Board logo

Trailer panels - what material?
Dangle_kt - 7/4/14 at 09:23 PM

I have been slowly turning my old trailer into a covered trailer.

Started by making a steel frame that slotted into oversized steel sectioned welded to the chassis (so the frame could be removed), then I bought an old trailer curtain side and used PVC welding described on here to make a full sized tilt for the frame.

It works ok, but will never be perfect as the wind pressure hits the front face and bows the material in, plus getting a good fit is really hard on such large peices of such thick material.

So I am considering sacrificing the ability to remove the cover, and welding in extra supports and fixing some form of panels to the trailer to make it more solid, and less effected by head winds....I may as well do the lot than just do the front.

So I'm after inspiration please, what would be the best value material to do this with?

I've read gloss ply/dry freight boards are good for it, but I doubt they will be cheap...any pointers would be gratefully received.

Cheers


owelly - 7/4/14 at 09:52 PM

Buy an old Luton van body and chop it up. They are often seen on Ebay for £100-£300 depending on luck/location or try a truck/commercial breakers to see if they have any you can butcher. The fibreglass ones would be best but the ally ones are equally usable!


v8kid - 8/4/14 at 02:57 AM

I used twinwall plastic sheeting on mine


phil m - 8/4/14 at 06:05 AM

I used Phenolic ply. This is the ply sandwiched between two layers of a resin based material.

It's readily available from builders merchants and very durable and neat

Phil


Irony - 8/4/14 at 07:18 AM

Phenolic Plywood is what most trailer manufacturers should use on there trailer floors. At work we replaced all our trailer beds with it. The sides of our trailers are diabond. A aluminium/nylon sandwich.


coyoteboy - 8/4/14 at 12:08 PM

Think I'd be going down the line of composite/honeycomb panels myself, they don't have to be expensive carbon/alu combinations, there's loads out there available in sheet form and all the fittings to mate them together securely.


Dangle_kt - 8/4/14 at 01:51 PM

Any tips on the sort of places that sell these materials? Then i can compare prices.

Cheers


Not Anumber - 8/4/14 at 04:59 PM

I used recycled floorboards that i then soaked in creosote and old engine oil. It cost almost nothing and lasted for years.