Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I started building my camper last night. For now I am building it without windows, because I can't afford them, and plan to add them when I can. I have thought of building my own but can't come up with a way to make them open from the inside AND have a screen on them. Can anyone suggest a way to make homemade opening windows for cheap?

not sure on this idea however take some wood for the frame route out a slot for some plexiglass glue together. add hinges internal latches and seals. Do something like my cabinet doors instead of cheery wood clear plastic.

Go up to general discussion and page 2 down to "How to build Wiley windows". Cheap and easy and after building them you may now want to use any others.Larry

For what it's worth, here's what I'm doing, however, these do not OPEN. An internal frame keeps the (former entertainment center door) plexiglass in place. I have other methods for ventilation. I have more pictures in my google plus photos.

To Forest747,
Thanks for the idea but it isn't building the frames that is a problem it is how to make them able to open them from the inside and have screens on them to keep bugs out.

To Pohuki,
I need them to open for ventilation. But thanks for the ideas.

To the two who posted about the wiley windows.
I think that is my simplest option so far. I will build a sample on on a mock up wall to see how they work and how much room they take up inside of the trailer. I will also need to figure out a way to make a trim piece on the outside to hold the screen.

one idea i had planned on doing for the top vent was using a sun roof. even got one out of a junkyard. never used it but the plan was to add mesh to the slight opening to keep bugs out.

Another option is to maybe salvage one from an RV in a junk yard.

The sunroof idea may work, The camper I am building doesn't have any straight sides on it, it is all curves in every direction so the windows either have to be very short so that the curves don't matter or home made. I have several windows from a topper camper but none of them will work due to the curves.

yeah i got it home and set it on the floor of the trailer and wham it had a curve who knew right. and i am not comfortable enough to make it work so it sits on a shelf.

I cured to bug problem by stapling some screen across the inside of the window. When I get a chance I'll make up some that are removable but these haave worked for me.

I see your problem though, after making the window you could put a flat filler in for the window to sit in.Larry

LWW,
When you say you stapled the screen on the inside, are you talking about the wiley windows or some other type? With the wiley windows screens would be no problem it is on more traditional types, where the window opens out, that it becomes an issue.

That's right, I was talking about the wiley windows, althought in a pinch I'd staple it to the others too.Larry

Eaglesdare did some very simple windows on her mickey mouse foamie windows.

The screens are on the outside and the window sit in wedged shaped frames on each side, similar in profile to those hanging in box file hangers you would see in office supplies.

When the window is closed there are wedges that go between the hanger frames and the window holding it tight against the seal around the opening. When the window is open it tilts in with the opening at the top and the wedges go between the window and door to hold the window open.

I think if this was done with a rubber lined piano hinge at the bottom and a little thought put into drainage, it could work very well at keeping rain out with the windows open.

Let's see if I can find a link to her pic's... Okay, here's one http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=39373&p=928265&hilit=wedge+window#p928265

Well, here's my suggestion for a home-made window:







The 'window' is just a sheet of plastic (argue amongst yourselves whether polycarb or acrylic is better) which is hinged at the top with a piano hinge and seals onto the outside of the sidewall with a weather-strip all round. It'll need a cap over the top to stop the top seal from getting flooded.

A screen fits in the rectangular opening, but isn't shown - it's hard enough showing the detail without trying to find some way of modelling screen material!

The stays/catches are also home-made from 3/4x1/4 and 3/4x1/8 aluminium strip. The stays pass through two holes in the sidewall that have keeper strips mounted at their bottom. When the window is open, a notch in the stay locks into this keeper strip, and when the window is closed, the two stays hinge down to press against the keeper strips and hold the window tight against the seal. Clip the bottom of the stay to the wall (not shown) and you've got a secure lock.

One possible problem is where the stays hinge on the brackets that are fixed to the window - ideally these need to be rivets, so that they will pass through the small holes in the sidewall. If a bolt was used, the hole in the sidewall would have to be bigger and maybe big enough for bugs to come through.

Andrew- I really like your window design, you keep the ideas coming! ; I think it will be a better choice for me to use than a Wiley window (I want to be able to remove one window and replace with an A/C unit when needed) The Wiley wedges and lack of removable screening are resolved with this design. The only changes I would make to your latest design would be to (1) the exterior screen frame (at least it looks to be outside to me) : it could be moved to the interior (my preference, easier to take care of, not likely to be damaged in transit) by either narrowing the sidewall opening or moving the stays further outboard of the opening (wider lexan? required), and (2) making "fuzzies" to seal the stay holes : (similar to window "fuzzies" that cushion and seal the roll-up windows on "classic cars"). They could be made from brush material, or foam weatherstrip, just to keep the bugs out. Also (3) Replace the "piano hinge" with a detachable hinge (on the A/C mount side). These changes are just for my particular preferences...otherwise it's perfect as -is!