Truck Canopy Trailer - Updates... Solar Panel, Jack, etc.

[ohbugger]

Been a few busy weeks, but finally got back to work today. I don't have much to show, but I got the duck cloth and paint covering finished and wrapped.

I'm kinda impressed with how well I was able to stretch the cloth over the trim in the rear. The top is folded over like a package, but that will get covered up.


I may do another quick coat of primer and sanding, then it's on to primer and sanding for the canopy top.

Feels good to have the bottom half structurally done and sealed against the elements. Now I can get back to the fun stuff!

[jbyrd]

It's coming right on along, looking good!
NOW GET BACK TO WORK

[aggie79]

Erik,

Your TTT continues to impress. I am still amazed at how good the canvas looks and how it conforms to the angles and curves. Thank you for the detail picture at the rear showing the opening for the top and the framing.

Take care,
Tom

[ohbugger]

It's coming right on along, looking good!
NOW GET BACK TO WORK

Yes sir!

[ohbugger]

I started work on prepping the canopy top. I've been using a paint scraper and a hose to remove the peeling clear coat and the pin striping. I then started sanding the paint for a smooth base and discovered great news. If I sand the paint away a beautiful white gel coat awaits under the old paint.

I can sand the whole thing but that will take forever so I am probably going to get some fiberglass safe paint stripper. Looks like white will definitely be the color I go with!

[ohbugger]

I haven't given up, just been busy and the painting and sanding is time consuming. Really looking forward to getting the pieces put together and getting this thing weathertight!

Progress report: the top half of the truck canopy is sanded down to the white gelcoat. If I can get a full day in, that would be great! Maybe this weekend.

Oh and the method has been foam sanding blocks for the tight areas and a 6" cheap auto orbital buffer with stick-on sandpaper. Wasn't real happy with the paint stripper. Gotta be careful not to burn through the gelcoat with the sander when hitting edges, but it's coming along.

[Woodstramp]

Just found/read your build journal. A+ on resourcefulness. Crap....now you have me eyeballing used camper tops. Can't wait to see the finished deal.

[ohbugger]

Just found/read your build journal. A+ on resourcefulness. Crap....now you have me eyeballing used camper tops. Can't wait to see the finished deal.

I should have the shell assembled in another week or so, I'll definitely get some pics up when I do. I hope to get a lot done this weekend. As I've progressed on this I've learned some things:
1 - All the trips to Home Depot add up. I've spent more than I planned for sure. I hadn't really thought about all the painting and sealing on the bottom half of the trailer.
2 - Waterproofing is a hassle, I think if I were to start over with the truck canopy idea I would get 2. One upside-down for the bottom and one for the top. I'm sure that would present a slew of new and different problems, but the entire exterior would be fiberglass. Also, get Ford truck canopies. Apparently Chevy truck canopies are tapered from the front to the back.
Anyway, something like this.


Best of luck and I hope that once I actually get this thing together I'll have better advice. I'm still lost in the woods right now.

[ohbugger]

Getting close!

[pete42]

that's all I got to say.

pete

[ohbugger]

A big step was achieved! Kinda like raising the walls of a teardrop for the first time! Woohoo!



I'll have to get some kind of black vinyl trim piece around the bottom. I think that would pull it together nicely.

[ohbugger]

I've realized that this trailer is a strange mix of refurbishment and build. I have been building the bottom half out of all new materials which is a complete joy. However, the truck canopy is 15-20 years old, and everything needs to be taken apart and cleaned, little brackets need the rust wire-brushed off, etc. The rear of the canopy had started to spread apart under its own weight and some straps and an extra set of hands were needed to forcefully square it up on the trailer.
The rear door of the canopy still needs the paint stripped and all the seals removed and cleaned, but the good news is how well all the mechanisms have held up. The only thing that will be replaced are the rusty screws that hold the windows and whatnot on. Otherwise a lot of elbow grease is bringing everything back to ship-shape condition.

Lesson learned, get a nice clean canopy top. I'd estimate that the sander, stripper and supplies were around $100 just to get all the paint off. The canopy top was only $120 or so. Double the budget and maybe I'd find a canopy that is 10 years newer and in much better shape. That's my diatribe, live and learn.

[campmaster-k]

Interesting build. Coming out better than I had thought at first . Keep up the good work!

[mezmo]

Hi ohbugger,

The top looks great on the base! The base's corner radii matches the
top's corner radii really well and makes them, together, look very
cohesive.

It's a good idea to get a trim for around the base as well. The
top's bottom trim [now the middle trim] could give you the opportunity
to do a two-tone on it - maybe match the towvee's color on the base and
white on the top. [I'm a fan of white [and light colored] tops to reflect the
sunlight and to avoid/minimize solar gain on/from the roof.]

It's looking really good. It should easily fulfill all your hopes for it, and
then some.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[ohbugger]

Just a silly little detail I spent too much time trying to solve:
One of the side windows opens up and out like a hatch instead of a slider. That's fine, but it means that it opens and locks from the outside. I want it to open and close from the inside. That and the old hardware was also pretty rusty and beat up.

So, I reused the rubber gasket, picked up some stainless bolts, nuts, and aluminum bar from the hardware store and made this.




The pictures are pretty horrible, sorry about that.