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Composite walls

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 9:42 am
by JeroeNC
Hi everybody. I'm new here and have been researching a DIY camping trailer for a while now. I came across this on another forum: http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threa ... ad-Trailer and am thinking about attempting to build something similar on a HF or Northern Tool trailer.

"The panels are 1.625" thick, 40mm XPS core, with 1.5 mm Crane and Lamilux skins, and powder coated 6061 corner caps."

The descriptions and photos indicate that there are no mechanical fasteners. The whole thing is glued together.

My idea is to buy XPS foam insulation (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kingspan-Insul ... /999972966), sandwich it between FRP wall panels (https://www.lowes.com/pd/48-in-x-8-ft-E ... 1000174771), and glue it all together in a similar way as the Overland Explorer TDK is. Then find some type of aluminum moulding to protect the corners. It seems like this is also just glued on the FRP, and attached to each other using pop rivets.

There are two problems I see:
1) I need to find the right types of glue to bond FRP to XPS, FRP to FRP, XPS to XPS, and aluminum to FRP and XPS.
2) FRP doesn't like UV. I need to find a good paint to protect it from UV.

Any thoughts? Am I crazy to even attempt something like this?

Re: Composite walls

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:39 am
by Redneck Packrat
Why not canvas the outside? Painted with good exterior paint, it's pretty dang weather resistant.

Re: Composite walls

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:48 am
by JeroeNC
I like the look of FRP.

Re: Composite walls

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 4:25 pm
by greygoos
Plenty of builds on here with FRP. Some painted and some not. You can do a search up top. I bonded FRP on XPS with PL. It is still holding up nicely and is left outside.I also used 4 X 4 Vinyl post ripped to angles on a tablesaw for trim.

Re: Composite walls

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 5:55 pm
by Redneck Packrat
JeroeNC wrote:I like the look of FRP.


Well, that overrides pretty-much everything :thumbsup: :lol:

Good luck! Looking forward to watching your build.