Miscellaneous / Off-topic: Fiberglass RV trailers

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Fiberglass RV trailers

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15371
Printed Date: 03 May 2025 at 10:50pm
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Topic: Fiberglass RV trailers

Posted By: gpokluda
Subject: Fiberglass RV trailers
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2022 at 10:27am

This weekend we came really close to purchasing a used Escape 5.0TA. For those unfamiliar, it is a small, fiberglass 20' fifth wheel of similar construction to a Casita or Scamp. These units are made in Canada. We decided to pass as the unit has been in an accident and the repair work had been done in an amateur fashion which made us wonder what else in the repair was done poorly. Plus we would need a 6' bed on the Frontier to pull it and ours was a 5'.

Has anyone had experience with fiberglass trailers in general? Any thoughts positive or negative? Also anyone with experience and opinions with fifth wheels?

The Escape 5.0 had some features we really liked and now the wheels (pun intended) are turning.

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Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023)
2022 Escape 5.0TA
2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB
Kawasaki KLR650

Replies:

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2022 at 9:36am

Most of the fiberglass TTs tend to be a little higher priced compared to the chassis-on-frame variety, but it's not universal. The fiberglass construction becomes an almost unibody kind of structure, so it can have advantages in that regard. Repair is a whole different animal, as you have seen, and needs someone who knows how to deal with the material.

Fifth wheel trailers are great from a towing/maneuvering perspective, but the weight/balance is different. Where a towed TT needs ~~ 12% tongue weight, I believe that the general rule of thumb with a fifth wheel is ~~ 20% pin weight. So it can increase the load on the TV.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2022 at 1:15pm

The major benefit of fiberglas trailers to me is that the body of the trailer won't be damaged by water leaks. If you read many of the posts here you'll see water damage is a constant issue, and rpods are far from unique in that.

Thats not to say you can't get water intrusion in a fiberglas trailer. You can, through a window or other opening. That might damage the floor sheathing but it won't come in through seams that open up over time, and it wont destroy the value of the trailer as a whole. If I ever got another TT it would probably be a Casita or other fiberglas design.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold