Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

well, I have spent the better part of an hour on here, looking for a place to order Filon from,
most of the recommendations have dried up, or no contact info,
anyone know what the going price is now?
and a good source to get it from?

this is all I have been able to find using the search function.

http://www.rvsurplus.net/catalog/displa ... ct_id=1879

I e-mailed this Company and they don't sell to the public, but they sent me a list of distributors, I'll call them tomorrow
http://www.cranecomposites.com/

I also found references to the Kemlite Corporation, which turns out to be the crane composites listed above.

Here's some more info on Filon. I have done a bit of research on this myself:

[quote]http://www.interstatemetals.com/

48â€

Thanks, I guess I need to figure out the difference in their Laminated fiberglass walls and Fiberglass siding, which is the good exterior Filon with UV protection?

and the price,,, OUCH!

I used regular FRP in smooth format and after several months in scorching direct texas sunlight it has zero discoloration or effects. I think this is a huge scam with the price difference and the type of plastic that is used in FRP has resistive effects already. For insurance I just got a gallon of the 10 yr elastiomric silicon roof coating that is white and coated the roof with 3 or 4 coats for 30 dollars and it has a 10 yr UV protection rating which for that price can be treated every year or two and never come close to the cost of filon. One guy posted on here he built his fence with FRP panel inserts and over 10 yrs has no yellowing or breakdown of components. If you cover or garage your camper it wouldn't matter anyways.

I spent several weeks looking for Filron as well. I found that RV supply folks have it but want an arm and a leg for it as well as more than your first born for the glue. I went to a Semi trailer repair place and asked if they had some. WHY YES they did as most trailers are lined with it. They will sell it to you or in my case I was allowed to go out back to the wrecked ones and remove a lot of it for a very low price [case of beer for the foreman]. The glue is still a problem as the trailer folks get it in 55 gallon jugs. Well back to the trade for beer stuff again. The semi trailer folks get fileron [FRP] it in large rolls that are 10' wide and several football fields long. So use your phone book and stock up on the beer trading supplies.
GOOD LUCK

I got mine from here:

http://www.themetalcompany.com/

It started out at $1.75/sf 5 years ago, the last batch I bought was $4.25/sf two years ago. I bet its gone up since then.

Bruce

P.S. I used contact cement and it worked great but I had to vacuum clamp it.

WOW Please tell me how the contact cement worked. I was told that it was not compatable with the FRP and I would get air bubbles so I never tried it.
Yes the price has gone up a bit but I believe that is because the forman has a bigger thirst than before. Wait a second it is summer here in the "Valley of the Sun"maybe that is the reason for the cost increase. It cost me two six packs for enough to do a 10' trailer sides, back and top and he gave me enough glue to go along with it.
Please get back to me with your results with the contact cement. It might be a bit easier to use as the glue I am using DOESN'T ALLOW for ANY mistakes. Once it touches it is there untill the end. No allowance for mistakes or adjustments.

Like I said, it worked great. You only get one chance though as it sticks as soon as the filon touches the side. I read somewhere that clamping for 30 minutes doubles the holding force for contact cement so we vacuum clamped the sides for an hour after rolling the crap out of it. The instructions for the cement says to roll the sides with a minimum pressure of 50 psi , which means a j-roller with as much weight as you can get on it. Its pretty much a given you have to apply the filon with the sides on the ground in order to get that much weight on the roller.

Here's a picture of the vacuum clamp in action.



Bruce

I have used some FRP (white, pebble finish) in restaurants. It is very 'itchy' to work with. I usually use a mask and eye protection.

I have tried using the latex based, environmentally friendly, adhesive that is recommended for applying the FRP. Didn't work worth a Damn!!

Prefer to use spray contact adhesive. Then a bead of Titebond melamine glue around the edges. J roller to press everything down.

So far, so good.

I like the idea of using the FRP for the outside of a TT. May just give it a try in the near future.

If one lives on left hand side of continent here is a source for Filon and other RV stuff in Calif...

http://www.all-rite.com/

Dale