Well my first build is sold, wasnt even trimmed out inside and a friend saw it and made an offer I couldnt refuse. She is planning on takeing it for a month long trip in august. She picks it up in 2 weeks because its my entry in an art contest on june 25th. Im competeing in 4 of their categories (3d, functional, 2d(im printing out the build photo's and putting them in a binder) and performance(Im going to give a lecture about how I built it and what I used and why)) June 26th she pays off the balance and takes it home.
First week of august I go camping for a week, so the build is going to go together fast. Hopefully it will be all painted by then lol.
I found this picture after doing some google searches and really liked it. The way the person designed the roof is very similar to how I did my first roof with the short overhang on the sides. I like the small porthole windows and saw some on ebay but I want to shop around for some "real" portholes that open. Ive got to talk to some of my marina contacts and see what I can find.
Im takeing Steve's idea of stretching the frame to a 4x10' size and picked up a 65" wide axle to give me a little extra width. My plan next weekend is to bolt a 2"x4"x10' on the outside of the frame to widen it and also give it extra strength. I think Im gonna add 1 more down the middle between the supports to have something else to screw the floor down onto it.
I think I need to cut the little piece off since it serves no purpose anymore.
My plan is the door is going to go on the front of the trailer with the a small deck. its only going to be 8' long with a 2' box on the back. I want the battery on the other side of the axle and am planning on mounting a 5000 watt ac unit in, venting into the box with vents for the heat to escape. Also in the box will be my cookstove and cooking gear for easy storage of it.
Im seriously debateing useing white EPDM this time with a roof vent and fan. I already have the 2 crank out windows with screens, just need to build a real door this time(insulated) with a frame.
4 minute video of our build - A 5x8 Camper for a family of 5 - http://youtu.be/CYGTlkfpIhY How we built a 5x8 camper for a family of 5, using a utility trailer with an incorporated bunk bed for the kids. From plain trailer to campground!
Lessons learned so far are... put a tarp down if your not on a driveway while greasing the bearings/installing them. While slideing a tire on the bearing popped out and fell in the dirt, and while playing with the nut it slipped out of my greasy hands and landed in the dirt... so soak and clean and repack...bleh
Stretching the frame isnt hard, used the grinder to modify the piece the springs bolt onto, and drilling lots of new holes for everything.
lotsa holes lol
Or you could just slide 2 new 2x4s sideways next to the ones already on the trailer and screw them together, that would give you the strengh that you need on the 2x4s
Mike
1947 Kenskill teardrop kamper 4X10> 1951 Boles Areo 16ft Canned Ham> 1956 Roadmaster 20ft> Restored 1959 airstream 18ft restoration complete 1953 Pontiac house car
Well Standupguy, Im figureing to do something similar to the first one. I will insulate it with 1" foam board. Im probably for weight reduction going to use upholstery fabric, but this time I want to add a piece of luan/wainscotting under the windows trimmed out like a kickboard
After talking with NathanL and Doug, Im going to be useing MDO plywood on the sides, and floor and I found a source locally for 4x10 1/4" exterior grade plywood for the roof.
For the roof on the last build I used 3 arches cut out of 2x6 cedar. This time I want to go with 2 and add poplar purlens running the 8 foot length of the cabin and screw/glue the plywood to the arches and purlens to secure it. There will be a good overlap of the roof pieces Im thinking of belt sanding it a little to make them more flush with the EPDM roofing over it.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Buildin ... -and-Roof/
I like the way his roof looks, this time Im gonna have to glue the foam insulation in place since I wont have a 1" thick roof to add screws to hold the foam insulation in place.
My friend Connor suggested this time since Im useing plywood to frame the wall onto the plywood and put up finished walls rather then build the frame work on the trailer then add the sideing. It should speed up the build time a little.
My trip to Pennsic this year is being canceled . I just cant afford to lose a weeks pay since I have no vacation time... the car maint is kickin my butt lol but didnt really do anything to it for the 15 months I was out of work. Timeing belt labor is through the roof...bleh. That and new shocks and all the other stuff I need to have done. Well glad it made me through my out of work time.
Im not as rushed now but stll want to get some weekend camping in this summer. Maybe a trip here with some friends
http://www.knoebels.com/