Using 3/16" Steel sheet panels for walls

[Roly Nelson]

Welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place. However, just to make you feel safer while camping, I have found that my 38 special won't shoot through a sheet of 3/16 sheet steel. Therefore, I have built my 2 rigs out of 3/16 lauan plywood, that probably wouldn't stop a marble fired from a sling shot. Good luck on your build. I sure want to see pics of your progress.

Roly

[nevadatear]

My husband owns his own machine shop and used to build armored cars (Armored Transport, now Cambli). Even they didn't use 3/16. They used 12 gage. So the 3/16 would be stouter than an Armoured truck! He agrees with Boomboom, his calculations are spot on. So for a tanktear, great idea, but you would also need substantial framing to hold it up and beefed up tires and axel too. Your weight just went from HEAVY to SUPER DOOPER heavy. If you need gun ports or double interlock system for your tanktear, Randy can hook you up. He still manufactures them for Cambli. Always exciting to think outside the box!

[Wild Bill]

Tin for Skin, I think that is a great idea, I have been tossing the idea around myself, Using the tin similar to what furnace installers use when building ductwork for homes, Then the sides would be wood. Would make for a lot of noise on a rainy night. Galvanized would not hold paint but would resist rust, then glue the vinal roofing directly to it. Not sure how the shrinkage rate differences would work. Bill

[unimogdave]

The M1A1 abrams tank looks good because is has a composite armor. If you are going to use steel of any thickness, plan on having a redish-orange trailer and keep it off the driveway. It will ooze rust from every seam after a year. You can probably find Aluminum in 5x10 panels and it won't rust.

[eamarquardt]

:P Welcome Fellow Hoosier :P

So maybe you are planning on some inner-city camping. With 3/16 you would be armored heavily enough for it.

Tom

I disagree. You ought to go for at least 3/8" if not 1/2". And don't settle for just plain steel. The high strenght stuff they're using in cars now is much better. Do it RIGHT and you'll never worry about being "ambushed" in the inner cities of our great (and declining) land.

Cheers,

Gus

[Chuckles2153]

Hey there Mr. Nelson, That's is such a funny response I really got a kick out of it. and i have decided to not go with steel, instead i'm going to build the sandwich style with insulation. I've seen more people use this method than others, I thinking about putting some eastern red cedar on the outside with just a clear coat to bring out the red of the wood.

[Chuckles2153]

:P Welcome Fellow Hoosier

So maybe you are planning on some inner-city camping. With 3/16 you would be armored heavily enough for it.

Seriously, welcome to the madness, its always great to have more people.

Tom

Hey there IndyTom, I don't intend on do any inner city camping but might have to drive through some when i get lost on the way to some of the gatherings when i get it finished.
Thanks for the response and thanks for the welcome.

[Chuckles2153]

:P Welcome Fellow Hoosier

So maybe you are planning on some inner-city camping. With 3/16 you would be armored heavily enough for it.

Tom

I disagree. You ought to go for at least 3/8" if not 1/2". And don't settle for just plain steel. The high strenght stuff they're using in cars now is much better. Do it RIGHT and you'll never worry about being "ambushed" in the inner cities of our great (and declining) land.

Cheers,

Gus

I hear that!!

[ieheg2]

Loud will rain pounding on the roof.

[parnold]

Can you imagine the sound of hail?

[eamarquardt]

Can you imagine the sound of hail? :?

Hail no!

Cheers,

Gus