Getting Close On My 5' X 8"

[MontanaTeardrops]

I got my aluminum in all bent to hell from CDA in Missoula. I asked them if they drug it over here behind the truck from Spokane. Worst part is, I wasted a 250 mile trip to go get it, then find out they deliver daily to Kalispell. They're bringing new stuff Wednesday, but I had to get .050 for the roof and .040 for the sides. They said the machine is broke down for making .040 5X.

[tony.latham]

That stinks. They're delivering four sheets of 040 over here Wednesday.

Tony

[MontanaTeardrops]

Wow, they must deliver to a lot of places. I hope it comes in better shape than mine.

[MontanaTeardrops]

Tony
What kind of luck did you have getting aluminum skin that isn't bent? They bent mine with the bander when they put it on the pallets. They bent every sheet. Now I have to figure out the fastening of the skin. I've heard everything from glue it all the way across to don't silicone anywhere except at the edges. I know this stuff expands a lot, so I'm afraid to fasten it with silicone anywhere but the edges and the doors.
By the way, I ended up buying the doors from Vintek after wasting a bunch of dough on moulding to make my own and the fit ending up horrible.. lesson learned.
Oh, got my 120 outlets in and deck lid wire for lights.

[tony.latham]

They didn't make the run down here this week. It'll be this next Wednesday. I'm not ready for it anyway. Hopefully the banding kid learned his less. I'll float mine, just like on the last one. It's easy. TL

[MontanaTeardrops]

They didn't make the run down here this week. It'll be this next Wednesday. I'm not ready for it anyway. Hopefully the banding kid learned his less. I'll float mine, just like on the last one. It's easy. TL

Meaning you didn't glue it anywhere but the edges?

[tony.latham]

I didn't glue it anywhere.

The top piece is screwed with FH screws, fore (on the bottom), and aft (under the hinge). I've got a fan, so it's also screwed-through there. And of course along the edges –the trim is screwed through the sheet into the plywood. The sides are held by the trim and the doors. There's sealant under all the trim. It moves around in the sun but it's not coming off. I'll be curious what it looks like when it's a 110ºF in the sun.

Nope, no glue. Okay, a little bit. The side pieces on the hatch are (or were) stuck on with contact cement to hold them in place until the trim was installed.


Happy sheathing!

TL

[MontanaTeardrops]

I didn't glue it anywhere.

The top piece is screwed with FH screws, fore (on the bottom), and aft (under the hinge). I've got a fan, so it's also screwed-through there. And of course along the edges –the trim is screwed through the sheet into the plywood. The sides are held by the trim and the doors. There's sealant under all the trim. It moves around in the sun but it's not coming off. I'll be curious what it looks like when it's a 110ºF in the sun.

Nope, no glue. Okay, a little bit. The side pieces on the hatch are (or were) stuck on with contact cement to hold them in place until the trim was installed.


Happy sheathing!

TL

If you didn't use any silicone on the roof and wall edges, how can it be water tight? The moldings I have would never seal out water without some sealer there. Then it's goodbye plywood.

[tony.latham]

There is sealant under all of the trim.

[tony.latham]

BTW, if moisture sneaks by the sealant, it's going to find epoxy soaked plywood.

[tonyj]

If you have sealed you plywood, don't obsess over it. It will leak. No matter what you do. Water rules. Mitigate the damage.

As to the aluminum, it will expand in the 110 degree sun and be granite flat in the cold. Adhering the substrate does nothing in my experience. Seal the edges, doors and vents, and let the field do as it will. Those unsightly bubbles in the sun disappear when the temps cool. Don't look at the bubbles/ buckling--it is supposed to do that.

As to axle position, do the rule of thumb that tongue weight is approx 10-15% of total trailer weight so that the trailer tows correctly with your "major" tow vehicle at 60-70 mph (no fish-tailing). If your atv or utv can't take the tongue weight, your atv/utv is undersized and changing the axle position won't make any difference.

[Alfred]

Hey Montana!

That's a pretty camper! Get 'r done! Spring is here and it is time to go camping!

AL

[MontanaTeardrops]

Thanks Alfred. I can't wait to try it out. It snowed again here in Kalispell, Mt yesterday, and was so cold today it didn't melt off my deck. I just hope Memorial Day week end is nice this year.