Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Conditions...rain forest
Roads...ahhh, not so good most times
Desire...keep out moisture, keep weight down, long term durability


So folks...I have my floor with 3/8 ply on the top, 1 full inch Foamular kinda glued into place with the black goo, fir frame with spars at a 14 inch max but they vary. The braces are there to wedge the foam into place while the goo stuff sets up.



Question of the day (given my desires)....

I want to seal the bottom. In preparation I will fair the insulation to the spars. It's pretty close so fairing isn't a big job.

I also have bunches of 60 inch 4 oz fiberglass cloth and 3 gal epoxy on hand for this build.

Opinion please....

Do I put a layer 1/8 ply on the bottom of the floor, prime and paint it?

or do I...

Lay out some glass, epoxy it, prime and paint it directly on the foam...

or do I ...

quit being anal and just cover the works with black goo?


As always...your help is appreicated..BTW...Wher's Madjack?????

Dave....if'n it were me...I'd just skin it with the ply on the underneath side and roll on some epoxy, I think I'd upgrade to a 1/4" exterior grade, no luan stuff a couple of layers of epoxy (given the conditions you have to camp in, and roads you're travelling on), but I would make sure that you have the ends and sides of the frame well sealed with epoxy...if you are going to do a lot of time on gravel roads, maybe do the glass also, but it could be coated out with the black goo and that would give you more rock protection than just the epoxy. Having driven the Alcan back in the days when it was gravel, I've seen rocks knock a hole in a fuel tank, that's why I'd go with the 1/4". The real key is to make that area completely sealed off against water penetration. PS....if you have too much epoxy, I'll take a gallon...doug

Doug...Your right...I drove the Dalton up to the Yukon River this summer in a full sized Surburban, and also went out to the Kennecott and McCarthy (had two flats and the road was in "great" shape)...I just don't think foam only with black goo will cut it!!!!

But I wondered...if a fella didn't need additional strength in the floor system...had already spent the bucks for glass and epoxy....was concerned on weight because it is being towed by a Honda Element....lived in a rain forest...wanted something that would survive a trip over the "Top of the World" highway....was planning on fairing the bottom anyway..........What's a fella to do?

It's so easy to over-build...it's so hard to keep them light and for the intended purpose!!!

I didn't expect the same conditions you expect, but I used plywood on the bottom and then put on glass resin and paint.

As much as sealing it, I want any damage to be easily seen so I can repair it quickly and easily.

dave

Dave...I'd build all the rock resistance into the bottom and flap the tow vehicle....build the rest light...It's been a long time since I've driven up there, but have done most of the highways...you know better than anyone else what you are going to get into...of course that doesn't take into account the hardball sized rock I took into the windshield in my Maverick in 1973...have you thought about Kevlar? pricey...but at the saw shop I go to, he has a chunk of it with 3 .38 cal bullets that were flattened against it...pretty impressive...but then he is sharpening the blades for the guys that are building in into a bank....Doug

Doug...have you messed with graphite in your epoxy? I can get that locally and...for no other reason....it might be a hoot to just place glass over the foam/frame and see how that performs. I've had an itching to try something different....and it's supposed to be pretty resistant to barnacles., rock impacts, and scratches.

the stuff this guy had was 1/4" thick....and no I haven't played with the exotic fabrics or additives....doug

Dave,
When we went up to AK this summer with our TD from NY I didnt drive the Dalton, but we made it to Valdez. Our bottom is just coated with 3 layers of Spar Varnish and a couple coats of sanding sealer. The bottom took little abuse, but the aluminum front and fenders took a big beating. I'll be replacing them. In the future I will use fiberglass, I'm sure it will work for you. >11k miles this season.
Missing AK. -Ray

My stupidity has led me to a new solution...I'm thinking, thinking, thinking...so we'll see where I go!!!!!