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Purchasing a travel trailer or RV is a big decision to make. Not only is it a significant financial investment, but there’s a lot of practical factors you need to consider. How big of a trailer do you want? Do you want an aluminum or fiberglass travel trailer? These are questions you need to ask yourself before you make that purchase. To make your decision a little easier we came up with our list of the 8 Best Fiberglass Travel Trailer Brands:
- Scamp Trailers
- Casita Travel Trailers
- Airstream
- Barefoot Campervan
- Oliver Travel Trailers
- Bigfoot RV
- Escape
- NuCamp
If you decide to purchase a fiberglass travel trailer, you are choosing it over a plethora of other options. However, it isn’t an easy decision to make because there are so many other options for you to choose from. In order to make the best decision for you, you need to do the proper research.
This way, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed. If you’ve done your research and you want to purchase a fiberglass travel trailer you should go ahead and do it. However, you shouldn’t make a purchase without doing that research because it’s such a significant financial investment.
What Is A Fiberglass Camper?
Sometimes referred to as an “egg trailer” these cute and compact travel trailers have emerged into quite a cult following. They pack a powerful punch when it comes to their cost, reliability, and easy mobility. Some fiberglass travel trailer owners swear they are more water resistant than other campers.
The shell of the fiberglass campers is made of glass fibers saturated with either an epoxy or polyester resin. This is very different from their RV counterparts, which are made up of mainly wood or aluminum frames.
In addition to the structural difference and advantage of a fiberglass travel trailer, the fact it can be towed behind most SUVs and cars makes the lightweight camper very attractive to potential buyers.
8 Best Fiberglass Camper Trailer Brands
There are many companies out there that sell travel trailers and other RV-related products. Today we’ll be looking at eight of the best travel trailer brands out there. This way, you’ll know where you can purchase your next fiberglass travel trailer.
1. Scamp Trailers
Scamp is the first brand we’ll be looking at and they’re based out of Backus, Minnesota. They specialize in selling products that are manufactured in the U.S.A. Furthermore, they specialize in making small travel trailers that can be pulled by smaller cars. Scamp knows that not everyone has a big pickup truck to pull a large trailer, so making light and small options is necessary for many people.
Not only are their travel trailers light, but they also have a great deal of strength. They shouldn’t have any issues with wildlife, and they should hold up against the elements quite well.
Scamp produces incredibly durable trailers and is one of the industry leaders in that area. There are trailers that were built in 1970 that are still being used today.
You also won’t need to worry about insulation because Scamp fiberglass travel trailers will keep you warm in the winter.
2. Casita Travel Trailers
Casita Travel Trailers is another incredible brand for you to investigate in your search for the best fiberglass travel trailer for you. They have been manufacturing trailers since 1983 and are now one of the most successful travel trailer companies in America.
The company puts an emphasis on family values and really cares about its customers. So, when you want to purchase a new travel trailer, you’ll be able to talk to a real person about your options and your best path forward.
Casita excels at producing lightweight and durable travel trailers. They are an especially great option if you want to purchase a fiberglass travel trailer. Thousands of people every year purchase trailers from Casita, making them an incredibly popular option. So, there’s no need to worry about quality if this is the brand you choose.
3. Airstream Nest
Airstream Nest is another one of the most popular travel trailer manufacturers in America. When you think of a fiberglass travel trailer, you probably think about the iconic silver bullet travel trailers. They have a classic look that has been replicated for years and years.
However, Airstream Nest is giving the iconic look a twist. Their trailers have a sleek profile, making them an incredibly popular option for anyone that appreciates attention to detail. The fiberglass makes it a much more durable option than its aluminum counterparts.
Furthermore, the trailers come with a beautiful interior that will make you feel like you’re at home. They also come with a plethora of windows, so that you can enjoy the beautiful landscape while you’re resting.
As you can see, Airstream Nest is an excellent option for those looking for a fiberglass travel trailer. If they have a trailer that matches your needs, you shouldn’t hesitate to buy it.
4. Barefoot Campervans
The next travel trailer brand we’ll be looking at is Barefoot Campervans. No matter your style, Barefoot Campervans has a trailer for you.
