Steel studs vs wood for small travel trailer

[gunman9560]

Need feedback on using 15/8" steel studs vs wood 2x2's want to use steel not sure on attaching screws or rivets want to build on 13"6" by 7' trailer frame

[pchast]

As in regular commercial studs? They are designed for stationary buildings.

I wonder how they will hold up in the continued vibration going down the
road or off road. The normal type of attachments likely need to be replaced
with spot welding like auto assembly at the very least.

[tony.latham]

When you glue two plywood skins over a wooden skeleton it's an incredibly strong wall. Over steel studs? I can't see the same strength.

My two-bits.

Tony

[QueticoBill]

I believe the structure of most teardrops is based in the skins, not the frame. The frame or foam simply holds the skins parallel and stationary relative to each other, like the flanges of an i-beam.

[working on it]

Need feedback on using 15/8" steel studs vs wood 2x2's want to use steel not sure on attaching screws or rivets want to build on 13"6" by 7' trailer frame

• I sorta did something in the middle, by building a composite structure using both wood and steel...I used 3/4" plywood, bolted together with Simpson Strongties gusseted angle brackets along ceiling and floor edges, and steel corner braces at every corner. Stainless carriage bolts, stainless washers and nuts, and Loctite PL adhesive hold everything very tightly together.
• corner braces; on floor, on ceiling
• gusseted angle braces; on wall at bulkhead, (above window) on wall to ceiling
• With this thick, rigid, waterproofed wood being clamped with steel, and sealed with PL inside and out at every seam, I don't need spars or other bracing, except around my doors and front overhead shelf, where 1/2" thick oak planks, glued and screwed together with Spax screws, holds the most stressed area together firmly, with no flex at all.
• oak (painted black) firmly braces front roof slope, shelf, doors
• I also joined my floor deck to my frame, using Tek screws thru the two layers of wood to attach to the frame perimeter.
• 38 Tek screws around perimeter of floor to frame
• Perhaps you can use Tek screws (you can find them at Home Depot, and others) to use metal studs attached to wooden parts, wherever needed. My experience using Teks has always been that they don't work loose, and my use of Simpson Strongties and plywood goes back many years; both are highly recommended by me.

[saywhatthat]

Have you though of 3/4 E.M.T . It's stronger ,eats less wall space ?

[MtnDon]

Are you wanting to insulate the trailer? Metal studs transmit heat by conduction much more readily than wood studs. As was mentioned, plywood glued to a wood frame has great strength.