Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **elderjay** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:31 am

I've seen the 4x8 sheets of FRP at the lumber store. Does anyone know if it would be a good sheathing material over the plywood veneer. It's used in restaurant kitchens for a fireproof and washable layer. I have a Honda Goldwing GL1800 with a hitch and a harbor freight trailer I want to make into a sleeper. Ultimately, I want it to be 3 x 7 and about 3' high in the cabin.

by **PaulC** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:45 am

It might be flame proof and it is washable BUT is it UV tolerant. Other discussions about it on this board lead me to believe it needs some sort of protective coating over it to be useable. This being the case, why not go straight to Filon or aluminum.
Cheers
Paul :thumbsup:

PS You're a newbie :shock:

Why not just jump straight in without any form of introducing yourself

Welcome to the forum, I think :roll:

by **elderjay** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:01 am

Apologies. Hello everyone. I'm Bishop Jay Staab from Riverside, CA. I want to turn my 3 1/2 x 4' HF trailer into a teardrop. I plan to tow it behind my GL1800 Goldwing.

by **Gage** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:18 am

Welcome to the group Jay. One of the So-Cal Tear Jerker's lives in Riverside and rides. Has a Lil Guy, but not sure if he's towed it with the bike as yet.

by **Miriam C.** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:14 am

to the playground Bishop Jay. I see someone threw sand already. :lol:

As Paul says FRP has it's problems. Sticking it to the sides and oil canning among them.

Enjoy the site.

by **bobhenry** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:57 pm

elderjay wrote:I've seen the 4x8 sheets of FRP at the lumber store. Does anyone know if it would be a good sheathing material over the plywood veneer. It's used in restaurant kitchens for a fireproof and washable layer. I have a Honda Goldwing GL1800 with a hitch and a harbor freight trailer I want to make into a sleeper. Ultimately, I want it to be 3 x 7 and about 3' high in the cabin.

Get 9' of 2x2x3/16 sq tube and use it to replace the tongue. Make it at least 2 foot longer to smooth out the towing. That little trailer will throw you all over in the turns if you don't. I finally got eggbert where he tows well behind my GL 1200 Interstate. Build pics in my album. Any questions just shout ! I have lexan cut for the sides and am going with a marine grade vinyl top. ( Got a buddy in the upolstery biz)

by **Gerdo** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:32 pm

Welcome. There is a UV stable FRP. It is known as Filon. It is what is used on some RVs.

by **Wos** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:13 pm

check out www.eastcoasttrailerworx.com He has a little sleeper that he tows with a Vmax and one of the newer vstars. really nice work and has a shop that makes other small trailers.

by **Gage** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:23 pm

Wos wrote:check out www.eastcoasttrailerworx.com He has a little sleeper that he tows with a Vmax and one of the newer vstars. really nice work and has a shop that makes other small trailers.

Ain't no trailers on that web site. Did you check it after you posted the link. :thinking:

It's probably just me. I've been told before it's just me who can't see what is posted.

by **Nitetimes** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:09 am

Gage wrote:Ain't no trailers on that web site. It's probably just me. I've been told before it's just me who can't see what is posted.

Nope, not you this time!! :lol:

I get a page for an Apache server. :thinking:

by **PaulC** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:50 am

Gerdo wrote:Welcome. There is a UV stable FRP. It is known as Filon. It is what is used on some RVs.

In was under the impression that Filon is a fibreglass based product, not plastic based.
Cheers
Paul :thumbsup:

by **elderjay** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:55 am

The HF trailer tows just fine behind my GL1800 with a few hundred pounds of cargo in the two boxes mounted on top. I want to build a bolt on trailer body with it's own floor so it can hang over front and back on the frame. I agree I might have to lengthen the tongue with the additional trailer.

by **Gerdo** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:47 am

"semi-rigid fiberglass reinforced polyester resin (frp)"
Filon website

by **angib** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:20 am

Yep, I too believe Filon is GRP, FRP, fiberglass, glassfibre which is all the same thing. There's usually no UV problem with these polyester-resin products - they may fade after 20 years but not much before. But it's still worth asking before you buy whether it's rated for exterior use.

The UV problem seems to mainly be with straight plastic products (polyprops and polyethylenes) intended for interior/bathroom use.

Andrew

by **MOKI SEAKER** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:54 pm

Afternoon, I used the plastic stuff from the box store (lowes) and it bubbled real bad, in the heat of Arizona. I am back in Utah an will be interested in seeing what it will do in the summer heat here. I can live with the bubble, as long as it remains water tight. If it is not UV protected it may harden up and remain flat. I think in the future I will paint it. Jim G

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

FRP - Fiber Reinforced Plastic

FRP - Fiber Reinforced Plastic

Re: FRP - Fiber Reinforced Plastic

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