Small caravan box by Tom

[ipy]

I covered my caravan box with a first coat of paint. It covers very well and I think the paint went into plywood and filler deep. Now I go to get canvas and then will make a test how to apply canvas on a trailer.

Please note lower part of the capsule installed within trailer boards.

I plan to install handles on corners of the box as well as pieces of plywood to cover gap between capsule and boards.

[dales133]

Looking good tom

[noseoil]

Tom, looking very nice as Dale said. I'm not sure about the corners & canvas covering them. Is there a radius to the corners now? If not, you might want to consider using the canvas in flat sheets without turning the corner to wrap the edges. Just apply the canvas flat & a bit too large, then trim it with a knife at the corner if it's a square edge.

Once this is done, the corners can be sealed with some small aluminum trim (something like 12mm x 12mm x 1.5mm if you can find it) and a marine sealant like sikaflex. This would give you a fully sealed panel & an edge which would resist bumps, rocks & knocks while driving down the road. Just another way of looking at things....

I really like the way you have made this trailer & and admire your staying with it to make things work. You're setting a good example for your daughter also, seeing all the hard work, planning & thinking. She will love going camping when it's time to go!

[dales133]

Well said, if there was an award for perseverance and overcoming the odds you'd get my vote and I'm certain I'm not alone
I think that trim on the edge is a good idea.
Seeing as you've already painted the roof and sides I'm starting to wonder about how canvas will work.
Before you go ahead with it I'd be asking GPW or someone with more experience because I'd hate to see you have issues again.
Maybe just topcoat with a good quality UV stable paint or clearcoat and use the corner mold to seal the join.
Sorry if I'm confusing you or contradicting what I said earlier but canvas is usualy installed on raw timber or foam to my knowledge.
Just watch this space until the experts chime in

[ipy]

Well, I covered the roof with paint because walls are covered as well and I want to use the same technique in a whole thing.

I think when plywood and filler absorbs paint it makes both stronger and water-resistant and I would say glued with each other.

Made a test on painted surface that I removed after roof was damaged by rain- applied a coat of fresh paint and just put a canvas on it, did the same but immediately covered canvas with another layer of paint, and did both versions for two layers of canvas.

When dried, the canvas is totally glued to the plywood. I can hardly tear off a piece of canvas that was not covered with paint on its top but cannot tear off version with paint on it.

So, hopefully, it is a good way to go.

[ipy]

A heavy wind came coupled with pouring rain and damaged my gazebo breaking it and blowing it away to my neighbours garden. I am sure it hit caravan box by the way. Do not know its damages yet. Need to wait until weather settles down.

[KCStudly]

It'll be fine, and if it did suffer any minor damage, you will be able to fix it easily (...without having to tear the whole thine apart).

[GPW]

You can always roughen a painted surface to give it a bit of tooth ... for more painting ... Recommended actually ...

Canvas over plywood is pretty tough and if you have sharp edges as one would expect with wood , then just trim the canvas flush , and use a good Fiberglass tape over the joining edges... Incredibly strong ... even with TB2 adhering it... The canvas keeps the wood in shape , the glass tape keeps the edges together... A winning combination ...

Ipy’ ... we’ll be curious as to how that manufactured wood product holds up .... please keep us informed .... we’re doing a long term survivability study of different materials used in different ways. May be useful to others in the future ...

[Sheddie]

Hi Tom, good to see you have decided on the method to finish your exterior. I am sure that the gazebo won't have done much damage. Keep up the good work

[ipy]

I wonder what would be the best way to cover my caravan box with a canvas (canvas itself is made from poly-something material, which is better and stronger than natural materials, I think).

My goal is not to use any aluminium or PVC profiles at the edge of the roof, so to avoid drilling througt a watertight surface.

Paint shows no adhesive properties when wet and I neeed to hold the material on sides while waiting for paint to dry, thus I need to go on the roof a bit. Then I cover the roof with some canvas going down on walls as well. Just like picture signed B.

If i choose not to cover slightly rounded edges with canvas but with a glass tape I would use a solution from the picture A. More difficult to hold canvas on sides.

To me solution B seems to be stronger and more durable. What is your opinion?

[dales133]

The raw cotton canvas seems to be the preferred material or cotton bed sheets as the paint absorbs right into the fibers.
If you do a search there are some good resources here.
Follow GPW s advice he left you above as he's got alot of experience with this.
I'd be inclined to do your walls first then overlap the roof down the walls

[ipy]

I decided to do the B option. Still, I can cover edges with a glass cloth on the top of canvas.

As there is sun today and forecasts say it will not rain I take a chance and do the work.

First came the left wall. Covering whole with paint and then applying canvas failed as paint dried before I set canvas properly on its position. I realized that when I put canvas on a fresh paint then paint appears on the other side of canvas as well, so paint goes through canvas, between its threads.

So I appllied canvas partially, placing first the whole canvas on the wall and then painting it from outside. Sticks very well, after a couple of minutes it is glued to the wall. I overlapped the roof by some 3 inches. So far, I am happy. Now I washed the brush as it caught some threads after cutting. When it dries, I will do the second wall.

[ipy]

I have done what I planned for today. The whole capsule is covered with canvas. Does not look perfect but still it is acceptable. On Monday, if there is no rain, I will paint whole thing last time and then I am ready to install windows.

[dales133]

Looking good bud
If you've got bubbles try putting a damp towel over them and iron it and see if that helps get them out.
You will probably need a few coats of glue to make sure it's right into the fibers as this is what makes it waterproof.you can also sand between paint layers to get a better finish.
You certainly don't mess around when you decide something.

[Sheddie]

Good one Tom