Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm trying to keep the weight down on my 6'x9' build and was wondering if 1/4" birch plywood with 'woody' support framing on the outside would be strong enough for the side walls alone? I have loads of 1" steel square tube, so could build a box structure inside the wood if I needed to, which is how my current utility trailer is constructed. Similar to this pic I was hoping the extra framing would give enough side wall support.

That is one of my favorite all time trailers!!! I overbuilt...but think that might work with the bulkheads in place. It may be as much a constrctability issue as stength issue. I have to defer to others though.

My usual rant, you are building an airplane not a tank. Our tear has 1/8" Filon outer shell and 1X1.5X.060 aluminum frame with about an 1/8" inner wall there is a thin sheet of plywood under the roof and I was walking on it last week removing the solar panel and resealing the roof vent.

Mine is 1/8 inch cedar strip before sanding and is super strong. 1 1/2 inch cedar framing with blue insulation and no exterior wood just floated aluminum. If built as a sandwich I'm not sure you could build thin enough to be weak. Just the glued insulation is really strong inside a minimal frame. I did use biscuits and dowel pins to add strength to my frame as well as opposing grains on the T style wood members on all frame parts.

One of my Favorites too!



Its built with 1/2" sides.

Happy Trails

Len

OCD wrote:I'm trying to keep the weight down on my 6'x9' build and was wondering if 1/4" birch plywood with 'woody' support framing on the outside would be strong enough for the side walls alone?

So I'm assuming no luggage rack. If you are adding a LR I could see issues.

chartle wrote:

OCD wrote:I'm trying to keep the weight down on my 6'x9' build and was wondering if 1/4" birch plywood with 'woody' support framing on the outside would be strong enough for the side walls alone?

So I'm assuming no luggage rack. If you are adding a LR I could see issues.

Never had any issues with the Luggage Rack....or "LR" as some with limited keyboards call it.....Maybe in Your Experience...you did!

A lot of this is all about looks.

Happy Trails

Len

Just thinking of the extra weight on the structure. It's one thing just sitting still but thinking about hitting bumps and the forces going around curves.

I built mine with 3/8" and 1x2's inside framing. The inside was 1/8" as was the roof...Went through a tornado and only crunched where it hit the deck...We cut the top off to haul stuff.

Thanks for the replies. 1/4" it is then! I really like that style of woody construction, plus it should make covering the seam between the plywood sides easy. Any suggestion on a cost effective wood for the side trim and spars? I was pricing wood at the local Winsor Plywood (store) and was quoted $3-4 lineal foot. What works best for these items but is a bit more affordable? As it's intended to be a summer only camper I haven't been intending on insulation or interior skins, hoping to save a bit of weight where I can as we only have a 2.3 litre tow vehicle.