This brand takes pride in producing a trailer that’s unique. They don’t want to produce a trailer that looks the same as the trailers that are sold by every other company. As a result, they’ve produced trailers with a curvy body in a wide array of colors.
However, the unique look doesn’t mean that there’s a loss in quality. Barefoot Campervans trailers are still incredibly durable and lightweight. So, you don’t need to worry about the carrying capacity of your vehicle. It will more than likely be able to pull a trailer from Barefoot Campervans.
Trailers purchased from Barefoot Campervans also come with an interior that you can customize yourself. They have a kitchen, bathroom, and sofas. The Sofas convert into beds as well to save you some space. These features should give you the comforts of home even when you’re away from home.
5. Oliver Travel Trailers
The next brand we’ll be looking at is Oliver. Oliver is a travel trailer manufacturer that started up business in 2007, and since then they’ve gone on to produce some of the best travel trailers in America.
The travel trailers produced by Oliver have a unique double-shelled fiberglass and composite hull. This will make it so that the hull lasts a lifetime.
Furthermore, the design specifications of their travel trailers will ensure that towing is easy and there’s as little maintenance as possible. After all, who wants to spend extra time maintaining your travel trailer when you don’t need to?
As we said, a fiberglass travel trailer from Oliver is designed to last more than a lifetime. As a result, Oliver has called their trailers the Legacy Elite. This means that they should be able to be passed down to the next generation.
Additionally, if you were worried about the interior, have no fear, it’s fully stocked with all the features you need. There’s an air conditioner, furnace, microwave, stove, fridge, and entertainment system. There are also plenty of upgrades that you can add on to customize your fiberglass travel trailer to fit your needs.
6. Bigfoot RV
Bigfoot is Canadian manufacturer that produces high quality travel trailers for consumers. Their travel trailers have a lightweight, two-piece, fiberglass exterior. They also have high density insulation with thermal pane windows so that you don’t need to worry about heat escaping in the winter.
The features for the interior are all up to standard. The trailers come with porcelain toilets, comfy mattresses, shades, and many other features. When you’re sleeping in your trailer, it will feel like you’re at home.
Bigfoot has seven distinct floorplans for you to choose from. With these options, you should be able to find a fiberglass travel trailer that fits your needs close to perfectly.
7. Escape Trailers
Finally, it’s time to look at Escape Trailers. Escape Trailers manufactures travel trailers that are high quality and lightweight. They have a practical design while keeping their looks and staying affordable.
Every trailer from Escape has a 100% molded fiberglass body. The entire shell is constructed from top to bottom, ensuring that you won’t have any issues with water penetration. At the same time, you won’t need to worry about durability or weight.
One of the biggest reasons to consider buying from Escape Trailers is that they put an emphasis on customization. Many manufacturers give you a moderate amount of freedom to customize your trailer. However, with Escape, you can do a lot. So, if you have concerns with the typical layout of a fiberglass travel trailer, you can make adjustments if you purchase from Escape Trailers.
8. NuCamp Sol Trailers
Last but not least, let’s talk about NuCamp Sol trailers. If you like to travel with minimal fuss, but still want the comfort of sleeping in a bed and staying warm, a NuCamp Sol camper could be the perfect solution for you.
NuCamp RV trailers use a blend of polypropylene and fiberglass, creating extremely strong and lightweight walls. Unlike a wood frame, the aluminum cage is designed to support a fiberglass outer structure making it rust, water, and even dent resistant.
Most noteworthy is that NuCamp features the use of a composite type sandwich sidewall. Also, the unique tilt forward design of these travel trailers actually expands the interior living space without adding length to the trailer’s frame. Another perk of bringing more dimension and elegance to the exterior frame with this tilt forward design is the fact that the tilt offers a sleek and fresh perspective to the classic travel trailer design. Lots of new camping couples are wanting a more modern and sleek design that the NuCamp (inTech RV) travel trailers offer.
When it comes to the kitchen and eating area, these campers come with the ultimate view from our panoramic windshield that gives you a front row seat to nature’s beauty.
Lastly, with this camper, you will find it fits into smaller campsites perhaps a little better than the others. Or if you are the adventurous type and like to venture off the beaten path, the Sol travel trailers may be just what you are looking for.
