Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am getting ready to start building a modified Weekender on a Harbor Freight heavy duty 4' by 8' trailer. I have a friend that will give me a sheet of 3/4 " plywood that came from the factory with 1/8" PVC lamination on both sides. Is this a good idea, and if so, what if anything do I need to do to ensure it is waterproof?

Bob Pierce

Bob Pierce wrote:I am getting ready to start building a modified Weekender on a Harbor Freight heavy duty 4' by 8' trailer. I have a friend that will give me a sheet of 3/4 " plywood that came from the factory with 1/8" PVC lamination on both sides. Is this a good idea, and if so, what if anything do I need to do to ensure it is waterproof?

Bob Pierce

Hi Bob,

Welcome to another Floridian .

It's always good to have friends that will give you stuff. The PVC would make a good water/road debris barrier. I'd seal the end grain of the plywood. My preference is epoxy resin, others prefer other stuff. Were you planning to use the pvc as a floor surface too? Like as in no insulation, single layer floor?. I wouldn't but many have. It's all about what you want to do, and how much work and expense you want to go to. I have and insulated floor because I know what happens if you don't in North Florida. You end up with a little condensation under your mattress and then being Florida it starts to grow stuff under there.... but with some care and maintenance, that can be dealt with too. Like I said before it's about what you want to build, and not what I want you to build... Have fun and please whatever you do, take lots of pics, or you will have to answer to MadJack.

Steve,

I was planning on putting some foam/foil insulation on the bottom and then under coat the whole thing. You are right about the moisture forming under the mattress.

I have another question about the "teardrops4vets.org". I typed in the url, but only bet a "GoDaddy.com" search page with www.teardrops4vets.org at the top. What is teardrops4vets.org and is it a real web site?

Bob Pierce

Bob Pierce wrote:Steve,

I was planning on putting some foam/foil insulation on the bottom and then under coat the whole thing. You are right about the moisture forming under the mattress.

I have another question about the "teardrops4vets.org". I typed in the url, but only bet a "GoDaddy.com" search page with www.teardrops4vets.org at the top. What is teardrops4vets.org and is it a real web site?

Bob Pierce

Dear Bob,

The teardrops4vets.org name has been reserved If I remember correctly,but it was just a few days ago, I don't know the details so far, about website development, but I think something is in the works. Guy has a blog site that has his Teardrop4Vets frame pictures and other info. Without talking to Guy, I couldn't say that what's been created and offered by his supporeters and friends in the last week or has been incorporated into his plan, or at this point is just an unofficial show of support.... Of course the main message is that those of us that display the avatar are supporters of the cause.

Don't forget that there are very few glues that will stick to PVC. So, for example, if you're thnking of using this for the floor, it should work very well (assuming the ply-PVC glue is waterproof) but all the other pieces attached to it will have to be held by mechanical fasteners, or the PVC removed to get a bond.

Andrew

Bob Pierce wrote:Steve,

I have another question about the "teardrops4vets.org". I typed in the url, but only bet a "GoDaddy.com" search page with www.teardrops4vets.org at the top. What is teardrops4vets.org and is it a real web site?

Bob Pierce

Bob,
The url, teardrops4vets.org was purchased very recently by myself and I'm going to give ownership of that to Guy, once he is back home.
Guy has the start of a website on teardrops4vets.com, but it was realized in a conversation in a thread on this forum a couple of weeks or so ago, that a non-profit should be .org and not .com.
As of right now, the url teardrops4vets.org is "parked" on a free page awaiting the launch of the website. Tom S. a member of this forum has volunteered to build Guy the website and Guy has also had two offers for free hosting from members here. Currently, Guy is in the middle of a marathon build party taking place this week on the East Coast, to hopefully get T4V #1 up and going before he leaves for the West Coast in two days.
Give him and others, a little time and the website will be up and running soon.

I used FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plywood)

This is the stuff that Ryder trucks and Semi trailers are made of. It is great stuff, strong and the sheets that that I got were 8x8 and 8x25'. The FRP is UV resistant.
It was EXTREMELY itchy it cut.
Is the stuff that you are looking at FRP or PVC covered? Is it UV safe?
I used it on my floor, walls, bulkheads (in front of the galley and the first 3' high on the front

You have to think of how to hide any screws thru it or do you show the screws. I covered the screws that hold the roof spars with my aluminum trim.
My walls are uninsulated (just the FRP) so all my wiring is done in the roof. I did drill down about 5" into the middle of the sidewalls for my porch lights. (scary) I covered my roor and hatch with Filon.

What did you use to finish off the edges?

I used the wide lip insert molding

http://www.all-rite.com/ I found it localy. I hid most screws and left some exposed. It takes some precision to get the screws close enoughto the edge to have your trim hide them.
[img]http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?image_id=8154[img][/img]

Bob Pierce, What did you deceide? Is you stuff FRP or PVC? Is it UV resistant?