FRP Composite panels ( US Source)
- Thread starter sprocket3
- Start date
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
These guys have kits listed for sale Adventure Trucks
I would think they are part of Global Expedition Vehicles as they share the same address and photo number. So perhaps the same panels they use in their GEV habitat building?
Disclaimer - no experience with these panels or company
I would think they are part of Global Expedition Vehicles as they share the same address and photo number. So perhaps the same panels they use in their GEV habitat building?
Disclaimer - no experience with these panels or company
Alloy
Well-known member
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
We have a quality panel supplier in Oz, which must be a tiny market compared with the USA?
www.vanglassrv.com.au
They make and sell caravans of their own design or your design and will supply anything from panels, lock up stage to finished product for any product that the customer wants. Last time I visited, a guy was building a house boat in one of their sheds. The exterior panels were finished in grey gel coat 
They make their own closed cell polyurethane foam and also have a PET foam specifically for floors.
They make wet-on-wet panels up to 2.5m x 11m in one piece and can then CNC router cut them to any shape required so a kit can be glued together like a KEA flat pack.
I used some of their panels in my build 20 years ago and are using their panels 100% again with my current light weight build.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Composite Caravans | Queensland | Vanglass
VLPCaravans - Hi tech composite panel caravans , camper trailers and slide-on campers. Build your own Caravan , camper trailer or slide-ons. Composite fibreglass panels. http://www.vanglassleisureproducts.com.au
www.vanglassrv.com.au
They make their own closed cell polyurethane foam and also have a PET foam specifically for floors.
They make wet-on-wet panels up to 2.5m x 11m in one piece and can then CNC router cut them to any shape required so a kit can be glued together like a KEA flat pack.
I used some of their panels in my build 20 years ago and are using their panels 100% again with my current light weight build.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Alloy
Well-known member
We have a quality panel supplier in Oz, which must be a tiny market compared with the USA?
They make and sell caravans of their own design or your design and will supply anything from panels, lock up stage to finished product for any product that the customer wants. Last time I visited, a guy was building a house boat in one of their sheds. The exterior panels were finished in grey gel coatComposite Caravans | Queensland | Vanglass
VLPCaravans - Hi tech composite panel caravans , camper trailers and slide-on campers. Build your own Caravan , camper trailer or slide-ons. Composite fibreglass panels. http://www.vanglassleisureproducts.com.au
View attachment 805095
They make their own closed cell polyurethane foam and also have a PET foam specifically for floors.
They make wet-on-wet panels up to 2.5m x 11m in one piece and can then CNC router cut them to any shape required so a kit can be glued together like a KEA flat pack.
I used some of their panels in my build 20 years ago and are using their panels 100% again with my current light weight build.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Styromax does vehicles
PU foam used for insulation isn't close (not used below grade) cell and it has thermal drift.
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
The cabin I have on my C4500 came off of a Unimog that was built with FRP-plywood-foam-plywood-FRP construction. While it is super strong it is also very heavy. 1850 kg for a 365cm long (19 m³) outfitted with interior and equipment. If you have not already checked out @RAM5500 CAMPERTHING thread on his build HERE , he was very creative on his cabinets (along with other innovations.)
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
Sikaflex 252.How are you folks doing upper cabinets in these foam core builds? 3m tape
20 years and counting.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
Wow Sikaflex for the win. I was wondering if a combination of adhesive and short screws would do it. Hate to screw into that finish.
Alloy
Well-known member
Thanks guys. I sent off some emails. Got a few leads on panels. I found a place that will make whatever i want in 2000sqft batches. They stated it needed a plywood layer in order to hang cabinets.
How are you folks doing upper cabinets in these foam core builds? 3m tape
The bond between the FRP and the foam is the weak spot. This is why panel mfg will use plwyood/luan but you want to avoid wood that can't (inside the panels) be serviced.
There's options like this.
20+ Years of Composite Board Solutions | The Coosa Board Advantage
Coosa Composites is the top choice when it comes to quality composite boards. Order the most durable composite materials for your next project today!
coosacomposites.com
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
My 6+ year old Total Composite kit uses wood in the floor for strength (perhaps a holdover from their commercial boxes that would have high impacts and loads).
My style with the plywood under the FRP
BUT perhaps they have found that overkill and no longer use plywood any longer
I'm sure Andres will let us know the pluses or minuses of wood in the floor or other locations (unless that is a trade secret and with me posting these top secret photos I might be 'disappeared'
)
Victorian
Approved Vendor : Total Composites
My 6+ year old Total Composite kit uses wood in the floor for strength (perhaps a holdover from their commercial boxes that would have high impacts and loads).
View attachment 805317
My style with the plywood under the FRP
View attachment 805318
BUT perhaps they have found that overkill and no longer use plywood any longer
View attachment 805319
View attachment 805320
I'm sure Andres will let us know the pluses or minuses of wood in the floor or other locations (unless that is a trade secret and with me posting these top secret photos I might be 'disappeared'
LOL. All that info is out there…. No secrets revealed. Most of the images of our construction are just to visualize the concept/idea. Too many outside eyes watching us to post all the details in a public place. There is much more to it than what you see in the pictures above. Each application needs a different solution and therefore it’s nearly impossible to give a straight answer about the exact composition of each panel.
Anyhow, aside from the pictures above, we recently have designed several new FRP profiles (pultrusions) that will further advance our system. In total we now have 9 different FRP pultrusions we are using.
Cheers
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
In my view, avoid screws at all costs. They cause local stress concentrations when they resist differential expansion forces.
The secrets to adhesive use are: 1) Surface prep, 2) Appropriate primers, 3) Maximise surface area. 4) Appropriate adhesive for the job, 5) Appropriate adhesive thickness to allow for the expected movement / thermal expansions.
Some people make the mistake of only using the strongest/stiffest adhesive that they can find. The higher the tensile of single pack urethanes, the lower the elongation before break.
The best adhesive is the one with the lowest tensile that will do the job because it will have the highest elongation before breaking, which gets back to maximising the surface area.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome