Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Nice work! I wonder how did you build that fiberglass flange for the back door seal...

OP827 wrote:Nice work! I wonder how did you build that fiberglass flange for the back door seal...

Thanks. The door flange is layed up on top of foam with the desired profile, and once cured the foam is removed from behind it. When I glass the outside I will overlap the two sides at the back of the flange. I have some plans for the door that will cover the same techniques. I will be sure and get some video of it.

jakejakejake wrote:

OP827 wrote:Nice work! I wonder how did you build that fiberglass flange for the back door seal...

Thanks. The door flange is layed up on top of foam with the desired profile, and once cured the foam is removed from behind it. When I glass the outside I will overlap the two sides at the back of the flange. I have some plans for the door that will cover the same techniques. I will be sure and get some video of it.

Thanks Jake! I think i got it, but a video about your technique would be great too! Subscribed to your channel. Check out my build video in my signature and let me know what you think. I also built with fiberglass and went quite extreme with only one 6oz layer on outside and it actually seems to work.
Oleg

Awesome roof raise mechanism Oleg!

jakejakejake wrote:I also built with fiberglass and went quite extreme with only one 6oz layer on outside

I tend to be quite rough on things, a real "break the holes out of a bowling ball type". Im a welder/Fabricator and mostly work with mild steel, I imagine I could cut my layer count by half, but not really knowing the "feel" of this stuff like I do steel Im just shooting for a happy medium of strength to weight. I guess only time will tell.

I just watched your video. Looks great!

I do think though, you will find the rafter ends telegraphing through your fiberglass layup. Foam and wood expand at different rates and under certain thermal conditions you will find the wood trying to poke out of the foam. This will lead to delamination of the fiberglass and foam at those locations.

On my build that I used raters I imbedded them into the foam walls but did not cut the slots all the way to the outside of the wall. You could do the same thing with your roof. If there is only a thin layer of foam over the wood, I would create a small air gap to allow the wood to move without pushing on the foam. Thicker foam would probably be ok since the foam could absorb some of the movement.



Good luck! George.

ghcoe wrote:I just watched your video. Looks great!

I do think though, you will find the rafter ends telegraphing through your fiberglass layup. Foam and wood expand at different rates and under certain thermal conditions you will find the wood trying to poke out of the foam. This will lead to delamination of the fiberglass and foam at those locations.

Hey, Thanks George! The different expansion rates never crossed my mind. Another thing to chew on...

Nice job on the door/window openings.

jakejakejake wrote:Awesome roof raise mechanism Oleg!

jakejakejake wrote:I also built with fiberglass and went quite extreme with only one 6oz layer on outside

I tend to be quite rough on things, a real "break the holes out of a bowling ball type". Im a welder/Fabricator and mostly work with mild steel, I imagine I could cut my layer count by half, but not really knowing the "feel" of this stuff like I do steel Im just shooting for a happy medium of strength to weight. I guess only time will tell.

It is better to have more plies for sure, the weight impact is not great but as you mentioned it will protect from weather better.

Nice work!

I agree with ghcoe that the spar ends could Telegraph, though with how much FG your using (layers) I wonder if it still could. Really like how you worked out the hatch/door opening with the rain gutter/chanel. I rely on my gaskets to create this and this would be an improvement I would do on 2.0! Nice!

Hey fellas, Long time no see!

Here's my latest progress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRo4wVuFVwk

Hey Everybody! Ive almost got the shell 100% Complete!

Awesome! I admire your craftmanship and perseverance, that door hinge is super cool

Looks great! Thanks for sharing.

Nice!
I would like to see a material list for your epoxy, clothe filler Ect. Don't tell Tony

twisted lines wrote:Nice!
I would like to see a material list for your epoxy, clothe filler Ect. Don't tell Tony

I really haven't complicated things much in that department. All the epoxy and fillers I'm using are from uscomposites out of FL. USA made and competitively priced! Ive used about 4+ Gallons of varying cure times (slow/med/fast) and around 20 quarts of 3m Microballons .

All the fiberglass cloth I'm using is from Thayercraft, browsing Steve's website taught me everything I know about fiberglass cloth. 90% of the cloth I have used is a "balanced" weave and 6-8 oz per yard. Again A wonderful to deal with USA business!

It really is that easy!

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!

This weeks progress video just went live!