Some of the best features a NuCamp (InTech RV) Sol Trailer offers are:
- 50% lighter than wood for easy towability
- Resistant to water compared to others
- 3 times the insulation of wood which is great for cold nights
- Odorless free which is great when outdoors
- Sound and energy absorbent
- Impact and puncture resistant
What about Cortes Campers?
Cortes Campers is the newest fiberglass RV on the market. They are made in the Cleveland, Ohio, area and seem to be an up and coming addition to the fiberglass RV market.
We will see how they perform over time before we add them to our list of the best fiberglass campers, but in the meantime, you can check them out in our YouTube Video below, where we interview the factory representative from Cortes Campers.
A Brief History of Fiberglass Travel Trailers
According to the history of fiberglass travel trailers on Wikipedia, the fiberglass body construction entered the U.S. scene in 1971 with the introduction of the first U.S. produced mini travel trailer, called the Playpac.
The concept of the Playpac was introduced by a guy named Steve Whysel. The Playpac “Hitch Hut” was intended to be light enough to be towed by a VW Beetle. Seventy-five of these trailers were built in the (eastern) US between 1971-1973 when production ceased. They featured a private bathroom, domed skylight, slept six, and had an “ultra modern design.”
However, a Canadian manufacturer by the name of Boler is accredited for being the first to introduce a trailer made out of this new material, which offered a unique look, more affordability than the aluminum versions, and a light tow weight.
Fiberglass travel trailers continue to be popular amongst campers today, largely for the same reasons why they were introduced by Playpac and Boler.
Are Fiberglass Travel Trailers Better?
When you first look at a travel trailer, you’ll notice that it has siding on the exterior to protect it from the dangers that come from the environment. The siding provides insulation so that the people living in the trailer can stay warm even during the winter months. However, the siding isn’t always the same material. Typically, siding for trailers consists of aluminum or fiberglass. Both materials have their pros and cons.
Aluminum is an incredibly common material for travel trailer siding to be made of, and it’s very effective. One of the biggest benefits of aluminum siding is that it’s very light, notably, it’s lighter than fiberglass. This means that you can pull an aluminum travel trailer with a vehicle that has a lower carrying capacity.
Additionally, aluminum siding is generally less expensive than other options. It also has greater breathability. This means that there will be less condensation and a lower chance of mildew or mold growth inside your trailer. Furthermore, if you’re interested in painting your travel trailer, paint generally holds up better on aluminum than it does on fiberglass.
Conversely, fiberglass is stronger and holds up stronger against harsh elements. For example, if you go out in your trailer in the winter and it starts to hail, fiberglass will hold up better than aluminum.
Additionally, fiberglass provides better insulation than aluminum. So, if you plan on traveling in the winter months, fiberglass will be a better option for you. Unfortunately, fiberglass is more expensive than aluminum. However, it is more durable, so you won’t need to replace it as frequently.
So, is a fiberglass travel trailer better than an aluminum one? It depends on your situation and comes down to personal preference. However, both are excellent options, so you can’t go wrong no matter your choice.
Pros and Cons of Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailers
One of the biggest problems with most RV campers is water damage and leakage. This is where the molded fiberglass travel trailers have a big pro because they are molded and curved walls! Therefore, water does not creep into the corners because the curved structure allows water to run off nicely.
After reading and researching, some major pros and cons owners of molded fiberglass travel trailers are:
PROS
- Less likely to have water leaks or damage
- Small compact size is easy to tow
- Curved walls make for a sleek design
- Easy to maintain and looks newer longer
- Let’s face it, they are really cute
CONS
- The molded structure makes it nearly impossible to customize
- The size is also a con because they are so small
- Wet baths are almost a certain, which again is small compared to their RV aluminum or wood counterpart models
How Long Do Fiberglass Trailers Last?
When you purchase your fiberglass travel trailer, you’ll want to know how long it will last. After all, you don’t want to replace the siding on your trailer only a few months after purchasing it. That could get very expensive very quickly.
Ultimately, the shelf life of your fiberglass travel trailer is very dependant on the amount of maintenance you do. If you aren’t willing to put in the work to maintain your trailer, it won’t last as long.
