New builder and need advice!

[revilodad]

Hello TnTTT,

I'm wanting to build what you guys call a "standy" for summer camping. I want something bigger than a teardrop but still compact and fairly light. I don't understand how some of you guys curve the wood for side profiles and make such cool looking campers. Please feel free to point me in the right direction on where to get started. Tools needed, informative info and inspiration are all welcome. I linked some pics below of an example. How does one shape the wood profile this way? Also, if there are other ways of building a camper please teach me your ways!!!

Thanks

[daveesl77]

Mine is by no means radical in the curve department, but I like curves and it has them. There are numerous ways to do the framing and I kind of over did it with mine. The way I found best for me to do the skin wrap was using the tried and true method of using ratchet straps from the front of the frame to the rear. I also inserted additional, removable wood strips above the sheeting but below the strap just to act as a bit more compression points at places that needed them. I tried to figure out where to put my sheets so no max curve point would also be a sheet join point. I made my spars 8" apart, not necessary and also put in 4 full width 1/4" all thread rods equal distance around the silhouette to act in opposition to the spars.

Check out my build journal or photos and you'll see what I mean.

dave

[Jdw2717]

The 1/8" Baltic birch plywood that I used on my teardrop bent around those kinds of curves easily. The sheets I used were 5' x 5' and would bend very easily in one direction more than the other. I used small finish nails to hold mine in place as the glue set.