Hi all,
I came across this forum and decided to join as there seems to be a wealth of knowledge here and a wealth of good people as well.
My wife and I have decided to start a TD project and are still in the infamous “planning” stages. I’ve got the support of my father-in-law (he’s pretty handy with building stuff), and access to my brother-in-law’s professional welding buddy (he can weld aluminum too). Hence, I’m hoping that this project will go well.
Anyway…I’ve been scouring the internet and this forum and still have some design questions that don’t seem to have answers…maybe ya’ll could help?
I’m planning on build a 5 x 12 Benroy-style TD using an old steel utility trailer. I’ve heard that with TDs of that size you need some sort of bulkhead to reinforce the sides. My father-in-law and I have been toying with the idea of a steel skeleton or an aluminum skeleton (metal frame and ribbing made from square tubing). The problem that I see is bending the metal. Are there a lot of places out there that can bend tubing as neither of us have experience with it?
Also, it seems that everybody uses plywood for the sides of the TD. Again, good ol’ dad seems to think that this may cause long term problems (potential water damage). As we’ll be using the trailer for forest camping/hunting as well as campground (KOA) travel the trailer will be subject to getting shaken on the no-so-well-kept roads. I would assume that regardless of the amount of sealant that would be used on the joints, eventually the trailer may leak because of the shaking. His answer is the build the sides of the trailer out of aluminum siding, rather than plywood (like many modern RVs). I haven’t heard of, nor seen anyone do this with a TD….what ya’ll think? The idea seems good, especially because I’d like to keep the dry weight below 1500 lbs. and getting rid of all that plywood would definitely help.
Last but not least, my wife and I have one child (2 years old) and are planning on one more (hence the 5 x 12 TD). We came up with the idea of a bunk bed that would run the width of the trailer, in the front (up top) where some of you seem to put shelving (the space would be 24 x 24 x 5 feet wide, however it would be subject to the front curve in the roof. Anyone with kids every try this before? And how is sleeping with two little ones in a 5 x 12 space?
Thanks so much,
Rick
P.S. If there is anyone in the Phoenix area that would let my wife, son, and I look at your TD for some realistic/physical idea of the space we’re dealing with, please let us know. Thanks again.