alaska teardrop wrote:Jonnyo, Yes, you can build a stout lightweight trailer using riveted aluminum construction. It takes paying close attention to the materials used, making use of almost every tube for two or three purposes, placement of each rivet & using the skin as a structural element in your design.
Here is a link to my Northern Lite Traveler design & construction: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51991 Hope it gives you some ideas for your build. Any questions - ask away.
Fred
Vedette wrote:Aluminum structure is IMHO the way to go for teardrop trailers.
Rivets are cool to look at and are definitely the way to skin your trailer.
But for the frame and the skeleton, wouldn't it just be easier to learn to weld or find someone that can and has the equipment to come and help?
Just my two cents worth.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
The cabin is constructed using: .063" (1/16") 3003-H14 sheet aluminum. 16 gage (1/16") x 1" 6063-T52 square tubing. 1/8" x 1" angle cleats. 3M 4919F VHB tape. 3/16" *closed end* aluminum structural rivets (575# shear - 840# tensile).
The walls are made on the work table, outer film protected surface down. The side plan is layed out on the inner face of the sheet. The curve of the roof, window & door openings are cut. The rivet holes are punched or drilled. The hoop is cold formed by hand over a wooden buck. The tube framing is cut & secured in place with tape. The cleats are installed. The assembly is turned outside up. The tubing is drilled through the premade holes in the outer sheet & riveted with a pneumatic riveter.
The walls are installed to the steel floor frame with tape & rivets along the bottom. The ten vertical wall frame members are cleated to the top of the floor frame.
George wrote: thinking about doing something similar. look up information on the rivets they use on airstream trailers. They have been making them with rivets for years. you can get the rivets and tools from an aircraft parts supplier.
mary and bob wrote:Our old Moderistic teardrop is an all aluminum body on a steel chassis. Riveted together with aircraft type rivets, also used on truck cargo bodies. We had to do a lot of riveting during the restoration. Bought a dolly and various rivet tools on ebay. bought rivets at McMaster Carr. I had done this type of riveting repairing truck & trailer boxes so had no problem doing it on the teardrop.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests