Textured molded plastic sheets (like plywood)?

[pingzingr]

Looking to make a folding flat deck surface in the back of my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Debating materials and while plywood is the primary going into the build, I was thinking about plastic type materials. Are there plywood-type sheets of textured plastic? Kind of like what a lot of the drawers and storage options for vehicles are made out of.

Thoughts?

 

[IdaSHO]

What you are referring to is generally called melamine faced plywood (smooth) or FRP faced plywood (normally textured but also available smooth.

Both are good products, so long as bonded to a good plywood, like a cabinet or marine grade birch.


Finding such a product in small quantities (sheet by sheet) may prove troublesome.

Im not aware of it being that readily available and most building supply or home stores.

 

[Pinnacle Campers]

Take a look at HDPE, in a 3/8" or 1/2" you could use it as structural, completely waterproof, works like wood.
Brand names include, King starboard, used in marine industry.
The key is to find it locally, interstate plastics is one source.
In my area they use it to line dump trucks for protection and less friction when dumping, I was able to find a company that does these installs and they sold me one sheet, it was $84, interstate didn't stock it locally they wanted $240 to bring one in.
B

 

[robert]

Yep, break out your yellow pages and look up plastics. When I decided to cover my tailgate I wanted to do it with one piece. On-line I going to have to order a bigger piece than I needed and pay for shipping but I found a local place that cut a piece of scrap for me that fit great. I now have a flat surface for cooking, sitting and working on and more importantly, no more knee pain climbing in and out.

 

[pappawheely]

Take a look at HDPE, in a 3/8" or 1/2" you could use it as structural, completely waterproof, works like wood.
Brand names include, King starboard, used in marine industry.
The key is to find it locally, interstate plastics is one source.
In my area they use it to line dump trucks for protection and less friction when dumping, I was able to find a company that does these installs and they sold me one sheet, it was $84, interstate didn't stock it locally they wanted $240 to bring one in.
B

How structurally strong is it? I need a sheet to go under my poly fuel tank that will support some weight. I want light weight, non abrasive and strong enough to support the weight. Aluminum is $140 a sheet.

 

[pingzingr]

HDPE looks like it probably is the ticket. But like most have said...finding at a reasonable cost for one sheet seems to be the trick.

 

[IdaSHO]

How structurally strong is it? I need a sheet to go under my poly fuel tank that will support some weight. I want light weight, non abrasive and strong enough to support the weight. Aluminum is $140 a sheet.

Id say it depends upon the span.

HDPE isnt nearly as rigid as the same thickness in a marine grade ply.

Roughly the same weight though. HDPE comes in at roughly 2.5 lbs per square foot @ 1/2" thick


Pretty popular in the marine industry. Joints are heat or chemical bonded I believe

Expensive though. Nearly $300 for a 4x8 1/2" sheet


http://www.professionalplastics.com/HDPESEA

 

[blackwood]

Just go with the wood, the plastic stuff might warp in the heat and direct sunlight.