Posted 2006-01-13 5:25 AM (#35414 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
At the risk of sounding like a smart a**, Composite is a composite of two or more items. In the horse trailer business the two are most likely to be a combination of Steel/Aluminum, Steel/FRP(Fiberglass Reinforced Plywood) or Aluminum/FRP. I'm sure someone will come up with a combination that I left out.
Posted 2006-01-13 6:49 AM (#35419 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
Hart, Sidekick, Cimmaron, Cato, are just some of the big guys that use the FRP(Fiberglass Reinforced Plywood). I never have been a big fan of it because it is probley 10(minimum) times heavier than the same size aluminum. Plus requires very specialized repairs.
Posted 2006-01-13 7:09 AM (#35422 - in reply to #35419) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Member
Posts: 16
Location: Chickasha, OK
FRP means Fiberglass Reinforced PANEL. The PANEL can be a variety of materials, one of them being plywood. The panel that CIMARRON uses is a plastic honey-comb core material with fiberglass reinforcement on each side. This panel is used for the roof of each CIMARRON Trailer. Thus, each trailer has an insulated roof with an R3 thermal value.
Posted 2006-01-13 8:09 AM (#35423 - in reply to #35422) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
In the early 90's just about all mfg toyed with frp and at that time it was fiberglass reinforced plywood ( Sooner, Featherlite, Hart and others)but soon abandoned it. Hart and Cimaron still use a panel for their roof which is a great roof (like Ben said) I built a barn off the top of my bumper trailer(Hart) had a 24 ft. ladder up on top of it reaching the lights in the top of my barn. When it was plywood on the side if was difficult to repair, like fixing a corvette but they were strong and heavy, you still see quite a few old Sooners still around with it.
Posted 2006-01-13 8:31 AM (#35424 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Each maker may define the word differently. Some may mean composite roof (fiberglass over steel frame), while others mean steel frame and aluminum skins.
(You can not define a word by using that word in the definition.)
Posted 2006-01-13 11:53 AM (#35439 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
I don't think anyone will question that they are strong, I think why they have gone by the wayside is due to the weight issues and repair cost. I'm sorry that I defined a word by using the word I'm not an english teacher, I'm a salesman, and I think people understood what I was saying hence the further debate.
Posted 2006-01-13 6:38 PM (#35449 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Thanks.I have just seen a number of NEW trailers advertised using the word composite construction.In the ads its says construction.Some same steel,some say aluminum and others say composite.
Posted 2006-01-14 7:57 AM (#35457 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
I think that most of us in the horse trailer industry are referring to a trailer with a steel or galvaneal frame and an aluminum exterior skin when we use the word "composite".
The FRP that Hart and Cimmarron use for roofing material is great stuff, self insulating, very strong, lightweight, and easy to clean. The plywood cored FRP that many trailer manufacturers used at one time was a good product when correctly assembled and maintained, but was heavy.
Posted 2006-02-11 10:35 AM (#36938 - in reply to #35423) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
New User
Posts: 1
Location: TN
Do you know what year hart quit using the fiberglass reinforced plywood? I am looking at a 1993 but have been warned about the FRP. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!
Posted 2006-02-11 9:10 PM (#36972 - in reply to #35411) Subject: RE: Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Veteran
Posts: 202 Location: North Texas
Composite can mean MANY different things.
Fiberglass, Kevlar® and Carbon materials have all be used in horse trailers and referred to as "composite"
You should ask the manufacturer what they mean when they use the term. Anyone that is using the term is probably considering it a benefit and will be happy to explain how they use it.
If it is a trailer that is no longer manufactured I suggest you tell us the brand and model to get accurate information about how the term is used.
Fill me in on the word COMPOSITE
Do you know what year hart quit using the fiberglass reinforced plywood? I am looking at a 1993 but have been warned about the FRP. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!