6' x 12' CTC = started updating

[Grummy-TNT]

>>>>Will do the sides before we pull the bottom 3/4" ply.....

If you are going to insulate the floor, it is easier from the top when the floor is out if you ask me. You can get better measurements because your not crawling around underneath. I cut mine to be snug, laid a bead of adhesive on the inside edge of the frame and floor joists, pressed the PolyIso down and flush with the top of the joists. Right before I dropped the flooring section back in place, a dropped few dabs of adhesive here and there on top the PolyIso to get it to stick to the underside of the flooring.

I put the silver side down under the floor, and did still need to caulk all the way around the lower edge, but at least I only had to be laying under there for have the time.

 

[Staryder61]

Grummy, I'm going back and forth on whether to insulate the bottom or not. I read this posting that says a waste of time, and another that says it helps. We are not winter campers per say. Though the heat off the asphalt pads we park on sometimes can get awfully hot.
To insulate the bottom, would be better when the plywood is out of the trailer for sure.
I know the crunch finding building material maybe hitting everyone, but damn, it's really hitting hard around where we live.
No baltic birch plywood available, cabinet shops where I use to get it, have none. Lauan ply is not available. Even the foam insulation is a hit and miss.
One place yesterday had 87 sheets of 1" foam, went to another site to check prices, they didn't have any. Went back to place the order at the other place. 87 sheets were unavailable.
I may have to start collecting boxes from liqueur stores and using cardboard to insulate this trailer.

 

[flboy]

Floor Insulation is easy enough to add after build. It just cuts and get glued in using construction adhesive.

I added it as it does help in hot and cold situations. It was worth it for me.

You can always try without and if you think you need it later to help keep cooler or etc., it is easy enough to add after.

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[Staryder61]

flboy,
how much did you add under yours?
If I'm going to add it, I better do it while the ply is out. Too damn old to be crawling under afterwards
Could measure it all off, while the plywood is standing against the inside of the trailer. Paint the plywood outside on the saw horses, then cut and glue the foam on before reinstalling the plywood. That'll work.
I'll be coating the bottom of the ply with a latex house primer, have a gal, might as well use it. Hopefully pl premium will stick the foam board to the paint.

 

[flboy]

I bought the 2" Styrofoam type with foil backing. The foil backing is facing downward.

I got the 2" because, 1) there is plenty of room for it and 2) I find the floor insulation makes a big difference, and 3) the incremental cost for 2" was not much.

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[Staryder61]

I bought the 2" Styrofoam type with foil backing. The foil backing is facing downward.

I got the 2" because, 1) there is plenty of room for it and 2) I find the floor insulation makes a big difference, and 3) the incremental cost for 2" was not much.

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That makes since flboy, just ordered the 1 inch for the sides, roof and the foil tape. 2" wasn't available, will have to check somewhere else for that. Have a friend with a lift, can always do the floor later.

 

[Staryder61]

Well the big Orange box company strikes again. I put in a order today for 9 sheets of what foam board they had available.
Their online inventory showed they had 73 sheets in store. Just got a cancel notice email. They cancelled the order for lack of stock. I guess someone sold it all and forgot to update the inventory

 

[Staryder61]

Just a few quick pictures, I am finding out what everyone says about checking everything even on a new trailer.

Need to caulk here and there for sure..

I will solder and heat shrink all the wire connections

 

[Grummy-TNT]

That's lots of "ventilation" there.... But not uncommon to see with the interior walls out. It's just crucial to do what you did, and that is strip them and check it out.

I can't imagine trying to build anything these days. You'll get that first sigh of relief in when you get all your holes addressed, insulation in and walls back up.

Regards to do or not to do the floor, I saw some comments about how "easy" it is to do it later. Depends on what "easy" means to the writer. Pretty much all things were easy for me when I was 50, now over 60, NOTHING is easy.

My last conversion was a truck without an insulated floor, and it was very cold for the fall camping we enjoy. It also makes for a quieter box to sleep in late.

 

[onehoser]

i plan on insulating the underside of my 6x12 once i get the wiring etc sorted out underneath, so i installed interlocking workout mat on the floor, makes a huge difference, nice on the bare feet, adds some sound deadening and insulation value too

 

[Staryder61]

That's lots of "ventilation" there.... But not uncommon to see with the interior walls out. It's just crucial to do what you did, and that is strip them and check it out.
I can't imagine trying to build anything these days. You'll get that first sigh of relief in when you get all your holes addressed, insulation in and walls back up.
Regards to do or not to do the floor, I saw some comments about how "easy" it is to do it later. Depends on what "easy" means to the writer. Pretty much all things were easy for me when I was 50, now over 60, NOTHING is easy.

i plan on insulating the underside of my 6x12 once i get the wiring etc sorted out underneath, so i installed interlocking workout mat on the floor, makes a huge difference, nice on the bare feet, adds some sound deadening and insulation value too

Grummy , going with insulating the floor while it's out. I'm pushing over 65, nothing is easy to me also. Which is why we're doing a CTC, and getting out of the mini-van conversion. Things just don't move like they used to anymore.
Glad I found all of those ventilation gaps before I did the water test. Caulk all of them then do the water test.

Onehoser, I've seen some of the interlocking workout mats, that's a thought too. But for sure insulating.

Found foam, some at the blue box, some at the orange box. And some 5 mm revolution plywood. It will make good cabinet sides, Real light weight, looks like mahogany.
Made that little van work today.

