Wood to use for table / gaucho?

[Donutboy]

I am building a version of the Pufffin. I have almost finished my seats. I will have a table that lowers between the seats to make a bed. The distance between the seats is 30". I originally planned to use 1/2 " plywood reinforced with some 1x2 underneath, but am wondering if that will be strong enough? Should I use 3/4" plywood? MDF? Other?

I plan to cover the table in the Formica Boomerang pattern.

[halfdome, Danny]

I am building a version of the Pufffin. I have almost finished my seats. I will have a table that lowers between the seats to make a bed. The distance between the seats is 30". I originally planned to use 1/2 " plywood reinforced with some 1x2 underneath, but am wondering if that will be strong enough? Should I use 3/4" plywood? MDF? Other?

I plan to cover the table in the Formica Boomerang pattern.

The most common way (Cabinetmakers) is to put a plam backer on the underside followed with 3/4" x 3" plywood build up all around the outside edges and some in the center. On my top I used 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood, backer and the 3/4" x3" build up followed with the finish plam on top. The backer can be scrap plam or brown or white backer. It helps balance the sheet to avoid moisture problems. If you plam the build up too it will be a cleaner looking table. Danny

[mikeschn]

I'm not a cabinet maker, so my method is probably not the best...

I used 3/4" pine, backed up underneath with 1x2 spars. Sorry, you can't see the spars in this photo.



btw, your Puffin for 4 is looking good!

Mike...

[Jeeper92]

I was jsut ondering if you had some dimensions. Why panel the inside? I know on the original puffin he ket it light, just curious as to why you didnt do that? What are the sleeping arrangements, you said you were going to sleep 4. How?

[Donutboy]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Question for you, Danny. What is "plam backer"? I Googled it but didn't come up with much. Is it something like masonite or tile board?

Mike, that looks great--the wood looks awesome! And thanks for the compliment--after working for a year on it, I'm starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Jeepers92, the inside measures just under 8 ft. from the front wall to the back wall, and the width inside is 75" (6' 3"). The bed will measure 75" by 48", which is the length of a full size mattress, and width-wise, it's 6" narrower. My wife and I will sleep there. You may have noticed the fancy closet rod holders on each side wall under the windows. The plan is to have two removable cots that will fit into those at nighttime. The cots will be side by side, directly over the bed. Our kids are young; I probably wouldn't want fully grown adults sleeping up there! The cots should be about 20" over the lower bed, and that's ample room for me to sleep on my side. My wife is small so that should work for her as well.

I panelled the inside for appearance, and because I wanted to fully insulate the camper. Steve lives in a hotter (and more humid!) part of Texas than I do, but I wanted to avoid heat radiating through the walls. I also plan to have 12v power as well as 120v, and perhaps minimal water storage on board (5 gal or so), so I'm building for a bit more luxury. Steve just had to please "camping buddies", I have to please a wife!!! The inside birch is only 1/8" thick so that plus the insulation probably hasn't added THAT much weight (perhaps 50 lbs?)

[halfdome, Danny]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Question for you, Danny. What is "plam backer"? I Googled it but didn't come up with much. Is it something like masonite or tile board?

Here's a link that will explain what it is. Like I said before you can use extra plam for a backer too. Danny

[Jeeper92]

I hear ya on teh wife thing, shower? running water?

[Jeeper92]

A few more questions, how are you going to handle the AC? Would it not be better to have it higher? What is the black thing? Is that a water storage? How are you going to use the shower? Is it going to hook up to a campsite???? Why the drop floor? Thanks a bunch

[Ken A Hood]

Home Depot sells pine boards (hobby wood) in large slabs (similiar to Mike's pic.....but I'm sure Mike made his own )

[Donutboy]

Thanks for the link, Danny...that explains it!

For water, the decision I've cast in Jell-o is to have a small sink in the counter next to the bathroom. I will have a handpump connected to a small on board water tank for dry camping. I will also have provisions for connecting to the water supply in a rv park with hookups. The bathroom will have shower capabilities only if connected to a water supply. I'm going to use the Eccotemp L5 on-demand water heater for hot water. I'm going to mount it externally, and run a single supply of water to the shower and to the faucet for the sink. I'll adjust the unit to always deliver a good warm temp. Grey water will either be with a tank under the unit or preferably to the sewer connection at the RV park.

The AC was a design decision I made early on that I regret. I had to frame it when building the walls so I determined the location early on. The vents blow up, so I figured it would be like a hotel AC, and I could access fresh air from the bottom of the camper for the air that blows through the condenser. After I build the cabinet, I figured out that I probably should have made it higher, but I think it will be okay. When I saw Steve's Puffin, there were many aspects I liked, but I thought "I would do this part a little differently". I will probably think the same of MY design when done.

The black thing is a Coleman thermoelectric refrigerator. Very light (17 lbs I think); runs on 12V, draws 4 amps. Only practical with a 12V storage battery to power it when stoppiing while in-transit (Stuckey's - Eat Here Get Gas). And I will need to have the tow vehicle wired to keep it charged while enroute. My jury is still out on that one too.

The design goal was the camper HAD to fit in the garage. I didn't want to pay a storage fee and the [insert adjective here] HOA won't let me keep it outside. So...the garage door is a little over 81 inches tall. I arrived at a height of 79 1/2" for the camper with a low profile vent on top of that. It fits. Inside, the drop floor is 9"deep, and the height from the dropped floor to the ceiling is 68". For my wife, it's a "standie". For me it's a "stoopie" (but just barely).