jdcml
Active member
We are actively searching for our semi-regular TT for normally 2 but occasionally 4 with older teens. We went to try and look at floor plans and quickly determined what we liked and didn't like in various models. We spent some time with the sales person at the local dealership walking through a few different models we started to narrow down.
One model we liked was a Viking (but I'm seeing some other sites with quality concerns). He said that this model was stick built with insulation in the walls and individual aluminum panels attached on the outside. He listed some benefits of this design being easier to repair if there is an issue as opposed to a laminated wall. If a leak develops it isn't absorbed but can potentially drain between the outer skin, and the wall and a few others that honestly started to get cloudy. I assume that any potential leak would likely get whicked up by the floor which would negate the 'drain between the skin and wall' concept.
He also mentioned another that we were looking at was a laminated wall with the otter shell, some foam insulation, and the inner wall. He promoted how durable they were by literally punching the inside of an exterior wall with no issues. He said a challenge with that wall is that if a leak were to develop and become an issue, or say something damages the wall, the entire wall would need to be replaced at a significant cost.
He mentioned another build type had lauan and while light weight would suck water like a sponge if something where to happen and repairs are difficult because it is also a version that has been laminated together.
Any insight on pros and cons of various wall types? The stick built that can be repaired does sound good, but wondering about the durability when towing and subject to travel conditions. My 'guess' is that we would probably rarely travel more than a couple hundred miles from home base.
Our very first TT was used - and it was sold because it had a leak... we learned that the hard way and it was one that had the luan, foam board, and then the outer skin and we were really limited on being able to repair it at all and finally sold it after we found the extent of the damages .
One model we liked was a Viking (but I'm seeing some other sites with quality concerns). He said that this model was stick built with insulation in the walls and individual aluminum panels attached on the outside. He listed some benefits of this design being easier to repair if there is an issue as opposed to a laminated wall. If a leak develops it isn't absorbed but can potentially drain between the outer skin, and the wall and a few others that honestly started to get cloudy. I assume that any potential leak would likely get whicked up by the floor which would negate the 'drain between the skin and wall' concept.
He also mentioned another that we were looking at was a laminated wall with the otter shell, some foam insulation, and the inner wall. He promoted how durable they were by literally punching the inside of an exterior wall with no issues. He said a challenge with that wall is that if a leak were to develop and become an issue, or say something damages the wall, the entire wall would need to be replaced at a significant cost.
He mentioned another build type had lauan and while light weight would suck water like a sponge if something where to happen and repairs are difficult because it is also a version that has been laminated together.
Any insight on pros and cons of various wall types? The stick built that can be repaired does sound good, but wondering about the durability when towing and subject to travel conditions. My 'guess' is that we would probably rarely travel more than a couple hundred miles from home base.
Our very first TT was used - and it was sold because it had a leak... we learned that the hard way and it was one that had the luan, foam board, and then the outer skin and we were really limited on being able to repair it at all and finally sold it after we found the extent of the damages .