Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I confess I am building without a set of prints. I have made the bottom of the cabin a full 48X96 size with 1/2 ply outer skin. I think I maybe should have made it 47 wide to let the aluminum skin cover completely. Will using L channel 1 inch by 1/2 provide enough coverage to stay weather proof? Not to late to build a new base, cutting this one down by 1 inch is out of the question. Question and Doubts!!

Ideally you would have wanted the top skin to cover at least part of the outer walls, but it is workable. here's an idea. I work with a lot of epoxies, so this is what I would do. After you lay the outer skin on prior to the aluminum, fiberglass tape the joint and lay a couple of layers of resin on top. Sand off any of the high spots, If you are going to skin the entire trailer in aluminum. Then epoxy off the rest of the sub skin so that any water that gets in from the edge molding won't penetrate it. When applying the molding, get a wider one if possible and make sure that you use plenty of sealant. There is a marine sealant that I think is superior to the typical silicone stuff, get it from West marine. Small tubes as well as tubes for caulking guns. Whatever you decide, you need to seal off the tops of plywood laminate walls. I'm sure there are lots of other opinions, but that's what I'd do. Another option. Rip 1" out of the bottom in the middle with a circular saw and a wooden fence, and glue it back together using lots of supports at your wood crossmembers and overlay the sub deck with 1/8 ply. Lots of options, but all is not lost. Hey, you learned something huh?? I learn this stuff regularly. 5' foot aluminum is also available as well as wider molding options. Doug Hodder

OkieSailor wrote:I confess I am building without a set of prints. I have made the bottom of the cabin a full 48X96 size with 1/2 ply outer skin. I think I maybe should have made it 47 wide to let the aluminum skin cover completely. Will using L channel 1 inch by 1/2 provide enough coverage to stay weather proof? Not to late to build a new base, cutting this one down by 1 inch is out of the question. Question and Doubts!!

No problem. Just keep going. I did mine without plans. I also over trimmed my skins (sides and roof). I don't even have them glued down. They are just held in place with the molding and other hardware. Doors, fenders, lights, roof vent/window. Remember that the alum will expan and contract during the day and night. By flotting your skins, you don't stand a chance of the skin bubbling. Go to page 13 of my teardrop project at this link http://www.gages-56.com/tear13.html and you'll see how I did it.

The tear has been finished for over a year and a half now and has seen about 4000 miles in all weather but snow and doesn't leak a bit.

Just the way I did it, and it works for me.

Have a good day,
Gage

The aluminum usually comes 49" wide. At least thats the way it is here in my work as a trailer repairman. This give a 48" cover area with 1" overlap.

[/quote]I confess I am building without a set of prints. I have made the bottom of the cabin a full 48X96 size with 1/2 ply outer skin. I think I maybe should have made it 47 wide to let the aluminum skin cover completely. Will using L channel 1 inch by 1/2 provide enough coverage to stay weather proof? Not to late to build a new base, cutting this one down by 1 inch is out of the question. Question and Doubts!!
[quote]

Hi

When I was pricing aluminum sheet I contacted a truck body repair shop. They stock .040" bare and colored aluminum in 49x96 and 49x108 sizes. The extra inch in width allows an overlap at the joints when riveting it to a tractor trailer body.

The price was cheaper than a 48x96 sheet from the local metal supply outlet.

I was in Okalahoma City last year, and was told it's got to be the transportation hub for everything going east ,west or north, south. There must be more than one truck body repair shop around.

Hope this helps, Mark

OkieSailor wrote:I confess I am building without a set of prints.

You are a brave, brave man.

OkieSailor wrote:I confess I am building without a set of prints.

I think that it takes a smarter man to build without plans. You get a lot of "creative opportunities"

Plans? We don't need no stinking plans!

I always thought plans were like instructions. We as men don't use them till all else fails.

Hey Davel , I second that. Its like asking for directions before ya get somewhere.Only as a last resort!

I did not have any plans when I built mine, It was all in my head after looking at all the teardrops that had been built. A quick sketch with basic diminsions tranfered to the wood. Besides I didn't need any destructions to show where I messed up, there's no paper trail It is rather guilt free, You can not prove that I made a mistake anywhere during the build that is exactly the way I planned it

It is wonderful to be associated with such a great group of absolutely positive males such as yourselves.

It just proves that like attracts like, or is it "All of the nuts are in one box"?

Plans are nothing more than a guide, there is plenty of guidance provided by other builders here. I have tried to take the best features and techniques of others, modify them to meet my needs, the tools which I have on hand, and the materials available locally. So far, no mistakes, only "un-planned modifications".....

I completed one wall today, hopefully the other will be finished tomorrow so I can stand them up on the floor and trailer. Two or three temporary spars and I will finally have a feel for what I am building. (Still have not seen one of these things up close)...

It will soon be time to contact Grant for hardware.

Hey Larwyn, will you be towing it into Ren this year?

BrianB wrote:Hey Larwyn, will you be towing it into Ren this year?

Hey Larwyn,

Are you dressing up for ren this year?

Mike...