Page 1 of 1

aluminum skin thickness

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:33 am
by cnicoll1
Hello everyone...I was just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I have started my build and I am ordering everything I will need later on. I would like to skin with aluminum but I am not sure what thickness to use.
Any opinions or threads out there... I have tryed to search but couldn't find anything.......Oh and I have tons of pics to post as soon as I figure out how to work the camera :oops: thanks.....

Re: aluminum skin thickness

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:43 am
by Joseph
I used .040.

Joseph

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:46 am
by Sonetpro
I used .040 for the walls and hatch. I got .063 for the top, I won't do that again it was a bear to get it around the radius.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:56 am
by SteveH
Craig,

I've been told by the "professionals" to use .032". I used, however, .060" and would not recommend it...too heavy and too hard to work as "Sonetpro" has said.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:07 am
by Endo
I used .040, I had no problems with it. I would use it again.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:05 am
by madjack
we used .032 and had no problems with it regarding doors, side, roof and hatch...will definitely use again...if you build using a substrate under the skin, then the thinnner Al is the way to go
madjack 8)

PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2006 4:23 am
by cnicoll1
I'm using solid plywood walls so I guess thinner is better...thanks everyone :)

PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:01 am
by halfdome, Danny
I used .040 under 2 layers of 1/8" Baltic Birch for the roof and front and have two dings from the tow vehicle already so don't go too thin. The area of Washington state that we live in they cover the road shoulders with gravel and the tow vehicle picks it up. 8) Danny

PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:09 am
by JunkMan
Craig,

I am using .040 for the sides but .050 for the top. If you are making a trailer that is more than 4' wide, you are limited to what is availible in 60" width aluminum. .050 was the thinest that I could find that was 60" wide.

PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2006 12:57 am
by doug hodder
Jeff...It's too late now, but ...check with someone like Fruehauf, or any of the large trailer repair shops...they've got 103" .040 on a coil, mill finish...yeah, you are going to end up with a lot of drop...if you are doing a 5' wide...I am doing a 4'6" wide and sharing the cost with another builder (Owen) that is doing a 4 footer...price was like 10$ a running foot on it....from what I found it was a lot less expensive than going with the 5' wide sheets, at least here in Northern Ca...Doug

PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2006 8:15 am
by JunkMan
Thanks for the info Doug.

I had read that before, and talked to a local trailer repair shop which said that they could get me the aluminum. My main concern was how the aluminum would hold up. I have heard several people mention it, but no one has said how it holds up. I was afraid that it might be too soft, and scratch easier than the sheets I bought. Is there anyone that has used it want to comment on it's durability?

The sheets I bought were 5' x 12' .050 3003 Aluminum Sheet $96.75 each. The 103" aluminum was $11 per foot, so without having a use for the scrap, the sheets came out cheaper.