Tiny Trailer Build

[squire]

I like it, pickup camper shell with a little more head room. A very logical approach, most people "over think" every decision. The end results will be a very usable and inexpensive camper. Good job.

[NevadaBlue]

Thanks!

I had to do a bunch of stuff for momma today, but did get the Lazy T moved to what should be the warmest place for the winter. It is on the south side of my garage and hopefully far enough away that it won’t be buried in snow from the roof. I did get a temporary rear wall installed, with door and fancy latch. Still have to put on a top board on the wall to close it to mice and wind/snow. The rear doors will be about 3” thick so they can have tables built into them.

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I also dragged over an old EZup frame for study. I want to use the telescoping legs for hatch supports I think. But, looking at the frame upside down is a good idea. Removing the roof structure and one accordion side would make a nice shower/potty room. The canvas sides would be supported from blowing around by the X-sides and a simple roof could even be made from the old roof parts. Gotta study this one.

[NevadaBlue]

The temporary door is in place and works now. Semi weather proof and critter proof now. It is cold outside, but surprisingly warm in the trailer.

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While fiddling with the old EZup frame, I discovered that it is a quick way to hold up the hatch for now, AND, it should work perfectly for a shower/bathroom enclosure. I think an ordinary tarp could be wrapped around it, maybe attached with velcro and left in place. EZ up privacy shelter. Also, the roof parts look like they will be easy to rig if a roof is wanted. The extra x-bracing from the open side is begging to become something also.

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I have the material from a free on the curb tent that could become the walls of the shelter. Must investigate that too. The trailer is meant to avoid tent issues, but I think a privacy shelter can be made that just collapses and packs away until the next time.

[edgeau]

It is cold outside, but surprisingly warm in the trailer..

The small spaces warm up quickly with just body heat. A problem where I live hence my big doors for cross breeze. It sounds like a good thing for you though where water gives up and goes solid .



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[NevadaBlue]

HA! I made a deal for the old topper. I have to do some garden work with my tractor over there, then haul the topper home. OMG, it is heavy. All steel except the windows and stuff. But, I’ll have a nice collection of windows, rain deflectors and who knows what else. The chickens may get the remains for a winter porch on the side of their house.
Now for it to warm up to start work on the door repairs and frame. I have to imagineer the insides of the door. It was all wood and pics are hard to come by. I’ll just punt. I did order two door latches so I can use one on the side door and the back door.

[NevadaBlue]

My door latches arrived today so I started working on the door itself. The hinges I have should work. It is amazing, the handle I just got off of Amazon, for a teardrop, is the same size hole and bolt pattern as the 1920ish door I am using. The locking handle will bolt right in place!

Then I started the hard part. The hinge side of the door had some VERY heavy (1/8” thick) metal for some internals to the door. It was riveted and spot welded to the already thick (1/8” steel) side of the door. Drill, hammer and wedge finally coaxed it off the door. One more piece of that with three spot welds to go. I cut out the lock hole to fit the new lock. I also made a template for the curved wood that will become the reinforcement for the lock side of the door. A piece of the old rotten wood is still seen in this pic. The bits of iron at the top of the door also have to go.

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That extra metal on the right is gone now and the door will be reinforced with wood on the inside again.

[NevadaBlue]

This is how a neat and tidy shop should look.

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As usual, there is barely space to walk in any shop I have. I had to drag the bandsaw out so I could cut the curved boards for the door framing.

Didn’t come out too bad. I’ll cut tapered slivers to fit on each end and glue them in place. Those tabs were for NAILS. The original wood was nailed in place. Lots left to do, but the most difficult part is cut and fitted.

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Now to decide what to do about the rust. This door has been sitting out in the desert for about 100 years. It is still good for another hundred or two it looks like. But, I am thinking of getting the rust converter stuff and slopping it on. I had intended to stick with rust color, but now that the trailer is coming together, I think the door will get painted. AND, the wood will get stuck to the metal with some sort of adhesive as well as fasteners.

[NevadaBlue]

It still amazes me that a brand new door lock fits a 100 year old door perfectly. Love it!

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This is looking in through the temporary back door since the other door isn’t there yet, but this is going to be worth it. That’s a 6” x 36” x 80” foam mattress. Gobs of room for me to rattle around. Can’t wait to get started on the galley.

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[edgeau]

Before you hit the door with rust converter get a wire brush on an angle grinder or such like to mechanically remove as much as practical. Just do it outside or your shop will be forever red

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[RJ Howell]

This is how a neat and tidy shop should look.



As usual, there is barely space to walk in any shop I have. I had to drag the bandsaw out so I could cut the curved boards for the door framing.

I'm jealous.. You have a frig in yours!

[swoody126]

This is how a neat and tidy shop should look.



As usual, there is barely space to walk in any shop I have. I had to drag the bandsaw out so I could cut the curved boards for the door framing.

I'm jealous.. You have a frig in yours!

¿ doesn't everyone ?

i can think of several items in my shop refrigerator that the bridal unit would severely frown upon if i were to even attempt to place in the one in the house

the days of washing carburetors in the kitchen sink and keeping epoxy in the only refrigerator we had at the time are well in my wake

we wont even bring up motorcycle oil changes in the dining room during winter weather

sw

[NevadaBlue]

I have been ‘indirectly’ working on the camper. I got the old monster steel topper home and removed the windows and a neat vent. Then the shell became the ‘winter sun porch’ for our chickens. They will love it, I am sure.
I also made a Home Depot run and got quite a few items including the material for building the galley. Today, I think I finalized the design for the rear/galley doors. Pics as things change.

[NevadaBlue]

The door declared it was NOT going to finish itself, so I have been working on the wooden framing. Good progress today. Some glue drying, some yet to be done. The rust converter is due here tomorrow and using it AND priming it afterword will take about 3 days. I also got larger hinges which will have to be cut to size and bolted into the finished door. Then comes the door casing.
Progress:

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Detail of the bottom framing on the door:

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The original glass area in the door will be filled with plywood and one of these 4 panel Jalousie windows installed.

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Sizing and repair of the window will be a project in itself. It does appear that all new rubber parts are available though. I’ll probably install the door without the window so I can get to working on the galley from the inside.

All the wood parts will be removed, the door coated with the converter and primed, then the wood will be reinstalled with adhesive and Kreg screws and glue.

[NevadaBlue]

I MUST finish this door. The temporary work bench I am using for working on the door has to go so I can get that garage bay back before it snows. So, today, I coated the door with ‘rust converter’. Apparently high desert rust (very fine, VERY slow moving stuff) is different than other rust. The door, which should have turned black according to the Loctite converter instructions, looks like it has been clear coated with lacquer. Oh well. Tomorrow, it gets a coat of primer, then when that is dry, the wood will all be installed.

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[NevadaBlue]

The door is painted and the first piece of wood has been glued and clamped and nailed in place. NAILS... interesting project.
Only the piece with the clamps is installed, the others are just acting as wedges now.

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