A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Soaring
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Cobra trailer aluminum vs fiberglass top



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #31  
Old July 19th 18, 04:06 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
2G
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,439
Default Cobra trailer aluminum vs fiberglass top

On Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 6:12:30 PM UTC-7, Andrzej Kobus wrote:
On Monday, July 16, 2018 at 4:44:25 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Thursday, July 12, 2018 at 12:13:33 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
I am interested in the pros and cons of aluminum vs fiberglass top for Cobra trailers.

Tom


My experience, having owned both, is that the current production glass to Cobra trailers keep the glider cooler and drier than metal top trailers.
Neatly done repairs are much easier in glass. I am experienced in both.
When the finish deteriorates, my opinion is that it is easier to refinish the glass trailer. This involves surface sanding to get a clean, slightly roughened surface, followed by a couple light coats of spray filler to clean up surface defects, orbital sand with 220 grit, and then spray with acrylic urethane.
The metal trailer, if the paint is bad, requires stripping to bare metal, etch, conversion coat, epoxy prime, then paint with AU.
FWIW most of the damage to either is meaningfully reduced by simply getting them out of the weather. This also keeps the glider cooler which slows aging.
In my view the dominant consideration is how well the trailer protects the glider that costs somewhere between 8 and 20 times what the trailer does.
UH


I am 100% with UH on all points. Get a fiberglass top you will not regret.. An auto-body shop can paint a fiberglass trailer top for you for $2k, probably less than the insulation cost for an aluminum top.


The insulation costs about $1,200 at current exchange rates.

Tom
  #32  
Old July 20th 18, 03:32 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 266
Default Cobra trailer aluminum vs fiberglass top

How does one go about having insulation installed inside an aluminum trailer?
Are there specific spray-on materials that are commonly applied that auto repair/painting shops would know how to work with? Are there some specific materials one should avoid? Seems like the material needs to be fairly abrasion resistant. Is the outgassing of some materials potentially damaging to a glider?

All the glued on carpet in my trailer is falling off for the second time and I do not look forward to redoing it all when a spray insulation may do double duty as padding for the glider bits and pieces.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Painting fiberglass Cobra trailer [email protected] Soaring 12 January 19th 13 03:23 AM
Aluminum top Cobra trailer leaks - how frequent? AK Soaring 9 March 30th 10 12:44 AM
Fiberglass adhesion to aluminum? [email protected] Home Built 19 January 7th 06 04:58 PM
Aluminum vs Fiberglass landing gear - Pro's and cons. Bart Hull Home Built 1 November 24th 03 03:46 PM
Aluminum vs Fiberglass landing gear - Pro's and cons. Bart Hull Home Built 2 November 24th 03 06:23 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.