Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulletman
Talked to a factory rep today and the roof on my Bullet is not walkable. They said to use plywood laid across the trusses if I have to get up there and said to make sure to place something soft on the underside of the plywood. I'm not happy. Makes me wonder just how flimsy my investment is.
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The Bullet is listed and advertised as an "ULTRA-LITE" travel trailer. That's even "lighter" (read: thinner materials) than the "light weight" travel trailers. There's a "fine line" between cutting out weight and compromising durability.
Just as a comparison, the Outback 316RL is 35'6" and has a shipping weight of 7560 lbs, the Bullet 310BHS is also 35'6" and has a shipping weight of 5965 lbs. The Bullet is 1600 lbs lighter. You can't reduce that much weight in the same length trailer without making things thinner. The frame rails, size of propane tanks, thickness of floor and roof decking, thickness of carpet and padding, density of cushions and many other materials used in the Bullet are much "lighter" than in the Outback. To reduce the weight, something has to "go by the wayside".
"Back in the days of heavy trailers" it wasn't uncommon to have 5/8" plywood roof decking covered with zinc coated tin. Today's "ultra-lites" are pushing the envelope in the weight category. With the current build standards, 3/8" OSB is the "norm" for "regular weight" trailers and even thinner materials are being used for "light weight" and "ultra-light" models.
It's no wonder, with such thin materials that the manufacturer would suggest not walking on the roof without some kind of "compromise" such as plywood squares to help distribute the weight. Some manufacturers are imposing restrictions of "no walking" on roofs of their models. As things get lighter (and thinner) I'd expect to see even more restrictions from all the manufacturers.
Ever looked at the "frame cut out holes" in some frame rails? It will really make you wonder if the frame can even support the trailer with so much metal "missing".....