framing and skinning material question

[sogo011852]

has anybody used aluminum framing studs that and FRP for skins? with wood price going up and up now days and i was thinking metal is much easy to work with and may be lighter in weight too in combination with the metal frame and FRP boards for skins, lots of new house is built like this now days so has anybody tried to use them to built teardrops or small camping trailers with?

[Grummy]

has anybody used aluminum framing studs

Well, first I would like to know where you are finding ALUMINUM studs ? All any box store around here have are the galvanized steel. Even there, a check today shows some pretty crazy pricing if you ask me. I did not expect that because some years back, I divided a 60x100x16 tall building with a wall of metal studs and I recall it being a lot cheaper than doing it with wood.

[Pmullen503]

The skin might not stay super flat. I'm sure FRP and steel have different thermal expansion coefficients. You also end up with pretty thick walls.