3M™ VHB™ Tape for Smooth-Sided Trailers

Smooth look.
Smooth ride.
Confidence.

3M™ VHB™ Tapes give trailer buyers
what they want — smooth trailers.
Using 3M™ VHB™ Tape for panel attachment can give your trailer a smooth
look with improved durability and a potentially quieter ride.

Whether they haul horses, tools, equipment or racing vehicles, trailer owners know what they want.
3M solicited third-party research of trailer owners and here are the results:

Horse trailer owners want:
1. Durability
2. Horse comfort and safety
3. Aesthetics

Cargo trailer owners want:
1. Durability
2. Aesthetics“We don’t have to use rivets now. We don’t have to haveany kind of screws anywhere to hold us together.
The 3M™ VHB™ Tape does it.”
— Lonnie Troyer, ShowHauler Sales Manager

Smooth Sided (3M™ VHB™ Tape) vs. Mechanically-Fastened
Compare the reflections of the smooth-sided trailer at left made with 3M™ VHB™ Tape and the mechanicallyfastened trailer at right. Smooth sides convey a professional appearance and quality construction, as well as
improve the installation and look of graphics.

3M™ VHB™ Tape

Mechanical Fasteners

Quick Glance Comparison
Customer Wants

DurabilityAesthetics

Reduced Noise

3M™ VHB™ Tape

Mechanical Fastener

Flexes with thermal expansion and contraction

May become loose during thermal
expansion and contraction

Absorbs vibration; helps maintains the bondand seals against water and dirt intrusion

May become loose over time which canlead to leaks

Separates dissimilar metals to help prevent
galvanic corrosion

Dissimilar metals can come in contact
leading to galvanic corrosion

Smooth appearance even in the sun’s heat

Expands into a quilted pattern in the sun

Improved appearance of graphics

Surface dotted with rivets and screws

Taped panels stay tight helping to reduce rattling

Rigid metal-to-metal attachment of
mechanical fasteners transfer soundViscoelastic tape properties help provide sound damping

Under equal stress conditions, metal
panels bonded with 3M™ VHB™ Tapeshow no visible signs of stress comparedto those with mechanical fasteners.

How is a smooth trailer made?
For more than 35 years, leading trailer manufacturers have reliedon 3M™ VHB™ Tape for assembly of durable, smooth-sided trailers.
3M™ VHB™ Tape is an alternative to screws, rivets, welds and liquidadhesives. The tape is used to bond side panels to posts and panel
to panel on overlap seams. 3M™ VHB™ Tapes are made with acrylic
foam adhesive with unique viscoelastic properties and outstanding
durability. This gives the foam energy absorbing and stress relaxation
properties that protect the bond by absorbing vibration, dynamic
loads (wind), movement due to trailer flex, and thermal expansion/contraction. The end result is a smooth and durable trailer side wall
assembly that will serve their customer for years.

Ease of Building with 3M™ VHB™ Tape
Attaching 3M™ VHB™ Tape is different than attachment using rivets or screws. Our experience has shown thatonce a crew gets the hang of it, the time of assembly is about the same as mechanical assembly. There is lessdrilling on the line, which means less noise in the factory and reduced chances for operators to develop carpel
tunnel syndrome.

“3M™ VHB™ Tape is really easy to work with. I don’t evenhave to think about it.”— Aaron Todd, ShowHauler Production

™

™

Tape

3M VHB Tape

Post

Panel
Post

PanelScrews

Post

Panel

Optimizing smooth panel attachmentwith unconstrained construction.

Traditional mechanicalfasteners
Results in pillowing andcause stress points thatcan weaken with timeand vibration.

Constrained construction
Creates seam popping.
Panel expansion increases
stress on the taped seams
that can lead to panel
separation.

Unconstrained construction
with 3M™ VHB™ Tape
Much more durable. Mechanical fasteners
are completely eliminated, helping toreduce expansion forces on the seams andensure a long lasting bond.

Result:The unconstrained panel design using 3M™ VHB™ Tape was found to be themost durable smooth panel attachment system.

Stands up to thehighest standards.
To prove the durability of the unconstrained design,
3M sent two trailers to the Bosch Automotive Proving
Grounds in South Bend, Indiana. The side panels on
one test trailer were attached with 3M™ VHB™ Tapes.
Panels on the other test trailer were mechanicallyfastened. An independent test team at Boschperformed durability testing over various roadconditions and exposure to heat cycling.

Road Condition Durability Testing

Pressure Washer Testing

Testing parameters for heat cycle and road condition durability

After the 100,000 mile road test• Instruments were attached inside each trailer todetect changes in side panel position or dynamics• A pressure washer set at 3,200 PSI
sprayed water over each seam ofthe smooth-sided trailer• Trailers were overloaded 120%
• Series of road tests simulated hauling 100,000 miles• No leaks were detected

Road construction simulation.

