Anyone complete a cedar sided trailer?

[friz-TNT]

I am thinking 4 x 8, which will be small for my ultimate goal of using it for traveling with my wife.

Grab a tape measure and pull it out. Look at 22". That will be the room for one of you in a 4'-wide. Building a 5'-wide isn't any more difficult.



Tony

Also 5 wide is the same as a queen size bed. No custom mattress and sheets.

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[WendellNV]

Ripping down boards for cedar strips is not hard. Thickness planing the strips makes for less sanding later.

I think you could use you 5" boards if you resaw, plane thin and edge glue on flat surface. Then cover BOTH sides with cloth and epoxy. At that point you'll have a composite panel that you can use like a sheet of plywood.

Tony is right about warping. Wood will expand and contract with changes in humidity unless encapsulated.

I like the idea.

Concerning material, I have about 750 western red cedar fence pickets that I got at decent price by the pallet, to build a fence and build some other things. The fence will take about 300 of them. Even with the 10-15% culls that have limited use, I should have plenty to skin a trailer.

I know some will be rolling their eyes at this idea, but hey, I like to think outside the box and improvise and scrounge a bit at times. It’s the “frugal cheapskate” in me! Can’t help myself to at least try!

I am assuming I would need to have a flat table large enough to do the assembly and layup.

Would the “cedar plywood” need to be exactly the shape and size of the wall it is covering? Cutouts for door/window?

Would cutting, drilling, nailing or screwing to attach the panel cover compromise the integrity?

Appreciate the input,

Regards

 

[WendellNV]

Ripping down boards for cedar strips is not hard. Thickness planing the strips makes for less sanding later.

I think you could use you 5" boards if you resaw, plane thin and edge glue on flat surface. Then cover BOTH sides with cloth and epoxy. At that point you'll have a composite panel that you can use like a sheet of plywood.

Tony is right about warping. Wood will expand and contract with changes in humidity unless encapsulated.

The CLC is completely encapsulated in epoxy. The entire exterior and the seams on the inside are glassed. No worries if a little water gets inside and after 5 years and bouncing down numerous rough roads, mine just needs a little refresh of the varnish. Mainly rock chips.

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I am encouraged by you trailer! That’s a beauty!

Thanks and regards!

I would expect some maintenance since trailers lead such a hard life and many are left outside for most of their existence.

 

[WendellNV]

I am thinking 4 x 8, which will be small for my ultimate goal of using it for traveling with my wife.

Grab a tape measure and pull it out. Look at 22". That will be the room for one of you in a 4'-wide. Building a 5'-wide isn't any more difficult.



Tony

I did, and you make a good point!

My wife is a stable sleeper, I move a lot. So 44” of bed would be tight.

To be honest, she has said camping in a teardrop was not high on her priority list!
So it will likely be just be me for my local trips.

My thinking is I do a small build for the experience and to have a unit to use until I build something more suitable for my lovely wife. Then sell the smaller one to recoup some of the material costs.

I have some more thinking to do about my future plans.

Thanks and regards!

 

[WendellNV]

I am thinking 4 x 8, which will be small for my ultimate goal of using it for traveling with my wife.

Grab a tape measure and pull it out. Look at 22". That will be the room for one of you in a 4'-wide. Building a 5'-wide isn't any more difficult.



Tony

Also 5 wide is the same as a queen size bed. No custom mattress and sheets.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

Good point. For some reason I was thinking there was a stock bed size that fit a 4 x 8.

Thanks and regards.

 

[Tony Latham]

I was thinking...

A 5'-wide fits a queen mattress just fine.

Tony