Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've always used 1/2" ply on my walls but am thinking 1/4" would work also. If you've built your tear out of 1/4", how is it holding up for you? Is there anything different I should know about constructing with 1/4" opposed to 1/2"?

Are you talking sandwich construction? If so, I used 1/4" on the outside, 1/8" om the inside, and 1x3 framing. It's a year or so old, and so far, it still looks brand new!

I used 1/2" but could have (or maybe should have) used 1/4" ply. But due to the dimensions of my tear, I had to glue 3 pieces of 5x5 ply together to make the sides (actually two 5x5 pieces and one 5x2.5 piece for each side). I painted my sides so I did not want the joints moving; therefore I used biscuits along each seam. I could not have done that with 1/4" ply. If I didn't have any seams or was using aluminum to cover the wood I would have used 1/4" (I used 1/8" on the roof under the aluminum).

I'm building a 5x10 but going to fiberglass over ply.

I used some millimeter thing from h/d, slightly less than 1/4... next time, if there is a next time, I'd go with 1/8th, foam filled..

This is encouraging me to stay the course and use 1/8 in and out. Everyone seems to over build or say they did or warn a guy not to. I guess if it’s not a sandwich type construction 3/8 or so might be a minimum- but that is only a guess.

My sides are 1/2" but the top and hatch are 1/4". I used vertical spars and it's plenty strong.
Barb

All the plywood I used was 1/8.

Remember Andrews definition of the difference between tough and strong?

dave

my first build was 3/4 oak ply outside then 3/4 foam then 1/4 oak now thats over built LOL!!!

how is that 1/8" holding up Dave? Is it sandwished?

jest built 1st td.used 3/4 on sides,1/4 bc on front and galley walls and 1/2cdx on floors.insulated with3/4 foam galley wall,overhead and front wall

i will not have any internal framework in my build just laminating 1/8th inch ply on each side of 3/4 inch foil foam board.

well. i will route out chanels and glue in wood strips for anchor points for the interior wall/cabinets/ bench/bed and such too. but they will not go through the entire wall.

im looking to have no thermal transference points. except in the very most outer edge of each wall/roof panel.

will be able to winter though this thing when im done. while i get first property and build first home.

Cliffmeister2000 wrote:Are you talking sandwich construction? If so, I used 1/4" on the outside, 1/8" om the inside, and 1x3 framing. It's a year or so old, and so far, it still looks brand new!

So how does that compare weight wise to a 3/4" sheet of ply? I'm sure it has better insulation value but I'd like to know how it compares weight wise.

Thanks

rpm750 wrote:

Cliffmeister2000 wrote:Are you talking sandwich construction? If so, I used 1/4" on the outside, 1/8" om the inside, and 1x3 framing. It's a year or so old, and so far, it still looks brand new!

So how does that compare weight wise to a 3/4" sheet of ply? I'm sure it has better insulation value but I'd like to know how it compares weight wise.

Thanks

It's lighter, but I don't know how much lighter.

I did it because the teardrop I bought was made out of 3/4" ply, with aluminum skin, and the screws that were placed in the endgrain of the ply were all pulling out, and the ply was delaminating. With sandwich, I got nice wood to screw to everywhere I needed it.

figure 25 pounds per 1/4" of plywood...

so a 4x8x1/4 = 25 pounds

a 4x8x 1/2 = 50 pounds

a 4x8x 3/4 = 75 pounds...

You get the idea...

Mike...