An important aspect of camper construction is framing the camper, for which welded steel is one of the most common forms with riveting and screwing of steel frames also used. Where a metal, such as steel or aluminum, is used to provide the framing for the skin of the camper the metal should be treated to ensure a longer life. Treatments can include galvanizing. Where a metal frame is constructed and painted black, the life span of the frame is more limited than a treated metal. Within a camper, wood, metal and fiberglass can also be used to frame the interior walls. Wood is often used in all classes of camper.
The walls of the camper are attached to the frame, which makes up the exterior and interior walls of the camper. Walls can be manufactured using a built-up or laminated technique. The laminated technique is used by assembling layers of a wall, roof or floor structure by placing a layer of a panel in position then adding a layer of adhesive followed by another layer of the panel. The lamination technique is completed by placing the laminated panel under high mechanical pressure until the adhesive dries using a vacuum process or pinch rollers to apply pressure. Fiberglass and other materials can be laminated or built up with each component of the wall added separately without any lamination process being used.
The roof of the camper is an important feature that must be able to withstand varying types of weather conditions, including large amounts of sunshine and rain. Roof constructions can be attached to the completed skin of the camper as a fiberglass roof that resembles a fiberglass skin of the rest of the camper exterior; a fiberglass roof can be assembled using a lamination process for added strength. These are more expensive than other forms of roofing materials, the RV Buyers Guide reports. Rubber roof systems can also be attached to the camper along with aluminum roofing systems.
Campers are constructed with insulated exterior walls to ensure the comfort of the occupants in both hot and cold environments. The most common form of insulation used in constructing a camper is spun fiberglass, inserted into the void between the exterior and interior walls. Polystyrene foam is also often added to the construction to add extra insulation value to spun fiberglass insulation.
