What I did on Spring Break....or how to make sawdust

[sunny16]

Had a long weekend because of Spring Break. So, since it was warm for a couple of the days I worked on the trailer! I finished up the side walls, insulated them and stained them and then attached them to the floor frame.


I also added a few roof spars which was fun. I framed the vent location.




Now I need to get more 1/8" plywood to get the inside ceiling in. Just a side note, the styrofoam insulation, the white stuff, is a pain to work with. Little white balls of foam all over the garage. I will use the pink or blue stuff in the roof....

[Ira]

Looks really fantastic, man!

Did you use the 3/4" insulation with the silver backing? I'm STILL picking little pieces of that out of my a**!

One more thing:

What do you have planned for the front? A large window?

[sunny16]

That's for the large AC unit, like at the motels! Just kidding!. I have a 18w x 14h fixed window that I have to incorporate. So I left those spars out while I figure out how to mount it. I wanted a small window so as to be able to look out the front.

[Ira]

REALLY looks good! What did you use for spars? 2 by 4's? I ask because of the vent framing.

[Classic Finn]

Hey there! That is a nice lookin lil teardrop... I like the window shape too.
Very Nice!!


Classic Finn

[sunny16]

After all the reading about spars here I was going to double up 1 x 2's. After I bought a couple and saw how they would fit I decided to use only one per location. I think it will be strong enough. I will douple them up 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 at the hatch hinge point and where I will attach my roof rack I want to use. I don't plan on sitting on top of the trailer so beefing them up isn't an issue. That's the plan at this point. I think I might have overbuilt a bit but I have the roof spars spaced about 8 inches apart. It just worked out that way with the cures and radii where they are. Thanks for the kudos.

[bledsoe3]

Sunny, Ira asks because of mounting the vent. Read this: http://www.mikenchell.com/faq/index.php ... artlang=en

[Ira]

Sunny, Ira asks because of mounting the vent. Read this: http://www.mikenchell.com/faq/index.php ... artlang=en

Yep, you nailed it.

Sunny, it just has to do with having actual lumber to screw into when installing the vent, screwing into the holes of your flange. Your framing/opening there may be the perfect size, 14 1/4" all around, but if you're using 1 by 2s, you need extra lumber outside of that to have something to actually screw into.

Otherwise, you'll just be screwing the vent into the skins, not into any framing.

God bless the gal that told me this BEFORE I skinned. It would have been a nightmare skinning and discovering this problem later!

[bledsoe3]

Ira was the one who warned me. Now it is part of the FAQ section above.

[sunny16]

OK, now I understand the question Ira asked. The FAQ says 1 1/2" thick material. It should probably read "wide" since a 1 x 2 is 1 1/2" thick and 3/4" wide standing up. I know it's a technicality (sp) but I figured I would get the fan (Fantastic Fan) before I skin it. Another old trailer I have only has a small steel tube frame to screw the fan to it. But thanks for the info. I would hate to find out too late.

[Ira]

I never saw this issue in FAQ--maybe I should visit that thread more often--but you got it down pat now.

It's just a matter of taking some additional 1 by 2 sticks and placing them on the outside perimeter of your opening, giving you that extra 3/4" to have something to screw into.

[Spadinator]

Looks good Sunny!!!!! You and I had the same idea for the long weekend!!!!!

[Finntec]

Very nice. I like the shape. I think I will build one similar next time to go along with a Honda Element if I get one. Keep the pics coming.