Aluminum

[wlivesey]

I'm looking for a few opinions...

My aluminum is somewhat curved and doesn't want to lay flat on the side on my trailer. Specifically, I'm talking about the area beneath the window. Since I'm already going for a riveted look, I'm thinking about shooting "rivets" in the sides or installing decorative trim pieces from front to back.

I don't feel like an adhesive is an option at this point since the skins are already trimmed down to size.

[ajricher]

Dumb question - what does the curving look like once you stick the window in the hole (or clamp wood around the perimeter of the hole)?

I would expect that to pull it in quite a bit - perhaps enough?

Barring that being enough, a row of aluminium screws would look much like rivets and would certainly secure it. I did that myself on the rebuild of my TTT - added a row of screws to replace some long-rotted staples (agwd, i hate staples...) on a panel joint.

Alan

[unforgiven]

to do the full "riveted" look would be cool, but you would need to carry it out on the rest of the trailer to make it look right. would be extremely time consuming, but esthetically pleasing to the eye.

perhaps as alan suggests, how is it with the window in? and/or with the rear section of alum. attached? i imagine that would change how the front piec would sit, once the rear is on.

darryl

[wlivesey]

Dumb question - what does the curving look like once you stick the window in the hole (or clamp wood around the perimeter of the hole)?

I would expect that to pull it in quite a bit - perhaps enough?

Not a dumb question... That's what I thought would happen too. When I installed the window it didn't pull the aluminum down as much as I would like.

to do the full "riveted" look would be cool, but you would need to carry it out on the rest of the trailer to make it look right. would be extremely time consuming, but esthetically pleasing to the eye.

I think the full riveted look would be cool. I'm not concerned about it being time consuming but I am a bit concerned about making it look good. What pattern should the rivets follow??? Don forget I have a hatch that isn't pictured above.




I'm also considering a piece of trim running down the side that would further force the aluminum into shape.

Thoughts?

[ajricher]

Just a thought - can you pop the skin back off and flex it in the other direction to counteract the curve? Then it might drop right up flat.

Barring that, I think the beltline trim might be a better idea than all those holes through the skin for the riveted look.

Alan

[wlivesey]

Just a thought - can you pop the skin back off and flex it in the other direction to counteract the curve? Then it might drop right up flat.

Barring that, I think the beltline trim might be a better idea than all those holes through the skin for the riveted look.

Alan

I could take the skin back off but I don't think i'll be able to flatten it out without damaging it. Beltline trim would be the easiest and would look good. I'm not sure, however, what I'll do I'd the hatch has the same problem. What kind of trim would look good there??? It may be easier to come up with a nice rivet pattern that could be carried through to the hatch... I don't know...

[Robsr64]

Hello, I am by no means an expert. But from what I can tell from the picture, it looks like the aluminum is a little too long between the wheel well trim and the front trim on the trailer. If that is the case it could cause a curved effect that you have. Just my .02 cents worth. Good Luck