Nexus uses Azdel on inside and outside walls. Nexus also uses low alloy high strength steel in their framing in their motor homes which would probably be to heavy for a travel trailer. What’s your take on molded fiberglass trailers or airstreams?
I struggle to justify the costs. I've seen those same RVs have the same problems as anything else over the years. Personal ownership really is the key.
Mr. Reams: I'm not denigrating or knocking Airstreams or Avalon trailers but they do have their own unique maintenance issues. First, the aluminum rooof is not weight bearing. Do routine work wrong and you've got dents in the skin that need to be repaied at a speciality airstream certified shop or dealership. Think lots of dollars. Second, aluminum expands and contracts which stresses panel joints and the sealing throughout the trailer. A leak might develop and because of the construction won't become evident at the point of leakage. Again the repair issue is likely going to be costly. Like everything on the interior could be stripped down to chase down the leak. I'm not saying everyone will have these problem or that every airstream trailer is going to have these problems, but it's something you may want to consider when you're evaluating an airstream purchase. My wife and I have decided that the $100K+ cost is simply too much. We've opted for a less expensive, more widely available trailer supported by a broader base of dealerships. After years of travel trailer experience, we've decided to shop the dealership, the service department, the floor plan and manufacture' reputation for quality construction. Just my thoughts and observations, your mileage may vary. Respectfully WS '
Real quick question at the 8:44 mark you showing the cleaning difference. On the "stick and tin", could I use a pressure washer, or would that cause the panels to lift and disconnect?
If any ferrous screws\metal penetrate\make contact with the aluminum frame without the presence of anodes you may have introduced corrosion. I am unaware of any RV manufacturer using anodes. I recently demolished a 1999 motorhome and the aluminum frame was paper-thin, swiss cheese in several places due to corrosion.
I learned a few things from that. Are roof materials up next? Also if it’s icy, or somehow wet please skip it until spring. (I’m just now recovered from my fall a over year ago)
@@JoshtheRVNerd I’m not prone to anxiety, but after my accident I would nearly panic when seeing you walk the roof. (Truth be told I was not being as cautious as I could have been. I took a calculated risk, but must have forgotten a decimal point)
Finally a salesman educating the general public. If this dude is the owner (or one of) of the dealership then it’s worth a visit. I know there are other newer tech like the totally synthetic bonded honeycomb floors that will never get water damaged, etc but this is a primer.
I try! We have a bunch of videos like this
Your channel is actually worth the time investment. Thanks for what you do.
Ty Jo!!
The amount of value you provide to your viewers is off the charts. If we were closer and in the market I would without a doubt shop your store and none other. I WISH there were other RV stores with your knowledge, expertise and humility. Please keep up the great work.
Wow. Thank you Brent. This is always very welcome on a Monday :)
Your knowledge makes it so hard for me to pick out a small full time camper Thera so many out there
There’s likely more than one that would work well for you so it can be tricky to boil down some of the finer points
I know this is an older video, but this was such great info. Thank you for all the time you spend on these videos Josh. They really are a huge help!
My pleasure! Please consider sharing this one in a camping group where you think it might be beneficial
I just wanted to let you know I really do think you do the best camper videos on UA-cam.
Wow.. TY man. I appreciate the vote of confidence!
When we ordered our Cherokee 264RL we had a choice and picked stick and tin due to delaminating concerns and ease of repair. Stored under cover, waxed 1 or 2 times a year, 12k miles in 8 years and looks almost new. An inexpensive trailer that has given us outstanding service.
The black label edition doesn't change to aluminum framing and laminated walls by the way. It's still a stick built trailer. You're changing ONLY the skin.
Okey dokey.
Now you've got my curiosity up. Ours is officially a 2014 model but delivered to us 4/13. Any idea what we actually got back then?
I've had both over the last 25 years. I'll never consider fiberglass again. Too many issues associated with them. Delamination, spider web cracking at stress points, losing the bond with the aluminum studs creating a wavy surface and yellowing over time, regardless of how much wax or UV Inhibitors you use. My campers are stored inside my shop, so they only see daylight when they're in use, and I've still experienced these problems with fiberglass. Once these problems begin, their value tanks and you you can't give one away because the fix is cost prohibitive unless you want to tackle it yourself, have the knowhow, tools and indoor space to do it. These issues are not as bad with shorter units because they don't flex as bad. But all RVs will still flex to some degree. But like he said, it all comes down to maintenance and inspecting seals. If you don't keep it sealed, it's not going to matter either way on either unit.
