What You Need to Know About RV Frames

So, you’re shopping for an RV and want to make sure you get the best deal. You’re budget-conscious, but you don’t want to buy something that will just fall apart. If this sounds like you, it’s important to know your options for RV frames. After all, your RV’s construction impacts everything from the lifespan of your RV to how well it can handle a leak and even its resale value.

In this article, we help make your decision a little easier by taking a closer look at RV frames, their make up, and how to avoid potential problems. Let’s begin. 

What Is an RV Frame? 

Let’s start with the basics. The frame of an RV is the interior structure of your home on wheels. In other words, it’s your RV’s skeleton. It’s one of the first pieces of your RV the manufacturer put together to provide the groundwork for your walls, windows, and doors. The durability of your RV is directly related to the strength of its frame.

Weak frames can flex excessively and cause all kinds of other structural and component problems. Of course the bigger and heavier the RV the stronger of a frame is needed.

What Is the Frame of an RV Made Of?

RV frames are usually steel for the chassis and aluminum or wood for the house structure, and each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Some manufacturers build RV’s like boats and use fiberglass for the structure of the RV.

Many refer to RVs with wooden frames as “sticks and tin” campers. They consist of a wooden frame, plywood walls, standard fiberglass insulation (similar to what you would use in a house), and an aluminum outer wall. They’re usually affordable and easier to repair, but they also tend to be weaker and more vulnerable to water damage. 

In contrast, RVs with metal frames typically have aluminum and/or steel tubing for their structure (although aluminum is becoming more common). The walls consist of laminated fiberglass, styrofoam board insulation, and thin plywood—all laminated together. This type of RV is generally a little more expensive and but can suffer from delamination if water seeps in, but they are also very durable, lightweight, and less likely to dent. 

➡ No RVer wants to find delamination on their camper, but unfortunately, it happens. If you suspect a water leak, learn How to Stop and Fix Delamination on Your RV before it gets worse.

We should also point out the RV frame is different from the chassis. The chassis is the platform your RV is on, and in motorhomes, it typically includes the engine and transmission. The chassis is usually carbon steel or aluminum alloy and isn’t usually a part of the actual RV’s house frame. 

Custom Frames vs. RV Supplier Frames

Even if two RVs use the same materials for their frame, it doesn’t mean they’re the same. Some camper manufacturers make custom frames designed specifically for the RV’s intended use. For example, a manufacturer that makes heavy-duty, off-grid travel trailers may choose to make their own frames to ensure they’re up to the task. 

Most trailer and motorhome manufacturers produce their own frames so they can customize layouts but some use frames from other suppliers. These frames are usually mass-produced and are a “one-size-fits-all” approach. With these you’ll receive the benefits of tried and true building methods. 

These are usually van conversion builds and high-end motorhome bus conversions.

How Are Camper Frames Held Together?

What keeps these frames from falling apart? That depends on the type of frame you have. Wooden frames are usually held together with screws, staples, or both, while metal frames are welded, huck bolted, riveted or screwed and glued together.

At first glance, you may think that one type of frame is obviously better than another, but this depends entirely on the quality of the building process. Let’s look at the potential problems you should look out for. 

Benifits and Drawbacks of Different Frame Types

Lets take a look at the different types of frames and a few of their major benefits or problems.

Wood

Wood is a fantastic building material but it has its drawbacks. In a camper frame wood is minimally thermally conductive and tends to help insulate a camper better than with steel frames. Its a cheap building material and can be very strong when properly constructed.

Wood however has its limits and is not as strong as other frame types. In an accident wooden trailers tend to disintegrate. Wood is also susceptible to rot and insect or rodent damage. Water damage can not only rot the wood but rust screws and cause it to come apart. Wooden frames can be good but its critical to keep water out.

Aluminum

Aluminum is very strong for its weight capabilities and tends to hold up well to a leak with minimal to no damage. It can allow for large specialized shape RV’s while keeping weight down significantly.

Aluminum is very heat conductive and can transmit alot of heat into or out of an RV. Its easy to see the aluminum frame on a cool dewy morning because of the heat loss through the walls. Aluminum is also strong until it bends as it tends to crack. Cracking welds on aluminum frames are common. Some manufacturers get around this by using rivets or screwing and gluing aluminum together. (ever noticed this is how airplanes are built)

Steel

Steel is the strongest frame type available. Its almost always huck bolted or welded together and can support lots of weight. Big heavy motorhomes frequently have steel frames.

Steel like aluminum is a good conductor of heat and will lessen the insulation of an RV. Steel also holds up well to water but is subject to corrosion (rust) if left wet. Steel is more tolerant to bending and is less likely to crack than aluminum.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is a less common building material and is usally used on smaller trailers, fifth wheels and truck campers. It can be a fantastic option in between wood and metal, however. Its lighter than steel but stronger than wood and is not as thermally conductive making them better in hot and cold weather. Fiberglass also stands up well to water and is not as likely to be damaged.

Fiberglass needs to be formed into special shapes to produce its strength and can be challenging to work with. This tends to make fiberglass RV’s very expensive. Because of its challenges, there are also more design constraints and you are less likely to see as many layout options or slides.

Potential Problems to Look Out For

It can be hard to know if your RV’s frame has potential problems. After all, it’s behind the walls. Nevertheless, if you’re able to set eyes on a portion of the frame (maybe during some repair work), take a look at the quality of the materials. Do you see any cracks in the wood? Does it seem like only a few staples are holding it up? Do the boards seem warped or hastily put together? These are all signs of a poor-quality wooden frame.

As for metal frames, you’ll want to take a look at the weld quality. Is there any cracking, incomplete fusion, or excessive globules of metal? These are also signs of poor construction, and you’ll most likely see other signs of low-quality materials elsewhere in your camper.

How Do You Know What Frame Your Camper Has?

It’s actually much easier than you think to determine the type of frame. Simply look at the outside. Does it have smooth sides made of fiberglass? If so, your RV likely has a metal frame. Does it have wavey sides made of aluminum? If so, your RV probably has a wooden frame. 

Moreover, if you have an Airstream or molded fiberglass RV (such as a Casita), your RV is in a league of its own. These manufacturers broke the mold to produce higher-quality RVs, and for their specific building processes, we recommend visiting their websites. 

How to Know if an RV Frame Is ‘Good?’

Many factors influence whether or not your RV frame is of good quality. And while most RVers have their preferences when it comes to wood or metal frames, it really depends on the manufacturer.

For example, many people automatically believe that aluminum frames are better. But, if the manufacturer heedlessly assembled your RV with little care and poor welding, a carefully constructed wooden frame will likely outlast it any day. 

Ultimately, you’ll want to ensure that you’re purchasing your RV from a reputable manufacturer with a satisfied customer base. Unfortunately, the price of the RV will usually determine the quality. Was your RV mass-produced and priced to sell quickly? If so, this could be a potential red flag. 

➡ While price often determines quality, you can still find amazing RVs at reasonable prices if you know how to search and negotiate. Check out our top buying tips: How to Buy an Awesome RV Without Breaking the Bank.

Make Sure Your RV’s Frame Is Up to the Task

All RV frames aren’t the same. Depending on the type of RV, they can be wood or metal, and they can either be custom-made or supplier-made. These factors all influence your RV’s quality, price, and resale value.

Regardless of what you choose, it’s important to understand the construction of an RV and the care the manufacturer took to make a good quality rig that’s ready for all of your future adventures. 

Besides the overall construction, make sure you’re aware of the Top 10 Easily Missed Things to Look for When Buying an RV.

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