Pressure washer set at 3,200 PSI.

“There’s been the occasional issue where we have to actually use aforklift to pull the sidesheets off the steel structure.”“3M™ VHB™ Tape is foam composition.
We don’t have to worry about water
being inside and around it like we dowith other sealants.”— Scott Cronin, ShowHauler R&D— Scott Schaefer, Voyager Industries

Result: After a simulated 100,000 miles ofdifferent road conditions, non-constrained
3M™ VHB™ Tape panel construction heldtight preventing leaks, absorbing vibration
and reducing noise.

33% FAILED
mechanicalfasteners

33% of the mechanical fasteners wereloose at 36,000 miles.

3M™ VHB™ Tape — Unconstrained Construction

Mechanical Fasteners

Thermal Cycling Durability Testing• Trailers were placed in an enclosed environmental chamber andexposed repeatedly to temperature cycling after 36,000 miles• Heaters radiated up to 190°F to simulate the sun’s heat against
the trailer (30 cycles repeated for each side)

Result:Unconstrained design looks great andstays strong in extreme heat.
Heaters radiated up to 190°F.

Noise and Vibration Testing• Horse trailer assembled using unconstrained 3M™ VHB™ Tapeconstruction• Tested at highway speeds by independent noise vibration expert
According to horse experts, reducing noise and vibration duringtransport could help reduce stress and fatigue for horses. This canresult in shorter recovery times before shows, races or other events.

Result:3M™ VHB™ Tape assembled trailer is up to
41% quieter at highway speeds and reduces
vibration up to 30% when compared to amechanically fastened trailer.

Dream. Design.
Deliver.
Thanks to the science behind
3M Industrial Adhesives andTapes, we offer the freedom toimagine, to design and to build.

The confidence of awarranty from 3M.
Based on the track recordand recent testing results,
3M now offers a 36-month
warranty to qualified
manufacturers withproperly assembled panels.

3M™ VHB™ Tape and
3M™ Extreme Sealing Tape
Application Tool Kit
Everything you needfor applying tapesuccessfully.

Product Information
3M™ VHB™ Commercial Vehicle Tapes
Product

Tape Thickness
Without Linermils (mm)AdhesiveType

DescriptionCV45F

45 (1.1)

Gray, closed-cell acrylic foamcarrier. Conformable. Good
adhesion to many painted metals.

CV62F

62 (1.6)

Gray, closed-cell acrylic foam
carrier. Conformable. Good
adhesion to many painted metals.

Temperature Resistance
Minutes/Hours

Days/Weeks

Solvent
Resistance

Application Ideas

Acrylic

300°F(149°C)

200°F(93°C)High

Bond overlap seams onvehicle side panels

Acrylic

300°F(149°C)

200°F(93°C)High

Bond vehicle side panels
to posts

ProductDescription

3M™ VHB™ Tape and3M™ Extreme Sealing Tape
Application Tool Kit

Kit contains: Soft Roller with Cover, 3M™ Hand Applicator PA1-B Blue, Plastic Spray Bottle with Nozzle, File Cleaner,
Scotch-Brite™ Hand Pad 7447 and Power Roller (J-Roller)

3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division
3M Center, Building 225-3S-06
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000
Phone
Fax
Web

800-362-3550
877-369-2923
3M.com/VHB

Product Selection and Use: Many factors beyond 3M’s control and uniquely within user’s knowledge and control canaffect the use and performance of a 3M product in a particular application. As a result, customer is solely responsible
for evaluating the product and determining whether it is appropriate and suitable for customer’s application, including
conducting a workplace hazard assessment and reviewing all applicable regulations and standards (e.g., OSHA, ANSI,etc.). Failure to properly evaluate, select, and use a 3M product and appropriate safety products, or to meet all applicablesafety regulations, may result in injury, sickness, death, and/or harm to property. Warranty, Limited Remedy, andDisclaimer: Unless a different warranty is specifically stated on the applicable 3M product packaging or product literature(in which case such warranty governs), 3M warrants that each 3M product meets the applicable 3M product specification
at the time 3M ships the product. 3M MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESSFOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ARISING OUT OF A COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM, OR USAGE OF TRADE. Ifa 3M product does not conform to this warranty, then the sole and exclusive remedy is, at 3M’s option, replacementof the 3M product or refund of the purchase price. Limitation of Liability: Except for the limited remedy stated above,and except to the extent prohibited by law, 3M will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from or related to the3M product, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential (including, but not limited to, lost profits
or business opportunity), regardless of the legal or equitable theory asserted, including, but not limited to, warranty,contract, negligence, or strict liability.

3M, Soctch-Brite and VHB are trademarks of 3M Company. Please recycle. Printed in USA.
© 3M 2017. All rights reserved. 70-0709-3997-3 July2017