Protection For The Front Of A Trailmanor - Page 2

**fcatwo** · 04-20-2008, 10:58 PM

We lived in Alaska for a number of years and towed our 2619 back up in June of 05 so have experienced a few miles of their gravel roads. I would suggest nothing short of "hard-surface" protection close to and across the entire front shell. Thin, soft material may prevent most of the paint chips but TM aluminum dents pretty easily. Large mud flaps help but gravel bounces under and around them and the faster you are driving the more likely it is to dent/chip your aluminum. Even the front fiberglass rock shield will record vitually every rock that hits it if you are traveling at hwy speeds.

I might mention that I've read oncoming traffic doesn't actually throw rocks at you. They just throw them up in the air and you run into them -- much like the rocks kids drop on cars from hwy overpasses. Slowing for oncoming trucks can help if traffic permits.

And watch for moose and other large animals crossing the road. Moose make bigger dents than the gravel :-).

**commodor47** · 04-23-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

. . .

SurfaceShields.com - Transit shield - No prices given . . .

Bill

Bill,

Latest RV Summer Accessories catalogue from our TM dealer lists the Transit Shield at $59.99 Not listed is the amount/size of the product.

http://www.rvlifestyles.net/ItemPage...2-10b8a684e2cf

I checked the Surface Shield Web site and it lists the Transit Shield size at 36" x 32' - 3ml Clear

http://www.surfaceshields.com/auto.php#Transit_Shield

Dick

**ShrimpBurrito** · 04-23-2008, 09:30 AM

So if rocks go under mud flaps, what about something that drops all the way to the ground of the TV, like this:

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/p...=1449&src=SRQB

or this:

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/p...=1848&src=SRQB

I tow on a fair number of dirt roads, and quickly discovered that on roads with any decent sized gravel, we have to travel VERY slow (like 10-15 MPH) to avoid rocks being tossed up on the TM. When you have a 15 mile dirt road, that can really slow you down, but it's better than a bunch of dings on the TM.

Dave

**fcatwo** · 04-23-2008, 01:15 PM

You have to remember that the trailer is wider than the TV so nothing you do on the TV that doesn't stick out each side is going to protect the entire front of the trailer. Also, I've noticed that the hanging, brush-like things shown in one picture above just flap in the wind and I couldn't see that they provide any protection at all. Flexible mud flaps are also bent back by the wind, possibly at the perfect angle so gravel hits them and bounces down and then back up to hit the trailer. Slowing down, as suggested, would likely minimize this.

Rigid mud flaps like Bill and some others have installed on their TMs to protect the plumbing would likely work better. Strangely enough, I didn't find gravel to be nearly the problem when we were towing with the Odyssey minivan because it was closer to the ground. The TM front frame took some hits but apparently most of the rocks went under the trailer.

countrygirl · 04-25-2008, 10:04 PM

I was over on RVPICS.COM and some one just installed these rock tamers on their vehicle. The look good and at the Cabelas site they have mostly good reviews. They are pricey though at 199.95.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0054018523066a.shtml?

SCBillandJane · 04-28-2008, 05:03 PM

In reading on a full timer forum where they were towing cars behind motor homes, some recommended not to have the full width mud flaps because they deflected the gravel down and bounced it back up to hit the car. Has anyone seen something that might be attached under the tongue of the trailer as a sheild to rocks bouncing up?

05-14-2008, 08:53 PM

It's for towing a car behind an RV but you could make something up yourself and be happy and keep some money.

Here's the link: http://www.rvsupplywarehouse.com/pro...d/219/pid/3986

Hope this helps.

Bob R

**ShrimpBurrito** · 05-14-2008, 10:59 PM

That's an interesting concept. One conceivably bolt a piece of painted plywood under the tongue to obtain the same protection. And it could be mounted low enough to slide under the TV.....

Dave

05-20-2008, 12:12 AM

Has anyone concidered white shelf paper. It is just tackey enough to stick but not so stickey as to not come off with ease even after a 5000 mile trip. I double the layer and see no trouble with 3 layers for that Alaska trip. I start at the first seam that runs across the top and then pull it down and cut it off leaving just enough to lip the bottom. I over lap each piece maybe an in. When I get to the awning I just lip the bottom. That way it is still usable. It takes all of 5 min. The paper I use I get at Wal Mart. Its cheap and it closely matches the color of my TM.

**rtcassel** · 08-20-2008, 12:57 PM

I was cleaning my TM today and for the first time realized that the finish of the front surface surrounding the window and below the molding that separates it from the roof is a different material from the rest of the TM. The surface has a grainy feature, sort of like leather, maybe. I am the first owner and I did not put any protective surface on this area. Has anyone else noticed this? I have some small dents elsewhere on the trailer, but not in this area.