I had a gut feeling and you and my sales guy agree, they can still delaminate. You mentioned cracks as well. One thing about aluminum, it lasts forever
That doesn't sound good.
@Gary, thanks for the honest feedback. I started with a gut feeling to stick with stick and tin. Then liked the looks and features of some fiberglass, weight, etc. Thankfully I have taken my time, watched a million reviews from Josh, and stumbled across your post that confirmed my suspicions. I have a 1967 Trailblazer, stick and tin. If someone didn’t put a house widow Ac in the back which rotted it, the whole trailer would still be nice. The rest of this trailer is still in great shape. I’m inclined to believe if you kept the stick and tin under a covered area, at a minimum all the aluminum would still be in tact, if kept under cover, no significant leaks, JMHO
they use Azdel now ...not fiberglass ! , Azdel is far superior to fiberglass
@@northlander4370 I fear you have been terribly misinformed. That’s not how azdel is used
Azdel is not a fiberglass replacement. It’s a lauan wood panel replacement below the fiberglass
Sidewalls with azdel still have a fiberglass exterior. The azdel is swapped out for the wood paneling below the fiberglass or potentially on the inside wall of the rv
“Azdel sided” rvs are a common misconception. They don’t have azdel siding
Your vids are so helpful...thank you. We were previously burned with a 'lemon' (Fleetwood Pioneer) that was a leak machine, so now we are 'buy-shy' for getting another. We seem to be priced out of the market for a Rockwood/Flagstaff, so I'll keep watching you stuff to gather information Thank You!!!
Thanks for revisiting this topic on RV construction. This updated version is more in depth and even better and more informative.
Thx for revisiting. I was looking back at some old topics and thought "Man.. those are HUGE topics to cover" and realized how much my presenstations and our channel had progressed since. It's kinda crazy seeing how much we've evolved since the original cut here: ua-cam.com/video/Gt-Sx7ro3VA/v-deo.html
You’re the best Josh. This is an older video but provides great info for me now that I’m researching a new Rv.
My pleasure, Bill! :)
Great video but I missed the part 17:45 that he mentions who makes these hybrid campers the ones that are wood
Interior and exterior has that protection of the 3/8 plywood with the shiny laminate covering that helps with towing.
What are the names of these brands that do this ?
There are several. Cherokee's "Black Label" series is one of the most common. There are also companies like wildwood, salem, and Jay Flight who offer similar skin swaptions now
the RV whisperer... Very helpful videos. Just bought a Jayco slx 264bh.... Your videos are always my go to.
Your right! Smooth side repair is not cheap and Delamination is NO cheap thing. I love a smooth side BUT bad divorce, lack of funds, so didn’t check my roof as it sat in storage...and a small leak developed and wasn’t discovered right away on a 2006 Outback and now I need a new roof, side wall repair, possible front wall and maybe even some flooring damage. Was just quoted 10-15,000.00 and I still owe on it!
Moral to the story, regularly check for leaks and keep up on maintenance if at all possible, or keep it stored indoors. These videos are very informative and helpful. I’m a case of hindsight is 20/20 I say this as a warning to newer campers consider ongoing maintenance, when you buy new or used, it’s a big part of having an RV. And maybe don’t try to keep your RV in a divorce 😕
Ugh.. sorry a lot of that took place
But ty for sharing your experience with everyone
@@JoshtheRVNerd your welcome and thank you 😊
I'd say there is a spiritual aspect to this video. Good job, my friend.
Spiritual? How so?
Great video. After owning two stick-n-tin, I do think the fiberglass exterior is way easier to clean. Time will tell if we like it more...30+ year old stick-n-tin still look good when cared for!
It's DEFINITELY easier to clean
* Less Surface area to begin with
* Less Nooks and Crannies for crud to hide
Every camper dealer needs a Josh. Just found your videos as I'm searching for the best choice in trailers, moving up from full timing in an older motorhome, and quite impressed by the content. Subbed.
TY so much for joining! I have over 7,000 videos on this channel for you. Most are various walk-thru tours showing the ups and downs of each model but I also have hundreds of purely informative vids like this designed to help you "learn how to fish"
We're good with having ordered a Rockwood Mini-Lite 2516S where we did, but had we known about you guys before ordering, we would have stopped in to see you. Great Vids!
