I'm back, and ready to wrap up this build journal.
As I said before, the spring clearance was a little lacking for my taste at less than 1", so I cut off the extra threads from the U-bolts which gained me an extra 9/16" or so. I also added some UHMW under the slipper springs to make them ride better/quieter. (I made a thread concerning this here:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=69317) I also noticed that my fenders were rubbing the underside of my camper box so I added some rubber blocks to keep that from happening any more.
When that was done, I finally turned my attention to finishing the interior. The cheap veneer and glue of the Home Depot plywood is a concern, so I decided that a few coats of wipe on poly would be a cheap way to try and seal up the outer layer of wood. Interestingly, most commercially available wipe-on polys are just the normal stuff thinned 50/50 with mineral spirits, but they cost twice as much per sq/ft. For half the cost, I was able to buy a quart of standard poly and a quart of mineral spirits and mix them myself. I got 4 coats out of this; hopefully enough to provide at least a little protection.
After the poly dried, I found some 3/4" by 1/4" vinyl trim that I ripped down to 3/8" by 1/4" pieces to use in the trailer. (Those pieces were
tiny!) I didn't want to go any bigger because I liked the small 1/4" bead plastic trim that you commonly see in travel trailers. Also, curtains for the windows seemed necessary, but I don't like the way cheap white curtain rods stick out from the wall so far. So I shortened them.
After that, I installed my shelves, a few dimmable LED lights, and voilà!
And there you have it, folks. I tallied the receipts up, and final cost for this little trailer came out to less than $700! (After factoring in money back from selling unnecessary project pieces) I haven't taken it across the scales empty yet, but with a few hundred lbs crap in the trailer it weighs in at less than 1,000 lbs. I'm guessing the trailer weighs less than 700 lbs empty.
A trailer that weighs less than 700 lbs, and costs less than $700: My lightweight trailer for a lightweight wallet has ben a success! Now for the real test:
Time. How will it hold up in the long run? I've already put 2500 miles on it with no noticeable wear, (except for the tires; a product of over-inflation I hope) but a few years down the road we'll see how my compromises in building materials affects longevity.
On a lighter note, I haven't finished with the exterior; I still want to add some red pin striping, and probably a name decal. (All travel trailers have silly names nowadays, why can't our home-builts be the same?) I shall dub this tiny trailer:
(drumroll please...)
The Pika
The pika (pronounced pee-ka or pie-ka) is a small rodent that likes rock fields at high altitudes. It looks like a small rabbit with mouse ears; cute but very simple with no remarkable features. Since this trailer is very small and simple, and will be found often in campgrounds at high elevations, 'The Pika' seemed to be a perfect choice in name.
Once the exterior is finished, I will add The Pika to the hall of fame. This has been a fun adventure, and I wholeheartedly appreciate all the comments, advice, and encouragement that I've received on this forum; Thanks very much!
Who knows? Maybe I'll do this again someday!
by greygoos » Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:07 am 