With that being said, if you put in the time and you spend time maintaining your fiberglass travel trailer, you can expect it to last upwards of 25 years. You might not want to keep the same trailer for that long. Technology and designs will progress, and your trailer may become outdated in that time, but it can stay functional for that long. However, if you don’t take the time to maintain it, it won’t last nearly that long.
How Much Do Fiberglass Campers Cost?
One of the sticking points when it comes to fiberglass travel trailers for many people is the price. Typically, fiberglass travel trailers are more expensive than their aluminum counterparts. As a result, many people need to be convinced to buy the fiberglass options.
The average price of a fiberglass travel trailer will greatly depend on the size of the trailer. Larger trailers will generally be more expensive. However, exceptions can be made depending on the amenities that are included with the trailers.
Typically, a fiberglass travel trailer that’s around 10 feet long will cost a little under $10,000. However, when you bring the size up to nearly 20 feet, the price will rise to somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000.
Furthermore, there are travel trailers that can reach up to 40 feet in length. These trailers will cost somewhere from $35,000 to $40,000 on average.
However, you should note that one of the biggest advantages of a fiberglass camper trailer is resale value. Fiberglass camping trailers retain their value where most conventional travel trailers lose 50% of their value in 3-5 years.
Should I Buy an Extended Warranty for My Camper?
Yes – but not from a dealership! Unfortunately, your odds of suffering a major mechanical breakdown go up with every passing year. Based on RV Warranty claims records, more than 3 out of every 10 RVs will need major repairs in only their second year on the road. This skyrockets to 8 out of 10 in their fifth year, and virtually ALL of them in their eighth year! Today’s RVs are increasingly more complex, and with more things to go wrong, the need to protect your investment is more important than ever.
Our RV Warranty plans allow you to change your mind! If you’re looking to sell your RV to a private party, you can absolutely transfer the policy to the new owner. Additionally, if you are trading in your RV, or getting out of RVing altogether, you can cancel your policy for a pro-rated refund.
We bought a warranty through Wholesale Warranties for several reasons:
- We can cancel the warranty at any time and get a pro-rated refund
- We can transfer the warranty to the new owner if we decide to sell our RV
- There are no mileage caps on our policy
- We can use repair shops all across the country
- We can use a mobile repair company right at our campsite
- The price is way better than most dealerships
- We could finance the cost of the warranty
- With parts and labor prices increasing all the time, we have peace of mind
You owe it to yourself to at least check out a warranty and get a free quote to see if it is right for you. It just takes a few minutes and you will learn a ton about protecting your investment. We only recommend products we use ourselves and we highly recommend you get a free quote from Wholesale Warranties.
Purchase Your First Fiberglass Travel Trailer from One of the Leading Brands
After reading, we hope you have all the information you need to purchase the best fiberglass travel trailer for you. We know there’s a lot of information to absorb and a lot of brands to consider, but you need all that knowledge to make an informed purchase.
You can purchase a fiberglass travel trailer from a lot of places. However, not all manufacturers are the same quality. So, you need to make sure you pick a brand that produces a travel trailer that you’ll be happy with. You can be assured that the travel trailers produced by the eight brands above are of high quality.
Have you purchased a fiberglass travel trailer before? Do you think you’ll purchase from any of the seven brands discussed above? Which of the seven brands do you think is best? Let us know in the comments!
One other pro for molded fiberglass is that if one does manage to damage the fiberglass shell, repairs can be done by a boat repair shop. “Why is that a pro?” you ask… as most readers are aware, having your rig sitting and waiting at an RV dealership can result in very long wait times. Reputable boat repair shops can complete a shell repair with a relatively quick turn-around and at a lower cost.
Thanks, Mike for another great blog post.
I have a 2001 StarCraft fiberglass hybrid weighs 3400lbs sleeps 7 got it 7yrs ago for $1500 cash tows nice and everything works best of all no payments
My favorite is the big foot travel trailer 25 ft. with a dry bath and twin beds.👍
We had a 2007 19 ft Hi-Low which was fiberglass we bought used in 2011. Great trailer. Would love to see them made again. Great for towing.