Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm looking for threads on Filon and anyone with Filon experience. Thanks!

One good site is http://www.outbackteardrop.com/index.html
Another is https://home.comcast.net/~bdosborn/Boxcar/Boxcar.html

Dan

Thanks Dan. Much appreciated! I will check those out.

With most of the major production RV's using Filon, I'm really surprised more builders aren't using it. Hmmm. Must be the cost?

As posted above I've used Filon on two builds. I really like it, four years now and it hasn't delaminated and still looks brand new.I just don't like how much it costs now; it' about 4 times more expensive than it was when I first used it.

Bruce

[quote="bdosborn"]As posted above I've used Filon on two builds. I really like it, four years now and it hasn't delaminated and still looks brand new.I just don't like how much it costs now; it' about 4 times more expensive than it was when I first used it[\quote]

I can pick it up locally from an RV surplus for $2/ft. How does that compare to what you have found?

That's a good price, my last batch was over $4/SF.

Bruce

Hi Michael,

I used Filon on my recently completed "non-traditional" teardrop. This was my first attempt at building a trailer. I found the Filon to be fairly easy to work with and it looks great. I ordered it from factoryrvsurplus.com. Its not cheap, but shipping was reasonable because they ship it rolled up in a cardboard tube. Ships via regular UPS.

Dave

Dave your build looks great! Nice job. That's what I like about Filon... Very much a factory finish! How did you bond yours? And where did you get your corner moldings? Thanks!

I just realized you are from Fort Wayne, IN. Just north of you is the RV manufacture and RV repair capital of the world. I am sure you can find everything you need for Filon and the trim in the area. Here is one place http://www.factoryrvsurplus.com/ that I was thinking about before I decide to not use Filon. I took a visit to the Elkhart area last summer while visiting my parents and checked out the RV museum. I would thing you can find several suppliers in the area. You may need to make a bunch of phone calls and ask around. You might even see if you can find a manufacture/RV repair shop that may unload scraps that wont work on the larger RVs.

Good luck

Dan

Thanks Dan. Basically I've already taken all your suggestions. I've called everywhere I can find. What it boils down to is I need 52' of 8' Filon. Factory Surplus in Elkhart is $1200 for that amount and Ickes Surplus in Montpellier is $800. Either sounds like a lot to me but if you want a factory finish I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet. Thanks!

Thanks for the compliment, Michael. After a lot of research, I ended up using contact cement to attach the Filon. Nasty stinky stuff...but man does it stick.

I got the moldings, door, window, and vent fan from teardroptrailerparts.com. Frank is a nice guy to deal.

Dave

OK sounds good. Thanks Dave!

I used contact cement for both trailers as well but I didn't read the instructions on the first and and it oil canned. My mistake was not rolling out the filon after I first put it on (needs 50 psi pressure). Also, check the allowable temps, it needs to be pretty warm when you apply it.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. I've been studying up on it...I think I'll make a huge bag and just vacuum bag it. That will only work on the side walls while they are flat on the floor, so I'm unsure about the roof at this point...