Cobra Trailer Fenders

On Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 5:51:34 PM UTC-8, Tom BravoMike wrote:
On Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 6:29:31 PM UTC-6, wrote:
It hurts to replace tires that look like new, but....
Just buy new tires every five years.
Rubber rots.
All tire manufacturers advise replacing tires at five years.
(...)

It is not my in intention to argue about the usefulness or necessity of changing tires every 5 or 6 years - sounds reasonable - but I would like to hear from some independent source, maybe an automobile club like AA or RAC or similar, provided not corrupted by lobbyists. Maybe the German 'Stiftung Warentest'?

https://www.test.de/

Don't smartphone manufacturers suggest we should buy a new phone every 2 years, a new TV set every 4 years. Shouldn't houses be built for just one generation so that the construction industry can go on and on? Isn't it farmers who advertise: Drinka pinta milka day?

I did post such a reference - go back and read it.

I shattered a plastic Cobra fender when my ASW 24 was less than a year old. Not impressed. I replaced them with galvanized steel fenders from (then) Northern Hydraulics. Salvaged the mud flaps from the plastic junk and tossed the wheel chocks in the front of the trailer where no one would walk away with them in a parking lot. I've since lost two tires (we've had the tire discussion many times so do what you like) and damaged a fender both times. I just banged it back out. I do need to replace them now (they're 25 years old and stained/bent) but I'll just get another set of cheap metal fenders. You'll probably have to drill a few holes but no big deal.

Just my opinion. But $300 for a set of plastic fenders that will break the first time you hit debris or blow a tire? Please. I'm willing to baby the glider. The trailer I want to be bulletproof. Poor choice of words.

Chip Bearden
JB

Something I never knew about tyres - from the Uniroyal website:

"tyres contain anti-oxidising chemicals which significantly slow down the rate of ageing, this wax-like substance is only released when the tyre is in motion. Therefore, if the tyre is not used frequently or is stored away ineffectively, they will age more quickly rendering them unroadworthy when returned to use"

On Monday, November 25, 2019 at 9:48:01 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I shattered a plastic Cobra fender when my ASW 24 was less than a year old. Not impressed. I replaced them with galvanized steel fenders from (then) Northern Hydraulics. Salvaged the mud flaps from the plastic junk and tossed the wheel chocks in the front of the trailer where no one would walk away with them in a parking lot. I've since lost two tires (we've had the tire discussion many times so do what you like) and damaged a fender both times.. I just banged it back out. I do need to replace them now (they're 25 years old and stained/bent) but I'll just get another set of cheap metal fenders. You'll probably have to drill a few holes but no big deal.

Just my opinion. But $300 for a set of plastic fenders that will break the first time you hit debris or blow a tire? Please. I'm willing to baby the glider. The trailer I want to be bulletproof. Poor choice of words.

Chip Bearden
JB

If I were to have to replace a fender, I'd go with steel for durability. I'm also set up to paint with good primers and paint.
My perspective.
A blown tire has the following likely costs:
Replace tire- about $125 or so.
Possibly replace fender. About $100 of you replace both fenders with metal. Cobra plastic is more.
If you are towing with a motor home(and no monitoring) it is very likely you will destroy the wheel. Ask Chip how hard they are to find.
After you put the spare on you have to really watch because you now have no spare.
I support 5 trailers for my ships. I'm buying tires for one of them every year. I consider the money to be well spent.
FWIW
UH

The only problem with a steel fender I've run across was how to bend it back or remove it at the side of the road after the blown tire mangled it.
At least the plastic ones from Cobra are now the "beer friendly" variety.
Jim

(...)

It is not my in intention to argue about the usefulness or necessity of changing tires every 5 or 6 years - sounds reasonable - but I would like to hear from some independent source, maybe an automobile club like AA or RAC or similar, provided not corrupted by lobbyists. Maybe the German 'Stiftung Warentest'?

https://www.test.de/

Don't smartphone manufacturers suggest we should buy a new phone every 2 years, a new TV set every 4 years. Shouldn't houses be built for just one generation so that the construction industry can go on and on? Isn't it farmers who advertise: Drinka pinta milka day?

I did post such a reference - go back and read it.

So I did go back and read your posts. I found this link you left:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging
You don't consider this to be an independent source, do you? I apologize if I'm missing something. Please help.
Happy Thanksgiving, anyway!

On Monday, November 25, 2019 at 8:23:56 AM UTC-8, Tom BravoMike wrote:
(...)

It is not my in intention to argue about the usefulness or necessity of changing tires every 5 or 6 years - sounds reasonable - but I would like to hear from some independent source, maybe an automobile club like AA or RAC or similar, provided not corrupted by lobbyists. Maybe the German 'Stiftung Warentest'?

https://www.test.de/

Don't smartphone manufacturers suggest we should buy a new phone every 2 years, a new TV set every 4 years. Shouldn't houses be built for just one generation so that the construction industry can go on and on? Isn't it farmers who advertise: Drinka pinta milka day?

I did post such a reference - go back and read it.

So I did go back and read your posts. I found this link you left:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging
You don't consider this to be an independent source, do you? I apologize if I'm missing something. Please help.
Happy Thanksgiving, anyway!

Yes, I DO consider it to be an "independent source," don't you?

I like the cheap plastic fenders because they act as a weak link when something hits them. They shatter instead of transferring the impact loads to the side of the trailer. If something hits a metal fender, don't be surprised if it bends or wrinkles the side wall of the trailer where it is mounted. Other road debris can slam into the fenders that can do more damage than lost tread.

Agreed on plastic breakaway fenders. Also, earlier comment about wheel covers...that turns them into awesome rodent dens. I wouldn't unless you're going to disturb them every week.

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