Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have been watching the forum for years, dreaming drooling and wanting. Pretty had to convince the wife I need to build a teardrop when we have a 31 foot travel trailer. Well seems work is slow and I am finding myself with more time. I have been thinking of building a teardrop to sell. I would really like to build one in white, but I am having a hard time finding 5 x 10 alumimum in white. I have found a local supplier for 4 x 10 and they are looking for 5 x 10. I guess my question is who has found it and where. I have used the search and done a lot of digging on these forums but I am on dial up and it takes forever. Thanks
Kevin

I found my 5x10 white aluminum here locally (LINK) but that won't help you up north. Keep calling around and hopefully you will find it not too far away. Try sign shops also.

The supplier that I have found is a sign shop. They were able to find a supplier for 5 x 10 but shipping was in the ballpark of $200 and they said it would probably come in damaged.

Try a local Fruehauf repair place. Most big rig trailers are white. Their milled aluminum, at least here at my local place, is white on one side, regular aluminum color on the other and its like 120" wide or something like that. It may be thinner than you want, probably in the .032 range or something like that, but if you're just gonna sell it, it's worth a try and it will keep the cost down.

Try aluma-panel in google

Might try Ryerson http://www.ryerson.com/
I have to make that call myself, called a couple years ago when they were Integris and they sounded like they where willing to deal with an order of just a couple sheets. Check under building materials then AlumaKlad on the Ryerson site.
Also you might check with stock car racers or race shops, as the bodies on modifieds are made from colored aluminum sheets.
Aaron

kevin are you in sand lake that is in south mi there is 2 in michigan
if you are south i got mine at rv surplus in Elkart In and they have a great web sight it was the alum in 103 wide and all diferance langth
hope this helps
Dan

Why can't you build in Mill finish, and have it painted white when you are all don?

Mike...

I do live in lower west Michigan. I have looked at RV Surplus but they don't carry white in 5 foot wide. I have located a few sources for mill finish and I may have to go that way. I myself like the look of white, it has a more modern twist to a retro look. As for painting it I had thought of that but by the time I pay someone to paint it I could probably pay to have the white shipped. The 4X10 sheets I have found are white one both sides, is this going to be a problem if I decided to glue the sides on rather than float them? I have been looking into fiberglass sheets also but agin am having a hrd time finding a local supplier. Mike I noticed that you use NX5 what do you do for a living? I design plastic injection molds and die cast dies.
Thanks for the input keep it coming, Kevin[/img]

Good news, my aluminum supplier emailed me to let me know that I can include my 5x10 order on ther stock shipment and not have to pay for shipping. I may still have to pay a $50 crate fee but I can handle that. I think the total would be around $275 for two 5x10 sheets. How does that sound?
Kevin

I paid $230 for two 5x10 sheets about 10 months ago so you are in the ballpark.

it's worth a little extra to get it like you want it! The over-sized stuff does tend to cost a bit more -- just the way it is...

...the last price check I did on painted AL was 85bux for a 4x8 and that was a three years ago...so that price for 5x10, including crate fees is not too bad at all........
madjack