Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have decided to sheet mine with steel because I can cover the entire camper with painted 29 gage steel for around $110,Thats about a third
of the cost of aluminum,
I will be ordering 5 pieces that measure 60"X40" to use for the top and front section, I was going to have the manufacturer put a 1/2" hem (fold) on each of the 60" edges,one folded up and the other folded down so I could connect each sheet together but they wanted three times as much for the steel that way,so now I am looking for some type of strip
to cover each seam, I thought about using a "T" shaped trim piece between each sheet with the leg of the T pushed into a slot in the spar at each joint, Has anyone done something like this? also where might I find this type of trim as well as a hurricane hinge?
Thanks allot for any and all help! Aaron

You can try here for the hinge: http://www.teardrops.net/tdparts.html

You may have to make something and use a sealant for your joints.

Try Interstate Metals. You may have to click on the catalog image to enlarge it. Look at Recreational Vehicle Molding (101).

I calculate that the five sheets (went with .035 thickness, not sure what 29 gage measures) will weigh about 120 lbs from steel, 40 lbs from aluminum. In other words, about triple.

Triple the weight of Aluminum.

After I put the aluminum skins on, the increase was really obvious when I was pushing/pulling it around with the tow dolly.

Have you considered the rust problem from roadwear chipping the paint? Just normal driving will throw rocks and sand from your tow vehicle to the trailer and chip the paint. I had a steel cargo trailer, after a few months of driving the rust started showing up everywhere.

Rick

I just got off the phone with the manufacturer of the 29 gage steel I'm going to use and the exact weight of the five panels for the top and front end is 57.75 lbs ,the weight for the two side panels is 46.2 lbs making a total weight to cover my entire camper 103.95 lbs. It will weigh even less when I remove the excess waste off the sides,
It is also coated in a galvanized plating and then primed with a rust preventative and finally painted with a very high quality paint so I don't think rust will be an issue.
If the weight of the five top panels in aluminum is 40 lbs the steel would only weight 17 lbs more,it costs alot less,wont dent as easy, I think other than not getting the shiney aluminum look. I think the steel might be a better way to go.
It's guaranteed on a roof that is exposed to constant rain,snow,ice,sun,salt spray and wind not to rust or fade for 40 years so on a camper that wont be out in the weather all the time I think it would be even better than aluminum. Unless I am missing something? Thanks. Aaron

Can you guys think of anything I might be overlooking by using steel?
I want to order it in the next day or so,but once I order it it's mine.
so I want to be sure. I respect your experience and would appreciate any advise I may have missed! Thanks Again! Aaron

Do you have any issues with bending tight radius?? Did you find compatible trim and a method of connecting the pieces that will be weather proof?? Do you have the necessary tools to cut steel??

All that I can think of for now!!

toypusher wrote:Do you have any issues with bending tight radius?? Did you find compatible trim and a method of connecting the pieces that will be weather proof?? Do you have the necessary tools to cut steel??

All that I can think of for now!!

I would add, that if you are going with steel, to get a piece of Al diamond plate to put on the front or coat with bedliner to protect from rust causing rock damage...even with the galv/rust protection you will still get pitting, that will cause rust to form and rust is just like rot...once started, it spreads......
madjack

The bedliner is a good idea,I have a bedliner gun somewhere in my shop,
I have put on allot of steel roofs when I did construction work,and sold thousands of feet more when I managed a lumber yard so I am pretty familiar with steel roofing. I just wanted to make sure I haven't overlooked anything when it comes to putting it on a camper.
The 29 gage will form a pretty tight radius,specialy when backed against a smooth surface,and I have allot of metal cutting tools, so
hopefully it will work out OK.
Thanks again guys! I will keep you informed.
Aaron

Man, don't listen to these nay-sayers..go get you some steel and cover that puppy up..it's been done before, it will be done again.
I used aluminum on the sides of mine and vinyl on the roof..the aluminum because i'm lazy, and the vinyl because i'm also lazy...did i mention i'm lazy?

Three times as much?!....I just bought two 4x8 sheets of 0.032 aluminum from a local sign shop ( granted,
I used to work there...) for $112....I guess I saw simi9lar pricing around on the net when I first researched the price of aluminum but I always figured I would find it somewhere else cheaper...very interesting....however Joel ( the shop owner..) at the shop did say that the prices for alu sheet had been all over the map this year....

Ola!

Are we comparing apples to oranges here? 29 gauge steel is .0135" thick(thin). What alloys of steel and aluminum are we talking about?