Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

...ask your questions in the appropriate forums BUT document your build here...preferably in a single thread...dates for updates, are appreciated....

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Joel.brian » Sun May 13, 2018 12:03 am

Looks way better than I imagined


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Joel.brian
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:42 pm

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby ferbal » Sun May 13, 2018 5:33 am

Joel.brian wrote:Looks way better than I imagined


That makes two of us.
ferbal
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:53 pm

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Ottsville » Sun May 13, 2018 5:43 am

Joel.brian wrote:That’s awesome Tony. I’m pretty handy so I’d love to learn down the road.


Check your local community college - they often have night classes that will give you a solid intro to welding plus you get to work on your own project usually.
Ottsville
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 318
Images: 4
Joined: Tue May 08, 2018 2:19 am
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Ottsville » Sun May 13, 2018 7:42 am

Pmullen503 wrote:I'm thinking aircraft Dacron for the upper part of the nose!


I keep thinking of a build with felt stretched over a frame, then coated with epoxy the way guys make custom speaker boxes.
Ottsville
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 318
Images: 4
Joined: Tue May 08, 2018 2:19 am
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby John61CT » Sun May 13, 2018 11:41 am

See coated canvas boat-building techniques.

Or PMF foamies right here
John61CT
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1958
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:36 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Ottsville » Sun May 13, 2018 9:04 pm

John61CT wrote:See coated canvas boat-building techniques.

Or PMF foamies right here


This is what I was thinking: https://hackaday.com/2017/08/01/how-to-do-beautiful-enclosures-with-custom-fiberglass/ It's more of a skin-on-frame than skin-on-[subsurface] (like PMF foamies). It would allow for making some really "out there" shapes and contours.
Ottsville
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 318
Images: 4
Joined: Tue May 08, 2018 2:19 am
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby ferbal » Tue May 15, 2018 8:06 pm

I towed my half built Arts and Craft camper to Home Depot to get more supplies today. Yes, coroplast, zip ties, and gorilla tape hold up at 50mph. It pulled like nothing was there with my four banger Rav 4 I. Granted that I still have to finish paneling it and add some insulation, but most of my weight is already there with the floor, camper top, and frame.

One pleasant observation from todays tow was that I moved my axle back a bit to get the holy 60/40 balance. The thing towed way nicer than it did last fall as my utility trailer when I had more of a 50/50 balance.

As I get closer to finishing the outer shell of my build I am considering interior panel options. Anybody use that cheap interior faux wood paneling for their interior? It like $10 bucks for a 4x8 sheet, sure its only an 1/8 inch thick if I am lucky, but I just need to cover the insulation. I also stumbled across some sort of 4x8 plastic "thrifty panel" it would cost me $2 more than the faux wood paneling and it seemed quite flimsy and a bit uglier but it would be more resistant water. Any thoughts or experience with either?
ferbal
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:53 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Joel.brian » Wed May 16, 2018 12:20 am

ferbal wrote:I towed my half built Arts and Craft camper to Home Depot to get more supplies today. Yes, coroplast, zip ties, and gorilla tape hold up at 50mph. It pulled like nothing was there with my four banger Rav 4 I. Granted that I still have to finish paneling it and add some insulation, but most of my weight is already there with the floor, camper top, and frame.

One pleasant observation from todays tow was that I moved my axle back a bit to get the holy 60/40 balance. The thing towed way nicer than it did last fall as my utility trailer when I had more of a 50/50 balance.

As I get closer to finishing the outer shell of my build I am considering interior panel options. Anybody use that cheap interior faux wood paneling for their interior? It like $10 bucks for a 4x8 sheet, sure its only an 1/8 inch thick if I am lucky, but I just need to cover the insulation. I also stumbled across some sort of 4x8 plastic "thrifty panel" it would cost me $2 more than the faux wood paneling and it seemed quite flimsy and a bit uglier but it would be more resistant water. Any thoughts or experience with either?


