Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I've been researching and watching hatch building for some time and figured that as time and constructin goes on I'd figure out how to fit the hatch. I've seen what looks like a "line" or intersection om the sides of the TD extending the length of the hatch but figured o9ut it was someone's design. But today I took a good look at Mike's generic plans and found that even though I'd reviewed his generic plans before, I overlooked the "notch" Cut the notch 3/8" rom the hatch spar extending to the rear floor. But can't figure out if that includes the 1/4" luan. If it does, it's 5/8". How thick is the hatch? Spar/bow and luan on top and another 1/4" luan on the bottom. 1/4 + 1/4 = 1/2" and then some trim. Aha, the extra space is for the weather striping. Is that right? It just hit me as I was typing this....Sorry it's so long but I'm old and don't think fast.

Yep, that space is for the weather stripping...

here is a closeup of the notch near the bottom...



Mike...

I am having a problem visualizing how my hatch will seal. One of my sides is glued up at this time and I need to figure out how the hatch will seal before I go any further. My side frame is laminated strips and they are continuous. The bend laminated frame work is 1 1/2 inches X 1 1/2 inches. Should I make a notch for my hatch weatherstripping now? If so, how much should I notch? Should I do as in the illustration above?

Jim,

Let me try to explain it using this picture...



In this picture the sidewalls are not notched out yet. When you attach the thin plywood skin to the hatch, it will hang over the edge of the trailer by a quarter inch or so.

If you didn't notch out the sidewalls, you would not be able to get any weatherstripping inbetween the edge of the sidewall and the overhang of the hatch.

You notch out the sidewalls depending on the thickness of the weather stripping you want to use. I show a notch of 3/8" because the weather stripping I used was 1/2" thick. That allowed for a little compression.

Does that help?

Mike...

Mike, that does clear it up for me and I appreciate it a bunch. My next move will be deciding how we want our galley set up. Thanks for your help!

John6012
I must be at about the same place you are on this, I figure I'll start my hatch on tuesday. I'm thinking notch 3/8 plus the thickness of my luan from the luan I already have installed for the top. That will allow for double luan, I'm doubling it on the hatch to make the edges that over hang on to the sides thicker and stronger. Some of you old pros tell me if I'm on the right track?

Schreimaster, I thought about the edges being thicker also but wasn't thinking about doubling the 1/4 plywood, I was just thinking about thickening the edge of the 1/4 plywood to strengthen it.

schreimaster wrote:John6012
I must be at about the same place you are on this, I figure I'll start my hatch on tuesday. I'm thinking notch 3/8 plus the thickness of my luan from the luan I already have installed for the top. That will allow for double luan, I'm doubling it on the hatch to make the edges that over hang on to the sides thicker and stronger. Some of you old pros tell me if I'm on the right track?

There is no need to make your notch thicker for a double layer of luan on the hatch. The luan goes on the top, not in the area of the notch. You could put 10 layers of luan on the hatch, you would still only need a notch as big as the weather stripping, minus a little for compression.

Mike...

Mike, what I was thinking of was adding to the bottom side of the 1/4 inch plywood that is on the lid. I was just thinking that it would make the edge that makes contact with the weather stripping stronger but maybe that is not needed. But if I were to add to the bottom of the lid in that area, I would have to make the notch deeper and would have to have something bigger to cover the raw wood also, so I think I will just stay with not adding anything to the bottom side of my 1/4 inch plywood.

While we are in this area of the weather stripping, which weather stripping do you prefer. I am leary of water getting in our hatch.

I have been reluctant to ask questions because I know the questions I need to ask have been asked before a bunch of times and folks get burned out answering the same questions over and over. I really do appreciate your patience and help.

mikeschn wrote:

schreimaster wrote:John6012
I must be at about the same place you are on this, I figure I'll start my hatch on tuesday. I'm thinking notch 3/8 plus the thickness of my luan from the luan I already have installed for the top. That will allow for double luan, I'm doubling it on the hatch to make the edges that over hang on to the sides thicker and stronger. Some of you old pros tell me if I'm on the right track?

There is no need to make your notch thicker for a double layer of luan on the hatch. The luan goes on the top, not in the area of the notch. You could put 10 layers of luan on the hatch, you would still only need a notch as big as the weather stripping, minus a little for compression.

Mike...

Mike,
I believe Schreimaster is planning to double up on the luan on the hatch only, if this is the case he will need to increase the notch by the thickness of the second layer to keep it flush with the surface of the roof.

Kevin A

You are correct sir, I thought that I should double the luan on the hatch to thicken up the edges that over hang the sides. This would bring the hatch thickness to 1/4 ". I only installed 1 layer of luan on the rest of the body. So increasing the notch depth by 1 layer of luan, should give me a clean line from body to hatch.

Let me know if I'm on the right track.

Thanks

Check out the Generic Build on this board. Step 5 and Step 17 should help you clear things up a bit!

Step 5

Step 17

Well, I'm out the cost of a 1/4" offset hinge. Found out if I use that one I don't need a notch because it's already "raised" 1/4". But I cut the notch as instructed and had to purchase another hinge from Grant that fits properly due to the notch. Study, study before you cut.

John6012 wrote:Well, I'm out the cost of a 1/4" offset hinge. Found out if I use that one I don't need a notch because it's already "raised" 1/4". But I cut the notch as instructed and had to purchase another hinge from Grant that fits properly due to the notch. Study, study before you cut.

John, think of it this way, you aren't out the cost of the hinge, you have merely started collecting parts for #2

This is the classic case of having all of your hardware on hand before making any cuts to avoid a lot of headache.

Denny