What wood size for extending bed off trailer for "foamie"

[JDHIV]

Hi all!

I realized after all I typed below...I may not have been clear on my Q...What is the minimum I need in order to widen and extend off of the trailer, in terms of lumber?

ALSO, can you use the "magic mix" of min-spirits and poly on pressure-treated wood?

---------------------------------

I just spent a couple of days completely gutting a 1970's Coleman Popup to get down to the trailer and cut off some of the outside edge metal for weight...now it is just under 300lbs (I used 3 bathroom scales to determine this). I don't want to be restricted to the narrower dimensions between the wheels and don't mind losing a little cabin space to the wheel-wells/fenders. So, similar to OHBUGGER who added side-to-side lumber (2x2's and one 2x4?) on a HF trailer, then used rolled peel and still window flashing (in lieu of black goo)..and then mounted ply to that. See also: viewtopic.php?t=45827

I'll try to put pics in here...and see if they work out to show you:

IF you can see the image I grabbed from FaceBook where I posted it and I think it is public...this shows the old (HEAVY) subfloor in mid demo:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

THIS ONE shows the frame I had before I cleaned it and chopped a bit off:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

And this one is after I chopped off the extra metal (maybe I shouldn't have?) and ground off rust and primed/painted it:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

IF THESE AREN'T VISIBLE OR CAN'T BE LINKED TO....then I'll at least post my Q for now and learn (re-learn) how to get them right in here!

---->>>>Also, Thank you in advance for any help! I have been lurking here for a while and there is SOOOO much great info (and people). And yes, I have begun reading "the big thread" (up to 396pages as of today?) and I find myself getting lost in it.

[Mary C]

OK..... I will be the first to answer. I guess we will call you JD Welcome. It is perfectly all right to ask questions here and we will be glad to answer but it is really helpful to post the pictures here on a build thread. as most of us are very visual. also I cant get on facebook computer glitch. Having said that, are you building a foamie half breed, standie foamie or a re construction? also if it is a foamie you might want to start the Build thread here and it seems the long thread has become the place to get the discussions of foamie stuff. Now, I built a wood frame that was larger than the metal frame of the trailer. I used a4x8 HF trailer and extended it to 5x 8 1/2 . I used 2x4s on the side and 1x4s, for their height if I were building on a 5x8 and wanting to extend it to 5x10 I would build it by putting a wood base of 2x2s to extend over the front and back. if ....building with foam sides. understanding that the further you go away"extend out from the original metal frame weight is a consideration If you plan to build with 3x4 ply with foam on the inside. or plan to carry 50 gallons of 80 quart Ice chest full of Ice,and possibly an easy up stacked on top of that at the very back over the extended frame you might want to use 2x4s laid on their side and buy a "trrruuuck" to haul it There are a few more ways, to extend out and I am sure you will get more answers.
Now the magic mix that is not my territory but if I were to use it I would spend the extra $2.00 and get marine spar varnish it is very hard to find but worth the investment. I hope this helps.

Mary C.

[JDHIV]

OK...I put pics in my gallery and will put the appropriate ones here:







-->I will be building a hybrid "foamie" with some wooden framing and bulkheading.

1.....So, what is the mimimal size/dimensions of lumber I should be running (bolting or screwing into) the 4-5 cross-members?
I want to wide the floor off the platform by as much as I can (6-12") and get it back closer to the width I had in the pop up...which you can see in hopefully the first image from my popup demolition.

2.....Do I have to then add lumber running front-to-back (parallel to the main wishbone tubular steel portions) ?

3.....Also, can I coat the "magic mix" of Paint-Thinner (mineral spirits) + polyurethane onto pressure treated wood?

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=45827 this is the one that OBUGGER made...not sure if I used the "url" function correctly.

Thanks!!!

_John

Also, I'll try to figure out how/where to post my more complete demo (which will be part of a growing build thread I'll get to eventually)

AND, if anyone replied while I was posting this...sorry for the timing!

[JDHIV]

OK..... I will be the first to answer. I guess we will call you JD Welcome. It is perfectly all right to ask questions here and we will be glad to answer but it is really helpful to post the pictures here on a build thread. as most of us are very visual. also I cant get on facebook computer glitch. Having said that, are you building a foamie half breed, standie foamie or a re construction? also if it is a foamie you might want to start the Build thread here and it seems the long thread has become the place to get the discussions of foamie stuff. Now, I built a wood frame that was larger than the metal frame of the trailer. I used a4x8 HF trailer and extended it to 5x 8 1/2 . I used 2x4s on the side and 1x4s, for their height if I were building on a 5x8 and wanting to extend it to 5x10 I would build it by putting a wood base of 2x2s to extend over the front and back. if ....building with foam sides. understanding that the further you go away"extend out from the original metal frame weight is a consideration If you plan to build with 3x4 ply with foam on the inside. or plan to carry 50 gallons of 80 quart Ice chest full of Ice,and possibly an easy up stacked on top of that at the very back over the extended frame you might want to use 2x4s laid on their side and buy a "trrruuuck" to haul it There are a few more ways, to extend out and I am sure you will get more answers.
Now the magic mix that is not my territory but if I were to use it I would spend the extra $2.00 and get marine spar varnish it is very hard to find but worth the investment. I hope this helps.