Regardless -- hope it treats you well and glad to have you hear among our channel :)
I appreciate your honest feedback, which affirmed my suspicions. Thankfully I have an honest sales guy here that admitted even on brand new fiberglass campers of all of them can and on occasion de laminate. You also mentioned cracks, etc. I’m glad my gut told me to still avoid them. The stick and tin has worked for 75 plus years, proven by the fact they’re still around and can and are being restored in large numbers. I can promise that far in the future, the fiberglass ones will be in the landfill.
I'm no afraid of laminated models but I'm a simple guy with simple needs and a stick and tin camper suits me just fine
Super excellent video. Back in the early 90’s Kit Mfg had units with fiberglass over wood frame. RE Azdel, years ago you’d have heard people saying vacuum bonded and brand X adhesive solved delamination. It didn’t. Azdel I believe is an improvement, however, but I agree it didn’t end eventual deterioration of Rv’s.
Foam core laminate is also more difficult to modify/retrofit. Hard points to add a ladder or grab rails/mobility assist in a bathroom, for example- generally a simple task on a stick/tin.
Of the newer units that get dismantled for recycling and sent to land fill, often the main reason they couldn’t be fixed is delamination. Some don’t seem to show water intrusion, and I suspect years of sun on 110 degree days, winters below zero, high humidity, and flexing down the road takes its toll.
That said, I do prefer smooth sides.
Thank you for the information. All I want to do is stay on top of everything. Appreciate providing the maintenence info for all of us.
Our pleasure :)
Thanks for the videos with RV wisdom. We live in the desert southwest with extreme temps reaching 123 at times. Have seen many laminated RV with what they call delam, large areas with bubbles and aren’t pleasant to look at. We have had 2 stick and tin with no issues and now have a motor home which is all aluminum roof and side walls with the end caps fiberglass.
Our pleasure!
Josh I appreciate your take on RVs and really appreciate the knowledge you share!
Very helpful! I was originally all about fiberglass until I started noticing delaminations on units I see on the road. That scares the heck out of me despite its many advantages.
Personal care maintenance and upkeep is truly the most important thing on any RV. And regardless of how the walls are built or what skin they have it’s always those seals said are the lowest common denominator. And every RV with any type of construction shares them
That’s changed my search criteria considerably - thanks for the info!
My pleasure! Glad it helps!
Thanks for referring this video to me. It's one of the best, if not THE best - and well articulated - responses to the traditional vs. laminated RV question that I've seen and you're doing the entire industry a favor sharing it. Thanks for sharing awesome content, being great at it, and by all appearances really enjoying what you do.
Ty Dave. I try!
I love your channel. So informative and I learn so much by watching it. The part I really like is the straight forward approach about the good and bad on the units that you review. Thanks so much for what you do. It makes a difference!
Thanks, I need the smooth one this time because I’ll be pulling it further and more often then I did when I had kids and a metal and wood camper. Your very helpful.
Our pleasure Cheryl. Thank you :)
Great advice and Video i’ve owned many boats and Campers and as a general advice when freinds and family ask me for my Advice on either Purchase i tell them to purchase what they can afford and use the heck out of it to enjoy their large purchase as much as possible because often at some point in their ownership it may be some cost that is prohibitive of repairing the unit for use again things like a roof leak or needing a replacement of one if it’s insured will often have the Insurance Companies just totaling the Unit out and buying the Policy owner out of the Policy One Exception to the rule is Airstream built units that miraculously do hold their Value fairly well
This is really a great primer on construction methods and benefits of the common types. Very helpful. Thanks.
You are welcome! Feel free to share among any sort of social media camping groups you may enjoy! :)
I appreciate all the education I've gained by watching your videos. I'm off to look at my first TT (aka teeny-tiny) and am loaded with questions for them.
Glad to help
Love your videos. Very informative. Thank you. Wish you guys were here in Ontario, Canada.
Love your viewership. Very appreciated. Wish you guys were here in Southern Michigan LOL :)
I see a lot of delamination in the fiberglass and I understand it is tricky and expensive to fix. As a single woman, I don't think if want to take the chance unless I were to get it new and keep up on the maintenance.
This was awesome in being able to see the pluses and minuses of both. Thank you.
