Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Posted: **Tue May 11, 2010 10:19 pm**

I have .040 Al and want to know how to attach it to the hatch. Do I bend it around the edge? If so, How can I bend it. I am thinking I would have to bend it around the edge but I have never worked with AL before and would like suggestions on attaching it to the wood on the hatch and bending it.

Thank you all in advance

Posted: **Tue May 11, 2010 10:34 pm**

The hurricane hinge will hold it down at one end.
I use a piece of "T" molding at the latch end.
The side/corner trim holds the sides.

Danny

Posted: **Wed May 12, 2010 9:25 am**

halfdome, Danny wrote:The hurricane hinge will hold it down at one end.
I use a piece of "T" molding at the latch end.
The side/corner trim holds the sides. Danny

Ohhh Dannyyy Boyyyyyy

A T Moulding? Would you have a pic by chance..

Posted: **Wed May 12, 2010 6:45 pm**

Heikki, this is the best photos of it that I have.
It gets the same application as the doors.

Danny

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 6:07 am**

What means "hurricane hinge" please,
Thanks,

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 9:17 am**

I would imagine it refers to the force of water from a hurricane like situation and the ability to prevent it from penetrating the hinge and getting inside the teardrop.
No one in their right mind would expose themselves or a teardrop to a hurricane but the idea of stopping highway speed rain is there.

Grant Whipp of Lil Bear Teardrops stocks and sells them along with other teardrop parts. Make sure you order it two inches longer so you have 1" overhang on each end to prevent water from wicking inside.

Danny

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 12:18 pm**

I cant find that here.

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 12:39 pm**

Danny, just thinking..and that is when I do most of my damage.. :lol:

Could someone use the plastic hinge that comes in a 50' roll and do basically the same thing? That stuff is only like a buck a foot... :thinking:

Steve

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 1:03 pm**

Steve, I don't have any experience with plastic hinges but I feel my galley is worth more than $1 a foot.
The hurricane hinge has a lot of strength in it's design and keeps everything in line for a superior fit and longevity.
Curl your fingers from both hands together and that's basically how the aluminum hurricane hinge works.
It's well worth what it goes for, you get what you pay for.
Like Mikes quote says something to the effect: Build with the best materials available.

Danny

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 1:32 pm**

Danny,
Ä°s the aliminium sides glued to side plywood here. How you can do this? There is no screws. Are they glued?
Can you give a link to your building journal?
Thanks.

Posted: **Thu May 13, 2010 2:43 pm**

YuGun wrote:Danny,
Ä°s the aliminium sides glued to side plywood here. How you can do this? There is no screws. Are they glued?
Can you give a link to your building journal?
Thanks.

YuGun, There's a couple accepted methods to attach the side aluminum.
Most builders seem to let it float without any glue and depend on the fastened aluminum trim to hold it in place.
Some like myself use contact adhesive or an adhesive of their choice.
I prefer to give it a good bond with the contact and I scuff up the back side of the aluminum to give it some tooth for the glue to adhere to.
It's also held in place with aluminum trim.
If you click on "My Albums" or the WWW button in my signature line (below the teardrop picture) you'll find a couple albums of mine that pertain to teardrop trailer construction the way I do it.

Danny

Posted: **Fri May 14, 2010 9:52 pm**

I just purchased a hurricane hinge from this guy. Mark Eaton <[email protected]> Found him on the net. also got very nice windows and molding. send him an e-mail.

Posted: **Fri May 14, 2010 9:53 pm**

Thanks for the help.

Posted: **Sat May 15, 2010 7:16 am**

halfdome, Danny wrote:
Like Mikes quote says something to the effect: Build with the best materials available. Danny

Truly, the quality is remembered LONG after the price is forgotten!!!

Mike...

P.S. I am thinking about attaching aluminum with socket head cap screws that look like rivets, or closed head pop rivets. It'll end up looking like DesertHawk's Modernistic.

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

How do I attach alum to the hatch

How do I attach alum to the hatch

hinge

al for the hatch