house help

[Dano2]

Whats the best way to secure aluminum to steel.

My friend got a great deal on a drop down style trailer, and the guy gave him aluminum frameing for it too. I think their about 1"square tubeing, each piece goes from one side to the other with a slope in the middle for the roof, so this wont have to be done seperate. after putting the floor in, were not sure about the best way to secure the frameing.

haven't done this kind of work, were just stupid welders

P.S. how thick should we go on the floor, and should we just go with the green treat?

thanks

[Dan Thiem]

Heavy duty rivets maybe? Also some kind of metal prep that bonds the two together with chemicals.

[tonyjor]

I would just use some JB weld and some L brackets with rivets or self-tapping screws. Anyone have another idea?

[hanson]

Question here...

You are attaching aluminum tubing (wall & roof framing) to a steel trailer frame??

Absolutely mechanical fastening of some kind if you can't figure out a way to weld the two together. Sorry, welding is not my specialty.

Green treated is advisable for the floor if you want it to last any length of time.

[korn_fish]

Umm..Green treated for sure.

Not going to be able to weld Aluminum to steel and you want to make sure you have some kind of barrier between the steel and alluminum. If I remember right from when I put in a new floor in my alluminum boat, I had to use non-steel screws as the alluminum and steel create some kind of oxidation effect and basically erodes the alluminum. So after a few years, ,you just might see your house fly off your trailer going down the road.

[Crestliner-fever]

how correct you are korn fish, those two type's of metal's will not bond together!

[Dano2]

Hes correct, you cant burn aluminum to steel, thats why I was curious as to ways to secure it to steel. been brain storming last couple days, and thought of either finding, or probably making, from steel square tubing, just slightly biggerthan the aluminum pieces, so they can slide in abit snug, then perhaps run a couple self tapping screws in. I could weld these sort of socket type pieces to the trailer frame.Then like I said, the aluminum frameing would just slide right in, then drive a couple screws in each one. Would just have to make sure to get em on there nice, I hate cutting and grinding, heh. I would think after its done, with the sideing and all, things would tighten up pretty well.

[Macgyver55]

Steel and aluminum can be joined but not by welding. Your best bet is bolts or self tapping style screws (for steel) or rivets. Stainless steel hardware works best but can be expensive. What you need to make sure to do is put insulator strip in between the two metals where ever they are joined together to prevent electrolysis. If you don't, over time the aluminum will deteriorate. The insulator material is usually sold on a roll (like tape) and is simple to use.

[Dano2]

thanks for the tips folks.

[Nutty Fisherman]

put your floor on the steel frame then attach the aluminum frame to the wood floor. That is the way I did mine .

[JohnE1966]

Pop rivets get my vote.