My modified Stewart Family Weekender Build

[Myke]

After months of planning and not building, I started my build. I'm copying, with permission, the Stewart Families Weekender, slightly modified to accommodate my families needs. I did have the beds set up like the Stewart's' build, but my wife and kids want bunks for them instead of them sleeping under us. I was planning the front of the trailer as shelves for food, but my wife wants the camper just for sleeping and buying a first-up or similar shelter for sitting, cooking and storage. So, I'll put the full bed up front, twin bunks in the back with the doors in between. Coolers, chairs, stove and first-up shelter will be stored directly over the axle by going this way. I think this will make a good balance for the weight and keep tongue weight low. I'm also going to have a height of 54 inches, haven't quite decided how to make the plywood work. Should I put the sheets vertical or go horizontal and add a filler piece on top? Comments and suggestions welcome.
Unfortunately, finances will dictate the time frame to complete. Hopefully I can get my wife and daughters to help. I will post pictures as I go along and welcome and comments and advice.
So far I haven't accomplished much. I brought the donated pop up trailer home Friday. For anyone planning to go this route, spend the money and buy a trailer. Those things are put together pretty well. I got all the parts I may salvage taken out and the roof and walls off. The plywood decking was busted in the corners and I decided to replace it. After trying to pry it up and busting it even more, I discovered the manufacturer used one way screws. So I am using a jig saw to cut out between the frame supports and then prying the plywood around the screws. I should have that finished sometime tomorrow. I found the hitch is bent when I tried to hook it up. I was able to get the ball in and then lifted the trailer and drop the shank into my bumper. I think I may be able to heat it up at work and straighten it out. Otherwise I will have to cut it off and replace it. Also found out that the bumper sits lower than the frame. I am planning on extending the frame to the bumper to get the 10 feet of length I need. So I will have to cut the bumper and weld a new one on at work. Hopefully 20 minutes work and my boss will let me use some scrap tube steel. I also need to grind the screws off, fill in the holes from the pop up registration and get it inspected and titled by Friday. The pop up my brother donated didn't have a title, so I have to work around the system. With that in mind, should I get the trailer inspected and titled before building the camper, or build the camper first? I planned on mounting the license plate and tail lights and blinkers to the camper. Since I have to manipulate the system to get the title, I would need to wire everything on the bumper and then move them when I build the camper. I would hate to go through the time and money of building the camper and then not be able to get it titled.
I found windows on Craigslist and bought them. I got two crank outs one size for the doors, two larger crank outs for the bed, one fixed window and a 24x68 door. I guess I'll have to build a standy so I can use the door . All of that for $100. The guy also has a radiant propane heater. I can probably get that for $75. I planned on using the propane furnace from the pop up for heat. Any opinions on what is best, radiant or forced air? I could get by with a battery powered Coleman lantern, use the radiant heater and then I wouldn't need a marine battery. I have the converter (inverter?) from the pop up so I can plug into shore power. I was also thinking about putting a car stereo in the camper. As you can see with all the options, thats why I've been planning for months instead of building.

[toypusher]

Myke, looking forward to see some pictures of you build.

[Miriam C.]

Sounds wonderful! I used Baltic Birch which comes in 5'x5' sheets. Just went the whole 60" high. Now I need to loose a couple so the vent will go in the garage. As it is now I have to take the vent hood off. What I really need is a low profile hood I guess.

With the Baltic Birch I put the door in the middle and added 1/4" ply to 6" on either side of the seam. Worked great. If you put in two doors the amount you need to do this is very small. Just remember to adjust your framing.

Afterthought is that I could have put the ply over the frame.

Over all height is something to keep in mind.

[toypusher]

:thumbsup: Sounds wonderful! I used Baltic Birch which comes in 5'x5' sheets. Just went the whole 60" high. Now I need to loose a couple so the vent will go in the garage. As it is now I have to take the vent hood off. What I really need is a low profile hood I guess.

With the Baltic Birch I put the door in the middle and added 1/4" ply to 6" on either side of the seam. Worked great. If you put in two doors the amount you need to do this is very small. Just remember to adjust your framing.

