Stubby Standy Project

[Davagio]

First off i need to thank a few people who helped me with this and questions i had awhile back about the design, Stomperxj (for giving me his google sketch design) Doug Hodder (for questions about his nomad frame), Donut Boy for answering a few questions about his standy, and angib for giving me some tips about the frame stuff.

I basically took everyone's advice and concocted my own version. Now after the frame has been built i wish i would i couldve changed about three things but i guess we all live and learn!


Anyways i finally got my frame finished after a 2 months of planning and another month of waiting for the welding to be complete.

Frame Size:

7x9 Frame Box (building area).................12 foot overall Length from tongue to rear

Frame Materials:

2x2 1/8 square tubing................ Frame Box
2x2 1/8 square tubing................ Tongue
2x2 1/8 square tubing................ Crossmembers
1x2 1/8 rectangular tubing.......... Entire drop floor

5 foot 2000lb. Axle with leaf springs
15x7 Smoothies with 0 offset. They are Chrome and then plain steel on the inside (still havent painted these yet).
smoothie hubcaps for the centers (obviously)
205 70 15 whitewalls (that i cant seem to get white).
2 inch hitch coupler
bulldog 2000lb jack.

Hopefully i will come back to this and update the materials so i can keep better track of everything myself.

[Henery Hawk]

Looks good, what do you expect it to weigh when completed?

[Davagio]

Looks good, what do you expect it to weigh when completed?

Well i would love say about 1200lbs but i would be lying! to be honest its probably going to be around the 1500-1600 lb mark. Fingers crossed on that one!

[225]

Looking good!

[Davagio]

Looking good!

Thank you i am just beginning to put on the decking so hopefully that will not take too long!

[starleen2]

I basically took everyone's advice and concocted my own version. Now after the frame has been built i wish i would i couldve changed about three things but i guess we all live and learn!

What were the three things? Might be helpful for someone else.

[Davagio]

What were the three things? Might be helpful for someone else.

the three things would be, or four things i should really say!

1. Miter your frame edges anywhere possible....meaning 45 degree instead of doing butt joints....a miter is a stronger weld and makes it easier to make the frame more straight! (meaning it pulls less when welded)

2. I should have built lighter. My frame with wheels, tires, metal, hitch, and everything basically.......came in at around aprox 550lbs. Now if i had to redo that i could have dropped at least 100+ lbs using channel and angle vs all square tubing. It will be made to last for sure, but i wish i could have cut the weight down a tad. First time so what can i say!

3. Put a few hooking points for tie downs. Having the all square tubing makes it difficult to tie down a load of wood with come alongs, its possible, yes but at least screw a few eyes in the side to make loading wood easier to secure.

4. Definitely store your metal inside if at all possible makes for a lot less grinding on the metal to remove rust. (The welder left mine out for 1 week in the elements).

So far thats about it but im sure i will come up with a lot more mistakes in the near future!

[Davagio]

test fitting the decking and getting it all lined up before i remove it and paint it.

[doug hodder]

Hey, don't beat yourself up on what you've done. It's all a learning experience! You've got a way solid foundation to build on. You're not going to have any worries about enough frame. Help make up on the weight, by going light on the structure. Doug

[Davagio]

Hey, don't beat yourself up on what you've done. It's all a learning experience! You've got a way solid foundation to build on. You're not going to have any worries about enough frame. Help make up on the weight, by going light on the structure. Doug

Doug i wish i could go light on the structure! but my heart wont let me im definitely going with 2x2's for the walls because i actually want some real insulation in that thing.

I just cant see using 1x's on a wall holding any type of heat or cold in?!?! Now for a teardrop i would def go 1x's or solid wall but for this i need it to hold some killer insulation especially if im full-timing in it this winter.

I think about the only thing i am going to get a break on "weight wise" is not putting any wood at all on the outside and just putting my aluminum up and then spray foaming it for the rigidity. Then using the 1/8 luan on the insides......Any thoughts on that?

By the way doug is there anyone that could help me start doing my arcs or making the template of the outside. I just dont know how to do the curves. Tonight i just finished my wheel wells and now i have to start that dreaded "learning how to make a template thing"

[S. Heisley]

... im definitely going with 2x2's for the walls because i actually want some real insulation in that thing.

I just cant see using 1x's on a wall holding any type of heat or cold in?!?! Now for a teardrop i would def go 1x's or solid wall but for this i need it to hold some killer insulation especially if im full-timing in it this winter.

I think about the only thing i am going to get a break on "weight wise" is not putting any wood at all on the outside and just putting my aluminum up and then spray foaming it for the rigidity. Then using the 1/8 luan on the insides......Any thoughts on that?

Turn your 1x2's sideways and you'll have the room you want for your extra insulation. Attach a small block of wood to the 1x2, wherever you need it to attach something like, maybe a light, outlet, extra reinforcement for the door latch, etc. Where there's a will there's a way to keep the weight down.

The work and cost involved in spray foam insulation may drive you up the wall... dunno. I'd go with some type of Styrofoam or a combination of Styrofoam and spray foam. Styrofoam insulation will add a lot more rigidness than you may realize. When it is in the 30's outside, my camper is usually in the 60's inside (unless I've left too many windows open...I have 5 windows) and I only have 3/4" Styrofoam (R-5) in my walls, and that's without using any kind of heater except my 4-legged fur friend.

[jstrubberg]

Don't overestimate your need for insulation, either. Remember, you are only heating, at most 80 or so square feet, usually with a device designed to heat 250 square feet.

Not saying you don't need some insulation, but try this. Go buy a few sheets of 1 inch foam blueboard and make yourself a temporary room out of them. Sit down in the middle and see how long it takes you to become uncomfortably warm just from body heat. I think you'll be surprised.

[BuildingForFun]

The Frame looks great, some nice Fabrication. Did you have it done, or do it yourself?

[Davagio]

Turn your 1x2's sideways and you'll have the room you want for your extra insulation. Attach a small block of wood to the 1x2, wherever you need it to attach something like, maybe a light, outlet, extra reinforcement for the door latch, etc. Where there's a will there's a way to keep the weight down.

The work and cost involved in spray foam insulation may drive you up the wall... dunno. I'd go with some type of Styrofoam or a combination of Styrofoam and spray foam. Styrofoam insulation will add a lot more rigidness than you may realize. When it is in the 30's outside, my camper is usually in the 60's inside (unless I've left too many windows open...I have 5 windows) and I only have 3/4" Styrofoam (R-5) in my walls, and that's without using any kind of heater except my 4-legged fur friend.[/quote]

Thats a very notable idea, turning the 1x's sideways......will definitely give that some thought. As far as insulation goes if i only used regular foam sheets i dont know how rigid that would make the outside by not having any wood all on the outside?

[Davagio]

The Frame looks great, some nice Fabrication. Did you have it done, or do it yourself?

I drew up the design after about 20 different sketches and gave it to the welder. Looking back on it i def wish i would have learned how to weld, considering how much i have in just that frame so far