Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

My plans call for 1/8 inch masonite on the exterior shell before the aluminum sheeting. I am just wondering what everybodies thoughts are on that. To me, it seem like the masonite would eventually crumple or break down. I would like to find 1/8 inch plywood but, I can't find any in my area. Would 1/8 inch paneling be acceptable? Thanks, Darrel

...masonite can be used successfuly (I wouldn't) if sealed well...the same can be said of 1/8th Luan/Birch or paneling
madjack

Darrel,
Have you checked you local cabinet shops? I had a real lumber yard order my 1/8 Birch. Got to be a pain looking for what I wanted but persistance paid off.

I used 1/8" masonite on most of these builds, as well as others 12-15 years ago. As long as its done properly, I find no problems.

The masonite is not the waterproofing agent...the aluminum is. The masonite is just a backing for the Aluminum. If you install the aluminum improperly, and it leaks, it doesn't make any difference what the backing is, Masonite, Birch, Laun or any other exotic wood.
If it gets wet, it will Rot. , and is not the fault of the material.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/len19070/al ... 2341588273

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/len19070/al ... 2341590437

Happy Trails

Len

I've got this fantasy of building a very basic and inexpensive tear out of masonite and 1x2 framing. That's it. Then paint it glossy battleship gray with some red trim. Would keep it inside all the time unless it rains during a trip, but figure it'd last just fine if painted properly and left indoors most of the time.

Hmm...maybe after I finish my boat.

I used masonite under my aluminum and it's easy to work with and is to size. Sealed with several coats of spar varnish and that's all that's needed. Because of it's hardness it can help to keep aluminum from denting

Also built an observatory dome with 1/8" masonite in 1982, sealed it with varnish and coated it with white paint every few years and it worked just fine.

Denny Unfried wrote:I used masonite under my aluminum and it's easy to work with and is to size. Because of it's hardness it can help to keep aluminum from denting

Me too.

So far its been 6 years and it seems to be holding up OK.

I didn't use Masonite, but I know for a fact the original Kit teardrops did, and a friend of mine has one that is 60 years old and still in good shape.

Yes, Masonite will be damaged by water, but so will plywood.

I used masonite on mine but I wouldn't use it again.

I didn't like how it held staples and I don't think glue sticks to it as well as plywood. I sealed mine with 4 coats of spar urethane so I'm not too worried about it getting wet under the filon skin. I just wonder if it will come loose some day. I would use 1/8" plywood if I were doing it over again. Its just too much work to have that little bit of doubt in your mind at the end of the project.
Bruce

Thanks everybody for your response. I have the day off work today and I'm going to try to locate some plywood. If I can't find any today, I guess it's going to be masonite.

Thanks,
Darrel

One other thing I don't like about masonite is that it seems to weigh a lot for it's size and strength. I would think there are other materials that are, pound-for-pound, a lot stronger than masonite.

CD

I used Masonite as the roof "base", I guess you would call it. It was a PITA but I put the seams where it MADE it a PITA. I had the seam in the front radius and thus made the roof spar bow outward at the seam. If you look at my album, you'll see how I had to compensate for the bow. It was my first build so I didn't know any better but I wouldn't be afraid to use Masonite as a roof substrate again. BTW, I sealed the crap out of the Masonite after I put it on and it worked like that for over 6 months and around 3,000 miles before I put the diamond plate material on.