Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Aluminum sheet suitably sized for our Teardrop projects comes in thickness of .032", .040", and .060". What thickness did you use? Better yet, what thickness should I use? If you are unhappy with the thickness you use, what would you do differently, and why?

If you can think of an answer to any question I did not ask relative to aluminum thickness, please jump in and set me straight.

Hi Steve,

I think most of us used .040" thickness. I've heard some that used .030" say that they wished they had used thicker and the .060" is a bit stiff to bend the radius on the roof.

Denny

Steve H

I too questioned the thickness several months ago when I was in the market for aluminum. I found .024", .032" and .040". It was suggested to me to use .032". .024 being too flimsy and .040 being a little hard to bend. So I used .032" and it worked out very well. I also found .032" that had baked-on enamel which I purchased in white.

Hopes this helps.

Dan

I found a place on line that i can get .024 thickness much cheaper than the others. They use it for the roof on Wells Cargo trailers. Why would this be too thin, if you have solid 1/4" ply under it? Any comments would be welcome........Nub...

How tight can you roll .032 aluminum? I'm thinking about a 6" radius at the lower rear.

Where did you find the aluminum with the baked on enamel color? Any suggestions for suppliers?

I called a steel yard in Denver, and they had aluminum with a baked on finish, it came 49 inches wide, to be used for trailers. Check your local steel yards, or trailer repair shops.

JunkMan wrote:I called a steel yard in Denver, and they had aluminum with a baked on finish, it came 49 inches wide, to be used for trailers. Check your local steel yards, or trailer repair shops.

Hey I'm in Denver, what was the name of the steel yard? It won't be long before I'll need some aluminum too.
Thanks,
Bruce

Jeff,

How long were the painted aluminum sheets you found for trailer construction? 49 inches is too narrow for my tear, so is it AVALILABLE special order in wider width? I need a minimum of 60 inches wide.

I need the same width as you Steve. and mine is 9 feet long. If you have a big trailer repair place locally, they have .040 aluminum, 103 inches wide, you buy it by the running ft. One here had it, but i needed at least 108" for the sides. If your building a standard 8 ft long trailer, it would work for you. Try Lufkin trailer mfg in Lufkin Tx. You may be able to buy it direct from them. Its the metal they use for the top of the big box trailers.
http://www.lufkin.com/trailers/

Found white painted .040 aluminum, 5' X 10', at Regal Plastics here in San Antonio for $75 a sheet.

Also, Reliance Metals here has .050 natural aluminum, 5' X 10", for $68.10 a sheet.

Guess I need to decide if I want the tear white or natural aluminum.

Do these prices sound in line with what everyone else is paying?

Bruce & Steve,

Sorry, but I missed your posts somehow.

Bruce, I don't reacll the name of the steel yard right now, I think I marked it in my son's phone book (he lives in Aurora), will check with him. I will be going back down to visit him in a week or two, I would love to check out someone elses project.

Steve, I don't think they can custom order it unless they have a large enough order, the 49" wide stuff is what cargo trailer builders use (at least that is what they tell me) because you can build on 16" centers, and have a 1" overlap at the seams. As for price, $75 for a 5' x 10' doesn't sound bad, locally (South Dakota) a 4' x 12' white .040 is $68. I think the prices I got in Denver were similar.

JunkMan wrote:Bruce & Steve,

Sorry, but I missed your posts somehow.

Bruce, I don't reacll the name of the steel yard right now, I think I marked it in my son's phone book (he lives in Aurora), will check with him. I will be going back down to visit him in a week or two, I would love to check out someone elses project.

Well.... Thanks but I went a different direction. I've got 32' of filon in the garage waiting for a day warm enough for laminating. Be careful, if you get near my tear I'll put you to work.
PM if you want to stop by, I live in Littleton.
Bruce

Bruce,

Tell me more about the Filon. What width is it available in? Where did you get it? At what price?

Thanks,

SteveH wrote:Bruce,

Tell me more about the Filon. What width is it available in? Where did you get it? At what price?

Thanks,

Here's the thread:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=1715
Bruce