Anyone Build your own Fenders?

[PubUltraStar]

I recently had the thought that since I'm building a woodie, that I'd like to build my own fenders as well. Using the same technique that you'd use building a cedar-strip kayak or canoe, you could use wood bending to shape a fender, and then fiberglass the end result. Since I'm having the templates for the side of my tear cut from a CNC machine, I was thinking of having him also cut templates for the fender as well. Then, it's steaming the wood, bending onto the mold, dry, and then move onto the next strip. Once all the strips are dry and conform to the new shape, fiberglass on the inside and outside with Epoxy, and voila! Of course this is much easier in my head. Just thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

Mike.

[Dean in Ct.]

I built mine out of strips of plywood cut with the curve and glued up edgewise. I mostly used a 4" angle grinder for fairing. Then I laid a coat of fiberglass on the outside and more fairing. I did not finish them to a terribly high standard because truthfully I made them a little too small visually. I was coming from a motorcycle mindset where the front fender nearly rubs the front tire but travels with it. Quite different from a trailer. I may redesign and tr again or I may save that for build #2! Good luck. It's very doable.



There's a few pictures of their construction here
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=49965
Dean

[MeelisV]

There is some pics how i made my fiberglass fenders what will move with axle

first mold

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r ... directlink

next mold - negative

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/B ... directlink

fender

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5 ... directlink

final product

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m ... directlink

and frame under fender is like that (its first version and now have more rigid frame)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/B ... directlink

[PubUltraStar]

Wow, those are both great examples. Thanks for the pics and info.

[Bogo]

I'd line the fenders with well attached steel or aluminum to contain any shredded tires. Yeah, hopefully you'll notice the flat before it delaminates, but with my luck on small lightweight trailers, I don't seam to notice one going flat until it delaminates. That tire thread flailing around can do allot of damage fast. I've had a conventionally mounted steel fender ripped off by a shredded tire. I then mounted the replacement fender with a couple more brackets and it stayed on, but the brackets bent, when I had the next delamination. It's kind of funny, I can notice a tire just 3 lbs low on one of my trucks, but on a trailer I seam to have no sense of one going flat. I guess not enough change in handling makes it through to the TV for me to notice.