Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I’m building a quazi-ultralight- as you may know, or doubt- I would like some feed back about exterior finish.

As I see it there are a few popular options, Paint, Woody, Aluminum (or other material like ?filon?) throughout, and Aluminum top- paint sides- Fiberglass is another choice for paint and wood. and I’m sure someone is going to come up with some other crazy option like lexan (sorry Bob)

So The question goes like this- What to use. Yes I know it’s up to me and my preference and budget. But I would like to know about cost and ease of construction and durability etc. If aluminum is only slightly more expensive but lasts forever then great- If blending paint and metal is a pain in the rump then it’s less of an option. If it matters a lot of my camping might be done in the desert- very sunny. Also the tear will be stored outside- I would like to think that I would cover it but ??

Maybe this should be a poll- but that is too advanced for me at this point.
Thanks

RogHodge wrote:If blending paint and metal is a pain in the rump then it’s less of an option.

Not a pain at all. My sides are painted and the roof is aluminum. I would have liked to used aluminum for the whole thing but I could not find red aluminum in the size I needed. Paint was my second option. While it turned out great, it was a LOT of work (at least the way I did it).

planovet wrote:

RogHodge wrote:If blending paint and metal is a pain in the rump then it’s less of an option.

Not a pain at all. My sides are painted and the roof is aluminum. I would have liked to used aluminum for the whole thing but I could not find red aluminum in the size I needed. Paint was my second option. While it turned out great, it was a LOT of work (at least the way I did it).

How did you get the aluminum and paint to mix together in the can - all the aluminium I ever worked with was rather metallic - not fluid at all IMO - If you use aluminum - your done with finishing for the life of the build, barring the occasional scratch or ding - which you'd get anyways with paint.. The main factor seems to be cost

Since it's going to be stored outdoors...if'n it were me, I'd do it in aluminum, natural/mill finish for now...when it gets oxidized or marked/ scratched up badly over time and you get tired of trying to maintain that nice polished surface...then spray it with an automotive paint yourself or have an Earl Scheib job done on it. I personally wouldn't do a wood only trailer to be left out all the time. Other opinions may vary. Doug

I'm glad you asked this because I was considering the same type of post since I'm in Arizona and the sun is an issue here. I wondered about the wood fiberglassed vs. aluminum and the differences so I'm following your post and all the replies.

Loyal

starleen2 wrote:How did you get the aluminum and paint to mix together in the can - all the aluminium I ever worked with was rather metallic - not fluid at all IMO -

There is a well known ( locally ) way of mixing paint with aluminum. It produces a paint with a metallic look to it, when dry. The aluminum must be powdered in order to be mixed into the paint. And stirred very well just before using, as it tends to settle to the bottom of the can.

david

I would go with the aluminum.

Once the aluminum is on...your done.

Paint will create a maintainence problem at some point.

And the first time that maintainence isn't performed its the beginning of the end.

Keep another thing in mind when thinking about the cost of both....Paint ain't cheap anymore.

I'll bet good paint will cost as much as half an aluminum job.

And, you'll have to do it again a few years down the line!

That extra hundred bucks or so 6-7 years from now will seem awful cheap.

Happy Trails

Len

As much as I like the aluminum finish, I'm wondering on how it holds up to rocks, gravel, stuff on the road that dent it. It must be hard to get those dents out.
Lou

There is nothing wrong with painted wood. Your house may well be made that way.

There are a lot of aluminum clad RV's out there with serious weather damage, the alum covers the leaks. I own a travel trailer that has leaked since it came from the factory. I spent a lot of time repairing and fixing and I still don't have it totally under control.

In the end the decision is one of money and time (and aesthetics). I have little of the former and a fair amount of the latter, so a bit more maintenance is OK for me.

Do it right and either will serve you well. But, some how keep it under cover when not in use.

dave

Well it looks like a little from column “Aâ€

The roof on mine is aluminium, over 1/8 ply, which had several coats of yacht varnish. The sides were coated several times with thinned yacht varnish, so it soaked in, sprayed with several coats of cellulose paint, and finally i sprayed a couple more coats of varnish on to give it a good shine. The underside was sprayed with auto body protection underseal, making sure to get into all the corners. It has been out in one of the worst winters we have had for decades, and all is still well

Couple thoughts in general, not directed at anyone.

Most any wood trailer will handle bad weather the first year without showing signs of water damage to the surface or joints.

Many wood trailers that have been pretty well sealed with multiple coatings will fare well for two years, maybe even three, before water damage will appear, often with more severe damage than the one year jobs because the moisture is trapped by the multiple coatings.

Those that have been well sealed with multiple coatings, whose owners have paid particular attention to both the surface coating condition, AND the joint condition (every joint, top, bottom, sides, hard to reach places) and give the trailer a good CLEANING, sanding, and recoat every couple years will usually find that all is well.
For those skinned, a close yearly inspection of, and repair if needed of EVERY joint will also usually find all is well.

As many have pointed out, awareness of why trailers go bad, and annual mantainence IS the key to preventing any damage.

It is very easy to be lulled into believing that the trailer you just put your heart and soul into for the last two years will "last forever" because you were so careful in building it.

The reality is, no matter what your skill level as a builder , it must be inspected and maintained regularly, skinned , painted, or varnished.
(Trailers stored outdoors should be inspected twice a year, or more)

Water will attempt 24 hours a day to find a way into your trailer, the slightest crack, pinhole, or unnoticed surface damage will provide the required path to its destruction...


Rob

RogHodge wrote:Will I need to use CPES under the aluminum? If that is a cost that I can’t avoid (with reasonable wisdom) I would like to know.

Rog, I will use epoxy to seal my plywood berfore applying the aluminum, but that is because I have some left over from epoxying my floor. I've looked at the different threads and PM'ed several experienced builders, and the consensus seems to be to use some type of sealer - varnish, polyurethane, deck paint, epoxy, or CPES - if you are floating the aluminum. If you are adhering the aluminum with contact cement or outdoor carpet adhesive, then the adhesive will act as a sealer even if the bond breaks.

[quote="RogHodge"]Last but not first, trailer size- I’m thinking 5’ wide (although I could revert to 4'). Seems that anything over 4' will make sourcing the stuff harder, also my profile is taller than 4’ but only just- like 6â€

I priced Aluminum sheets down here in the San Diego area- looks like a 4x8 sheet is just over $42. The guy guessed that 5x12 would be around $90. So there you have it. Does this sound about right on price?

Len might be right- Aluminum probably would be only 150-200% of decent paint- and no recoating.

Dean tells me that “shark hideâ€

Well you could always use this and let me know how it works LOL!!!!



http://www.topsecretcoatings.com/aircra ... uminum.htm



it says it looks like aluminium because it has ground aluminium in it.

LOL you even look like the sales person in the picture i think i called you today to ask questions.