All Fiberglass Van Body?

[WanderingCanuck]

Are there any known big disadvantages to a van body that's all fiberglass, vs. sheet metal?  I came across this one and I liked the configuration, though it's older than I'd like to eventually purchase.

 

[MrNoodly]

Ask Corvette owners. Ask boat owners.

 

[Wanderer]

One crack and you better have some good putty, or a blowtorch....

 

[Mattkcc]

One crack and you better have some good putty, or a blowtorch....

You don't repair a crack in fiberglass with putty and certainly not a blow torch. One thing to watch with older fiberglass is it can get brittle. Repairing fiberglass is pretty straight forward but does take some skill. You would need to terminate the crack by drilling through the ends of the crack. Grind down flaring out then epoxy strips of cloth each larger overlapping the one before. Fill and sand repair will last longer then the van.

 

[frater secessus]

There widebody vans are generally fiberglass. I have never heard an owner complain about them on YT, or complain about the extra living space.

 

[Wanderer]

You don't repair a crack in fiberglass with putty and certainly not a blow torch. One thing to watch with older fiberglass is it can get brittle. Repairing fiberglass is pretty straight forward but does take some skill. You would need to terminate the crack by drilling through the ends of the crack. Grind down flaring out then epoxy strips of cloth each larger overlapping the one before. Fill and sand repair will last longer then the van.

Shows how much I know of them but then again, I'd never own one.  With sheet metal You only have to worry about the metal edges/spots rusting out and there's a whole slew of proactive methods to stop that.

 

[WanderingCanuck]

Shows how much I know of them but then again, I'd never own one.  With sheet metal You only have to worry about the metal edges/spots rusting out and there's a whole slew of proactive methods to stop that.

I suppose that depends where you live.  Here in SW Ontario, Canada, there is so much salt used on the roads in the winter that rust is the main cause of vehicle retirement.  You're lucky if you get 7 years out of a vehicle before noticeable rust is forming, and 10-12 before it's scrap.  My current vehicle is a 2004, and it's a good thing it's a truck with a separate frame.  Otherwise it wouldn't be structurally sound enough to be fit for the road.