compare wood, aluminum, and fiberglass

[sems]

Hi all:

I am the ultimate newbie and have been reading everything I can get my hands on. Can anybody point me to a thread or website that discusses the relative merits of covering the outside of your TD in wood, aluminum, or fiberglass?

I know that each material has it's good points and bad. I'd like to see a comparison of durability, cost, and ease of maintenance, as well as a description of how hard or easy it is to work with these materials.

I wasn't quite sure what search terms to use to get an answer to my question--although I'm sure this topic has been discussed previously. Any help would be much appreciated.

Susan

[dwgriff1]

Welcome Susan and David,

If that question has been raised it was obliquely, not direct.

Each has it's advocates, each has it's critics. It is almost like your preference in clothing. It's pretty personal. Some of us are experienced wood workers, some are experienced metal workers, and some are gaining experience.

Any of them will work. Just keep it light. You will be glad.

I'd suggest 5' wide.

dave

[PaulC]

What do you want to see on the outside of your TD. Make a choice and do it. If you keep on with this analysis of everything to do with a TD, you will not build one
Cheers
Paul

[JunkMan]

I personally chose aluminum. I don't have much experience with fiberglass and it seem to be fairly expensive.

My woodworking skills are not good enough to want to show them off so I wouldn't do a wood with clear finish (varnish or fiberglass). Painting over wood is cheaper, but requires a lot of sanding and filling to get a nice finish, and is not as durable as fiberglass (requires a lot of maintence).

Aluminum is fairly easy to work with, and doesn't require any specaial tools. It has the "retro" look that I am after. Should last a long time, unless I don't get a seam or edge sealed properly. Allows me to use cheaper wood underneath, since it will be covered. It is also availible pre-finished in several different colors, if you don't like the "mill" finish.

One of the dis-advantages I have found with aluminum, is that it can be hard to find in widths over 48". I did find some 60" wide stuff, which will work well for my tear (59" wide overall), but I did a lot of calling around to find it. There is some 103" wide aluminum availible from tractor trailer repair places, but I worry that it may be too soft, and there would be a lot of waste. I know that several people on this forum have mentioned using it, but I haven't heard how it holds up yet.

Where in Middle Tenn are you located? My folks live in Hendersonville.

[sems]

Thanks guys. All good advice. After I posted the question I realized it was pretty huge question. I agree with keeping td light and simple--we're minimalists. And Paul, yes I will analyze something to death, but my husband is the "go to" guy. I'm the dreamer and the analyst, he's the doer.

I like the retro look of the aluminum too and think wood might be harder to maintain?? But I don't know for sure. It seems aluminum would be lighter too. Fiber glass feels a little too 70s for me (I have no good rational reason for saying that.)

Anyhow, I have really just begun to think about this so all advice and help is welcome.

[sems]

Oh and Jeff, we're in Murfreesboro south of Nashville--literally the geographic center of the state. We LOVE SD. Spent several days at Wind Cave two summers ago. Could have stayed forever.

[JunkMan]

It seems aluminum would be lighter too.

You really won't save any weight with aluminum because you still need to have (or should have) plywood as a backer for it. Unlike a factory made trailer that just uses aluminum as an outer skin, most people that put aluminum on their teardrops have plywood underneath.

Yeah, Wind Cave is in a nice area, we do a lot of hiking around Custer. Been here for 22 years, and still finding great new places to hike.

I try to get down to Tenn. a couple of times each year, but didn't make it last year (met the folks in Oregon instead). We're hoping to get out there with the tear this summer and do some camping and hiking in the Smokeys.

[PaulC]

Fiber glass feels a little too 70s for me (I have no good rational reason for saying that.)

And to me, that says it all

Cheers
Paul

[dhazard]

Fiber glass feels a little too 70s for me (I have no good rational reason for saying that.)

And to me, that says it all

Cheers
Paul

And if you add gaudy graphics to it then you got 2000

[doug hodder]

Susan...your best bet is to decide what material you are going to feel most comfortable working with and what tools you have at your disposal...a true woody is going to probably have to be under cover for storage, and depending how you finish it up, may require more money to do, an aluminum skinned one may require regular polishing if you're picky, and additional tools and techniques that aren't required on a woody, and well, you shot down fiberglass....so since it's your first...pick what you know you can complete, there's nothing worse than a large project taking up space and no inspiration to finish it up.....just an opinion...Doug

[glassice]

fiberglass and foam will be the ease way to do it so forgiving and yes less work to maintain and if it fall in the lake just row and go fishing the shell will be less to tow but it has be what you need and how wide and airplains are made with fiberglass and foam

[sems]

Ok I didn't mean to take fiberglass out of the picture completely.

The 70s weren't all that bad, although I was in high school then and I don't necessarily want to go back there. Fiberglass is sporty looking. What else? Easy to work with? Light? Easy to clean? With aluminum and wood I know there's polishing to maintain the surface. I assume you can just take a hose to a fiberglass td?

Susan

[sems]

Thanks glassice--I was in the middle of writing my question when you posted your comment.

[glassice]

just dish soap i think it how you are going to use it alu. look great tell a tree get it look at some of the inlay wood i like glass and foam you can beat the************** out of it and go wally world and get can foam and glass repair kit for 20 buck and look brand new

[bdosborn]

Don't forget Filon. Its probably the easiest to keep clean. A trip to the carwash and it looks like new. Lightweight as well...

Of course Doug has shown us that the fiberglass and clearcoat is hands down the prettiest.

Bruce