I just picked up a sheet of that to use as the backing for a possible kitchen backsplash. I think it would work fine on the walls, just don’t crush it down into your frame or the screw might go right through it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Joel.brian
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:42 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby John61CT » Wed May 16, 2018 7:20 am

Ottsville wrote:
John61CT wrote:See coated canvas boat-building techniques.

Or PMF foamies right here


This is what I was thinking: https://hackaday.com/2017/08/01/how-to-do-beautiful-enclosures-with-custom-fiberglass/ It's more of a skin-on-frame than skin-on-[subsurface] (like PMF foamies). It would allow for making some really "out there" shapes and contours.
There are techniques for getting any shapes from thick foam panels too, cutting shaped arches, carving curves.

Or bending thin panels with heat to shape, end up with rigid structures, glue is crazy strong then skinned with canvas.

I will always want good insulation, so I figure if that **is** the wall, rather than adding it, makes for a sturdier, cleaner easier to maintain result.
John61CT
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1958
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:36 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby nay nay » Thu May 17, 2018 1:21 am

Ottsville wrote:
John61CT wrote:See coated canvas boat-building techniques.

Or PMF foamies right here


This is what I was thinking: https://hackaday.com/2017/08/01/how-to-do-beautiful-enclosures-with-custom-fiberglass/ It's more of a skin-on-frame than skin-on-[subsurface] (like PMF foamies). It would allow for making some really "out there" shapes and contours.

This really could be fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
nay nay
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 5:53 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby ferbal » Mon May 21, 2018 7:42 pm

All the exterior panels are in place and zip tied. I ran out of tape so I will have to finish taping the seams tommorrow. I also have the door installed, the concept seems sound, but the seal integrity remains to be seen when my door handles get here Friday I will be sure to update. My solar panel came in and I doubled the weight of the trailer with the addition of the battery.

Solar Panel question...to tilt or not to tilt?

IMG_0205.JPG
IMG_0205.JPG (56.49 KiB) Viewed 2118 times
ferbal
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:53 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Joel.brian » Mon May 21, 2018 8:19 pm

Looks pretty sweet! I didn’t bother tilting my panel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Joel.brian
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:42 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby ferbal » Mon May 28, 2018 8:28 pm

I got the door put on, used a couple of t-handle shed latches for door handles I went with two to ensure a good seal. I have to add a seal strip to the top still as I have a small gap from the contour of the fame. I also mounted the solar panel used some 3m VHB double sided tape to hold it down then gorilla taped the sides because I love gorilla tape and it made me feel better. I also applied some paint to see if it would hold up on the coroplast and tape, it did. So the paint scheme will be bright yellow and black stripes and it shall be called "The Bumbling B".

I even took it for a road test to see if zip ties and tape can handle 60 mph. It did. Now I have to tackle the interior.
IMG_0213.JPG
IMG_0213.JPG (35.57 KiB) Viewed 2047 times

IMG_0214.JPG
IMG_0214.JPG (56.29 KiB) Viewed 2047 times

IMG_0212.JPG
IMG_0212.JPG (33.94 KiB) Viewed 2047 times
ferbal
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:53 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby Joel.brian » Mon May 28, 2018 9:38 pm

Nice!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Joel.brian
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:42 pm
Top

Re: Boat Trailer + Truck Cap = Boondock Bed

Postby ferbal » Fri Jun 08, 2018 8:40 pm

My better judgement prevailed and I abandon the yellow paint job in favor of metallic aluminum. From 15 feet away or going by at 15mph it looks like a legit camper. I used 7/32 under layment for interior panels then I spent a week building some convoluted bench/bed thing that I ended up scraping because Dick's had a great deal on a nice air mattress. I picked up a couple of low voltage landscape lighting fixtures for my interior lighting. I think it is a usable camper.

I still have some minor stuff to finish up but the maiden voyage is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.


IMG_0235.JPG
The Silver Bullet
IMG_0235.JPG (51.7 KiB) Viewed 1981 times

IMG_0225.JPG
The interior
IMG_0225.JPG (46.8 KiB) Viewed 1981 times
ferbal
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:53 pm
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Build Journals

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests