Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi All;

Thread Idea,
Any advice out their on cold weather builds, do's, dont's or short stories on how you snuck one past old Mother Nature. I think plenty of would-be TD builders are using the excuse "Its too cold to start my build"

Moving to a warmer climate........... build a heated garrage ........................ CHECK and CHECK, we have thoes two ideas out of the way. What else do we have for motivation?

Is Mike going to throw me back into the Newbe cage now?

Tony

Ton', some of us have the opposite problem where it's too HOT to build...Seems like the same principles apply... keeping the hostile climate out... Lots of insulation seems to be important...

This past march, I was itching to get back to the build. When the temp got up to 40 in the afternoon, I would work for a couple of hours.... with no wind.

As the days grew longer and warmer, I'd work accordingly. I finished the tear up in June... by then, I could work fairly long days.

Sometimes, it is just a matter getting out there and doing something.... that will usually will lead to doing something else. then one day, there won't be anything left to do. and then, you can go camping.

I really shouldn't post since I'm barely into my first build and since I live in Texas where a cold day for us is a warm spring day in Michigan, but here's my two cents anyway.

I have some pretty serious wood allergies so I've got to do all my sawdust making when I can open the garage doors, and set up fans and dust collection where possible.

I've "bought ahead" on my materials. When it is cold, and I don't want to open the doors to make sawdust, I do my layout work for the next few steps of the build. Also, especially since it is my first build, I try to think what the next steps will be.

Hi Tony, When I was building during the winter on my carport, the only trick I had to use was wrapping the Tubes of PL glue in a heating pad. They would get to cold and the glue would not flow, but warming them up did the trick.

Of course, the winters here are mild. (Yesterday it was 72*) But I did have to contend with humidity a lot.

I keep all the materials (glue, epoxy, paint, poly, etc.) that I might need to use soon indoors so that they will be at room temperature when I need them. I keep the garage warm with two ceramic heaters and don't do any painting , glueing or such until it's about 60 inside. If colder, then I do other things like trim work and such.

I'm a Texas boy and I prefer it to be 100 outside rather than 30. A fan and a cold beer can cool me off a lot faster than a heater and hot chocolate can warm me up.

I have a 20 x 30 shop that is well insulated.

I go out in the morning and start a fire in the ol pot belly and drink coffee in the house for about an hr.
When I go back out in the shop I keep feeding it wood an by the time lunch is here I have to open the doors even if it is 10 outside. It keeps ya toasty in there ..And a good way to get rid of saw dust and scrap wood

If your trailer is all planned, have you bought all the things you need for it?

It's a good time to watch for sales and haggle for better prices: 10% off coupons from the big box stores buys the screws and that saw blade to cut the plywood you're gonna need. Wood sales can help you gather the spar wood. (Don't buy the plywood unless you have a dry place to store it!) Have you shopped around for your frame kit or steel and chassis parts yet? What about windows and the vent?

Peruse the online Harbor Freight, Red Trailers, etc. websites. Stop by a local RV supply store and pick up one of their free catalogs and leaf through the pages to tickle your mind.

Think about making some wooden jigs to help you on your build.
You may not want to start on the big project, but there are little ones you can do.

The more you stock pile now, the more committed you'll be to build when the weather finally eases up...and you'll be geared up to get done that much sooner!

Its 90 in there and the doors are open lol....Warm...



That is a teaser pic of my walls being framed

Dr Crash!

What the H#*$ happend to your Avatar? I hope that isnt you or if it is I hope youve got the # of the truck that ran you over!

Tony

Anthony wrote:

What the H#*$ happend to your Avatar? I hope that isnt you or if it is I hope youve got the # of the truck that ran you over!

That gave me a hearty hee haw laugh! My sentiments exactly!

It was a bad hair day lol

Love that shop, and the stove, what a great place for the oops pieces....Jim G

Anthony J Grant wrote:
Is Mike going to throw me back into the Newbe cage now?

Tony

No, I won't throw you back in the Newbie cage. But if you really want to build, you will always find a way.

I started my 4x8 walls in the basement when it was cold and snowing...

I built the Baja Benroy in the garage... I had to buy a heater first...

I built the Escape Hatch under a tarp in the back yard, cause it was too hot anywhere else.

Others have built the components in their dining room, living room, bathroom etc... and when the weather broke, took it outside.

I have laid out more panels in the dining room on the table than I have outside.

So if you really want to make progress, snow, rain, cold or heat is no excuse.

Mike...

Hey Mike;

I agree 110%. Do whatever you can no matter what the weather brings.
There's always research and planning etc.; but back to the garage--
I use a torpedo type kerosene heater to heat a two bay garage and
it is not real tight and insulation? Of course not. But I make do.

My latest project is a '67 Shasta Compact. I bought it in nearby PA.
Almost every question I have had was answered on ths site.
Thanks everybody!!

And I am looking at another tiny trailer to be inspected ASAP
and likely purchased.

And, when will I go back to my original plan and build a Widget??
Who knows?

I've finished the tearout and started the remodel already. I removed
the roof vent and sealed the opening. That and making wings will
complete the outside work.

I was taught years ago (NO ROOF PENETRATIONS!) as relates to construction in general. So a vent/fan will be installed high on either
side. Opinions please!

When I figure it out I will send pix up the line.

Again, thanks everbody;

Harold