Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have been looking at NRP and FRP since I have run across mentions of it here on the forums.

I was considering it as an alternative to Aluminum. I like the look of it as well as the cost and ease of painting. I would love some feedback from people who have been using this as a skin.

Do you just float the NRP or FRP like you would alum.? (Tack down the edges and then apply a waterproofing glue, apply the trim, and then secure the trim?) I would still want to use aluminum trim on the outer edges because of the availability and as an accent.

Do you leave expansion gaps around the edges to accommodate expansion/contractions?

Since it's sold in 4' widths I am thinking cutting down the length to make 2.5' strip that are 8 foot long and joining them in one long horizontal seam from front to back on the main roof as well as the galley roof. Since the joints are not lapped joints the vertical seems like a better option to keep water from collecting at horizontal joint lines?

Any other key points I should look at before I leap into the install?

Here are the two products that I am considering.
FRP: http://www.homedepot.com/p/4-ft-x-8-ft-White-090-FRP-Wall-Board-MFTF12IXA480009600/100389836
NRP: http://www.homedepot.com/p/48-in-x-96-i ... 492220-_-N
Thin NRP: http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-16-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Plastic-Panel-63003/202090190?MERCH=REC-_-rv_gm_pip_rr-_-100389836-_-202090190-_-N

Thanks to all of you for the great resource that is tnttt.com

Are you sure any of the products you link won't deteriorate from uv when used outside? There is exterior frp that is uv stable, but I think I looked at these and saw here the stuff a big box stores is interior.

I think the exterior frp starts to get close to aluminum in cost. Maybe less but not so much it's a slam dunk.

Lots of people have used FRP. If you do a search up top you will see the builds. I am at the tail end of a build and used FRP instead of plywood for the first layer. I then covered in aluminum. I used FRP because it bends very easily and is waterproof. No worrying about rot from untreated ply. I used PL Premium every 6 inches or so. The edge trim should hold it in place. You can also fiberglass the seams for a finished look. Paint over it if you are worried about UV. I have purchased FRP from Home D and Lowes. I transported it in my car and the stuff from Lowes I was able to roll into 12 inch diameter myself. The stuff from Home D could only be rolled to 24 inches or so and I needed help to do so.

QueticoBill wrote:Are you sure any of the products you link won't deteriorate from uv when used outside? There is exterior frp that is uv stable, but I think I looked at these and saw here the stuff a big box stores is interior.

I think the exterior frp starts to get close to aluminum in cost. Maybe less but not so much it's a slam dunk.

If I go this route it would be painted. I did check the spec sheet and saw the note about UV degradation. I am not in a super intense sun area right now and honestly I am expecting to rebuild eventually so painted I think o should get decent life out of it.


www.themodernshopteacher.com

greygoos wrote:Lots of people have used FRP. If you do a search up top you will see the builds. I am at the tail end of a build and used FRP instead of plywood for the first layer. I then covered in aluminum. I used FRP because it bends very easily and is waterproof. No worrying about rot from untreated ply. I used PL Premium every 6 inches or so. The edge trim should hold it in place. You can also fiberglass the seams for a finished look. Paint over it if you are worried about UV. I have purchased FRP from Home D and Lowes. I transported it in my car and the stuff from Lowes I was able to roll into 12 inch diameter myself. The stuff from Home D could only be rolled to 24 inches or so and I needed help to do so.

I have seen lots of mention of it but not a whole lot discussion of tips for installing it as a skin. Thanks for experience with it glossing the seems seems like a decent idea though I wonder if the stock moldings could be epoxied to join sheets before being bent into place.

The biggest problem right now is that half the interesting posts have pictures on photobucket links are broken to see them.


www.themodernshopteacher.com

There is frp that is uv resistant. Filon is one brand. Available wide and long. Search tnttt for that.

