Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

what kind of ally do people generally use to skin a TD? what have people paid? is it a cost effective material vs others? i would imagine something in the 3000 series of about .050" thickness? what kind of finishes to people have? polished? grain? what method are people using to secure the skin?

....we use .032...don't know what series...mill finish...just float it and let the trim, fenders, outer accesories capture it in place....
madjack

i dont have much experience with sheet metal, i just know 3003 is nice and flexible and does not fatigue easily. takes shape well too.

I used 5005 clear anodized. .040 on the sides, .063 on the roof. The .063 was a bear to bend around the radius.
I used anodized because I built it for a beach camper and didn't want the salt spray creating a maintenance nightmare.

I compared the costs and it was about the same as if I would have used Filon.

http://www.saf.com

What is the cost of different thicknesses and finishes? Is there any reginal differences in prices?

james tillitt wrote:What is the cost of different thicknesses and finishes? Is there any reginal differences in prices?

Aluminum prices have been & continue to be pretty volatile, & location definitely makes a difference in price/availability. .040" is generally accepted as a good thickness tho madjack's Aligator Tear did well with .032. I used .063 diamond plate as trim on front & lower sides & as Sonetpro said, it's a bear to bend. Finish ranges from standard mill finish thru brushed, anodized, painted, & a few even have highly polished; your choice. Whatever you feel comfortable working with should do OK

I don't mean to highjack this thread. But, I am considering changing my Lil Bear from the white skin to a raw or anodized aluminum finish. I would like to know approximately what this would cost. I have also kicked around the idea of different paint schemes (to include a mock woody theme) and would like to know what's involved $$$ in a re-skin (either mill finished or anodized) in a .040 thickness.

james tillitt wrote:I don't mean to highjack this thread. But, I am considering changing my Lil Bear from the white skin to a raw or anodized aluminum finish. I would like to know approximately what this would cost. I have also kicked around the idea of different paint schemes (to include a mock woody theme) and would like to know what's involved $$$ in a re-skin (either mill finished or anodized) in a .040 thickness.

I just bought 2 sheets of .040
1 sheet was 5x8
the other was 5x10
total cost was just over $200

Canuck wrote:
I just bought 2 sheets of .040
1 sheet was 5x8
the other was 5x10
total cost was just over $200

Local place or online? I am not having much luck finding 5' widths.

Mike C:

Here is a couple of sources in Michigan

Sourcing examples:

Factory Steel & Metal Supply
http://www.factorysteel.com/
Chart to scope out and select your 3003-H14 stock from Factory Steel
http://tinyurl.com/yxgsrg
Note: (For Roof - They have .050" 60" x 120"
Location: Detroit, Michigan:

Metal Supermarkets:
Store finder clicky
3003-H14 .040" 60" x144" *The sweet spot*
http://tinyurl.com/yk8xrw Click on the #2 row ALUMINUM SHEET 6061 - T6 to get details
5052-H32 .050 60" x144"
http://tinyurl.com/yk8xrw Click on the #2 row ALUMINUM SHEET 6061 - T6 to get details
You drill down here and you will find
stores located in Livonia & Troy MI.

If you order over 200lbs from http://www.saf.com they will ship it free. I had to use .063 for the top because that is all they had that was 5' wide. My order was a tad over $700 but I ordered all of my extrusions from them also. Great service.

Thanks sdtripper2, I need to call or stop by one of those places. I was hoping for some around .32-.35 or so.

That 3003-H14 might be the ticket..


I need to do some reading on the different grades of aluminum.

jeepr wrote:

Canuck wrote:
I just bought 2 sheets of .040
1 sheet was 5x8
the other was 5x10
total cost was just over $200

Local place or online? I am not having much luck finding 5' widths.

It was local.. kinda... about an hour from me in London Ontario
Unlimited Metals
519-457-4151
they told me they have more outlets.. but i didnt ask where

You might try your local A/C supply houses. One of my local ones I use carries it for $65. a sheet in mill or white finish.

A question for those of you who have polished their trailers: Alclad or not? Alclad verses un-clad -- each comes with its own advantages and drawbacks (cost, relative difficulty of polishing and keeping polished, level of shine, susceptibility to damage, corrosion resistance, etc.). If you were skinning a trailer that you intend to keep polished, which way would you go? Thanks...