Alternatives to aluminum trim??

[greasywheats]

Anyone have any success with anything besides aluminum trim?? I.E rubber trim or anything like that? I would guess that the RV industry has developed some type of rubber/silicone trim for RVs that could easily bend to the radius of a teardrop and seal as effectively?

[IraRat]

I've been looking for weeks, a month, and I've found nothing yet. I want to do the same thing for ease of installation AND a nice look, but I just can't seem to find the perfect stuff.

I'm also looking into this material:

http://www.flexibletrim.com/index.htm

However, its UV protection is still debatable as to how long it will stand up to heavy sun and such.

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

I was looking for the same thing as a temp. trim, but I just broke down and ordered 48' of the dead soft aluminum trim from R.W. Johnson this morning.

[cracker39]

I've been wondering about a soft aluminum trim, I had a pickup camper back in the 70s that had aluminum trim that rounded some pretty tight curves without kinking. It was sort of concave on the sides of the "L" and had putty for a seal. Does Johnson have a web site? I can't find one, only an address on a links page.

Dale

[toypusher]

try this: http://www.teardroptrailers.net/

Kerry

[IraRat]

I was looking for the same thing as a temp. trim, but I just broke down and ordered 48' of the dead soft aluminum trim from R.W. Johnson this morning.

Steve, could a spaz like me actually bend this stuff without kinking? And does it come brass colored?

The idea of doing wood on the trim, more work, is killing me. But aluminum scares me.

[toypusher]

The idea of doing wood on the trim, more work, is killing me. But aluminum scares me.

Ira,

I was kinda thinking the same thing, but I just tried annealing a 9' length of 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/16" thick and bent it around the Cubby profile (starting in the front) and it was not that bad. I did have to beat it some with a rubber mallet, though.

I have heard, but not tried it, that the stuff from RW Johnson bends really easy without annealing!


Kerry

[Endo]

I bought my trim from here:

http://www.teardropparts.com/

It bends very easy, no kinks!

[norm perkiss]

greasy,
The aluminum trim (Interstate Metals) on my tear it is soft, it was easy to work with, no annealing. It is $20 for a 16' length, the vinyl insert is extra.

Someone posted a thread on a vinyl trim that they discovered at one of the box stores. Concensis of opinion was it would not last too long in direct sunlight (ultraviolet rays).

Norm

[Scooter]

Here's pics of what I'm doing. By now, I've put so much time in this thing already, the thought of months more on wood trim made me wanna puke. So I decided to use little pieces that suggest a smooth curve (kinda like an artist doesn't paint individual leaves on a tree, just suggests them in a general way). The little pieces are deceptively simple and fast to work.

I haven't ruled out painting the sides in a solid color if the woodie idea adds more roadblocks (like removing oil stains from door hinge area). There's some pretty retro paint schemes dancing around in my head right now.

[norm perkiss]

Scooter,
A very creative solution, using the little wooden "curves".
Looking good! I like the door wrap too. Is the door wrap plywood?
Norm

[madjack]

...I have done a ton of research on this question and have found the "ultimate" product from trimlok called "lip guard". However, you must purchase 500" at .60/ft for a cost of $300 for the 9/16. It is possible to find it(or similar) from a body shop or body shop supply house
madjack

p.s. Austin Hardware handles some of trimlok's product line

[bledsoe3]

Jack, Maybe you and some others from the South East area could split up a roll. Depends I guess if the shipping cost makes it not worth it. Or save it for future builds. Just how many TD's could you build with 500'?

[madjack]

...I could get it from Austin Hdw for the same price with cheap shipping(Dallas instead of Ca.), you really need the 1 1/16 which is about .70/ft(my price from Austin) so we figure about the 3rd tear we could afford it . With a 500' roll, you could do 6,7,8 tears depending on size and usage
madjack

[IraRat]

I think I'm gonna go with two pieces of wood:

A straight strip for the roof that butts a side piece of ply cut to the profile, with the bottom edge of the side piece (and inside edge of the top piece) rasped down for a rounded bevel look.

I have two contrasting wood tones/grains going on, different for the roof and sides, and I think I'm going to need another prominent tone on that trim to make the two work together. Will also do it as a baseboard at the bottom, that curves around the fender.

Can you tell that I'm procrastinating on starting that hatch?