Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi to all, a new guy here looking for aluminum. I just got started this past weekend, but have visited this site often in the past getting ideas. Seems like it will be great winter project.

My ear got sore on the phone today trying to locate some aluminum. I am building a Kuffel Creek Cubby and live just outside of Nashville, TN (Smyrna).

As requested, here are a few pics.

Kevin stes in the material list that you should use .032 5052 H32. This is kind of greek to me other than the thickness. What other specs can be used or substituted? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, sid

Sid,
Its funny, but I was just looking for discussion on aluminum and decided to post a question, which I did, 4 minutes after yours. I'm down the road in Knoxville and appear to be at about the same stage as your photos depict.

Last Spring, I thought building a Tear would be a good summer project...actually the summer turned out to be a great time to build a trailer chassis. We'll see what winter brings.

I'm looking forward to seeing what folks are using.

See you around...Joe

Hey Joe,

I hope this is not just you and me jawing about things we don't know about and we get some positive responses.

I'm waiting on the Calvary to rescue me. These guys and girls seem to know a little bit about everything.

Thanks, sid

heya Sid, thanks for the pics and welcome aboard the board...I don't know nothing about all them other numbers. When I went looking for aluminum I just asked for mill finish in .032...cheap...what I bought cost a little over 40 bucks a sheet for 4x10...that was 6mos or so ago at an aluminum and stailess supplier...I am sure you can fond it in a place the size of Nashville...I used to go to Smyrna on a regular basis to pickup commercial AC units for Carrier but that was quite a few years ago....good luck
madjack

Welcome to T&TTT fellow Tenn. Can't help with the alum. problems unfortunatly. jdjernigan I would like to meet up with a fellow tear builder. I live on the west side of Knoxville.

I found this web site, DSM Manufacturing, it descibes various types of aluminum. This is what it says about 5052 H32.
"Main alloy is magnesium. Forms well with reasonable inside bend radii. Corrosion resistance and weldability is very good. Better salt water corrosion resistance than 1100. Used for electronic chassis, tanks, pressure vessels and any number of parts requiring considerable strength and formability at reasonable cost. Anodizing may be slightly yellowish."

If you are interested you can compare it to other grades at the web site,
http://www.precisionsheetmetal.com/home/materials.htm

Scott F.

Sid,

Welcome to the board. I built a Cubby (see my 'www' button for pics) and I used .040 for the sides and .060 for the roof. I did not buy enough the first time is the reason for the difference in thickness. You should be able to get a mill finish in almost any thickness that will work for the Cubby!

One piece of advice that I will give you is to get it with a plastic film on it if you can and then only remove the film when you are done. I had a lot of stains on mine that are very hard to remove when I was done. Most of this is because I did it in June and July this last summer inside a garage (mostly with the doors closed - long story) and perspiration seemed to get on everything. I tried to keep it wiped down, but could not seem to get everything.

Sid, Welcome.

Used .050 3003 for the roof and .032 3003 for the sides. I find it fairly easy to purchase the 4X8 sheets more difficult to find 5X10 sheet. We built a 5X8 cubby instead of Kevin's recommended 4X8.

Never purchased or worked with mill aluminum sheets prior to this project, also suggest protecting sheets during construction with film. Seems to scratch just looking at it.

Larry

Father-Daughter Build...finished and leaving on maiden voyage tonight.

Sid, Welcome...

Here is link to Harbor Sales. They offer a variety of mill and painted aluminum sheets. I have not used them before but the prices are reasonable.

http://www.harborsales.net/fullsheetlookup.cfm?categoryID=3&subcategoryID=1&cat=Metal%20Sheets

Sid-

Welcome!

You may also want to check out the "links" above and then go to "sources of supply" (if you haven't already).

Lots of goodies you may need as you continue your build can be found from these sources!

Cheers,

Coop

Hi Steven,

I'm in West Knoxville too. I was starting to wonder why folks around here weren't catching the Tear-Drop craze. Shoot me an e-mail sometime. I'd love to see how your build is going.

Joe

Just wanted to say thanks for the support and info and all the warm welcome's.

Look forward to picking your brains some more in the future.

sid

Harbor Sales is cheap but the shipping will kill you! I was going to buy a 4'X10' sheet of white aluminum for $58 but the shipping was $92! Yikes!

I purchased all my aluminum from Harbor Sales -- two sheets of 4x8x.040 and 2 sheets of 5x10x0.040. total cost was $244.89 including tax and shipping. They didn't have the 5x10 so shipped 5x12. I have a big piece leftover. Anyway, they told me shipping was free to a business address so I had it shipped to work. You should have seen the packaging! 3x6 oak timbers for the pallet with 2 4x8x1/4 sheets of plywood and about 6 sheets of 4x8 cardboard. I couldn't believe it. The aluminum comes with a plastic coating on one side, which is really great for keeping the good side clean until you are ready to unwrap. My experience with Harbor Sales was really great. They shipped the next day and I had it that afternoon.

Jeff L

One of the best sourses I've found is your Local sign guy. Anyone who makes Metal signs. These guys get a real nice product From a Company called "Wrisco", who is a National distributer, .032 Ga. in a bevy of colors. I've paid, for white $40-45 a sheet (4X8or10) But the key here is you can get this stuff in your neighborhood..NO delivery fee!



Happy Trails

Len