Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

After much search and debate and sleepless nights I have decided to roof my tear with paneling, reversed. I looked at lauan and masonite and any other inexpensive ideas, but time is running low as are the funds.

It is the same paneling that I used for the interior walls. The reason I bought this paneling in the first place was because it is real wood and not paper product. When I compared it to lauan and other materials it started to look pretty good. It is 4 ply (actually 3) like a 3/16" lauan but it actually seems to be better quality, with the 4th ply(?) being the vinyl or whatever it is (paper) wood picture. The grain is fairly smooth and it bends nicely. I am going to glue it and nail it with the air nailer like I did the inside top and maybe give it a coat of epoxy or at least polyurethane before primer. Nothing else that folks use is really rated for exterior either so I figure what the heck.

I think someone else on the forum has done this but I can't remember who or where I read it. Times awaistin'. See how it goes....



Ed

Ed--interior wall paneling for your exterior roof?

Yeah--some interior "paneling" is pure wood, like my birch skins. But if it's called "paneling," and all that connotes, why the heck would you use that for basically the most important structural apect of the whole trailer? The roof holds EVERYTHING together.

And you're trying to save a few nickels here?

Sorry. Even my engineering-handicapped mind says that this isn't worth the risk. I mean, how much more is luan anyway compared to the stuff you're talking about? 15 bucks for the whole deal?

Ed, if it's ply construction I see nothing wrong with using it. If its the fibre board panelling, you could probably use that too, if you covered it with AL. The old trailers were made with masonite which is basically paneling without the pattern. Don't listen to IRA, he's jealous he didn't think of it first........

I just wanna know where I get real wood paneling cheaper than luan. Going to seal it anyway. I would pay close attention to how porous the paneling is. If you hold it up to a light you can tell if there are small holes that penitrate.

Miriam

I used it. I couldn't find 1/8 luan, so I bought 1/8 luan paneling. It is ply construction. I sanded the fake picture off the front and and had the faces toward each other. I put plenty of gorilla glue to laminate it. layed one layer and the glued the second layer on it staggering the seams. It came out real solid. Cheap also.

Miriam C. wrote:I just wanna know where I get real wood paneling cheaper than luan. Going to seal it anyway. I would pay close attention to how porous the paneling is. If you hold it up to a light you can tell if there are small holes that penitrate.

Miriam

You have to go to a real lumberyard. The big box stores only had the fiberboard paneling.

Steve-good points.

You don't want to use the fiberboard crap, and even though SOME have used masonite here, covered in aluminum, that's one thing. But that's not Ed's plan, is it? I think he just wants to paint it.

Plus Steve, you used TWO layers and really laminated and protected rhe cap out of it.

Look--as a Jew, I'm allowed to say this:

Don't Jew the roof.

Ira wrote:Steve-good points.

You don't want to use the fiberboard crap, and even though SOME have used masonite here, covered in aluminum, that's one thing. But that's not Ed's plan, is it? I think he just wants to paint it.

Plus Steve, you used TWO layers and really laminated and protected rhe cap out of it.

Look--as a Jew, I'm allowed to say this:

Don't Jew the roof.

Ed,

I'd say, go for it. Sounds like you have a solid plan. I'm thinking about the possibilty of a canvas roof coated with epoxy resin and paint on the next trailer I build. How's that for a light weight idea?

I don't see anything wrong with using paneling and put on a good coat of oil base house paint on. Ummm I gotta remodel a house will end up with about 20 sheets of paneling, save the dump fees... build me a cheap tear.

I swear this stuff is better quality than the 1/4" lauan I've seen at the Depot or Menards. Maybe there is better lauan but not at my price. I am going to use 1 layer of 3/16"paneling glued to the foam and seal it and paint it. If it rots or falls off I will do something else.

Of course yesterday when I was calling lumber yards looking for 1/8" lauan, one of the guys told me that no way is that stuff any good for use on the exterior of my camper. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I built a sailboat out of 6mm lauan and house paint and have sailed my kids in it for 3 years.......

I like to experiment, and also sometimes that is the only way to build within your budget. The electrical is done. I am pumped to get this roof on!!!



Ed

Steve_Cox wrote:Ed,

I'd say, go for it. Sounds like you have a solid plan. I'm thinking about the possibilty of a canvas roof coated with epoxy resin and paint on the next trailer I build. How's that for a light weight idea?

Steve, I have seen a lot of people use dacron and latex paint on homebuilt airplanes for years. They seal the dacron with a black primer for UV protection and then paint color. The thing is, the dacron is pre-shrunk for tightness. Some fly 100 MPH. It might work really good on canvass, who knows. I don't know about the epoxy part. Again, time to experiment.

Ed

Shall I say the "P" word.
Go for it and let us know if it is easier.
Miriam

I used 2 layers of 1/8" paneling on the outside of mine, got it for 3 bucks a sheet on sale. Couldn't beat the price and it worked just fine.

the Fish will have a canvas tarp roof also,
i am putting over 1/4" luhan plywood,
i purchased my canvas at Pittsburg Paint store here in Nashville,
i had planned to paint with a good quality paint,
have you researched? i havent had the time to do,
i saw you mentioned epoxy resin,
is that proven method?
btw, i intend to "age" the paint ,

thanks,

george /waywardson