6x10 Tear with Trolly top

[Chuckaz]

Hello,

I have been lurking on the forum for some time now and I started my tear late last year.

Goal: Growing Family needs to have a secure place to sleep when camping and be comfortable for me (6'9" tall)

This started when I saw a pic of a small camper of ADVRider and it was linked back to this site. Then my mind was blown away at the endless designs. A friend of mine just happened to be needing to dispose of a boat trailer so I took it off his hands. It needed to be modified but it was a starting point and it was titled as a 1953 trailer which is cool for this project.

The trailer itself it way overbuilt for my application but I tend to over build things anyway. I began with the floor (of course), it is an insulated frame built and the flooring was installed before the walls where in place. I got the flooring material from a local flooring shop at closeout. I wanted something that was glue down and solid but not too thick. I wanted to keep a rustic but clean look and I think this material was perfect.

Once the sides went on I realized that the roof line was a but shorter than I would like so I researched the trolley top design. I looked at a number of pictures and decided that the "sharkfin" was the way to go with my design. I am happy with the way it turned out so far. The only drawback i can see is that the roof line does not lend itself to a roof vent so I need to source some side windows for the trolley top and work on an air circulation system inside.

I have a vinyl plotter so I cut full scale templates for the sides (the decking on the trailer was temporary for some hauling I needed to do)




I Cut both Sides together. If you are patient and slow you do not get the blade walk that is common with this thickness of wood.



Little helper:


Biscuit joint the sheets and mocked them up.



Took the sides off and stared placing the floor down. You will notice I had put together the rear cabinet frame too.


Skinned the inside with 1/4 inch and glued with contact cement.


Attached the rear cabinet frame with the side.


Decided that the flooring was cheap enough and solid so I would use it for the interior walls too.



Other wall is up and The ribs are going on.



He loves his new fort


Two layers of 1/8" luan and the interior is skinned



After a long debate with myself I decided to use the Oak flooring on the ceiling too. Each piece is glues and air nailed in place.
I bought some LED recessed lights for the interior.

[AlgoDan]

Hello and welcome aboard to the forum. It looks like you have a nice build going on there. Looking good and you have your young son helping you, always nice to have the family involved from the start. Also post pics as you build.Good luck

[danlott]

I really like the trolley top designs. One of these days I will actually finish my trolley top trailer. You trailer is coming along pretty nicely. Your son sure looks happy.

Dan

[Ron Dickey]

nice work.... what does it look like from the back? will you have a hatch in the back?

Do you have any pre-drawings of the trailer as you build it?

Ron Dickey
Cross Bow with planed Trolly top

[Ron Dickey]

I see arizona plates you might put down on your ID what town you live in there are many members in your state and they are very active in their gatherings too.

There might be one in your town who can give you some hints!!

[Chuckaz]

I have been working on it still and will post more pics later next week. I just had my second child so now I can maybe get some time to complete the interior and front exterior. There will be a hatch on it and I am going to complete that last.

Chuck

[Ron Dickey]

I just had my second child
Chuck

congratulations That is as good a reason as I have ever heard!!!!!

Ron

[mezmo]

That prefinished flooring looks great. I'll have to
file that away for future reference. That was a great
way to save all the efforts you'd go through to have to
give the interior some kind of finish after it was installed.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Chuckaz]

So I have hardly had time over the last year to work on the trailer let alone post on here. Here are some updated pics of the trailer as it is today. i am planning a finish date in May sometime.

[Gunguy05]

WoW! You are *almost* there. Glad to see another "wide" build on here. I like the aluminum too! Keep it up, you will be finished in no time

[jbyrd]

Very nice!

[Woodbutcher]

Great job, looks really cool. You should be out camping soon!

[Ron Dickey]

looks a little heavy but I really love what you have done with the place, I mean trailer.

It that a really a trolley or an extra place to put one of you kids.

Ron wow!!

[Chuckaz]

Once I realized how much the trailer frame was I decided weight was not really going to be a concern. I will build the next one a bit lighter.