I guess this is kind of like the debate over metal vs. fiberglass tops on German trailers. I shattered a plastic fender before my ASW 24 was a year old and installed galvanized steel fenders not long after. The right one has been dented twice in catastrophic tread failures but I just pull it out with a big pair of vice grips. I've never seen any sidewall damage though I'm sure it's possible. I expect to replace them this winter for cosmetic reasons and will probably stay with steel.

Has anyone seen trailer sidewall damage from an impact on the fender that didn't otherwise contact the trailer? The aluminum sidewalls on my 1992 Cobra are pretty robust. They stopped two 9mm jacketed bullets in Texas a year ago.

Chip Bearden
JB