Front Caps on Travel Trailers
Many of the newer travel trailers have a fiberglass front cap similar to 5th Wheels. It looks nice but I'm curious if there are benefits to it. Protection? Additional Insulation?
Forum Discussion
While I don't have a lot of documented basis for this, I think you might find a lot of these front caps are NOT FIBERGLASS, but ABS. My understanding is that ABS can be vacuum molded and made much cheaper than fiberglass. Here IMO the main issues are weathering, general strength, and that ABS is much harder to repair cracks in than is fiberglass. My front cap cracked when the trailer was less than 2 years old and the failure was blamed on over torquing the screws holding the cap to the roof. It was replaced under warranty and I'm aware of at least one other failure with the same trailer and the owner had a lot of trouble getting it repaired since he was out of warranty and the manufacturer went out of business and replacement caps where no longer being made or available.
While my replacement cap has now been on for over 5 years with no issues, I'm on the fence on these smooth molded caps and the claims of aerodynamic qualities is not something I believe is true at least on a measurable improved mpg basis.
Larry
While my replacement cap has now been on for over 5 years with no issues, I'm on the fence on these smooth molded caps and the claims of aerodynamic qualities is not something I believe is true at least on a measurable improved mpg basis.
Larry
