I want to put slide-in clear slats in the gaps on the sides of my 1997 Bonanza steel stock trailer.  The shop wants $300 for materials and labor (there aren't any rails yet for the slats to slide into).    I guess that's not a bad price but frankly I don't have that kind of money.

What material do I want to use for the slats, and where can I buy it?  Do they have anything at Home Depot that would work?  The shop said they'd use "a corrugated poly material" that they say is stronger than plexiglass... but I have to wonder how clear it is.

Thanks,
-Sharon

The only way know if the price is right is to shop around. Ask local harware stores- I found they can be less then HD.

I also had plexiglass in a different trailer I had once. I didn't like it. It was the only air flow source and it was a pain to take out and in. I didn't haul in the winter, like I tend to do now. But if you need it,  you need it.

Good price? Depends on whether you can find it cheaper. Extrusion grade polycarbonate ( GE tradename is Lexan) runs about $2.13 a pound, and then you add in the production, shipping and retailers profit.  Anyway, plexiglass is acrylic just for the record, and will be cheaper than Lexan, which is what bullet proof glass is made from. Try this link, they have 33" x 19" x 1/8" thick plexiglass for like $35 bucks and you might not have to cut it. Cutting it is the hardest part, as if done incorrectly it will fissure crack. If you try the last link just put plexiglass into the search function for "word" and it will pop up a page where you can have custom sheets made and still be cheaper than local big box store and you wont have to cut it.

http://stores.ebay.com/eStreetPlastics

http://search.ebay.com/plexiglass_W0QQfromZR40

http://www.professionalplastics.com/cgi-bin/main/co_disp/displ/pgrfnbr/3/sesent/00

GO TO YOUR LOCAL GLASS DEALER AND THEY WILL CUT IT TO THE SIZES YOU NEED YOU MIGHT HAVE TO MEASURE IT YOUR SELF BUT MOST COMPANIES WILL DO IT FOR YOU.THEN YOU CAN PRE DRILL THE HOLE IN THE PLEXIGLASS ONE SIZE LARGER THAN THE RUBBER WASHER SELF DRILLER SCREW YOUR USING AND YOU SHOULD'NT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. JUST REMEMBER DONT OVER TIGHTEN THE SELF DRILLIN SCREW.

GOOD LUCK

That would be ideal, but more expensive.
The 'screw/rubber washer thing' is just another option.

This might be a stupid question.. but could you use some type of heavy material to block the wind? 

I have plexiglass in my trailer right now, it raddles some (like any stock trailer) but I had a thought, I wonder if I had heavy duty snaps put in on the inside of the trailer, if I could use heavy waited canvas (sort of like those heavy duck turnout rugs for horses) would that work?  It would be VERY quick and easy to install and easy to store.