Which Tub is best? (FAQ)

[canadaman5155]

So I need a new tub obviously and I have read up on them.

I have read that the 2 best are Heritage and Aqualu. Although I can't decide I read both positive and negative things about them. I took a look at the FAQ and nothing was there. I'm obviously a Canadian and deal with winter. I do a fair amount of wheelin' but It's also a DD. So what would you all recommend, is there another tub that is better than those two?


Thanks A lot.

[John Smith]

I would imagine being in Canada that Aqualu would be cheaper to obtain and ship to you. I have never worked with either tub but like yourself I have heard good things about both.

[Coolerman]

Canada = lots of snow/ice = road salt = RUST! Get the aluminum tub...

[canadaman5155]

That's what i was thinking. I just want to make sure Aluminum will hold up while Wheelin'. Don't want it to get ripped apart . I'm hoping 10+ years with this tub. So just wanted to make sure.

[bigndn]

Why not go with a Gozzard fiberglass tub??

www.gozzardcomposites.com

[VT Fj-40 Owner]

I say go with the Aluminium tub. It's better for standing up against the weather in your location and it's cheaper.

[canadaman5155]

Originally Posted by bigndn

Why not go with a Gozzard fiberglass tub??

www.gozzardcomposites.com

I did think about fiberglass, but that seems kind of sketchy if you ask me. I would be scared wheelin' with a fiberglass tub..... Am I wrong to think that?

[sonnydaze]

ive had a lot of corvettes and would be afraid of a glass tub(stress cracks from flexing and they bust not bend)

[bigndn]

Originally Posted by canadaman5155

I did think about fiberglass, but that seems kind of sketchy if you ask me. I would be scared wheelin' with a fiberglass tub..... Am I wrong to think that?

Give Gozzard a call. He's rolled his personal FJ40 many times and the tub is still fine. His tubs are strong as shite.....he's a yacht builder and knows fiberglass.

side benefit is that glass is wayyyyyyyy easier to repair than aluminum.

[canadaman5155]

I'll give it some thought.... but it's like having a car made out of Bondo..... This decision is harder than I had originally thought.

[FJ40Jim]

Originally Posted by canadaman5155

That's what i was thinking. I just want to make sure Aluminum will hold up while Wheelin'. Don't want it to get ripped apart . I'm hoping 10+ years with this tub. So just wanted to make sure.

Are you kidding?
Have you seen an Aqualu tub before installation?
They are made of thick stuff. And fully welded.
The AL tub will outlast the chassis underneath it.

Gozzard's stuff is nice too.

But if I was building a truck to be DD and 4Wheeled, it would be arruminum.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by canadaman5155

I'll give it some thought.... but it's like having a car made out of Bondo..... This decision is harder than I had originally thought.

Not exactly. Fiberglass mat is fiber-woven. Bondo is like hardened mud. It will flex and return to form in situations where steel or aluminum would dent. It gets a bad rap, but it's strong. I would recommend a subframe for impact strength, though. It ain't gonna rust.

I haven't wheeled mine yet, but I'm not afraid to. I don't expect my paint job to hold up well for long, though.

[Leaping Deer]

Originally Posted by JJS

Not exactly. Fiberglass mat is fiber-woven. Bondo is like hardened mud. It will flex and return to form in situations where steel or aluminum would dent. It gets a bad rap, but it's strong. I would recommend a subframe for impact strength, though. It ain't gonna rust.

I haven't wheeled mine yet, but I'm not afraid to. I don't expect my paint job to hold up well for long, though.

Fiberglass will crack and you can't bang it out like you could with alumimum. So 6 in one and half dozen in another.

I have seent he Aquala tubs up close and they are a great product. I probably would have gone with one but shipping is a killer.

[90 Weight]

Originally Posted by canadaman5155

That's what i was thinking. I just want to make sure Aluminum will hold up while Wheelin'. Don't want it to get ripped apart . I'm hoping 10+ years with this tub. So just wanted to make sure.

Hey man, I just finished installing my aqualu tub...Im not sure if you have called and talked to them, but in addition to not being able to rust, they are 3x stronger than the origional steel. Very thick stuff...Infact (I was encountering this when wanting to add on to it) the alum they use is marine grade. Good stuff. If you want to talk to someone and find out specifics on the Aqualu tub give them a call and ask to talk to Bob (Alumacruiser) here on mud...great guy. The install is easy too.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by Leaping Deer

Fiberglass will crack and you can't bang it out like you could with alumimum. So 6 in one and half dozen in another.

I have seent he Aquala tubs up close and they are a great product. I probably would have gone with one but shipping is a killer.

I think the Aqualu is a better product hands down. Believe me, I'm not biased in favor of glass. I got my tub for cheap money. It will crack on a hard impact and start to tear, but it won't shatter, meaning it's nothing like bondo.

[canadaman5155]

OK Aqualu seems like the one to go with. The glass tubs from Gozzard's looks fine too, but I just don't feel comfortable with it. Thanks guys. Also, is it a pain to paint those aluminium tubs?

thanks

[apeterson]

I would like to know about painting also...

