Started a project !

[Gerald_G]

Day 1

Although this is not to be a teardrop, I think it qualifies as a tiny travel trailer, since it is starting as a 14' Travelair, and getting smaller from there. I hope you guys don't mind me posting about this project in this great forum.

Here's the trailer as found. Towed it home yesterday, and snapped this pic this afternoon.



Started right in by taking off some trim, and pulling off one sheet of aluminum siding. As expected major rot to be found. I think this is a 1967 year.





This is the galley before I started in tonight. I will try and recycle much of these parts, so I started by removing them :-)



And the kitchen after some working time.



I hope to strip this down to the frame and build a new tiny travel trailer on top of it. Of course it will still be a Travelair.

Two hours down, many many to go......

[dwgriff1]

Sounds like a wild project.

I have a 22 foot travel trailer that I stripped to bare walls and totally rebuilt inside a couple winters ago. New insulation, wall covering, ceiling, cabinets, almost everything you can see.

In the process I learned a LOT of respect for the guys who design and build those things, they get a lot out of 1/8" plywood. They have restraints of time, weight and money.

I was careful to not add any more weight than necessary, and along the way i learned how to build a bath vanity that weighs 8 or 12#.

My tear project is easy compared to the work I spent in that trailer.

Best to you. Keep us posted.

dave

[Miriam C.]

Gerald, congrats.
BTW. save your pattern pieces in a whole a condition as possible if you are rebuilding in the same style.

That is a lot nicer on the outside than under the alum. I looked at some older ttt's but thier owners insisted they had put a couple of thousand in and I was sure the water stains said another story.

Good luck
Miriam

[Gerald_G]

No need to keep any templates (not that many could be), since I don't plan to build anything near the same shape.

Thanks for the hint though.

Did some more demolition today day two. Removed furnace, cabinet doors, shelving, bunk etc. Also some more siding.

Found exactly what I thought in there too. Rot in the front corner.



and around the wheel well.



Too bad I am volunteering to go on a three day school field trip, so I will not get to do much more for a few days.

I am thinking of using solid maple 5/8" (i think) flooring that I earlier ripped out of a house. The floor is built in this trailer on 2X4 running length wise on top of angle iron welded below the two main beams. I thought I'd put the 2x4s (pressure treated) in place, and cover them with the thinest layer of pressure treated plywood I could buy. Then the hardwood running crosswise across the floor. (the layer of plywood to seal out the elements.

It was suggested I put down only the hardwood, and undercoat it for seal. I'm thinking I'd rather have something facing the road elements that does not have a seam every 2 inches.

This would be plenty strong, but I am afraid of adding this much weight. I am trying to lighten wherever possible. I am arguing with myself since I already have the maple on hand and available.

Has anyone got input on this method of flooring ?

[Gerald_G]

Day 3 - some more demolition work in progress. I got all the skin off today, and removed all windows, the door, any interior aluminum trim, and am almost ready to knock the thing down.

Just want to remove a few more cupboards, and internal walls for salvage before I take a hammer to it. Oh and the water tank still to save.

Here it is without any siding. LOTS of rot.

[48Rob]

Hi Gerald,

Good pictures, thanks for sharing them!

If you're interested in sharing them further, the people at Repairing Yesterday's Trailers would love to see them too.

There is always a lot of interest in seeing something turned "inside out", and watching a project like this unfold is just neat.

Rob

[Gerald_G]

Couple of more hours of demolition time... No roof or walls !

[Gerald_G]

Completed DEMO of the old.

Down to the frame this afternoon. Flipped it on it's side and removed the U-bolts in preperation for moving the axle under the springs instead of on-top. Set it back down on sawhorses for some cleaning and painting.

Now that demo has happened relatively fast, we'll see how the building starts to move :-)

[Gerald_G]

Took a wire wheel and buffed off all of the loose rust flakes and particles. Down to shiny steel in most places. Then painted. Here is the frame will anything that can be unbolted, unbolted.



Next step is to narrow the frame by 7". Three and 1/2 inches off of each cross member on either end. I used my jigsaw (see the jigsaw thread) to shorten these pieces. Maybe not the ideal tool for the job, but it got it done.



Now I actually start reconstructing! First add the 2X4 floor frame. I used pressure treated here (unlike travellaire), and so these should last a while. Down the middle, the original only had 1 floor joist. Then the floor was made from 1" plywood. Since this would have made for 24" spans, I chose to add a second floor joist down the middle section and use 3/4" flooring with only 15" spans.

Here's the wood floor frame complete.



Now I can actually start on the floor. I am using 3/4" solid maple which I recycled from a house last summer. It is going to take more time than plywood and vinyl would, but I got it for FREE, and I will have a hardwood floor in the trailer when I'm done, so here goes. Since it is used, and going into a trailer that I plan to have somewhat "rustic", I think the distressed wood will work great.

The black "tarp" going down under the wood is something my friend (the RV repair specialist) says is under the floor of new trailers. He calls it Darko. (sp?)

Here's a couple of pics.





It feels good to be making sawdust, and not the kind that falls out from under the siding when I was taking that off.

[Gerald_G]

I have been playing with sketchup last night and this morning. Good fun. Here's a sketch of the planned project that I hope to accomplish.

[Gerald_G]

I've lost count of what day number I am on. No big deal I guess, but there is some progress to report for anyone watching this project.

I managed to finish screwing down the flooring, and glued plugs into all the screw holes which will not be covered by walls. In addition, I drilled out and plugged any of the larger nail holes in the hardwood since it is used and recycled from an old house.

I caclulate at 85 rows times 4.5 screws per row (there are five on most rows with joints) that I used approx 382.5 screws to hold the floor down. Each joint and seam in the wood is additionally glued with PL400 for seal, and strength. Probably made and glued in close to 200 plugs to fill holes.

Got my first coat of varnish on around midnight, and I am pleased with the results. This IS NOT the faster or easier way to make a floor. In my case it is possibly the least expensive (since I recycled the wood), but there is a fair amount of labour involved here.

Results below....

Applying first coat.



Finished coat one !



Close up shot.

[madjack]

...that is a really good looking floor...t'is a shame that ya gonna cover most of it up ...............

[Gerald_G]

Yes I agree. I've been thinking of using the warehouse floor plan :-) and everyone sleeps on that beautiful floor.

Oh well. I'll know the floor is nice even under the cupboards.

[Gerald_G]

Finally some progress to report.

Finished framing the side walls today, so I thought I'd posta pic or two.

Next step is some end walls !!!

[jdarkoregon]

GG,

This is very pertty build, my hat is off to you! (but you need a teardrop too!)
My concern is you are putting a lot of weight in the back end of that trailer, is your construction "Weight wise" about the same as what was on that axle? The way it looks, I'm thinking (no real data to back up my thoughts) that your tongue will be lite as a feather. Oh, i'm just rambling, its early, I haven't had coffee, but the sunrise is pretty.

Thanks for sharing.

John