Ultimate Guide To Fiberglass Travel Trailers

Fiberglass travel trailers are a sought-after and niche RV type, and they offer many advantages over traditional travel trailers.

People who buy these fiberglass RVs swear by them, and they are some of the most loyal RV owners.

What Is A Fiberglass Camper?

A fiberglass camper is made out of, well, fiberglass.

The walls, roof, and floor are all formed from a composite material that makes for a high-quality 'hull.' (Glass fibers saturated with either an epoxy or polyester resin.)

This differs from conventional recreational vehicle construction. Most consist of either a wood or aluminum frame with insulation sandwiched between hulls.

They have either sheet metal or thin composite skins. There are separate walls, roofs, and floors, which means many seams (potential leak points).

A molded fiberglass travel trailer's manufacturing process is vastly different from traditional camper trailers.

The fiberglass body comprises only two parts - an upper and a lower half. A single seam connects them. This means:

• The outer 'hull' has many fewer potential points for water to enter
• It is a much more solid structure

Are Fiberglass Travel Trailers Better?

To put it simply, yes! Small fiberglass travel trailers are better constructed than most other trailers.

I'd be hard-pressed to think of a manufacturer that builds a more solid unit than any of the fiberglass travel trailer manufacturers we list below.

Don't get me wrong, some of the best-rated travel trailers use traditional construction processes and have overall fine quality.

But there is nothing like starting with a solid, two-piece shell and building an RV from that to make a solid product that holds up well over time and use.

Resale value is typically very good with fiberglass camping trailers. For example, a used Casita or Scamp travel trailer will be selling surprisingly close to what a new one costs.

Part of this is due to the low build volume and long wait times for a new one, so if someone wants a molded fiberglass trailer RIGHT NOW, they are willing to pay a premium.

Pros And Cons Of Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailers

The best fiberglass trailers have features that make them super appealing. They also have some drawbacks that don't make them the right option for certain people (including those that have larger families).

Fiberglass RV Manufacturers

There are many travel trailer brands out there, but only a handful of them make molded fiberglass campers. Why is this?

Most manufacturers want to crank out the most trailers that they can for the least money, resulting in a lot of junk RVs. You can't do this with fiberglass construction, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

As a result, only a tiny fraction of RV manufacturers make all fiberglass travel trailers. Most of which are lower volume builders, not cranking out the rigs by the dozens.

What Is The Best Fiberglass Travel Trailer?

The beauty of fiberglass travel trailer brands is that quality is typically built-in due to the construction process.

Overall, these RVs are more rugged and have fewer issues than traditionally constructed trailers.

Most of the above-listed brands make our list of top-rated RVs. Unlike all other segments of RVs, it's pretty hard to buy a poorly built small fiberglass travel trailer. You almost can't go wrong!

Questions To Ask Yourself

• Do you need all the bells and whistles - a permanent queen RV mattress size bed, a bathroom, a fancy interior, air conditioning, a pretty design over pure functionality?
• What kind of vehicle are you going to be towing? A truck that can pull any of these fiberglass trailers? Or do you have a car or SUV that has limited towing capability?
• In other words, does size matter to you? Do you need a lightweight fiberglass travel trailer, or is weight not a concern?
• Are you a family of four or more, or just a couple? Are you a solo traveler with less gear and can put up with the lack of space inside?

Smaller VS Larger Fiberglass Trailers

The Scamp and Casita are basic, no-frills small camper trailers and don't have many options. They are available with a wet bathroom, a seating area (sometimes in the form of a small side dinette), and sleeping space (generally not a permanent bed, with camper bunk mattresses being an option in some floor plans), but suffer from limited storage space.

When you move up to an Escape or Bigfoot RV, you are getting into the territory that requires a truck to tow. SUVs and cars will not have the ability to tow most of these campers due to the higher weight and greater overall length.

There will be more features and options, while the materials will be nicer than a Scamp or Casita.

Niceties such as full bathrooms and a dual RV twin mattress setup are available, and the overall quality and design of the living area are a step up from the smaller trailers.

Storage space is more abundant due to the larger size. But again, these benefits come at the cost of more weight and less ability to fit into the smallest of camping spots.

How Long Do Fiberglass Trailers Last?

How long fiberglass trailers last is one of those 'it depends' questions, and it all comes down to what type of life they lead - any RV that is abused, no matter its initial quality, won't lead a long, happy life.

Generally, an all fiberglass travel trailer lasts longer than a travel trailer made with a traditional frame, insulation, and siding. The fiberglass version has a vastly superior exterior and is better put together than most recreational vehicles on the market.