Do Teardrops Really Need Diamond Plate Up Front?

[nackler]

I've never owned a trailer before and Im about to begin skinning. Does anybody have experince with normal wear and tear on their teardrop without diamond plate?

Any pics?

I am planning on traditional .040 aluminum skin over 1/4 inch ply (two sheets of bent 1/8 inch)

 

[Tony Latham]

Does anybody have experince with normal wear and tear on their teardrop without diamond plate?

Yes, it'll take a beating. As long as you design for it, you can add it later.

Tony

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I've never owned a trailer before and Im about to begin skinning. Does anybody have experince with normal wear and tear on their teardrop without diamond plate?

Any pics?

I am planning on traditional .040 aluminum skin over 1/4 inch ply (two sheets of bent 1/8 inch)

Regardless of trailer type, you’re going to get road rock dings. Two things help. One is a rock guard like diamond plate, the other is TV mounted flaps like Rock Tamers.

 

[nackler]

Thanks, it is good to see a picture of the wear over time

 

[S. Heisley]

My trailer will turn 15 in August, and I have yet to add diamond plate or nick the front of it. However, I used some tough marine paint and marine epoxy under that and this could have something to do with it. (I did get a small ding when I backed into the corner of the house, though. ...Don't ask.)

 

[halfdome Danny]

I’ve never used diamond plate on the six teardrops I built
I do make a rock guard that is in my signature photo.
Anytime your near a 18 wheeler your bound to get something launched at your teardrop.
I tried rock tamers and they were a pain to install and would scrape in driveways etc. Got rid of them.
Danny

 

[Tony Latham]

It probably depends on whether you plan to get lost on purpose.

Tony

 

[Wolfgang92025]

My trailer built was finished in 2010 will I was living in the San Diego area.
Pretty much all my camping had been in developed campground, most with paved roads.The trailer build was to be used in that environment.
Job change in 2012 brought me to Salt Lake City.
Now a large part of my camping is in BLM / Forest Service areas.

When this picture was taken we had covered over 100 miles of dirt tracks.

This is what the front and fender look like today, and the fenders had been refinished two times.
Now, I don't mind the damage. I have had this trailer in places where you don't see a living soul all weekend and that comes with the territory.
So it really depends on what kind of camping you plan on doing.
And keep in mind that opportunities to camp in different environments may come along down the road.

 

[Wolfgang92025]

It probably depends on whether you plan to get lost on purpose.

Tony

Nice picture Tony...

 

[nackler]

My trailer built was finished in 2010 will I was living in the San Diego area.
Pretty much all my camping had been in developed campground, most with paved roads.The trailer build was to be used in that environment.
Job change in 2012 brought me to Salt Lake City.
Now a large part of my camping is in BLM / Forest Service areas.
View attachment 2426487
When this picture was taken we had covered over 100 miles of dirt tracks.

View attachment 2426488View attachment 2426489
This is what the front and fender look like today, and the fenders had been refinished two times.
Now, I don't mind the damage. I have had this trailer in places where you don't see a living soul all weekend and that comes with the territory.
So it really depends on what kind of camping you plan on doing.
And keep in mind that opportunities to camp in different environments may come along down the road.

Thanks for the pictures. Looks like some serious sandblasting happened!

 

[S. Heisley]

Okay, you've made a believer out of me. Yes, it depends on where you plan on camping.

 

[S. Heisley]

Okay, you've made a believer out of me. Yes, it depends on where you plan on camping.

PS. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Rich796]

My trailer built was finished in 2010 will I was living in the San Diego area.
Pretty much all my camping had been in developed campground, most with paved roads.The trailer build was to be used in that environment.
Job change in 2012 brought me to Salt Lake City.
Now a large part of my camping is in BLM / Forest Service areas.
View attachment 2426487
When this picture was taken we had covered over 100 miles of dirt tracks.

View attachment 2426488View attachment 2426489
This is what the front and fender look like today, and the fenders had been refinished two times.
Now, I don't mind the damage. I have had this trailer in places where you don't see a living soul all weekend and that comes with the territory.
So it really depends on what kind of camping you plan on doing.
And keep in mind that opportunities to camp in different environments may come along down the road.

That's looks worse than just sand/gravel road damage on the fenders. It looks like it also has paint adhesion issues. It also looks like the substrate was possibly not prepared properly. ( there looks to be some light reflection you can see on the gel coat ? ) If you were to repaint those fenders. It would be an ideal place to add some 3M clear bra. ( assuming it is not a rattle can paint job ) To help protect the paint and fender itself. Since you can see that even the gel coat is worn down to bare resin/mat at the leading edge, from road debris damage.