Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hey guys-
I am trying to find where to purchase my aluminum to skin my teardrop. I found that you can call Alcoa mill to have them locate an distributor for the metal you need and in the sheet size you want. The problem is, I don't know what aluminum to use. Alcoa needs both alum. grade and temper. I left a message with the Aluminum Association and they will help you with the aluminum type you need. I think I want a .040 thick 5000 grade aluminum. Do I need to finds it anodized? Will it be a maintenance nightmare? I want as bright of a metal as possible. Sorry for any redundancy, I'm sure this question comes around every so often so if there is a thread out there, please send me the link.

Thanks,
David

David,

At the top of the page, click design resources and then choose SD Trippers2's index. After that page loads, scroll down to the aluminum section. There are several threads discussing thickness, finish, etc...

Alcoa is a large company. I can't believe they would talk to you about your needs for a TD. I am looking for five wide and interested in pursuing this as well. Can you provide a website link where you were at?

Thanks,

Terry

I got my .040" 5052 from these guys: http://www.tkmna.com/tkmna/TKMNADivisio ... index.html

There is a big price break at 100# and it was less expensive to buy 5 sheets of 5' X 12' than four!!!! They packaged it well and it was perfect when I picked it up.

Cheers,

Gus

Here is another source for 5 wide aluminum. They have anodized, mill finished, even painted aluminum. From what I was told
you can even get it any length you want. There is a glass company in my home town that buys from them and that's where I got my info.
http://www.firestonemetal.com/ figured I'd share this.

Also Southern aluminum finishing in Atlanta. Mill finish 60x120x.040.

Any metal supplier can get aluminum sheeting if they don't stock it. I found a couple places in Minneapolis and St. Paul (Minnesota), and prices were not bad. They had 4X8, 4X10, and 5X 10, 5X12 foot. I figure my 5X10 will cost about $400 tops. And that's at last years prices, I think metal has come down since then by quite a bit. I figure shear 12 footers at 6 feet, and lay them across the roof using the HT12 trim on the seam. Check out Frank Bears site for these parts. He is an awesome source of info and he and his wife are very knowledgeable on any assistance you may need. http://teardroptrailerparts.com/Hinges_ ... _Trim.html

Aluminum rv roofing is sold in widths greater than 5'.

Factory RV Surplus in Elkhart, Indiana lists .024 gauge seamless aluminum 103" wide and 14 feet long at
$204.68.

Here's my experience with this. You can find Mill finish in 5 wide pretty easily at metal supply shops but ....you cannot find 5 wide in painted (white) sheets. Im told they only come in 49 inch. Yes I said 49 inch.

BTW; What do you use to glue your aluminum panels to the wood ???



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http://www.bestwaytrailer.com in utah. They are reasonable and have a nice selection.

http://www.bestwaytrailer.com in utah. They are reasonable and have a nice selection.

Everybody has a Local Aluminum Source that charges little or NO shipping charges!

Sign Makers. Any sign maker that makes electric metal signs can get sheet aluminum for you. And in many colors.



I have 4 near me and I can actually shop by price for it.





Happy Trails

Len