My pleasure, Joyce! Glad it was helpful :)
Excellent video and person explaining tin vs fiberglass . Very good communicator ! I had no idea about the hybrid construction . Would like to see a Starcraft 145 with laminate . We are leaning that way even more.
Glad it was helpful!
Our first camper was a Mallard 27X....waxed it once....that was enough in the 5 years we had it. Weight doesn't seem to affect gas mileage much. We pulled the 7200 lb. Mallard at around 8 mpg. current camper is 10,000 lbs being pulled by a 3/4 ton and the mileage usually runs between 10 and 11 mpg....with a 6.4 hemi engine.
Those classic *true* Mallards were... heck.. ARE STILL such tanks!
Josh, you're a salesman. What I appreciate you for is that you seem to be reasonably honest. I'll drive 1k miles to buy from you guys (even though ya'll sold out to Bish's) because I would rather buy from someone who will point out flaws as well as what makes a unit worth buying.
100% and ask for the famous RV Nerd
We love your videos! If you get those upkeep guides up we would love to see what you have!
Yeah apologies there. When we joined the ranks of Bish‘s RV our website changed and I no longer control our website. We have a lot of things in the works right now so it’s likely not something I’m going to be able to get the team to fulfill for me In the near future anyway
This video, while not very new, is great info without adding in personal bias. Indeed, proper care is absolutely the biggest factor in how long anything lasts and this is especially true with travel trailers. If you're buying new and keep up on proper inspections and maintenance then chances are you'll have a very positive experience and will have a trailer that shows this when you go to sell it. However, if you don't know what you're doing or you don't care about your equipment then it will definitely show when you go to sell it. This was the problem I ran into recently while looking for a used trailer, the laminated fiberglass trailers made it very easy to tell who cared for the trailer and who didn't. Finding a used, laminated trailer with zero delamination was nearly impossible and this was for trailers that were less than 10 years old. I'd been looking for something roughly 2015 or newer and they were either very faded or had one or more areas of delamination due to leaks. They claimed the leak(s) had been fixed, but by that point it's too late. The damage had been done.
Now, I'm not saying leaks aren't a problem with stick&tin trailers. Any trailer will leak if not properly sealed/maintained, however if a stick&tin trailer has a leak it's much easier to repair and get back to new condition.
I also see folks saying that aluminum lasts forever. While not wrong, that's skipping over the problems that aluminum trailers can have; Fatigue, especially in sub-par welds. Wood-framed trailers aren't without potential problems, but to suggest that aluminum-framed trailers will last forever and cannot develop problems is simply false.
All else being equal, I'd take a laminated trailer over a stick&tin trailer if both were new or in like-new condition. I know myself and my maintenance routines would ensure the trailer would stay in very good condition. Used? All bets are off, and in fact it's purely due to the generally-poor/rough care that a lot of "nice" trailers have been subjected to that drove me to buy a used stick&tin trailer this time around, it was well cared for and was the layout we wanted. Previous trailer was laminated and while it never had a leak there was a very minor delam problem over one of the vertical frame pieces that caused a small bubble to form, possibly due to frame flex.
Josh nailed it when he said one isn't better than the other, they're just different.
Ty so much!
Big fan of yours. Have owned both, I’ll stick with a stick and tin. Just wish I had a better way to keep the black streaks under control
Great vid! Checking your maintenance checklists now.
Awesome thank you!
That was a very helpful video. I really liked the explanation of the hybrids.
Glad it was useful for you!
One of your very best Vids ever Josh....Three Thumbs Up LoL!!! For every push there is a pull, for every give there is a take. You explained the benefits and the downs so very well. Thank you Josh for the honesty. Honesty and Haylett's go together like turkey and stuffing! Happy Thanksgiving!
Glad it's three so you click the button, turn it back off, then turn it back on again LOL :)
@@JoshtheRVNerd anything for a cheap thrill....at my age Josh LoL
That's why I'm leaning towards the wolf pups, stick and tin with the look of laminate.
Thank you for spending the time to explain the difference. They aren't built better ... just built differently which about sums it up.
Exactly!
