Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am in the prosses of of trying to buy my siding for my teardrop but what i would like is to find the type with the peel off protective covering used by Camp-inn on there website.

try looking in the yellow pages for race car manufactures. that is where i found mine, a local IMCA car builder. they had several colors to choose from. painted on both sides. film on one. dont know if you have any around there but if you do start calling them. if they dont have it maybe they can tell you another one that does, where they order theirs from or order it for you. mine came in sheets 4 X 10.5. none of the local metal suppliers had anythign close to what i was looking for.

you might try these guys in your area.
http://www.borchardtspeed.com/
http://www.skeeters-law.com/
http://www.cornettthunder.com/
if they dont have it they be able to tell you where to get it.

...also try sign companies and if you are going to mail order look at the offerings from saf.com.............................

I ordered mine from SAF, it comes with what they call "tape", the plastic film on one side.
I got 2 -4'X10' and 2- 5'X10' sheets of 3003 .040 mill aluminum for $350 delivered to my door.
Depending on the size of the order, delivery to anywhere is free
I couldnt find a better deal anywhere for the same product.
Aaron

Good idea...but has anyone tryed to get the aluminium that thay use on the sides of semi trailers??

Harbor sales has film on the aluminum. They have mill finish and many colors....... delivery is FREE to a business address. http://www.harborsales.net/products.cfm ... %2D%20Coil

Thanks for all the help this should get me started

Scott,

When you get it with the film, get it with the best adhesive possible. This way it will stay put all the way through construction. Generally the types used for laser cutting is best because it has a strong adhesive. Just tell them you want "laser film" on one side when ordering. Most fabrication shops will have a source and if you get it through them with one of their orders you will save a ton on shipping and such.

Cary

Thanks for the info Cary ...I feel foolish now, If I realy wanted to know what kind of aluminium you guys use I should have just E-mailed you.

Cary, What type of aluminum do you use? I ordered .040 3003, am I gonna have problems with it? also, do you glue yours on the entire surface or just the perimeter? Thanks for any advice you may have! Aaron

Scott and Arron,

We use .040 thk 5052. Not sure how well your 3000 series will work but I would think it would be fine Arron. 5052 is more common in sheet stock.

No glue, free float it completely if going over plywood. The expansion rate of a 8' sheet of aluminum on a hot summer day is over 3/16". It will delaminate on plywood. You would be able to glue on foam if doing a composite wall. That is why you want to use something like .040 because it is stiff enough to stay laying flat, .020 would bag some because it is not stiff enough unless using a harder alloy like 2021 or something.

Cary

Cary, You guys dont edge glue the sides or the top? just held down with the moldings?

Scott,

We don't edge glue the sides but we do the top. The curve of the body will try to pull the aluminum off the edges of the trailer if it isn't glued and screwed down real well when it expands. The roof metal will bellow out some in the sun but if held down evenly on the edges you really won't see it because it is even.

Cary

Well heck! I dont know what to do now, I have read on here that many have glued the entire surface and it worked out great,I have also read that alot of people who use no glue have bulging and balooning issues!
What do I do?!? someone decide for me! Aaron

Arron,

The bulging on unglued aluminum you are refering to is the bagging I mean with the lighter gauges of metal. That is true if the aluminum is not thick enough or stiff enough.

Cary