Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am ready to buy some aluminum siding and trim for my tear, but which one?

6061 is least expensive, listed as the most common used. I will use this one, unless someone says it is a bad idea.

6063 or architectural aluminum is more expensive, but listed as a finer finish and lower strength.

Other?

Also what thickness for the angles and trim? 1/16, 1/8, 1/4? I am thinking 1/8th, but 1/16th would be a lot easier to shape!

Here is a link to some info I have been looking at.

http://www.onlinemetals.com/aluminumguide.cfm

Still no answers? Well I have another question, what king of screws should I use with the aluminum to avoid dissimilar metal corrosion? Will galvanized work? Stainless?

citylights wrote:Still no answers? Well I have another question, what king of screws should I use with the aluminum to avoid dissimilar metal corrosion? Will galvanized work? Stainless?

Go with the stainless

I would use the 6061. Should be easy to form in the typical thicknesses and radii used on most TD's.

Sniped the following from another forum:
6061 Aluminum
6061 Aluminum is, by most any measure, the most commonly used aluminum alloy. It is specified in most any application due to its strength, heat treatability, comparatively easy machining, and weldability. If that were not enough, it is also capable of being anodized, adding a layer of protection for finished parts.

The main alloy ingredients of 6061 aluminum are magnesium and silicon.

6061-T6 Aluminum
Physical and Mechanical Properties Ultimate Tensile Strength, psi 45,000
Yield Strength, psi 40,000
Brinell Hardness 95
Rockwell Hardness B60
Chemistry Aluminum (Al) 95.8 - 98.6%
Chromium (Cr) 0.04 - 0.35%
Copper (Cu) 0.15 - 0.40%
Magnesium (Mg) 0.8 - 1.2%
Manganese (Mn) 0.15% max
Silicon (Si) 2.8 - 3.8%
Zinc (Zn) 1.5% max


6063 Aluminum
6063 is often called architectural aluminum for two reasons - first, it has a surface finish that is far smoother than the other commercially available alloys, and second, its strength is significantly less (roughly half the strength of 6061), making it suited for applications where strength is not the foremost consideration.

6063 is rated as "Good" for forming and cold working operations, "Excellent" for anodizing, and "Fair" for machining.

6063-T52 Aluminum
Minimum Properties Ultimate Tensile Strength, psi 27,000
Yield Strength, psi 21,000
Brinell Hardness 60
Chemistry Aluminum (Al) 97.5% max
Chromium (Cr) 0.1% max
Copper (Cu) 0.1% max
Iron (Fe) 0.35% max
Magnesium (Mg) 0.45 - 0.90%
Manganese (Mn) 0.1% max
Silicon (Si) 0.2 - 0.6%

Well, I used .040 5052. It's strong and a lot easier to roll to the shape of the tear. 6061(even soft) is to hard to work with. I used 5052 on my teardrop and it looks as good today as it did when I finished it in 2003. And it's got several thousand miles on it in all kinds of weather. That's just what I used on two teardrops but you use what is right for you.

Airstream used to use 2024-T3, while I haven't shopped it, those old air streams still look petty good for their age...

One thing, putting on a coat of sharkhide or similar product before your first outing will make your life easier later. Trust me

Not that I put a lot of research into it - because I bought what I could find locally - but I am using .04 5052 sheets and stainless screws. I think the 5052 seems tough yet easy to trim with a router.

I would go with the 6061, it will be less prone to dents. 2024 t-3 or t-6 would be better but most likely more expensive.

I did not mention previously, but I plan to use 5052 H32 5x10 foot Aluminum sheet for the skin.

6061 or 6063 question was mainly for the trim. I ended up ordering RV edge trim and T molding from Grant at lilbear trailers. I am not sure what grade it is, but it is highly recommended.

After that, I only have some angle trim and the flat sheets left to get locally.

I recommend you get all your trim and molding from a teardrop shop that sells it. Grant is a very good source. Yes it cost a little more but is worth it in the long run.