Hi all,
I am planning on building an aluminium cargo box to mount on the tow hitch of my 4x4.
I live in Europe where we have tow balls as apposed to receiver hitches, which means that the max weight allowed for a rear mounted box like this is 100kg, or 220 lbs.
I want the box to be strong and light, its dimensions will be
L=100cm x Height=80cm x Depth=60cm
( L=40" x Height=30" x Depth=24")
Can I get away with using .5mm aluminium sheet?. ( sorry, I don't know how to express this in 'Inch' terms, but its 0.02 of an inch thick, I think
).
I have experience with working in 1.5mm thick aluminium sheet, but have never handled sheet as thin as .5mm
I am choosing aluminium because it seams to be the lightest material I can find that would also offer a hard finish. I am trying to get the weight to around 1.5kg per meter squared. I also like aluminium because its quite flexible, so I believe I will be able to round the edges nicely, and perhaps do the whole side in one continuous sheet, which will save on the need for angle and rivets and sealant to waterproof resulting gaps etc.
At .5mm it weighs in at 1.35kg per ms, so that works out fine, but I am concerned it will be too thin. Anyone with any experience?
I have considered fibre glass but it will end up to0 heavy once the matt and the resin is all added up. I have also found some plastics that are almost as light, but they are difficult to paint and perhaps not as flexible.
Any ideas most welcome.
All the best
Jon
I am planning on building an aluminium cargo box to mount on the tow hitch of my 4x4.
I live in Europe where we have tow balls as apposed to receiver hitches, which means that the max weight allowed for a rear mounted box like this is 100kg, or 220 lbs.
I want the box to be strong and light, its dimensions will be
L=100cm x Height=80cm x Depth=60cm
( L=40" x Height=30" x Depth=24")
Can I get away with using .5mm aluminium sheet?. ( sorry, I don't know how to express this in 'Inch' terms, but its 0.02 of an inch thick, I think
).I have experience with working in 1.5mm thick aluminium sheet, but have never handled sheet as thin as .5mm
I am choosing aluminium because it seams to be the lightest material I can find that would also offer a hard finish. I am trying to get the weight to around 1.5kg per meter squared. I also like aluminium because its quite flexible, so I believe I will be able to round the edges nicely, and perhaps do the whole side in one continuous sheet, which will save on the need for angle and rivets and sealant to waterproof resulting gaps etc.
At .5mm it weighs in at 1.35kg per ms, so that works out fine, but I am concerned it will be too thin. Anyone with any experience?
I have considered fibre glass but it will end up to0 heavy once the matt and the resin is all added up. I have also found some plastics that are almost as light, but they are difficult to paint and perhaps not as flexible.
Any ideas most welcome.
All the best
Jon