Here's a couple of FRP pics that so far have survived the Photobucket purge:





On the sidewalls the FRP was bonded to the 5/8" plywood with a full thin layer of Titebond II. It is additionally secured by the flange of the window and stapled around the edge. The FRP for the roof floats over the 3/4" EMT spars and a layer of thin indoor/outdoor carpet for a cushion and is bonded along the edge to the plywood with double sided tape then stapled. I not yet gotten around to adding angle trim over the joint but after two years parked outdoors year-round have not had any leakage or oil canning. Have not noticed any UV deterioration but had also planned to paint it eventually.

There is a lap joint on the roof about midway between the back and the front curve also bonded with the double sided tape. The 4' x 8' FRP and adhesives were purchased from Home Depot.

The trailer primarily transports my motorcycle but has a sleeping platform, storage lockers, and a swing-out chuck box accessible when the mc is unloaded. The shell is easily removed to return to the open utility trailer mode. Has barn doors in rear and a fold down ramp.

Thanks a ton. My brain works so much better analyzing pictures. So it seems that there really isn't a method of attaching it that seems to be too problematic. Either coat the whole surface and adhere or float. I did read that using spots of adhesive here and there caused puckering for some but that didn't seem a great way to proceed anyway since I have a decent underlayment of plywood on the sides and flexible roofing on the top. I think I am going to roll it back into the shop and get it started before I run out of summer vacation time.

QueticoBill wrote:There is FRP that is UV resistant. Filon is one brand. Available wide and long. Search tnttt for that.

I actually ran across that a while ago and that's what got my little brain churning. Getting my hands on it though is the problem. No local resources other than a Camping World and trying to get them to help a homebuilder has been a challenge. Same with some smaller repair places and RV dealers. Online resources are all over the place but very expensive. I am seeing 30$ per linear foot for 10' wide.

I really like aluminum but again the cost and local availability are causing me the most headaches. Even the local tear fabricator is traveling 2 hours to a larger city to get his skins. 60-70$ per sheet I could do but add half again for freight and I get sad. Maybe I will try to find an aluminum paint with that cool dull sheen.

Hope you had a great holiday.

The uv on frp isn't necessary. There's a blog where guy used them as fence panels untreated and were daily exposed still up and not brittle after 15 yrs. Nrp doesn't have the fiberglass strands so not sure how it would hold up to direct sun. Buy some leave it outside a couple weeks and see how it fares.

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linuxmanxxx wrote:The uv on frp isn't necessary. There's a blog where guy used them as fence panels untreated and were daily exposed still up and not brittle after 15 yrs. Nrp doesn't have the fiberglass strands so not sure how it would hold up to direct sun. Buy some leave it outside a couple weeks and see how it fares.

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Interesting. I would think it has some to do with the formulation of the panel. I wonder if they have changed much. I wonder if it's at all similar to the pvc lumber you can get now. We just used it for a soffit and the roofer said it really needed painting. I am not sure it did but rather he wanted another line item on his bill. Either way it still looks good after 5 years so who knows.

And no one should ever doubt what some guy posts on his blog as other than fact.

At the moment I'm leaning toward fibreglass and epoxy with premuim house paint on roof, just epoxy and paint on walls. Probably wrap bottom - drip - edges with fibreglass as well.

mcubberley wrote:

linuxmanxxx wrote:The uv on frp isn't necessary. There's a blog where guy used them as fence panels untreated and were daily exposed still up and not brittle after 15 yrs. Nrp doesn't have the fiberglass strands so not sure how it would hold up to direct sun. Buy some leave it outside a couple weeks and see how it fares.

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Interesting. I would think it has some to do with the formulation of the panel. I wonder if they have changed much. I wonder if it's at all similar to the pvc lumber you can get now. We just used it for a soffit and the roofer said it really needed painting. I am not sure it did but rather he wanted another line item on his bill. Either way it still looks good after 5 years so who knows.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35105&hilit=+FRP Here is the link on FRP by the guy who posted it. BTW He is also the guy with 150 builds.

My apologies. Not at all what I think if as "some guy on a blog".

I found the forum post back around 2010 and can't find it anymore. He said they would pop out of the frames and he'd pop them back in. Heat and cold and they endured that long. Convinced me to forget filon and build with it. Only complaint is that it's seriously dense and heavy.

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