Tuber Body Panels

[kingofthetrail]

What are you guys using for body panels for your tubers. Lexan? Sheet metal? Stylene? Thanks

[Mikekx65]

I like to use thicker lexan about 3-4 times as thick as a lexan body. The reason is because so sharp rocks dont slice through the pannels.

[cembom]

Yup and you can buy it in a small sheet and just cut out your shape. Then you can paint on the inside like a body and the paint is protected.

[Grizzly4x4]

I use a sheet of .030" thick clear lexan that I picked up at the LHS.

This is basicly the same thing. clicky

[Defender]

I use .75mm sheets of polypropylene it comes in colors and so far it holds up better then lexan for me, but it may be just a tad bit heavier and I don't know if it can be painted.

[kingofthetrail]

Thanks for the advice

[Crawlerdude75]

Originally Posted by braceysdad

beer cans or your favorite beverage of choice

That is actually a pretty cool idea, but........ You need to be very careful when cutting the aluminum cans, because they will be very, very sharp. But if your careful, and do it right, I am sure it looks great.

[Mnster]

Flashing, Thin aluminum sheet used for roofing.

[Sinastir]

CARBON FIBER :-P

[clarkrw3]

Originally Posted by Sinastir

CARBON FIBER :-P

THATS WHAT I USE

[Crawlerdude75]

Originally Posted by Sinastir

CARBON FIBER :-P

Carbon fiber. Ah, yes. That word brings a lot of things to my head. Shattering....splinters....annoyance..... Carbon Fiber isnt really the best thing for rock crawling...

[kingofthetrail]

Any other ideas

[KSCrawler]

Would shower panel work? Super cheap, and you have your choice of the smooth or textured side. I wonder if you could dye them with RIT?

[NaZ-T]

Originally Posted by braceysdad

beer cans or your favorite beverage of choice

Bob just did his tuber in Nos bottles (Nos is an energy drink and a proud sponser of UTRCRC) I'll see if I can get a pic.

Originally Posted by crawlerdude75

Carbon fiber. Ah, yes. That word brings a lot of things to my head. Shattering....splinters....annoyance..... Carbon Fiber isnt really the best thing for rock crawling...

Actually my friend has been running carbon fiber panels for quite some time now and they hold up just fine, no splitting, shattering, or even a splinter.

I use .040 lexan, that way you can paint it however you want. I've had the same panels on my rig for almost a year and they still look good.

[Reflection]

Originally Posted by Crawlerdude75

Carbon fiber. Ah, yes. That word brings a lot of things to my head. Shattering....splinters....annoyance..... Carbon Fiber isnt really the best thing for rock crawling...

In your opinion anyway.

Carbon fiber is just fine for use in rock crawling. I've used it quite often on various parts. A little trick I've found.....around the edges of the part,use a thicker CA glue and run a small,thin bead around the edge. Even if it does fray,this will keep it to a minimum. If you do notice a fray in the edge,just file it off. Using aluminum for panels can become sharp or jagged and cut as well.

[Mikekx65]

Carbon fiber can make a rig look really nice IF its used right. like raptorman said it will most likely fray at the edges but it nothing ca or superglue can't fix. In the end its all a matter of what you think looks/preforms the best.

[kingofthetrail]

Has anybody ever used styrene? They use it to make hard bodies so I don't know why it wouldn't work.

[mrpink]

really the question should be... what wont work?

I have used everything from lexan to a DVD case for panels before.

[rockbound]

i use the flashing from roofing also works great holds up really well to rock abuse!

[Destroyer]

Scrap Lexan left over after trimming a body.