yet another frenchy (and a kind of build log)

[Overnuts]

Hi all.
Here I am, I live in France.
Doing camping in tent since I'm taller than the roof of my mother's caravane.
But I would appreciate a small trailer ever ready to go scuba diving on the week ends
My first idea was getting an eriba puck but beds are too smalls.
And my wife and I just want a bed and a fridge !
Anyway, the DIY is a good way, because I have more time than money, and I'm not to bad to "bricoler" !

[teddy]

Welcome, and good luck with your build.

[Woodbutcher]

Welcome, have fun with your build. Don't forget to post pictures, we like to follow along.

[Vedette]

Welcome! And Good Luck with your build!
Remember 5' wide minimum!!!! And it sounds like a 5' x 10' would be a perfect fit for you.
Don't build too minimalistic?? You would probably regret it later.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
PS
So glad to hear you were from France and not Quebec!

[Overnuts]

thanks all,
I'm tall 1m97 and I plan to build something near 5x10, here, mastress are 140x200 cm.
According to me, my biggest problem for this building will be getting a trailer.

In france, there are no way to get one like you do at harbor freight 4x8 for less than 300 $
Welding a frame could be a solution, but european rules are more "hard" since a few years
For less than 750kg, no brakes needed, but like for 750kg and more, the trailer must be inspected and registered.
I saw many sources telling for less than 500kg, you can omit that, but in case of car crash, I don't know what happens...

For the moment, I try to pickup ideas on blogs, forums, and anywhere, to list materials.
I found a manufacturer for waterproof hinges in belgium.
A plywood dealer next to home.
I have many caravan/camper parts dealer also next to home, for lights, vents, windows.

Just need a chassis.
I'm looking in the "classifieds" here to get a full caravane for a few euros.
boat trailer seems to be used, like jetski ones.

@teddy, I'll follow your build !
@vedette, even us, in france, have trouble to understand quebec's people speaking french !
(ps: sorry for my english skill, I'm more fluent for computering or scuba-diving ! )

[Overnuts]

Hi there !
I'm back here to post some pictures of my building !
Since it is not really a teardrop but much more a small cargo trailer,
I do it as feedback on framing and skinning with aluminium composites.

And to show my kind of "French Touch" to the world !!!

Here is the starting point :


Box is 200cm x 120cm x 35cm - galvanized steel
Max payload: 350 kgs

I fitted it with alucobond panels, offered to me as they are, a bit used but for free !!
Each one is 1m x 2m


To do the trick, I used an aluminium framing in 30mm x 30mm x 2mm


As I cannot weld aluminium, I simply puts many "pop"


Front side is only maintained by pop rivets for the moment,
I need to re-do it, rivets heads are too small, and I didn't put glue.


For sealing side panels, I used a "SikaFlex FC11" cartridge, and XtraLargeHead rivets (16mm)

Sunny view of left panel done, and stuff back in place


The same for right panel


Till it will be used as a cargo, I added crate handles in each corner inside, and in middle of panels


Now, the roof is okay.
It was sealed on frame using glue "SikaFlex Auto/marine", and many rivets


Especially on front edge


But my idea was to fold a small part on front panel to be sure wind will not go between parts....
folding alucobond seems easy while reading datasheets, in facts, I failed.
Plastic part was not enoughly removed so folding the panel made aluminium skin to crack


Anyway, the build is not totally done, but I think it beguns to be nice when I put trailer and car together !

[dales133]

Both those sika products would stick your pannels on quite happily without the need for mechanical fastners

[Overnuts]

Both those sika products would stick your pannels on quite happily without the need for mechanical fastners

Yep Dale, this what I saw in sika datasheets, but I have to be sure
everything will keep in place,
loosing a panel at 130 km/h on highway to holidays is not an option !

[Overnuts]

Let me talk to myself
five years and 10 000 kms later, I can say trailer is still pretty good.
Composite panels get dirt, and pinetree fruit impacts on the roof, but everything is quite fine.
Trailer spent almost the year in a garage and goes on roads for summer holidays.
Nothing as moved, neither sika, neither pop rivet.

2016, I installed pneumatic stick between axle and under-frame
This does give more confort for driving, trailer is less making small jumps while driving on bad roads

2019 fun, on aliexpress, I bought "starck industries" stickers for sides

For next summer, I plan to add a kind of large truck-box in front, and then move spare wheel under

[pchast]

Sounds like you are getting good service from your build.

[Overnuts]

Hi all !
I'm now back to plan tong box on my build.
I need space to put scuba-gear (not tanks).
I'found this "cheap" one https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000071227832.html
I build one lifesize with cardboard, my gear seams to fit inside and should do the trick.
But I don't know about quality, any advice about this ?
or another cheap manufacturer ?
thanks

[rjgimp]

Very nice utilitarian build. Instead of purchasing, could you build your own tongue box of plywood or of the same material you built the camper?

[Overnuts]

Hi Rjgimp
you are right, I will consider making it from aluminium framing, sika and pop.
I still have a composite panel in stock almost made.
and since it's to put things going in the water, it will not a problem if it's not waterproof
I plan to make a sketch in fusion360
I "need" this for july, not too bad in timing

[Overnuts]

Hi, I have 2 composite panels :
one spare ( 1m x 2m ) raw/flat
and another one already prepared (in 2015) to make a front face (the yellow on the picture)



I can fold the spare one to make the green part, which will be permanently attached.
And using a hurrican hinge on top of box, make the yellow rotating to close.
What do you think about this ?

If doing so, I will need to glue on " L " aluminium framing inside to be sure panel will not crack on fold line, Ok, for 90°, "L" will be fine,
but how will you do it for 135° angle ? what about gluing a pipe ?

(I have a 3d printer for PLA)

[rjgimp]

Hi, I have 2 composite panels :
one spare ( 1m x 2m ) raw/flat
and another one already prepared (in 2015) to make a front face (the yellow on the picture)



I can fold the spare one to make the green part, which will be permanently attached.
And using a hurrican hinge on top of box, make the yellow rotating to close.
What do you think about this ?

Looks great!

If doing so, I will need to glue on " L " aluminium framing inside to be sure panel will not crack on fold line, Ok, for 90°, "L" will be fine,
but how will you do it for 135° angle ? what about gluing a pipe ?

(I have a 3d printer for PLA)

Do you have PVC pipe readily available? If you heat it to between about 80-100 degrees C it becomes pliable so you can shape or bend it and when it returns to room temperature it retains the new shape. You could heat a section of pipe and reshape the profile from round to triangular to fit the interior shape of your box.