Hello

[halfpastsix]

I'm new here (obviously) and from the UK. I've read quite a lot of stuff on here. Over the past few weeks, I built this!



Hope you like?

BTW, how do you add more than one photo at a time to your album? I have loads of my build.

[doris s.]

Very nice rig! Have fun with it this summer. You could put pictures into an album so folks could look at you build.

Doris

[halfpastsix]

Thank you. I've put some more pics in my album.

I will keep it updated when I add something new and get a decent photo.

[Shadow Catcher]

Interesting wall material, could you tell us something about it (I did look at the album) ?
What else do you plan on doing with it and how much does it weigh?

[halfpastsix]

Hi. It is plastic soffit, sold in the UK for cladding. It is made of PVC I think. It comes in 2400 x 300 x 9mm sheets and slots together. It is also hollow, made in box sections. I'll see if I can get a photo. It is extremely strong for it's weight. When I'd finished the shell and before I put the floor in, when I pushed on the shell, the metal frame of the trailer would bend rather than the upper structure. It is waterproof and doesn't need painting. I have no idea how it will hold up to use.

Oh, and it's cheap!

I managed to get a rough weight and the whole trailer comes in at around 300kgs. It's having a test camp this weekend (tomorrow ) so I'll let you know how I get on.

I'd like to add a toilet and a sink inside, and I already have the brackets to add a shelf to the outside for cooking. I would also like to add a canopy for when it rains.

[steve smoot]

Welcome to the forum.

I like your camper too. The wall material is very interesting. Sounds like it weighs much less than plywood, but has the strength and it's already finished and waterproof...amazing...

Steve

[Shadow Catcher]

I can see all sorts of interesting possibilities for a very inexpensive very light weight trailer that you don't have to worry about wood rot... It would lend itself well to a Grasshopper design.

A brand name might yield sources here in the US.

[halfpastsix]

It is this stuff. I got it from Ebay, but they do sell in in DIY shops. It was just much cheaper on Ebay!

[steve smoot]

I did a google and found a supplier in the UK. I sent them an email to see if they have a supplier in the USA. Will post here when I get a reply.

Steve

[halfpastsix]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _779wt_841

[Muggnz]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270475799362&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_779wt_841

this looks very much like common "plastic" house weatherboards, to me

david

[halfpastsix]

That's what it is. Very light, very cheap, very waterproof and very easy to make into a camper.

It has only taken me six weeks to go from a bare chassis to something I can comfortably camp in.

[halfpastsix]

Tested it out last weekend, and it worked like a charm. Just need to make it 'nice' now.

[CliffinGA]

From the pics it looks like the plastic material the make signs out of here in the U.S. I've several signs that were made and when you look at them from the side same structure and the were waterproof. I just wonder if some carrys it in bigger panel widths?

Cliff

[halfpastsix]

I think I know what you mean. These panels are sold in 16 feet lengths, about a foot wide. That's 3 of the 'stripes' on the panels. They have a sort of tongue and groove on their edges that snap together, and are glued together with silicone. I made a wooden frame to screw it to, but these screwholes became the source of a few leaks that needed sealing, which looks a bit of a mess. If I were to do it again, I might try either screwing from the inside with some suitable length screws that only penetrate the inner side of the plastic, or forgo screws altogether and just use silicone. I'd have to get an electric silicone gun though because as it is my hands are wrecked from all the modging!

Another tryout next weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.