Weekender question

[Bill_Storey]

Would a 5 x 10 Weekender work with 1/2" floor and sides, and a 3/8" top and hatch, or am I being cheap and trying to cut weight in the wrong places?

Bill

[mikeschn]

If you're trying to be cheap, go with 1/4" luan, and glue that up to a 1x2 stick frame! The sticks, and the polystyrene insulation will give it lots of rigidity!

If you are trying to build it sorta fast, go with 1/2" all around, and re-inforce all the corners with 1x2 sticks.

I tend not to like the 1/2" plywood. It's already warped in the store. At least the 3/4" stuff is nice and flat.

Of course, my speciality plywood store has 1/2" baltic birch which is nice and flat. But it only comes in 4x4' and 5x5'.

When all is said and done though, you will probably only build 1 teardrop. And the labor is the largest portion of the cost. I wouldn't skimp on the building materials. Spend a couple extra bucks up front, and build something you are going to be proud of!

Mike...

[Bill_Storey]

Mike,

To be truthful, I was trying to think of a way to build cheap, fast and light .

However, I think I need to concentrate on cheap and light. SOOO, I guess I need to start working my plans with the 1x2 stick frame. 1/4" luan outside, 1 3/4" polystyrene, then 1/8" inside or 1/4" inside??

I'm planning on a pretty bare bones trailer, 2 lights inside, a fantastic fan, an automotive AM/FM cassette built in with a portable cd player with adaptor, 12 volt fan and 12 volt bed heater. I guess 3 12 volt outlets in the cabin total. I might throw in my 12 volt 5" b&w TV, maybe. Depends on if the daughter is going with me.

In the galley, 2 12 volt outlets, 1 flourescent light, 1 Optima deep cycle (the big one), one 5 gallon water jug, my Coleman 2 burner propane stove, and various and sundry kitchen gear, and spices.

The way fuel prices are going up, I figure the lighter the better, but I still want the big battery.

[GeorgeT]

My 2 cents. I built mine with 1/2 birch walls with 1x2 framing and is very straight and stiff. But....I built the pop up walls and roof from 1/4 inch birch with the same 1x2 framing with no insulation and it is amazingly stiff. For a simple fast cheap build I think the 1/4 inch with 1x2 framing would work just fine making sure you have interior bulkheads like the galley and such to stiffen it further. Two parts I would be concerned about would be the galley hatch side walls being stiff enough and the doors. I would for sure put in a 3/4 inch floor.

[OkieSailor]

We found some 1/2 plywood 4X10 that is made for outdoor sign construction. Heavy as heck because of the amount of waterproof glue the manufactor used. It was even better because one side is painted and the other side is covered by paper/masonite material. The guy at the lumber yard said it can sit outside for months as delivered without going bad. I figured that will waterproof the heck out of the trailer, plus no spliceing to get a 10ft long sheet.

[Bill_Storey]

OkieSailor,

Where did you find the 4x10 sign plywood? I used to live in OKC, both north and south side, and also in Moore.