What components do I need first?

[camper4life]

I'm trying to decide which components I need to order first. I finished welding and painting my frame and built my front wall. I'm starting to build my side walls next week. Do I need to order my windows to have them on hand or can I go by manufacture cutout sizes? My other question concerns applying 1/4 " plywood to inside walls. I work at a cabinet shop that does a lot of laminate tops. We use a spray gun to spray our contact glue. Do y'all think this would work with different climate changes or should use a construction adhesive? Thanks

[KCStudly]

Welcome to the forum.

I think you would be better off using the counter laminate material than the 1/4 inch ply.

Pre-finished, lighter weight, water/condensation resistant, easy to clean.

What are you using for your wall construction? Stick built frame sandwich? Foam board insulation filled (glue needs to be compatible)? Skeleton?

I would have the windows in hand. Many of them have rounded corners, and you will want to verify the depth and trim rings will work without having to make "adjustments". If you are using manufactured doors, same thing; have them on hand.

Roof vent fan. You are probably okay if you make the cutout 14-3/8 or 14-1/2 (14 nominal plus a little room for wiggle and wires). Some people have had problems with the way the wires come away, or adapting to curved roofs, so I would get that ahead, too.

Most people put the side walls and bulkhead up first then wrap the front wall and roof over. Can you share some more details and pics of your build so we can see why you built the front wall first?

[grantstew8]

If you can get the windows/ doors so when you're building you can make the opening to fit the window or door. It's handy to trail fit and take actual measurements.

A major issue when involved with building self-houses was this: there is a difference between window sizes, tolerances, manufacturers and opening sizes. ALWAYs work to the opening size. There is no squirm room when $50k worth of windows arrive on site and they don't fit. One instance where the house was built and the econo-range had discontinued in the meantime.

Post some photos we interested

[rowerwet]

why buy windows? make your own to any shape or size you want (wiley windows, in my signature). whatever route you go, buying or making, having it there to test fit will save a lot of moaning and head scratching later on. If you read most build threads, the builder gets the vents, door latches, windows, lights, hinges, etc. right away. Then has a nice pile of stuff left over for the "next build" when they change their mind and get something else during the build (the biggest reason why most of us can't really say what our teardrop cost)

[camper4life]

Thanks for the advise. I was thinking of formica in the first place but I've have enough scraps of 1/4" maple fibercore strips from work to do the whole interior. I have stick frame walls. I'm stripping the inside of my walls and spraying them at work the bring them home to put together. Were running out of room at work.This is the frame before I put stripping on it.

[KCStudly]

Nice work.

[Shadow Catcher]

I think you need to consider electrical before much else as that will dictate placement of outlets and wiring. the place to start is the converter and battery, where are they going to go which also dictates to some extent axle placement. For shear convenience and quality the Progressive Dynamics power center http://www.progressivedyn.com/all_in_one_pd4000.html is hard to beat.



Figure in more outlets than you think you need, we have four 120AC and four 12V inside the cabin and have use all of them. Two 120AC on the exterior (one used for the AC) and three in the Galley and one 12V which powers the refrigerator when off grid.



1 12V line to the vent for the two computer case fans

[SLUG36]

a trailer frame and wheels first.

slow and maybe a set of plans!

PLANS??? what are those??

[tony.latham]

I'm trying to decide which components I need to order first. I finished welding and painting my frame and built my front wall. I'm starting to build my side walls next week. Do I need to order my windows to have them on hand or can I go by manufacture cutout sizes? My other question concerns applying 1/4 " plywood to inside walls. I work at a cabinet shop that does a lot of laminate tops. We use a spray gun to spray our contact glue. Do y'all think this would work with different climate changes or should use a construction adhesive? Thanks

I don't know about the contact cement. I really like the PL Premium poly construction adhesive. It's fairly cheap in the big tubes and gives you about 45 minutes of work time.

Tony