Trolley Top questions

[Ron Dickey]

Here are some standy type trolley tops really really old and old but made made to look new.



the old but new bellow...
rear outside rear inside

front inside front outside

the one on the top offers windows the one bellow offers no windows just more head room and is wider.

Ron

[Ron Dickey]

Another trolley build to add to the list

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=33056

[3nero]

Here's my humble little trolley top.





and this is kind of what i'm aiming at..

[Ron Dickey]

As I start to prepare to build mine. I realized how important Center is. Find the Center of the trailer side to side. My trolley will be 14 inches wide. Now I have to figure is that outside to outside or inside to inside and not knowing the thickness of my wood makes the difference.
The front and rear cross bar for the trailer will reinforce it and carry most of the weight.
What thickness do you folks use?
Mine will be 5 inches tall above the top.

Once I know center I can go out 7 inches each way so the trolley will be uniform.

And once the trolley is in place the center bars can be measured can cut to fit.

Mine will be flat on the bottom and will not follow a curve unlike most that I have seen. It fits my skills.

I love seeing those that have the trolley bend around with the arch of their Teardrops.
Nice job guys.
Ron

[Irmo Atomics]

Here's a trolley top that needs a little work:
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/in ... 258&page=1

[Ron Dickey]

whow that is a really old fun one.

I do have a question of those who have put in trolley tops what thickness of wood are you using?

Ron

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Zach
do you have any shots of putting on the cross bars or sheet metal or finished unit.

also what does your Galley look like?

See you are selling your plans hope that is working out.

Ron

Hey Ron,

I've been overlooking this thread somehow and missed your question.

I skinned the narrow roof sections first, and then installed the main roof spars.



Used 50 year latex paintable door and window caulk to create a fillet joint.



And this is pretty much what my galley looks like right now. Just dividers to keep food and stove in place while traveling. The little dividers can be lifted out of slots so I can accommodate whatever items I need. The lower galley is completely open so that I am not so limited to what I can carry for different trips.



Hope this helps!

[Ron Dickey]

Hey Ron,

I've been overlooking this thread somehow and missed your question.

I skinned the narrow roof sections first, and then installed the main roof spars.



Used 50 year latex paintable door and window caulk to create a fillet joint.



And this is pretty much what my galley looks like right now. Just dividers to keep food and stove in place while traveling. The little dividers can be lifted out of slots so I can accommodate whatever items I need. The lower galley is completely open so that I am not so limited to what I can carry for different trips.
Hope this helps!

Nice job
did you put in cross bars inside the trolly top? and if so is it sandwiched with top and bottom or exposed from bottom??

Ron

[Ron Dickey]

I am thinking of putting tinted plexiglass on the outside and cut out little square windows inside so when we have the light on at night we can put different designs in the squares. Holiday designs, season, camping, forest animals, Kids toys, high contrast photo's etc.
My wife has a christmas tree up all year round, she decorates them 4th of july, Halloween, etc. so she might be keen on what to put in the windows.

Kinda like having a Traveling scrap book

Have not started on it but I do have good Idea what it will look like.

also if you go here viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54108&start=75 and look for the cad drawing Junkboy999 did and he did a good job.
Ron

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Nice job
did you put in cross bars inside the trolly top? and if so is it sandwiched with top and bottom or exposed from bottom??

Ron

Thanks Ron. Yeah there are 1x3 oak cross bars the entire length of the trolley top. They are are exposed, from both top and bottom. Well, there is a screen on top of the cross bars.... and then a removable vinyl cover on top of that.

[Kharn]

Zach,
How tall is your trolley top above the walls?
I've been thinking about incorporating one on my Weekender to increase the headroom 4-6" (to make up for the height lost to the 2x4s lifting the bed over the wheel wells), just on the top surface and the upper front face so rather small compared to most, and inset ~8" from each side, so 44" wide.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Its right around 6" taller, and it steps in 6 3/4" on each side.

[Ron Dickey]

for those who have made trolley tops how thick did you do the walls of the trolley?

I guess that would depend on what it was made of.

And what did you insert into the windows? I have many thoughts on this subject but do wonder what you did???

Ron

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I just used 3/4" plywood for the trolley-top sides. No insulation. My rear window is clear acrylic sheets from Lowe's. Made a window jamb/frame using quarter-round, pre-drilled small holes through the acrylic, and then used small brass screws and silicone to hold the panels in place. Here are a couple pictures during the construction.

[doug hodder]

I used 1/2 MDO for the trolley lift, routed the portholes from the back side which was laminated with birch for the interior appearance, and used tinted auto safety glass for the portholes routed 1/4" deep, glass was bedded with silicone, then mahogany trim rings around each porthole. Doug