Gladiator Pop-Up Pass Through Camper Build

[Mules]

Here's the Roof Top Tent structure fastened together.

 

[Mules]

I set the tops together so I could get a feel for the inside. It should be tall enough to move around inside without the RTT pushed up.

 

[Mules]

Starting to cover the roof with fiberglass panels.

 

[ITTOG]

Starting to cover the roof with fiberglass panels.
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Are they truly fiberglass panels or are they FRP?

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Mules]

Are they truly fiberglass panels or are they FRP?

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

To your point there are a lot materials that use fiberglass as a stiffener.

The panels are white polyester based FRP (Fiberglas Reinforced Panels). The resin I am using is also polyester. It's important to use compatible materials which is why I'm using polyester instead of epoxy resin. You also have to make sure your fiberglass mat/cloth is compatible with the resin you are using. The mat I'm using has a binder that is made to dissolve when using polyester resin. The binder keeps the mat together, then dissolves and allow you to stretch the material into corners and odd shaped parts.

 

[rruff]

Epoxy will bond polyester-resin sheets just fine. Going the other direction doesn't work as well though...

The fiberglass content has a huge effect on increasing strength (not just stiffness) and reducing thermal expansion.

 

[ITTOG]

To your point there are a lot materials that use fiberglass as a stiffener.

The panels are white polyester based FRP (Fiberglas Reinforced Panels). The resin I am using is also polyester. It's important to use compatible materials which is why I'm using polyester instead of epoxy resin. You also have to make sure your fiberglass mat/cloth is compatible with the resin you are using. The mat I'm using has a binder that is made to dissolve when using polyester resin. The binder keeps the mat together, then dissolves and allow you to stretch the material into corners and odd shaped parts.

Epoxy will bond polyester-resin sheets just fine. Going the other direction doesn't work as well though...

The fiberglass content has a huge effect on increasing strength (not just stiffness) and reducing thermal expansion.

Thanks for the responses. I was primarily enquiring because this may be the first time I have read where someone is going to use fiberglass with FRP.

 

[Mules]

Thanks for the responses. I was primarily enquiring because this may be the first time I have read where someone is going to use fiberglass with FRP.

Come to think about it, I haven't seen anyone else do this. I wanted to keep the exterior as smooth as possible, and this way, I don't have to build a mold for the fiberglass. The FRP is pretty easy to use and it seemed the easiest/fastest way, but we'll see.

 

[rruff]

Come to think about it, I haven't seen anyone else do this. I wanted to keep the exterior as smooth as possible, and this way, I don't have to build a mold for the fiberglass. The FRP is pretty easy to use and it seemed the easiest/fastest way, but we'll see.

Should be fine. Alternatively you could have made your shell out of foam and then hand-laid the fiberglass. You would have needed to use epoxy though... and then paint it.

 

[Mules]

Look what Jeep is building for SEMA! Looks familiar.

 

[jgaz]

Very nice work!
Thanks for posting this

 

[Mules]

It will be nice to open up my rig like Jeep's prototype.

 

[Mules]

Wrapping the sides this morning.

 

[Mules]

Side two almost done.

 

[Mules]

No matter how many clamps you have, it’s never enough!