Another way to look at it is. If it's your first camper and have no experience with towing Rv's or towing a trailer in general. Get a stick and tin unit for your first RV. Until you get the experience of getting used to trailer swing out around corners and maneuvering them around in tight spaces. A lot of new inexperienced RVer's may tend to be more accident prone and a stick and tin unit would be more cheaper and easier to fix if something happens, backing into a tree at a camp site, miss judging a corner and the rear of the trailer swings out and smacks something causing damage to the RV's rear blind corner.
Every potential RV buyer should be required to watch this video. Well Done... I have always considered "Molded Fiberglass" bumper pulls to be the best quality units on the market. But, with the Introduction of Azdel and Vacuumed Aluminum Frame side walls, they have probably surpassed that typical "Molded" quality. Now if these manufacturers can just implement dual side Azdel, full aluminum Roof Trusses, and anti-moisture man made subfloor materials like the Marine industry has implemented for years, we finally have a near Bulletproof Formula. Bringing over more of the UK/Australian modern design cues also wouldn't hurt. C'mon U.S. RV industry, your getting close!
Those advances are certainly possible now, but it's a matter of cost vectors. Nicer stuff demands a higher cost & market trends strongly support current build production
My hope is as time rolls on more and more advances will work into at least SOME more mainstream brands to give buyers more options
Everything you put out is fantastic. You've got a great camera personality as well. Look forward to all the future content
Oh thank you for that
Really great information! You have such a talent for making the information easy to understand. Thank you Uncle Josh!
I'm just a simple midwestern boy who speaks in simple terms :)
Can you talk about exterior roof construction. Which type is better for weather (hail), walking on, road vibration, and ease of cleaning.
I'll see what I can do. Ironically wood studded roofing is the strongest and most robust out there (which is why the majority of upper end fifth wheels still use it)
Regarding cleaning -- I don't think there's any one that wins out there. You still have the same square footage to manage and all the same seals
PVC roof material is very easy to keep clean.
Josh, maybe you could describe TPO, EDPM, fiberglass, etc roof differences, longevity, problems, strengths
@@737cfm56b Great idea. My list of things to do continues to grow, but I'll see what I can work up
This discussion reminds me of similar ones in the bicycling community. Folks try to rationalize which frame material is best for them; steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and even titanium. Each has advantages and disadvantages. The biggest thing I hear about aluminum against others is that it is much more rigid. It gives less and absorbs less road chatter and the rider feels that. In RV’s, perhaps that long term vibration of towing might wear other things down further that are attached to an aluminum frame versus wood which absorbs more vibration. I’d like to a video that highlights differences in RV chassis types and materials (steel vs aluminum).
If you notice my body, then you'll likely realize the old High School Huffy is about my extent of biking knowledge lol
I made mind up I going cargo trailer conversion now never have to worry about structure issues
Had a aluminium skin once. Did get some little dents, hair dryer low and slow, dents almost disappeared.
With my White hawk I will admit towing is wonderful. Get on the interstate and it is smooth sailing. Just hope I never get any exterior damage.
Awesome input from someone that's had it both ways!
@@JoshtheRVNerd Kinda PG-13 Josh . Just pulling your chain
@@kenj.8897 ;)
Just re-viewed this video again! Great info, Josh! Thanks.
- Dan
Yay!! I am so glad YOU made this video because I've got questions and your going to probably answer some of them :)
Let me know how we did after watching :)
@@JoshtheRVNerd hey Josh!! I sent an email to yall last night via the website. You answered 2 of biggest concerns at the beginning! How easy/affordable to repair and tow ability. It's a very well done video !!! ( It took a couple days before me and my husband had time to sit down together and watch it due to work and Thanksgiving aftermath haha)
In the mid 80's I worked several years as an RV tech. I got to tour the Pace Arrow Motorhome factory in Pennsylvania. They were fiberglass laminated with aluminum frame and luan on the interior. They had a demonstration set up for us with a sledgehammer to see if anyone could put it thru the lamination. Absolutely nobody could. Yes it dented the fiberglass but that's it. Very strong rigid construction. I think it looks better and is easier to maintain also. Thanks for the video.
Wow! That's crazy -- never heard that before
Great video thank you so much for all the no cost RV training.
Tell my boss it’s no cost next time he pays me lol
Actually don’t do that hahaha
So insightful. Thank you for the video. And the verdict is ..... ???
Happy to provide!
What "style" did you prefer?
No substitute for tender loving care ! 👍
Man that’s so true
Great detailed description. Thanks Josh!
TY! I'll keep brushing off some old footage and seeing what we can drum up
Thank You for the breakdown on the two builds! And I saved the link for upkeep guide.😁 I'm the type of person when I buy any electronics or expensive item FIRST thing I want to learn is maintaince. My stuff lives WAY past any warranty. 😁
Good for you, and thx for the visit :)
Great video!!! Repairing floor in my 04 r vision now. They went crazy for lightweight using1/4 plywood with foam and something under then compressed them together. I see today's rvs use5/8 s plywood even on lightweight rvs for flooring. Old Holiday Ramblers didn't use corrugated aluminum. Personally hate rubber roofs 😀
Those old R-Visions had some REALLY awesome qualities, but they were lighter than everyone else for a reason. A lot of people like to say things like "they don't built them like they used to" which is true -- RVs are thicker and heavier now than ever before.
But.. along the way there have certainly been some growing pains. I bet that'll be a great rig once you're done touching it up!
@@JoshtheRVNerd thanks. Love the layout of the r vision. Now that I've replace a roof with TPO and repair the floor I'll have a great trailer😀
So you didn’t put out a video today so I had to dig deep and watch an old one! Very good video though I think I’ve seen it two or three times now. Lol
I put out at least one every day buddy
Our JaycoJayFlight 24 ft is in the shop. We came through New Mexico with winds, and the siding came off!
That's wild! I hope you were able to stay safe in those winds!
Once again Great inf. Thanks bunches. Learn alot from you Josh
Glad to be of service Vikki!!
Exactly the info I've been seeking!
Glad we were able to provide then! If you haven't, then be sure to sub up to catch more videos like this in the future!
Josh- you really do an awesome job with these videos. I wish your place were in our area.
Where’s that? Never know if we might pop up closer to home some day 😉
Sonoma County, Ca
@@tbamagic So... I can't say anything officially since nothing is "done" yet but we MIGHT be popping up a lot closer to your doorstep in the future... just gonna leave that here and let it marinate
Another great video full of great information.
Thank you!
I was really thinking about how much easier the cleaning would be on a smooth sided camper. But Man I never thought about the surface area of tin! Thanks Josh for all the great info!
My pleasure! #science!! lol
Josh I definitely appreciate, and like your Videos. Keep up the Great work. Many questions I had were answered in this video alone.
Awesome, thank you!
Excellent informative video Josh and I learned a lot from it about the construction differences in RV types. Thank you very much. A must watch for really anyone looking to buy a RV these days. bill in Florida
Hit that share button and spread the word :)
It could be construed that since you are selling RVs with both types of construction, you are being "diplomatic" and don't want to piss off buyers of either kind of RVs. However, I do appreciate how you lay everything out, being honest with the pros and cons. You are absolutely right that everyone has their own priorities, and they should be able to choose armed with the knowledge you are sharing here. The advantages and disadvantages of wood vs metal roof trusses is something that I've never thought about.
Love your videos. Please keep up the good work. Wishing you a belated Happy Thanksgiving.
There's always someone that says something to that extent, but when I say things like "This one is Heavier and that one is more expensive" those are clearly *NOT* positive factors and just straight facts.
Through the video I certainly share the benefits of each method of construction, but not JUST the benefits.
Thx for watching and having an open midn.
These small ones with Lamanated tend
To look not so good after year or two I noticed on a lot of brands it like they don't press them right you see water marks an bubbling an color fading so if I went small I would go tin
Josh!, great info, you are wearing a hat as I do to protect my MPB head from the elements. One other little tidbit as I have considerable experience with 8 years fulltiming in a rv and I like to boondock in national forests and BLM land as it's free. If boondocking consider fiberglass as branches and sticks will crease and dent the aluminum...if you own an Airstream it can get real expensive. Fiberglass usually just leaves a scratch which buffs right out.
You're the 2nd person to offer similar feedback and I thank you both! Keep the comments coming as the videos come out!
Would love for you to do a comparison Vid of a Win. Micro Minnie or Minnie and a Rockwood Mini Lite.
We've taken a little pause on our Winnebago stocking for the time being. Perhaps in the future there.
@@JoshtheRVNerd Hope the new year brings many Wins your and my way! :)
Really appreciate your Channel!
Can you cover the used RV Market a little better...and more recently?
Also what is the difference between the aluminum skin RV sun fade resistance versus the fiberglass wall RV?
I actually put out a monthly series touching on the status of things including the used market here ua-cam.com/video/aJON1ZjnKLw/v-deo.html
Between the last few episodes you should have some idea of what things are looking like :)
For fade resistance I generally give the nod to painted units (whether that's painted aluminum skin or a full body paint on a fiberglass unit)
Appreciate the info so much!! Wish more of the stick and tin models had front windows.
Thank you again !
That IS super rare, isn't it?
A front window with the old school awning cover would be a big selling point to me. The window is protected in travel and shaded from sun.
@@stevegriffin1413 Those things really did a heck of a job didn't they? I think Rockwood was about the last one I can recall to have done it regularly
Josh you were kind of annoying the first video I watched of yours, but you have turned into one of my more favorable personalitys on youtube. I am very grateful for your honest opinion. Thanks again
I know I tend to have a bit of a "mouth" at times and some of my personal views/opinions often slip into the videos, but I'm passionate about my work and I guess that goes with the territory
TY for hanging with us a bit. Hope to see your name among the comments section a bit more here in the future :)
@@JoshtheRVNerd thanks for the opinions that's what makes your videos the best
Best explanation I've heard. Thanks very much.
Ty! We have plenty more videos you may enjoy as wel!
I prefer a stick-built aluminum siding for the simple reason it still keeps looking newer than a fiberglass unit after many years, and you never have to worry about delamination which does happen with fiberglass and it is much easier to clean and keep looking newer than fiberglass, you have to be real protective of a fiberglass unit for the reason the sun really fades them out if you're not on top of it. Plus a wood built unit is easier to repair and you can do repairs On it
👍🏻
The stick tin the joints pick up dust if you park in dusty area and towing the road grim will find it way in nooks and crannies
Lol...we/I got hooked on the Azdale aspect along with one other feature that our first trailer has. Was completely blinded by many other features that turned out to be just as important. Lesson learned.
Man, I get it. There's a lot get to excited about on these things
I’m in the process of setting up a semi permanent dwelling up in Northern California on my moms property. She lives in a deteriorating custom house by my grandmother and grandfather (dream home). It’s still livable and in the woods. It’s packed full of stuff that only a couple who had five daughters and lived to 100 can accumulate. We’re waiting on her sisters to come and chop away at the accumulated crap. I digress.
Since my grandparents passed one after the other she is alone and only my cousin and a couple sisters live somewhat close and I’m a disabled vet (non combat) though I can still get around pretty good. My last kid (got four) is just a year away from finishing high school so I plan on making a place I can stay on the property to check on her till I get situated for a long term stay.
I though about tiny homes but I want a trailer (have a 1/2 ton ram 2018) or camper of some kind so my mom can somewhat quickly pack her pets and use it as a bug out vehicle as she lives in an area affected by the fires of recent.
Your video help me figure out which I’d like to go with and I wish you were close as I got a budget of 30+ grand to play with (I don’t mess with credit) and want something pretty luxurious, not to spacey or gigantic, not hard to manage but with a full shower and oven. It’s going to be off the main house so it will be hooked up year round and I plan on putting it under awning. While I want a full shower I’ll mainly use moms house for that stuff to save on wear. At most it will only ever have to sleep 3 mainly one or two.
I’m leaning towards a trailer type something under 24 feet and 1/2 ton towable though even that’s not locked in as it might be at the location years and I plan on getting something else at some point in the 3/4 ton range. Mostly just the wife and I would use it or my mom if she wants to.
I really appreciate you laying out all the facts on what’s what as I don’t want to get ripped off or something not suitable to my needs so I’m researching the hell out of it on UA-cam before I head to a lot. My moms care I’m not playing with as I just lost my dad to Covid. A lot of my branch family lost homes in the fires of Northern California last few years. That’s why I don’t just want to go BIG.
I applaud you for the value you place upon family and the dedication you have to yours! If we can assist further down the line, then just let us know :)
The couple I have seen in bad accidents, the laminated popped open like a card house, the wood one was battered but not wide open. Obviously something you never want for either but can happen.
Have you seen this one? ua-cam.com/video/pwpMljmFZBk/v-deo.html
Thanks for everything, Joshie!! You're great!!!