Mary C.

Thanks Mary!!! I was actually posting the Q's again with images it took me a while to resize and put in my gallery! I'll start a build thread (where?) and get that going as well!!

I plan to use the trailer as it is now but extend the side-ways Xmember out a bit to regain some width and build a Foamie on that...but I will use wood for the basic outline of the teardrop profile (I think) and definitely use some wood to make a bulkhead for structural stability as well as any windows/doors. I will have foam sides and I'll go thin on the flooring (like 1/8" or 1/4") ply and make a sandwich of those two layers of ply around some thin hard insulation.

It looks like you went only 6" out further on your extension of width (on each side) and less than that on the length...I'm going to try to ex!!tend about 8-12" on width on EACH side and not change length (I have about 110" I can use in length)....so, since I'm going mostly-foamie with the walls and roof...I guess I don't need to use 2x4's to extend the width...maybe just the 2x2's? would be OK ??????????

My overall (non-Uhaul :-) ) vehicle limits towing to 1000lbs....so, least weight with strong enough build is OK with me!

I'll definitely go out and look for Marine Spar Varnish Thanks!!! I live in a coastal area...so maybe easier to find?

THANKS!!!

[Mary C]

JD understand I am not a structural person but you might want to read through some of the build threads here and check out some of the galleries of people, so spend the extra time two or three hours and look around there are several ways to do what you want to do and I just told you my way. Everyone has their own way and if I have learned anything the fact that foam covered in canvas is strong, proved it the other day when a limb fell on my Grits. I didn't take pictures but I was very impressed. also check out my build on the wood I put inside, just a thought, you can try what you want. I could have done it with 1x2s but I used what I was given and what I had.

Mary C.

[JDHIV]

Thanks Mary! I WILL check it out now...right after I look up marine spar !

[GPW]

QUOTE: “ and I find myself getting lost in it.”... You’re not the first ... you should have tried writing it ....

Your trailer looks Great for the purpose ... shouldn’t be any problem to do what you want with it .... Love those little FAT tires !!!

[JDHIV]

IS this Marine spar Varnish? http://www.homedepot.com/p/Minwax-1-qt- ... g-_6D_pxvY

the had a couple of other things...Like boat bottom paint as well when I searched for "marine spar varnish" on the HD website....how does that stuff sound?

_John (JDWelcome) :-D

[JDHIV]

Thanks GPW !!

You are one of the Gurus in the foamie world here!!

[GPW]

Naaa!! just one of the regular Foamlings !!!
I believe the traditional Spar varnish has been replaced by newer alternatives... maybe better ... check the Boat/Marine places... they always have the Good stuff , and at a Higher price...

[JDHIV]

Ok...I found THIS at lowes near me: http://www.lowes.com/pd_219242-90-20700 ... facetInfo=

actually the search for "spar varnish" provided the following: http://www.lowes.com/Search=spar+varnis ... r+varnish#!

does it matter what kind of "spar varnish" I use when I apply it to the wood that will be bolted or screwed into the trailer???? Is there a difference (or existence?) between water based and other-based?

Thanks (again!!) !!!

_John

[GPW]

If you’re just going for wood protection , the “mix" is a Lot cheaper , and equally effective if not more so ...

[JDHIV]

Thanks!!! :-P

[atahoekid]

I went about 6" over the edge of my frame and I didn't do anything more than hang 1/2" ply over the edge. If I were to go about a foot over, I'd use 2 x 4's butted perpendicularly against the frame and screw the floor to them. I wouldn't use the mix on pressure treated wood, I'd use the mix on standard wood, I personally don't care for pressure treated wood Just my 2 cents..

[JDHIV]

I went about 6" over the edge of my frame and I didn't do anything more than hang 1/2" ply over the edge. If I were to go about a foot over, I'd use 2 x 4's butted perpendicularly against the frame and screw the floor to them. I wouldn't use the mix on pressure treated wood, I'd use the mix on standard wood, I personally don't care for pressure treated wood Just my 2 cents..

Thanks! But I'm not sure what you mean by "2x4's butted up perpendicularly against the frame"...can you describe that a different way for me to visualize??

Also, I'm looking to only go 8" over the edge just on the sides (not front or back). I'm also looking to have an insulated floor as well!

So, the "mix" on standard wood is better than getting some good stainable ("dry") pressure treated and putting the "mix" on that?

Thanks!!

BTW, I homebrew as well...but only likely to put my stuff into a few growlers and into the cooler to bring along!