Plastic trailer fenders?

[MTboatguy]

Been a while since I rebuilt a trailer and I need a set of fenders, saw some yesterday that are plastic, made by Atwood, they claim they are unbreakable and can hold 300 pounds, which is more than what I weigh.

Anybody running these and how how they held up for you?

Just curious if they are working out for others, or if I would be better off to bend some steel like we used to do.

Thanks.

 

[Scott Danforth]

most shoreland'r trailers come with plastic fenders. these are the factory trailers for SeaRay. my fat 220# butt did not break them, however blowing a tire at 80mph did shred one

 

[MTboatguy]

most shoreland'r trailers come with plastic fenders. these are the factory trailers for SeaRay. my fat 220# butt did not break them, however blowing a tire at 80mph did shred one

80 mph towing a boat Scott?

 

[M2HB]

I imagine that the plastic would be fairly durable, but I wonder how they hold up over years of sunlight.
i think the manufacturers use them because they are cheaper.

 

[MTboatguy]

I imagine that the plastic would be fairly durable, but I wonder how they hold up over years of sunlight.
i think the manufacturers use them because they are cheaper.

I am sure you are right, these are not expensive, under a hundred bucks for 2 of them.

 

[M2HB]

My last 14 ga diamond plate metal fenders with backing plates were around $125, shipped. Then you have to add angle iron for steps and aluminum diamond plate for the top of the steps. Plastic is much cheaper.

 

[Scott Danforth]

80 mph towing a boat Scott?

the 12 valve diesel didnt go any faster.......

 

[roscoe]

What sometimes fails on the plastics, is the threaded screw holes strip out , fixed with a bolt.

What always fails on the plastics, and steel fenders, is hitting a tree stump with them.

90's trailer with cheap white plastic, thin, cheap, flexed.

New (2006) Karavan trailer with heavy duty thick gray plastic, tough as nails. Have step at front, back, and top of fender.

 

[MTboatguy]

What sometimes fails on the plastics, is the threaded screw holes strip out , fixed with a bolt.

What always fails on the plastics, and steel fenders, is hitting a tree stump with them.

90's trailer with cheap white plastic, thin, cheap, flexed.

New (2006) Karavan trailer with heavy duty thick gray plastic, tough as nails. Have step at front, back, and top of fender.

That is the style I am looking at, they have 3 steps on them, front, back and on top. They were not thin by any means, but with the plastics I have worked at in the past, after a few years they get brittle.

 

[89retta]

I have the original ones on my 04 Shorelandr trailer. Still good as new

 

[poconojoe]

Like Roscoe, I too have a Karavan trailer with the three step plastic fenders. They are very functional and durable. When I was a bit green, I wiped out one of those fenders on a poorly parked car at a gas station. Luckily it was the only damage to my rig, but it cost $300+ to fix that girl's car.
Anyway, I ordered a new one directly from Karavan. Can't remember what it cost, but it was reasonable.

 

[JimS123]

After owning many trailers over the past 50 years, I will never own another that DIDN'T have plastic fenders. They simply hold up forever with no issues.

 

[tpenfield]

I replaced the original steel fenders on my sailboat trailer (after they rusted through and fell off) with plastic fenders. The plastic fenders were fine and they didn't mind the salt water at all.

 

[southkogs]

My trailer still has the original plastic fenders from 02 on it. I really expected not to like them, and for some things I don't ... but they actually clean up back to white okay and have had no trouble outta' them. I can hop all over them and I weigh in about 230.

 

[MTboatguy]

Thanks guys, I will be picking a set up in the AM, sounds like what I need, I will scuff them and paint when I paint the trailer, should work out quite well. I am just at 230 and the wife weighs in about 130 so we should be good to go!

Thanks again.

 

[82rude]

Just be carefull carrying the wife ,lol.You have to toss her in the boat :joyous: Sorry couldn't resist.Like others I vote plastic fenders.Blew a tire years ago with the trailer I have now which is a legend glide on which has the white plastic fenders.and when the tire blew it twisted it a bit but that's it.I weigh a svelt 250 and the fenders hold up to me being on them,lol.

 

[briangcc]

The only thing I'll add, and it may be due to the parts used by Coyote MFG on my specific trailer, is that the non-slip is absolutely useless. I've darn near planted myself a few times in my driveway and the fenders were dry. Personally I'm looking into coating those areas with some water based bedliner or something equivalent so that I increase traction while not eating into the plastic fender.

I don't recall the ones on my Escort trailer (under the Bayliner) being this bad.


The Four Winns were a non-issue as they were metal with non-skid material applied to the tops. Never slid off those...

 

[sherd]

I have originals on a 1997 shorelander trailer. I was standing on one of them yesterday with all of my 260lbs.

 

[TyeeMan]

I just bought two brand new fenders from Shorelander for my 95 tandem axle. Blew a tire which cracked off all the mounting points on that fender and beat up the fender in front of it. $75.00/ea. Bolted right on as one would expect.

 

[JimS123]

Thanks guys, I will be picking a set up in the AM, sounds like what I need, I will scuff them and paint when I paint the trailer, should work out quite well. I am just at 230 and the wife weighs in about 130 so we should be good to go!

Thanks again.

They don't need to be painted. They are plastic. None of mine match the trailer. Painted, and step on them and the paint will be scratched.