Gas here has hit $4.19 gal

 

[Staryder61]

Just went out to work in the Tackle Box a little. Temp outside is 97 real feel 99, so thought no biggy.
Tackle box inside would be cooler, open it up. Set up a fan, good to go.
Oh **** no, that little thermometer I put on the inside front wall says this at 6:00 pm

Guess I'll wait a couple more hours?
Thinking maybe windows should be next to put in. could leave them open a little to let the heat escape.

 

[bdosborn-SMB]

I'd move that roof vent up to the top of the to do list.
Bruce

 

[Staryder61]

I'd move that roof vent up to the top of the to do list.
Bruce

Oh, for real Bruce. Hadn't ordered it yet. Bet I do tonight.
Then I have to figure out how to get up there to do it. Hopefully find a friend with a tall ladder.
Well, one thing at a time.
Had 2ea, 18 inch industrial floor fans. So grabbed them, they helped after 7 pm.
Did 3 tubes of silicone caulking. Wasn't a wasted day.

 

[Staryder61]

Yesterday was over the 100 degree mark for us. Later during the evening, though, we had a small breeze out of the North East. So I flipped the truck and trailer around, and let the breeze blow right in the back of the trailer. With the help of 2 fans, temp inside trailer came down to 80.
About 6 pm, we started laying out a floor plan with blue tape to see what it looked like.

This is the new floor plan we have come up with so far.

Laying it out inside the trailer gives a better perspective of the room you have to move around. And where things will be positioned for weight distribution. Keeping the bulk of the cabinet work and storage over the axle, in front or behind that area.
Will be a tongue box, not showing. It will house the battery or batteries.

We are going with the portable air conditioner vented through the floor. Have a friend that uses one model in his office that works great vented through a window, one hose. It's also a de-humidifier. So it should work in trailer, just vent it through the floor instead of window. No windows in this trailer.. We will have a screen door that will cover the back barn door opening for those really nice days.

Will have a ceiling fan, exhaust, 3 speed, reversible:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096Q ... PPYQG&th=1

Along with the following vent:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030 ... 0DER&psc=1

Fan and vent will be mounted on the roof allowing enough room for 2ea 100 watt solar panels to be installed at a later date.
The one camp ground that we really enjoy, has water available, but no power. So the battery (batteries), solar panels will be great. Generators are allowed, though last time we were there, someone ran a generator all day and night. And it was actually annoying. So we will not be using a generator, even though we have 2. I wouldn't want to annoy others.

We will have shore power for those other camp grounds that have power, and will be able to use the air conditioner at those.
I worked on wire brushing all the metal that needed to be. Preparing it for painting. Some was never painted at the factory.
Found a few more places that needed caulked.

Waiting for the temp to cool off today some. So I can go at it again.

 

[Grummy-TNT]

>>> So the battery (batteries), solar panels will be great

If you can pull a rabbit out of your hat, go with a lithium battery right from the start. I fought the higher costs, but now after having one for a year, it is night and day for every aspect.... well, accept you can NOT charge it when under 32 degrees (there are various protections to avoid that).

For some reference, I used an AmpereTime 200Ah+ and (2) 100 watt panels. Camped a whole week with fridge, lights coffee pot, tv, etc without ever coming even close to an issue. But, it was sunny every day.

I have since added (2) more 100 watt panels to the roof for those potentially cloudy days that come in a row.

 

[Staryder61]

>>> So the battery (batteries), solar panels will be great

If you can pull a rabbit out of your hat, go with a lithium battery right from the start. I fought the higher costs, but now after having one for a year, it is night and day for every aspect.... well, accept you can NOT charge it when under 32 degrees (there are various protections to avoid that).

For some reference, I used an AmpereTime 200Ah+ and (2) 100 watt panels. Camped a whole week with fridge, lights coffee pot, tv, etc without ever coming even close to an issue. But, it was sunny every day.

I have since added (2) more 100 watt panels to the roof for those potentially cloudy days that come in a row.

Thanks Grummy, that's good info. Not sure I'll be able to buy one just yet. I do have a 100 ah deep cell battery already that I can put to use along with 1ea 100 amp solar panel. Will update more later. As allows

 

[bdosborn-SMB]

Let us know how you like that fan. Fantastic and Maxxair fans have gotten stupid expensive so it would be nice to have an alternative.

Bruce

 

[flboy]

I put one of these in my 6x12 and it has been great so far. Build quality is excellent and works like my Maxxair. Been using for almost a year. Good alternative for $129and I'd buy another. It is reversible and has 6 speeds. No remote however.

Only bad thing I can say is that the base flange is all a PVC material. I wish it was aluminum, but I believe they are all like that. I secure with screws , dicor tape, and then cover the entire flange with dicor self leveling sealer to seal and protect the plastic flange from UVs which will break it down over time.. I suppose it could be painted as well.


Leisure Coachworks 14" x 14" RV Roof Vent Fan Exhaust 6 Speed Reversible 12V Manual Riser with Smoked Lid https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SSJQFP4/re ... UTF8&psc=1

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[Staryder61]

Let us know how you like that fan. Fantastic and Maxxair fans have gotten stupid expensive so it would be nice to have an alternative.
Bruce

Sure thing Bruce, I have the fantastic fan in the van conversion, 3 speed reversible. So, I have that to compare the new one with.
Less than half price of the fantastic, defiantly an alternative.
Should be here on Monday.. then rainy here for a few days next week, so maybe middle or end of next week to get it in.