Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I visited a local Stine store and found 3/4" - 4x8 sheets of Luan. There were 10 laminate layers in the board. Anybody tried this or should I avoid this for outside walls?

Never mind I found the stickie above on buying an using luan.

I wouldn't use 3/4" anyways... too heavy!

Mike...

mikeschn wrote:I wouldn't use 3/4" anyways... too heavy!

Mike...

I don't get it. If 3/4 inch walls are too heavy, then why do your generic benroy plans call for 3/4 inch walls?

You are building an airplane not a tank, our tear has 1/8" inner and outer walls and 1 X 1.5 X 0.060 aluminum tube in the walls and ceiling and I can stand on it.

Opps, you are right...

I am going to have to revise those Generic Benroy plans...

Back then I was building tanks... but now I know we don't need to build tanks.

So depending on your construction, 1/2" thick walls should be plenty. (15/32" plywood)

Mike...

mikeschn wrote:Opps, you are right...

I am going to have to revise those Generic Benroy plans...

Back then I was building tanks... but now I know we don't need to build tanks.

So depending on your construction, 1/2" thick walls should be plenty. (15/32" plywood)

Mike...

Oh well. I guess I built a tank! I still love the plans and thank you for making them available to me for my build.

Actually, there's nothing "wrong" with using 3/4" plywood for the walls & floor (maybe even the cabinetry) ... yes, it will be heavier, but if you've got the tow vehicle to handle the little bit of extra weight, and that's the only material you can find that you like, it's O.K.

Why not take it a little further, though, and "cookie-cut" the 3/4" plywood walls to lighten them up a lot, then panel the inside with 1/8" or 1/4" paneling, fill the voids that you cut out with foam-board insulation, then sheath the outside with 1/4" luan to glue the aluminum to? You'll lighten up the structure plus gain the benefits of insulation, and if you go with 3/4" core and 1/4" on each side, you'll end up with a 1-1/4" (or a bit less) thick wall that you can get 1-1/4" Edge Molding to trim out the galley walls and door opening(s).

Which brings up another point ... when planning out your teardrop construction, think about whether or not aluminum trim or moldings are available to easily trim out & finish the galley walls and door opening(s) ... assuming you will be needing those moldings (many "woodys" don't use/need aluminum moldings).

However you choose to build your teardrop or tiny trailer, Good Luck! And, as always ...

CHEERS!

The difference in weight between a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood and a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood is only about 20-25 pounds. If I had used 1/2 inch instead of 3/4 inch on my Generic Benroy walls I would have only saved about 40-50 lbs in the weight of my Tear. The empty weight of my Tear after I was finished with it was 960 lbs.