steel, fiberglass or kevlar tub

I have a 60 cj5 which I am restoring. It needs a new tub. I am trying to decide what material the tub should be made of - kevlar, steel, or fiberglass. Does anyone have a suggestion. I will use the jeep for plowing snow and driving around our farm.

 

the reproduction steel tubs that i've seen are not as good as the original, and will eventually rust through again. kevlar is better than fiberglass, but also more expensive. either one will remain rust free. i picked up an entire jeep just for the fiberglass tub. its from 4wd hardware. its over 10 years old and is in great shape.

 

didn't someone used to make a stainless steel tub once also?

 

Welcome from Norwalk!

I like steel. To me, it is easier to fix than fiberglass when you dent / damage it.

 

I used an AJs fiberglass tub, fenders and hood and like it. It fits good and the quality is great. The only thing I did not like was the windshield cowl needed some extra reinforcment. If I did it again, I think I would go with aluminum, but when I bought my body 15 years ago, I could only afford a fiberglass one. Anyway I am very pleased with AJ's fiberglass work and would buy from them again.

 

Got a 4wd hardware glass tub and it has served me well..


BUBBA

 

Welcome Arne, from Plymouth, Ma.

As you can see I’m from the northeast and when you tell me your going to use your jeep for plowing then you better go with the glass. Steel will rust out in short time from the salt.

 

Here's a link to a pretty Aluminum tub:
http://www.jpoffroad.com/replacement/CJ5_Universal.htm

 

...drool....

 

so which bank should i rob?

 

IMO, for a restoration, nothing beats an original, rust-free steel tub. They are available in the west at prices competitive with a replacement tub. The south is another possibility - a while ago someone posted pics of a yard in Georgia that had lots of CJs. If you have the time, you should be able to shop around and find a bargain.

Glass is the cheapest new replacement, and has some obvious advantages in the rust belt. To me, a Jeep with a 'glass body is too different... not my preference, especially for a "restoration." Lots of steel parts in a Jeep besides the body - a 'glass body is no panacea for rust. I wonder whether a CJ frame will last longer than two original steel bodies, if they are well maintained.

 

Another thing - just because a tub is rusty doesn't mean it can't be repaired. All the panels are available, and not many compound curves - mostly flat steel. Maybe you could media blast the tub, buy an inexpensive welder, and fix your existing tub. Almost guaranteed to be the cheapest route, unless you can find a bargain OEM tub.

 

um i went that route i would say if you had as much rust as me then no way would i ever do it again. i would redo a body panel or two but never most everything from the cowl back. i did get real good at welding sheet metal though by the time i got to where i am now.

 

For the $'s steel would be the way to go i just did it myself

 

Dear Dan Stew,

 

Dan Stew,
I live on a farm and am fixing a Cj5 for trail use and road use. I am not going to totally restore it, but am keeping the flat four. Your jeep looks really cool i was wondereing what you did to it. Also i am having trouble finding an aluminum body for a Cj5 from 1960, so i was wondering were i could find one.
From Arne