Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi
I am considering building the sides of my trailer with 8’x2’ sheets of ply instead of 8’x4’as the smaller size sheets would be better for me to handle. The 2 pieces would be joined with biscuits along the joint and the front, door surrounds, kitchen units and roof would tie it all in together.
I would appreciate member’s thoughts and comments.

Thanks and Happy New Year, Steve

The only thing I would do is add some plywood as a backing for strength at each of the joints.

Mike...

...instead of biscuits, I would use a full length spline...same concept as the bisquits but with more gluing area
madjack

Unless you are painting don't put glue where it will squish out the edges. Leaves a stain. I put plywood on the back of each joint. 4" on each side. Then I chickened out and added screws at the edges.

Steve...I agree that 4x8 sheets are heavy and bulky, but once you go to all the effort to join two 2x8 sheets...your still have a 4x8 sheet to move and you haven't gained much. I think I would go ahead and use 4x8 sheet goods, get some help to get them home, then spend some time setting things up so you minimize the handling. I think you will be happier!!!!

Hi
It would be far easier for me to use 8x2 both for getting it home and building as getting help when I need it will be a problem.
I will be painting the trailer so the glue shouldn’t be a problem and I think I will have a large enough area inside to overlap for extra strength.
I also want to wrap the edges with aluminium strip so that may also help.

Thanks for the input.

Juneaudave wrote:Steve...I agree that 4x8 sheets are heavy and bulky, but once you go to all the effort to join two 2x8 sheets...your still have a 4x8 sheet to move and you haven't gained much. I think I would go ahead and use 4x8 sheet goods, get some help to get them home, then spend some time setting things up so you minimize the handling. I think you will be happier!!!!

Hi
My intention is to build the trailer as though it is a kit so I can stop and start when I need to. I am going to include a foot well into it as I am tall and I will need to sit up in the van and from that base working with 2’ pieces will be a lot easier.

Thanks for the reply.

Steve, I still agree with Juneaudave, make some friends and let them help you. Why complicate your project and possibly make it less reliable? How about renting a roofrack for your car? Or a trailer? I think there are better ways of dealing with this problem than cutting plywood up and then gluing it back together.

Happy new year, Ilya.

PS It's your build, so do as you choose...

Steve I am the queen of needing help to lift so here are some tips.

If you use 2x8 you can build a frame and put it on as siding. Many do with more than one sheet. Your frame can act as a backer just get the boards a bit wider. Not 1x2's and make it like a house.

You can put the spline in the bottom side and try to get the top to go over it, If your going to put them 2' vertical same thing. This will not be easy by yourself.

Steve F. had his swinging from the ceiling on at least one build.

I had trianglar boards I screwed to hold the sides up. You can, screw them on then rock your sides up. Once the door and windows are cut this is pretty easy. Screw them into the deck so the sides are square.

BTW--use thinner wood.

Here is a picture of the trial run with the blocking

My walls are 5'x10' and 3/8 thick. I needed help in this picture with no window yet. Having someone use the screw drive might help.

4x8x1/2 weighs about 50 pounds... I always try to move it so I only lift one end at a time (bad back).... I can usually work it out pretty well. Personally, I would not want the seam, the work, the extra time, etc. If all else fails, I call Shirley.....

Steve....like Madjack suggests, this method will give you a very strong joint and you won't have to back it up. However, something to consider is that the sides are going to be done fairly early in the build so 8x2 sheets aren't really going to be a benefit in the long run, other than getting them home and a short period of handling them. The time and ease you get from the start will be rapidly made up when you have to glue them together/clamp/ weight etc... Does the DIY center near you have delivery? If so, you could order up a bunch of your materials in advance and have them delivered at one time, if the budget provides for that.
Having a cousin in Scotland and trying to help them redo a home proved a challenge to me. What a lot of us here in the states don't realize is that people in the UK don't have a pick-up or access to one like we do over here. I haven't been over there since 95, but was completely surprised at the lack of pick-up trucks, and my cousin was shocked that so many of us have them here. Doug

You are going to build the trailer first so use that to pick up any large pieces of ply. When you have what you need then start construction on the tear.

Chaotica wrote:You are going to build the trailer first so use that to pick up any large pieces of ply. When you have what you need then start construction on the tear.

Good point. I used mine. Honestly if you are making the sides to be 4x8 one piece is better and once you get the door and window cut out it is not that bulky or heavy. Just use the trailer floor as a cutting table. Very little lifting. My trick to carry my large sides was to lift one end and put my foot under it. Then just hobble to where ever you need it.

Miriam C. wrote:

Chaotica wrote:You are going to build the trailer first so use that to pick up any large pieces of ply. When you have what you need then start construction on the tear.

Good point. I used mine.

Ditto that.

Yeah Steve,

But didn't yours only stay on the trailer for like 3 minutes before it unfolded into a finished camper???


CHUCK