Diamond quilt aluminum skin

The cost of shipping, and the probability of it getting damaged during shipment is the killer.

Let me give you some options.

The "Brakes" (you call quilts) that were put into the siding found on your trailer were done with a sheet metal roller. Not many places are still around that turn four-foot-wide rolls of aluminum into RV siding with different Brake patterns. Before the brakes are installed, the thin aluminum can be easily coiled and safely shipped. It's a different Storey after it is formed.

You can purchase .032" sheet aluminum locally from any metal supply store. They are located in any metropolitan area. The nominal size sold is usually 4' by 10' or some store's stock the 4' by 12' lengths. You want to ask for 5000 series hardness. I use the slightly thicker .040" sheets on Riveted trailer panel repairs. The cost is approximately $125 to $140 per sheet. The big advantage by doing the repair this way is the material can be "will called" locally saving you hundreds of dollars in crating/shipping cost, AND your buying thicker material .032" versus the original was usually .028".

Any local mechanical shop in your area can put the brakes into the sheets. Mechanical Shops are the guys that bend and fabricate air conditioning and heating ducts. Just carefully layout the brake pattern you choose with a Sharpie (easily removed with Acetone). Use a long piece of extruded aluminum angle to get nice straight lines. Take an old piece of original siding to show them what you need done to the new flat sheets. You need a shop with a "extra long" 12' to 16' brake.

The "hand bent" brakes will be slightly sharper, (not as puffy) compared to your "rolled brakes). It your replacing an entire side, it will not be noticeable.

If your desire a polished metal finish over the "mill finish", just sand them with 320/400 grit then polish them "before you have the brake lines installed.

Good luck with your project.

John Palmer