Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Seems like I've read that some people who went with sandwich walls to allow for insulation cut the frame out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood instead of using pieces of 1Xs. I've thought about this, and it seems like it might be easier. My question is... how do you attach the roof? Wouldn't that force you into screwing into the end of plywood. I'm pretty sure that isn't a good idea.

Is this right or am I just confused as usual???

...add a healthy dose of adhesive...along with the screws...and you should be good to go...we build with just 3/4 ply walls and screw and glue the top to the sides...it just ain't goin' anywhere...
madjack

p.s. we also glue another strip of 3/4 between the ribs and actully attach the roof with glue and an air nailer, shooting brads....MJ

p.p.s. of course we also "cheat" and use bendy ply.......MJ

If you make the sides where the inside is cut back from the outside edge it will give you a ledge to place the ceiling, roof spars and some blocking in for the roof to screw to. You can also screw into the spars. Your sides screw into the spars from the side also. Not much end grain to worry about.



The ledge also makes putting the ceiling in soooooooo easy.



A warning---the screws on the side need to be covered or removed so plan that step ahead.

I put my roof on with thickened epoxy, no screws, staples or nails. Just hated the idea of putting holes in it.

Steve_Cox wrote:I put my roof on with thickened epoxy, no screws, staples or nails. Just hated the idea of putting holes in it.

That's what I was thinking of doing. Epoxy them in place and cover with wax paper and clamp. Once cured, remove clamp and wax paper and sand smooth.

volfanatic72 wrote:Seems like I've read that some people who went with sandwich walls to allow for insulation cut the frame out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood instead of using pieces of 1Xs. I've thought about this, and it seems like it might be easier. My question is... how do you attach the roof? Wouldn't that force you into screwing into the end of plywood. I'm pretty sure that isn't a good idea.

Is this right or am I just confused as usual???

My roof is attached to the cross spars not the sidewall. I cut a rabbet 1/2 way thru the spar and cut a pocket in the wall to recieve it , then glued and screwed thru the sidewall into the end of the spar at an upward angle to avoid screwing directly into the end grain.

I attached mine w/ F-26 construction waterproof adhesive. I used sacrifical lumber and ran screws down to hold everything tight till the glue set up, then removed everything, filled all the holes w/ thickened epoxy and then put 4-5 coats of epoxy over the entire thing. See album for "pics".