ok, I'll admit my ignorance..............

[darrellbeck]

Building my first teardrop will give me a chance to show that I don't even know the basics. My question now (and I've tried to research it with no luck) is simply this: Why do people put 1x2's on their frame before putting a floor on? I have never built a camper, but I have built several utility trailers. I didn't put anything between the frame and the floor. Please help me out here, why is it done?

Thanks
Darrell

[Oldragbaggers]

I used 1x3's because my floor is insulated. If I hadn't insulated my floor I probably would have just bolted 3/4" plywood directly to the frame.

[Roo Dog]

Darrell,

Ours is attached direct to the trailer chassis. The floor is carpeted.
It does not snow in our part of Oz and even so we do not venture out much in winter.

RD

[darrellbeck]

Thanks for the answers. I could not think of a good reason to put the 1x2s on and you guys have made me feel better about this question. The only real reason that I could come up with was if your welds were very rough, (which my welds are not) you might want to place them judicially to keep your floor from having a high spot . I am going to go ahead without them. I, too, will be putting carpet down. When I get my trailer done, I wonder if I could drive to Australia if I really water proofed my trailer? I would sure like to see that country, and that would be the only way I could afford it. Ah, well, as Roy Orbison said, "In dreams I dream of you". Well, maybe not YOU, but your country.
Thanks a lot

Darrell

[RKH]

Some possible thoughts:
1. A space to run wiring under the floor without being also under the frame.
2. To give you a place to attach the sides other than the edge of sometimes plywood floor

Just Possible considerations.

[Roo Dog]

RKH,
The sides of ours are also bolted to the chassis.
RD

[Glenn Butcher]

I'm going to use a 1x3 frame, mainly because I'm building on a 40x48 mini-trailer and I need to build over the fenders to get 4 feet of width.

I got the idea here: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=55602

[AlgoDan]

I went with 2x3 frame so the whole unit can come off the actual trailer for future use...

[Shadow Catcher]

Ignorance is easily curable and we will not give you a hard time for asking.
The only insulation on the floor of CR is the 5" foam mattress.

[Mary C]

Darrell, I wanted to build 5 ft wide on a 4ft wide trailer, to do that I used 1x4s and 2x4s on their side and built a frame so that it would be high enough to go over the wheel wells. thus making a 5 ft wide base support for my floor.

Good Luck and we don't mind the questions.

Mary C.

[eggsalad]

I have nothing between my floor and trailer, either (aside from paint and primer). Heck, I didn't even use 3/4" ply - I used 1/2", to save money and weight.