Deryk's lil Vardo

[Deryk the Pirate]

Well after all the time of watching and waiting I have finally started building my trailer.

Because I am active in a medieval reinactment I wanted something that would almost be period I decided to build something vardo'like. Being limited by a max tow weight of a 1000lbs I couldnt go too big. I decided since my car is 63" wide to go with a width of 60". The tongue and groove wood is about 5 1/8th" tall so the sides are going to be about 46" with a center height of about 51". Im doing a side door, not periodly correct but for the size of the trailer and storage use it makes sense to me. I also want an awning off the side to get out of the sun and rain.


Its being built primarily with Paulownia and cedar. I got a real good price on the paulownia from a cedar place that my friend used to deal with.

So how do I import the images from my album?

thanks!

[Deryk the Pirate]

nm...I figured it out.

[Miriam C.]

You have a real good start on your Vardo. Remember you are not building a tank hauler!

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks...my friend whose house Im building it at, because he has alot more knowledge and tools then I do, said he usually overbuilds things so when "sh** happens" it can withstand it.... I keep up my mantra "It must weigh less then a 1000 pounds" lol.

I did add an additional support under the floor where I will be directly stepping into the vardo, but where Im gonna be sleeping the weight load will be alot more spread out, and the flooring is 1" (7/8's") cedar tongue and groove flooring.

Im hopeing to be headin back down probably on thursday to start on the side walls... can't wait to get it built so I can start camping in it!

[emiller]

Vardo's are cool, I will be watching this build.

[CliffinGA]

Looks good Deryk, I thought I was only one that just lifted the trailer on its side because I was to big to get under it . Mine was that way last weekend while I was primering and painting the new crossmembers on mine. Your moving along!

Cliff

[Facemeltingly Epic]

Thanks...my friend whose house Im building it at, because he has alot more knowledge and tools then I do, said he usually overbuilds things so when "sh** happens" it can withstand it.... I keep up my mantra "It must weigh less then a 1000 pounds" lol.

I did add an additional support under the floor where I will be directly stepping into the vardo, but where Im gonna be sleeping the weight load will be alot more spread out, and the flooring is 1" (7/8's") cedar tongue and groove flooring.

Im hopeing to be headin back down probably on thursday to start on the side walls... can't wait to get it built so I can start camping in it!

I've been harping on "less weight, less weight" throughout the design and build stages of my trailer. And I'm shooting for an even lower weight than you are (about 700lb loaded).

But even with as little actual framing as my trailer has, the body is quite rigid. Putting the whole thing together with glue AND mechanical fasteners does wonders in this respect.

[Deryk the Pirate]

oh Im hopein to keep it under 700 lbs too but my car's max tow is 1000lbs.

[Steve_Cox]

oh Im hopein to keep it under 700 lbs too but my car's max tow is 1000lbs.

Hi Deryk,

Glad you finally got started

Looks like you are up to about 360 pounds (the trailer) so far.

[Deryk the Pirate]

Well started putting up the walls. I got a deal on 2 windows for
$20 dollars each, brand new from a shed store that stopped useing this type of window.

Tomorrow is another day!

[atahoekid]

Bravo!!! Glad to see you've gotten a start and a good start it is. I notice from your pics that it actually looks like spring in New Jersey. Out west in the Sierra's, still more snow. I've got to wait for it to melt off before I can reach my frame and start building. I'm hoping and praying I can get to it by Memorial Day

In the meanwhile, I will watch your progress

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks! Yeah winter is slightly releasing its stranglehold on us lol. Was 39' yesterday. Tuesday its suposed to be 50' and wednesday its suposed to snow lol.

[Blotto Bros]

Great progress on your Vardo

I think your idea of a floating type frame is a great way to save weight. I was wondering if you had come up with a plan on how to join the walls at the corners?

[John T. Hodgen]

Hey Deryk,
Seeing windows on the street side, is your door going to be on the curb side? You'll end up walking around it alot unless you unhitch @ the campground. When I built the "Costta Lotta", I used 1x2's and some 1x4's. It was flimsy til I got the walls done and then it was solid. It still came out weighing around 800#. Tows great but you can feel it behind you. I like Vardos and will watch your unique build.
Til later by the fire--John T. & Linda

[Deryk the Pirate]

Thanks...Yeah Im doin a curbside door. On a longer vardo the door at the end makes sense. I wanted more storage space. Down the road when I get a car that I can haul more weight with I can add the propane fridge

My friend suggested on the corners there is an "L" shaped trim piece to lap the joint on the 4 corners and can calk it so water wont blow inside if its raining while i drive down the highway. Hopefully tomorrow I can cut the curved roof pieces and start my roof going up. I made my door frame 27" wide (ran 2 1x2's screwed and glued for extra strength) Im going to add the hurricaine straps for extra strength then cover it with 3/4 foam.

I will figure how Im doin the interior once I take it up the road and weigh it lol. If Im getting too heavy I was thinking of useing a middle eastern'ish tapestry kind of fabric to cover the inside of the vardo and use mouldings tacked in around to hold the fabric in place. If I weigh in where Im guestimateing then I can do 1/8th luan. walls and varnish it.

I think its gonna be fine weight wise, the Paulownia is a light weight wood. http://www.worldpaulownia.com/html/tech.html Based on the sample piece the distributor gave me and what I read on line the weight on the 1"x6"x16' should be 7-9 lbs Im going to be useing 27 of them so the sides and roof will be about 250lbs throw in another 25 lbs for the 20 cedar 1"x2"x8' a gallon of glue and 5 pounds of screws I think I will come in fine under 700lbs. Guess we will see lol