There's only three people that have ever called me Joshie. I questioned the mental stability of all of them. You make number four and based on our banter back and forth I don't think that statement is in danger of becoming invalid any time soon
Just love this channel!!
Thx Lori!
Very educational video, I learned a lot! Good job
Awesome! Hope it helps!
You make great videos very informative and unbiased!
During this video 17:20/17:21 ish was my favorite part. :D
lol -- I'm such an idiot :)
@@JoshtheRVNerd In all seriousness thank you and please keep making these great videos!
@@adame924 You got it! :)
Good information as always!
Great discussion. Thanks Josh! 😀
Our pleasure :)
Fantastic review
Catalina and Transcend are my favorite looking travel trailers. I did buy, though, a fiberglass and aluminum camper due to floorplan, length, weight, and features.
Catalina really is putting a good look on a very solid build right now, aren't they?
@@JoshtheRVNerd Hi Josh, I am stuck betweeen Apex nano 208bhs or Catalina summit 184 ? I really like catalina but not being azdel and not having double axle makes me go for 208bhs. your though ?
@@neelca08 Without an idea of exactly what you're seeking to accomplish I can't offer much in the way of insights. This is where our team of outfitters comes in - to help you make sure you're getting matched up with the RV that best fits your goals
Lance and Nexus uses Azdel on inside and outside walls. Nexus also uses low alloy high strength steel in their framing in their motor homes which would probably be to heavy for a travel trailer. What’s your take on molded fiberglass trailers or airstreams?
I struggle to justify the costs. I've seen those same RVs have the same problems as anything else over the years. Personal ownership really is the key.
Mr. Reams: I'm not denigrating or knocking Airstreams or Avalon trailers but they do have their own unique maintenance issues. First, the aluminum rooof is not weight bearing. Do routine work wrong and you've got dents in the skin that need to be repaied at a speciality airstream certified shop or dealership. Think lots of dollars. Second, aluminum expands and contracts which stresses panel joints and the sealing throughout the trailer. A leak might develop and because of the construction won't become evident at the point of leakage. Again the repair issue is likely going to be costly. Like everything on the interior could be stripped down to chase down the leak. I'm not saying everyone will have these problem or that every airstream trailer is going to have these problems, but it's something you may want to consider when you're evaluating an airstream purchase. My wife and I have decided that the $100K+ cost is simply too much. We've opted for a less expensive, more widely available trailer supported by a broader base of dealerships. After years of travel trailer experience, we've decided to shop the dealership, the service department, the floor plan and manufacture' reputation for quality construction. Just my thoughts and observations, your mileage may vary.
Respectfully
WS
'
Real quick question at the 8:44 mark you showing the cleaning difference. On the "stick and tin", could I use a pressure washer, or would that cause the panels to lift and disconnect?
Could you? Yes.
But you need to be careful. I've seen people screw up their own RVs by being careless with power washers
Like the Wilderness for example, the front is smooth and round giving you the benefit aerodynamically of a smooth skin camper.
If any ferrous screws\metal penetrate\make contact with the aluminum frame without the presence of anodes you may have introduced corrosion. I am unaware of any RV manufacturer using anodes. I recently demolished a 1999 motorhome and the aluminum frame was paper-thin, swiss cheese in several places due to corrosion.
I learned a few things from that.
Are roof materials up next?
Also if it’s icy, or somehow wet please skip it until spring.
(I’m just now recovered from my fall a over year ago)
I've had a few requests for roofing. I'll see what I can do. I personally think they're largely interchangeable, but a few key points might not hurt.
Alsoy -- sorry to hear about the tumble. Be safe buddy. I'm likely done on roof walks for a while
@@JoshtheRVNerd I’m not prone to anxiety, but after my accident I would nearly panic when seeing you walk the roof. (Truth be told I was not being as cautious as I could have been. I took a calculated risk, but must have forgotten a decimal point)
@@rabbi7933 With the weather cooling down I'm staying off roofing for a while. You generally can't "See" much up there anyway
Another great comparison video. I just subbed.
Thanks for the sub! Glad to have you here :)
Never judge a camper by its cover...or a book by its...well, something or another. Informative vid! Thanks for sharing :)
Or a nerd by his hairline
*Cough*
@@JoshtheRVNerd LOL!!!
Thanks this was very helpful
Glad it helped
My wife and I are looking to buy travel trailer what would be your opinion on long-term campers. I know they all have issues.