Rivets

[Cathy P.]

OK, I tried searching but could not get the info on which TTs have rivets. I had read that Parkliner (I love the simplicity) did not have but Scamp did and I wondered if the others like Eggcamper, Casita, Lil' Snoozie (nice setup), Escape, etc. had rivets and whether I cared one way or another. Have had enough RVs to know that any hole is generally one too many. Any info appreciated.

[cpaharley2008]

Scamp, Casita, Airstream all have rivets, Egg Camper, Parkliner do not, Escape/Lil Snoozy does not.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Cathy P.

OK, I tried searching but could not get the info on which TTs have rivets. I had read that Parkliner (I love the simplicity) did not have but Scamp did and I wondered if the others like Eggcamper, Casita, Lil' Snoozie (nice setup), Escape, etc. had rivets and whether I cared one way or another. Have had enough RVs to know that any hole is generally one too many. Any info appreciated.

60+ years of rivets on Airstream, 42years of rivets on Scamp,Many years of rivets on Casita, Boler, LoveBug, Eco, and many others.
The rivet issue is a Red Herring. If you want to stop most leaks, get a trailer with no windows and no vents. I have refitted many trailers with and without rivets and I can tell you that water infiltration from windows does the most damage and glassed in wood on the inside is the most difficult to repair.

[Donna D.]

I would not... not buy a particular brand of trailer because it had rivets any more than I would buy a different brand of trailer because it didn't. It's more about budget, size, weight and layout and every brand is just a bit different.

Rivets are a maintenance issue, but then again so are bearings, windows, vents, door gasket and anode rods for hotwater heaters....

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I would not... not buy a particular brand of trailer because it had rivets any more than I would buy a different brand of trailer because it didn't. It's more about budget, size, weight and layout and every brand is just a bit different.

Rivets are a maintenance issue, but then again so are bearings, windows, vents, door gasket and anode rods for hotwater heaters....

Agreed, but there has been much unfounded rivet hyperbole of late and the issue needs to be clearly and sanely addressed.
Any fiberglass trailer will last 30 years with reasonable care and minimal neglect, which is more than can be said for almost any stickbuilt.

I sold a completely restored 1969 Thorobred 12ft stickbuilt trailer with a Route 66 theme which even included matching luggage, for less than the price of a completely neglected molded fiberglass trailer in need of a complete refit.

[Donna D.]

Here's a recent posting about a leaking rivet...

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post281621

I'm sure everyone knows what I think about Scamp riveting the curtain rod brackets

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Here's a recent posting about a leaking rivet...

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post281621

I'm sure everyone knows what I think about Scamp riveting the curtain rod brackets

Everything put together, sooner or later falls apart... everything.
I have owned 30year old Scamps without a single bad rivet and no evidence of replacement.
I have seen broken water lines, even cracked frames, but they are not common, and I would not suggest building a trailer without either item.
If you are saying that rivet construction is inferior,then the empirical evidence and I will just have to remain respectfully unreconciled to your position.

[Sharon G]

Rivets were a big issues to me based on hearsay. But after I got my Casita, I see what a great way they are to attach things to a single wall fiberglass trailer, and I've completely lost my aversion to them.

But I'm with you, Donna. Scamp's curtain rod holder rivets are a bit over the top!

[bbuehler]

Floyd,
Your summation makes perfect sense to ME.

As a matter of fact, your paragraph about the restored &Themed Route 66 stick built you sold, should be the STANDARD paragraph referred to when a newbie asks about the worth of an old FG trailer or when someone laughingly refers to what the BlueBook price is! Loved it.

[Pam Garlow]

Double-hull Uhaul does not have rivets either. I love that fact, as well as the shiny smooth interior (this is what EggCampers are like also). Everything needs maintenance, for sure, but not having an extra 40 or so rivets to maintain is a nice thing for me.
Disadvantage of Uhaul is that there is no insulation (unlide the single hull that have thin inuslate under the lining inside the trailer. But this is a 'fair weather' camper for me, so has never been an issue.

[Cathy P.]

In many years of RVing, I have only seen 2 Scamps and maybe 1 Casita from the outside. I do like the look without rivets though in the photos I have seen and I'm thinking about how dirt would collect around the rivets and how that would be a big factor for me. Thank you for all of your responses. For me, the whole "rat" fur, which I discussed some time back is really one of the biggest issues, after price of course. I always loved the Airstream but polishing.............Detailing is not my thing!

[honda03842]

I definitely would like the trailer without Caps however our trailer is 21 years old and none of the rivets seems to have failed structurally though most of the caps have failed. As well to this point I have not spotted a leaking rivet though installing new caps insures they won't leak. When we bought it a year ago we replaced all the caps.

I suspect if the previous owner(s) had replaced the caps on a 5 year schedule everything would have been fine. Caps are so inexpensive it's simply foolish not to do it. I do not see any issue with dirt collection around the caps. The problem is not that the caps fail, but rather once the cap fails the underlying cap locking system fails with it.

As to the entire interior surface, it's main issue is that people call it rat fur. Actually I find it attractive and effective. I only wish it were seamless. It's a very effective surface for a single wall trailer.

Loving the Scamp

[john warren]

well, my take is, if they ever do leak, i'll get some gellcoat repair at the local boat store in white and just carefully paint over them with that. its like a white epoxy that should match right up with the fiberglass gell coat.