6x12 V-Nose Build

[abqlloyd]

When I get sides off I might drill a few small weep holes. I'm going to cut as tight as possible and not worry about it. I have some small stainless tubes that i could poke all the way through so water can't get inside the frame.

I have a bad habit of over engineering things and getting caught up in minutia. I'm working on it.

[Prem]

They run the luan across the roof down the middle only.

To keep the roof metal from rattling and wearing thin against the ribs/roof joists, since they don't want to dot the roof with holes for rivets or screws. It's just enough soft thickness to take the flop out.

I'm thinking of adding two more strips down each side for additional roof rigidity. Any pros or cons?

That will just stress the roof at the fasteners and/or seams. Spray foam into the gap instead if you are concerned about it and plan to put weight on the roof (like a person crawling around).

When I get sides off I might drill a few small weep holes.

IF your sheet metal is steel, and you have all the interior paneling off, you could roll/paint on Henry's roofing tar thinned with paint thinner. It's a sticky plastic and dries nicely. That will kill the condensation on metal issue. Aluminum doesn't need it. (The last CargoMate CT I sold had a lot of surface rust on the steel sheet metal and lower ribs that leaked out onto the plywood floor edges. NG. I sealed the metal with thinned Henry's. End of problem.)

Good?

[Rainier70]

I don't know if you will need to drill any weep holes. When you take the sides off look at how the skin is put on. It shouldn't be sealed against the bottom rail or along the back side seam of the panels. Mine looked like it had plenty of air/moisture escape area.

or are you talking about adding more weep holes to your windows? They should have enough to the outside. Just make sure they are on the bottom of the window toward the outside.

[abqlloyd]

I added a couple of strips to give me some added strength for the solar panel mounts.

Don't plan on ever crawling on the roof. I made them 4" wide and they slid right in. Instead of drilling even more holes into the roof I just used construction adhesive at the roof cross members.

I'm adding two panels - one 100w in front and 300w in back.

[abqlloyd]

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100w Renogy panel installed in front.

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Underside mount.

[abqlloyd]

My thread sealant was dried up so I'll have to make a quick trip before tightening it up and sealing the holes on top.

[Prem]

How many batteries/Amp hours?

[abqlloyd]

Not sure. I have a couple of golf cart batteries but also have two AGM 31's.

My power needs are pretty small - the fridge pulls 1.8 amps and all the lights are led's. The Fantastic fans pull very little. I have a 600w sine wave inverter that can handle the TV if needed and laptop charging. I guess it depends on how it weighs out in the end. You can never have enough solar, though.

[abqlloyd]

The underside is standard trailer framing. I'm going to stuff 2" XPS in between the framing. I picked up some redwood bender board to use as furring strips to keep a small air space between the bottom of the floor and the insulation. I'll put a little foam on the edges and call it good. I'm going to strap it in place. I haven't decided if I'll cover it at this point. I read that you can use the Henry's right over the top of XPS. Another other option is to just cover in roofing felt or Tyvek. I looked at a $50,000 5th wheel with Tyvek over foam.

[abqlloyd]

Inside I'm laying 1/2" XPS over the OSB and then laying down laminate flooring. That should help with the thermal bridging.

[Prem]

Well, you can never have enough solar IF you have the battery storage to use the electricity after the sun goes down. Sounds like you have enough solar to run a washing machine at high noon!

I have only one battery (group 24) and a mere 10 watts of solar. I just acquired another 10 watts. All the solar does is keep my battery topped off from day to day. It has worked very well for me for the last six years. I have LED lights, a cigarette lighter inverter to power a stereo boom box and that's it. Since I got a guitar (that is endless hours of bliss), I don't need a TV or NetFlix/Red Box either.

[abqlloyd]

Progress as of tonight:

100w solar panel installed.
Removed most of the interior.
Installed bracing for panel in back.
Removed stock interior light.
Began removal of stock vent. They weren't shy on the sealant.

Plans for the weekend in no order:

Rough wiring.
Insulate sub-floor.
Fantastic vent.

Need to make some decisions on batteries and location. I like what MtDon did with the golf cart batteries under the bed. My plan is to have a sink and small stove in the V-nose counter. I have a water tank which I had planned on putting underneath. The batteries in the back help balance the weight.

[Prem]

The batteries in the back help balance the weight.

[abqlloyd]

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Amazon dropped off the power inlet for my AC power. I have a Honda EU2000. We seldom camp at developed sites.

[abqlloyd]

Also picked up this outlet for $7. I would rather use a round box as holes are easy and clean. I have a round weather box and if I can make it work the other goes back.

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