Afterthought is that I could have put the ply over the frame.

Over all height is something to keep in mind.

Miriam, do you have an air compressor? Just some air out of the tires to put yours in the garage and reinflate when you pull it out!

[Myke]

I got the trailer stripped down to the frame. That wasn't as bad as I originally thought it would be, but it was still a chore. I took some pictures, but can't find the adapter to upload pictures. Hopefully I can get the trailer extended, cleaned up, wired and inspected this week and start building next weekend.
Myke

[starleen2]

Myke - can't wait see to your build remember to feed our addiction with pictures

[Myke]

I still can't find that cord. I'll have Steph take pictures of the trailer and post them. I got the material for the bumper extension today, just have to stay after work 20 minutes to weld it on. I looked into getting a title. Looks like I can wait till the camper is built and then get it titled as a camper. Only costs $3.50 for the ID number then taxable value for title and plates. If things go the way I hope, this will be campable by February and finished by March. Might be able to take it turkey hunting. Of course if things went the way I hoped I wouldn't keep missing the Powerball by 6 numbers
Myke

[Myke]

I got the bumper extended out today. I hope to buy the 3/4 plywood floor and install tomorrow after work, and start the walls Saturday. Having issues with the furnace. Stephanie wants bunks for the kids instead of having them under our bed. Problem is the furnace I have is out of the same pop up the trailer came from. The only safe way to use the furnace is to lose one door, or stick with the kids sleeping under our bed, just like the original Stewart Family build and also my copied modified original plan. Hopefully I'll get some good pictures this weekend. I heard the temperature is going to be in the low 40's Saturday. so Steph (wife) and Nancy (oldest) are already trying to back out of the build. 40 is plenty warm enough, so Faith (youngest) and I will get something done and post pictures.
On the positive, I did the math and realized how much I was spending to smoke, I could put $120 a month into building and camping. It's only been 2 days, so I'm spending more on sunflower seeds and Altoids, the curiously strong mint. But I think I'm over the physical cravings, just have to whip the mental cravings. Haven't yelled at the wife and kids or kicked the dogs either.

[Miriam C.]

Way to go Myke. You are probably right about the physical addiction. Took me a few days and I was ready to visit people I really didn't like, to be around a smoker. I decided then and there to never---ever become that addicted again. You will be amazed how much money you have now. Oh and food will taste better too.

[starleen2]

Myke,
if the furnace won't fit or takes up too much space, perhaps selling it to recapture some of the initial cost would be a solution. Just because you have it doesn’t mean you have to use it. The heat from the refrigerator coils is sufficient to heat ours. When more heat is needed, a small electric heater or even a blow dryer will warm it up. You'll be surprised how much body heats warms things up in a well insulated enclosure. We recently had ours out in 20 degree weather and never once turned on a heater!
BYW - you now use that EXTRA money to feed your new addiction - teardroppin'

[Myke]

The furnace came in the pop up, so there is no cost. I may save it for a future build. Today is 15 degrees and blowing snow, so even I'm bailing on the build today. I'm going to buy a new cord for the camera, so I'll atleast post pictures of the trailer. I hate having a one car garage.

[Myke]

A few pictures









I didn't get as far as I wanted, but considering it only reached 37 here today it was a good start. I need a 2 car garage

[Anthony J Grant]

Myke,

I'm envious to see you got the family in on the build.

Your trailer / floor is good looking start. Keep up the good work.

Tony G.

[Myke]

Tony G, they complained the whole time. My 15 year old spent most the time in the garage by the heater. I bought self tapping screws, but they kept breaking, so I had my wife and 9 year old pre-drill holes, they broke 3 drill bits in 15 minutes. This weekend is supposed to be in the 50's so I hope to get a couple walls up.

[bigalpha]

Tony G, they complained the whole time. My 15 year old spent most the time in the garage by the heater. I bought self tapping screws, but they kept breaking, so I had my wife and 9 year old pre-drill holes, they broke 3 drill bits in 15 minutes. This weekend is supposed to be in the 50's so I hope to get a couple walls up.