Anyone make an all Aluiminum 5'er (28-30+) to ease up on weight...

Just curious I'm doing my shopping waaaay in advance.

Thanks,

Pepperidge

First, what do you mean "all aluminum".

I would venture to guess most of the 5vrs are aluminum framed.

I beleive that the Airstream trailer is 100% aluminum, but don't think they make a 5vr.

First, what do you mean "all aluminum".

I would venture to guess most of the 5vrs are aluminum framed.


Ditto, but if you mean aluminum framed then Alumascape (Holiday Rambler) and Montana are good 3 season 5ver's in that size range. I looked at them in '01 and they were around 28K for the nice interiors. I went with the Forrest River just because it was such a good deal.
JP

The Cedar Creek 5er's and TT's from Forest River are all-aluminum cage construction. Our Cedar Creek model 31LBHBS 5er is 32'9" long, 12'11" tall at the highest point, 96" wide, has a super-slide plus a bedroom slide and still weighs under 10K dry. Some of their 5er models (smallest ones are about 30 feet total length) weigh in less than that for a pretty well-optioned coach.

Well I dont know if it has to have aluminum skin or not (don't like the corrugated look)
but an Aluminum mainframe and wall supports/cage pretty much... Kinda like a featherlite trailer except a 5'er made for camping ...I plan on keeping my 2500 in service and want to tow a lightweight 5'er when the time comes...

Pep, I agree with you on the rough sides. However, if you happen to dammage the skin, riviots are quick and easy. er.... comparitively
Lookout for steel on Aulminum frames or Vs vrs.....bad things can happen.

Pep, I agree with you on the rough sides. However, if you happen to dammage the skin, riviots are quick and easy. er.... comparitively
Lookout for steel on Aulminum frames or Vs vrs.....bad things can happen.
I'm just now starting the research maybe a year away who knows...

But I know these things depreciate fast and might get a great deal on a hardly used one...

I just trying to find out which ones to look for... I went to Alumascapes website but they have no bunkhouse floor plans... I got two kids a 5yr old boy and a 3yr old girl.

Forgot to mention...........

YOU DO NOT WANT A WOOD FRAMED RV.

Forgot to mention...........

YOU DO NOT WANT A WOOD FRAMED RV.
They make such a beast?

Pepperidge, looks like you have some time to do thorough research on these, the internet is an outstanding resource. RV.net is a good website for obtaining "hands on" intel from the owners. :)

My suggestion is first determine what your requirements are going to be (what you are going to put in the RV and how you plan to use it), then shop for the RV. Pay careful attention to GVWR/GAWR when shopping, especially for featherlites or other lightweight units. You will be very surprised how fast you add the weight to these things. Good luck. JJ :)

Airstream did but stopped in 1997, there are a few used ones around. They stopped because they needed the additional space in the manufacture of their motorhomes. They may start up again in the future.

Check out the Sunnybrook stuff. Very strong chasis and a quality built unit.

Pep, there are quite a few 5ers with aluminum framing and fiberglass sides. Alumascape is one of the few aluminum sided trailers that isn’t corrugated. Sunnybrook has already been mentioned. Also AmeriCamp, Open Road (check w/Eric), some of the Fleetwood line, some Jayco models, and the very interesting and innovative Titanium models from Glendale in Canada. There are many more that I can’t remember at the moment. Aluminum is not necessarily the perfect medium. Though lighter, it must be engineered properly to avoid stress cracking and weld failure, and to ensure that the framing is insulated properly so heat and cold doesn’t enter and escape the coach through the highly conductive frames themselves. By the way, wood is not necessarily a bad material for building trailers. The most highly rated 5er of all, New Horizon, has wood framing, as do the almost as highly regarded Northwood (Nash, Arctic Fox) line. They are heavier, though. The search is half the fun. Jump over to RV.net. The members there are a treasure trove of information. Good luck.

TC

have not experienced an all aluminum 5 er, byt my skyline Aljo is built very well and is a wood frame. it is glued and screwed, versus some manufacturers just stapling. I am in the minority as it also has the corrugated aluminum siding, not fiberglass. looks are subjective but I like the shiny aluminum. have seen a couple fo the fiberglass sides delaminated and also some repairs, not very good but I probably would not let that affect my decision overall. frame quality and layout are higher on my list, good luck

I think you will find most aluminum framed units still use wood crossmembers and studs for attaching things and stabilizing the frames. Though heavier than aluminum there are applications where wood is better than aluminum. :rolleyes:

ski1, I see more older Skyline units out there than any other brand. Though "stick built" they are built to last. :exactly:

I have a Sunnybrook SUV390 toy hauler that dresses out around 16-17k lbs loaded. They use one of the largest chassis in the industry, and though aluminum framed, they aren't lightweights by any standard. I bought Sunnybrook based upon their solid reputation and customer satisfaction and loyalty. That being said I've had issues with it just like my HR, Fleetwood, Jayco and Citation trailers. Later. JJ :)

My vote is for the SunnyBrook I have owned the same one for 8 years and have only had a couple of minor problems that I easily fixed myself. I have the fiber glass skin which does add a few hundred pounds. It is starting to show it's age now, but I am in no hurry to replace it. Cedar Creeks are nice also.

Look at a laminated side wall trailer. Weight should be about the same and the strength is excellent. If you really look the weights are not that different in all of them, but remember the lower weight may not be from aluminium wall frame, laminated sides, it could be a lighter chassis that may or may not hold up.

Wow, I forgot to chek off subscribe when I posted this...

Thanks for all the answers guys...

I'm going to Cumberland Virginia April 1st to pick up my all aluminum car trailer from TNT

I will ask Tony some questions regarding all aluminum 5er's just to see what he has to say in regards to engineering issues to look for.

Forgot to mention...........

YOU DO NOT WANT A WOOD FRAMED RV.
Why is that? Some of the best (and most expensive) 5ers made are wood framed. See Teton, Travel Supreme and so on. Wood is a much better insulator than Al also.

Supertherm........ just sray some on the inside and get ya an R-19 in about 1/16th of an inch.

Pep.........can you post a link to this guys shop?

Pep.........can you post a link to this guys shop?

http://tntaluminumtrailer.com/

Mine will be a 20'inside x 8 1/2'w x 7' h with the 4' V nose extruded floors insulated aluminum lined walls and ceiling, Aircraft glued exterior .050 (rivetless) alum. wheels, AC, LED lighting, 10k GVWR, electric tongue jack and much more...

Pep.........can you post a link to this guys shop?
Have you had a chance to check them out?

a phone call to Tony and you'll see why I trust his opinions on any aluminum trailer. He knows his Sh!t...

Try looking at the Cougar 281 from keystone. Has alum. const. and bunks that are extra wide. (42in) Also fiberglass sides and 30ft long. Dry it is about 8000 and gross about 10500. Very good rig for the $$.

Try looking at the Cougar 281 from keystone. Has alum. const. and bunks that are extra wide. (42in) Also fiberglass sides and 30ft long. Dry it is about 8000 and gross about 10500. Very good rig for the $$.
Thanks...