[FJ40Jim]

Painting is no problem for a competent body shop.
So many new cars have aluminum parts, shops have been forced to learn the proper prep & prime procedures for AL.

[dbarrett]

painting aluminum is the same as painting steel or fiberglass. Proper prep is what wins the day. Pick your paint and then go online to get the spec sheets from the manufacturer. They will have specific instructions if you need to do anything special with aluminum.

[90 Weight]

Since Im very close to painting my tub I fount out some more specific info...here are the specifics that Bob from aqualu sent to me

Procedures for Prepping & Painting Aluminum Using PPG Products


· Perform all required bodywork first (filing/ grinding act.)
· Degrease entire area using DX 320 or DX 394 there is no need to use both products. (Wipe off while product is wet with a clean dry cloth)
· Sand aluminum using 240 to 320 grit sand paper and using a 3M red scotch bright pad to sand any areas that you cannot reach with sandpaper.
· Degrease entire area again using DX 320
· Blow off entire area with compressed air and tack with a tack cloth.
· Apply 1 coat of DX 1791 this product is very thin do not try to achieve coverage this product is a chemical etch product. (Use as per P sheet recommendations) Allow to flash (dry) for 15 min before next step
· Apply 2 coats DP series primer (allow drying time of 30min before applying Hi build primer on top of this. (Use as per P sheet recommendations)
· Apply 3 coats of K38 or DPS 3055 primer these products will take out any minor imperfections before being painted (must be sanded before being top coated 400-500 grit sand paper) see P sheet for drying time before you can sand these products.
· After thoroughly sanding all areas degrease with DX 320 or DX 394. Blow and tack all areas.
Paint with desired topcoat DCC urethane topcoat or DBC base coat follow P sheet recommendations.

[PVCruiser]

Even though you are in CA and you have salt... My vote would be for Heritage. You can undercoat it with Rhino line, Line-x, or Hurculine....

The AL tubs do not directly bolt-up, they require fitment. Also the interior finsh work leaves a bit to be desired. I'm not a fan of the squared tranny hump.

FWIW, AL doesn't flex line Steel. It will form stress cracking quicker...


My $0.02 is Heritage.

[Volunteer]

Heritage and for more reading http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/124492-heritage-3-4-tub-vs-sheat-metal.html

[canadaman5155]

Originally Posted by PVCruiser

Even though you are in CA and you have salt... My vote would be for Heritage. You can undercoat it with Rhino line, Line-x, or Hurculine....

The AL tubs do not directly bolt-up, they require fitment. Also the interior finsh work leaves a bit to be desired. I'm not a fan of the squared tranny hump.

FWIW, AL doesn't flex line Steel. It will form stress cracking quicker...


My $0.02 is Heritage.

True, I could very easily line the bottom, but how much is the flex difference between AL and Steel. Is it really that much?

The two things that are keeping me from going steel is:
AL is lighter
But most of all: Steel tubs are $$$$$$$

[antFJ]

i hate to take the focus away from peterson and aqualu and heritage tubs.. but I've been reading on mud for a month or so now and I'm curious to know why no one has mentioned the body tubs sold by www.cruiserparts.net - they say its a "ready to install body tub with new panels all around from firewall back" for $3500.. I was mainly looking at this tub because its within trailer range (i live in CT) and because my tub is pretty shot from firewall back

just wanted to know what you guys think..

-Ant

[jhaha]

Another vote for Aqualu. I just got done with my build, and that is the one single purchase i would definitely do again.

[VT Fj-40 Owner]

Originally Posted by antFJ

i hate to take the focus away from peterson and aqualu and heritage tubs.. but I've been reading on mud for a month or so now and I'm curious to know why no one has mentioned the body tubs sold by www.cruiserparts.net - they say its a "ready to install body tub with new panels all around from firewall back" for $3500.. I was mainly looking at this tub because its within trailer range (i live in CT) and because my tub is pretty shot from firewall back

just wanted to know what you guys think..

-Ant

That may be a used tub.... it says "almost like new"

[rabid]

I have seen both the aluminum and glass tubs take an absolute beating off road. The glass tub is by no means easier to install than the aluminum. I do not think you could go wrong with either, assuming you use gozzard. Other glass tubs are awful.

As for the undercoating idea to work against rust- the only one that works is oil undercoating, do-able in vermont, not sure about other states. With other undercoatings, it just rusts at the seams and where the sealant is not.

If you go with a steel tub, (one that is of factory thickness), and you drive it in snow and salt- it will be toast within 5 years. You will most likely not get 10 out of it.

There are other tubs out there (search for poor wally) but they require someone else doing the install, and using much thicker steel than factory.

{edit} maybe 5 years is a bit harsh, you might do a little better. But it will certainly not outlast other steel options, glass or aluminum.

[canadaman5155]

Well it seems like AL is the way to go yet again (in my location) Thanks a lot. I will look into that poor walley guy too rabid. Also I have read about warping with the AL tubs...... what is that?



Thanks for everything.