Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

There is a saying that there are no dumb questions, but with that said, I will most likely feel just that after I get a few answers. Why do you need a wooden frame for your floor to sit on? It would appear that the ply, properly sealed on the bottom and silicone in the bolt holes, could be bolted directly to the frame. This would save you on weight, wood, and ceiling height. Like I read earlier, your mattress is your insulation. You never know until you ask.

Ricky

Ricky, that is exactly what we do...a piece of 1/2ply, connected to the steel frame...we seal the ply with 3 coats of epoxy or 6 coats of urethane, take a 1' piece of blue or pink foam and lay it on top of the ply and then a mattress...this will give all the weather protection and insulation that is needed...we use 1x1/16th aluminum angle(glued & screwed) as a cleat to connect the sidewalls(single 3/4" sheet of ply) to the floor...we use a self-tapping "trailer deck" bolt to connect the floor/walls to the steel frame......
madjack

madjack wrote:Ricky, that is exactly what we do...a piece of 1/2ply, connected to the steel frame...we seal the ply with 3 coats of epoxy or 6 coats of urethane, take a 1' piece of blue or pink foam and lay it on top of the ply and then a mattress...this will give all the weather protection and insulation that is needed...
madjack

Wow!, I don't feel so dumb now! If it is what you do, then I'm sure it is OK. Thanks,

Ricky

I also used 1/2" plywood screwed to the frame with a bead of panel adhesive. Then put the black roofing tar on the bottom and several coats of varnish on the inside. It has worked great, and also the wall is secured to the frame with panel adhesive and screws.
jplock

The subfloor is mostly to give you something to screw the side walls into. It also doubles as a place to put floor insulation, if you so desire.

Mike...

One more little question - is it a welded frame or a bolt-together? If it's bolted together you might need to put some spacers between cross-members and the floor to keep your plywood flat and the walls square to it.

The frame on my rig is welded.
jplock

I am using 1" ply for the floor. Would this be ample for insulation? Remember, this is an old camp trailer, not a tear.