Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

At several suggestions, I've decided my walls will be 1/4" birch plywood as the outside skin with 1x2 framing and EPS insulation, then either 1/4" or 1/8" oak plywood as the inside skin. I'm nearly done with the exterior skins and framing, and am looking ahead to cutting and installing the EPS. Should the EPS be glued to the exterior skin between the frame pieces, or (assuming they fit tightly between the "studs") can they just be sandwiched in place by the interior skin pieces?

-- Chris

I glued mine. I'm not sure that's the right way or not, but I saw someone else do it.

Chris,
I have not built mine, but what I was thinking is that I would attached the outside or inside skin to the frame, glue the insulation to that skin with just enough glue to hold the insulation in place and then put up the remaining skin.

I think you want to finish the skins before install - easier to finish horizontal pieces than vertical.

Just my 2 cents

I cut mine to fit snug and just pushed it on in there. On the curved sections I used scrap quarter round to hold it in. Then used foil tape where needed.




Oh, I had to cut some lines...I can not remember the term.. with a hand saw.. not very deep either, on the pieces in the curved section to help it bend.



Mk

I sammiched mine with no glue. If you are using styrofoam of some type, I'd say just cut it so it fits snug. It's no going anywhere. If you use fiberglass batt of some type on the vertical surfaces, you will have to glue, tape or staple to prevent it from sagging and bunching up toward the bottom.

And MaryK--the term is kerfing.

You should not need any glue. Where can it go after both sides are attached over it??

...never cared to much for the taste of glue...so we just "samitched" ours in place .............

Glue is not necessary, but when you glue the insulation in place you turn two seperate panels into a "lamanated" panel with added strength. I glued up two 1/4" luan panels with a 1" piece of blue foam sandwiched between as a test and was able to stand on a piece 3' x 4' on a pair of sawhorses 4' apart. Without the glue, it wouldn't hold me up. While you don't need the strength, I thought it might make a more sturdy trailer.
Joe

No glue on the flat areas..Glued the curved areas, just to hold it in place.

Ditto what Joe said and I will glue mine.

Ilya

Joe,

Can you tell us more about the process and type of glue that you used?

JB