floor question

[BigDaddyCool]

since building the floor is gona be next i have some question

I dont feel the need to put insulation by the way. ( at all anywhere )


Is there a reason for a wood frame under the floor?

can i just bolt 3/4'' ply directly to the frame?

tell me what you think!

[teardrop_focus]

I know that both Roly Nelson and Andrew/angib would agree with you about everything except perhaps the floor... BUT, that pretty much depends on the design of your trailer chassis.

I can't draw anything very well, let alone in any software on my pc, so I won't be able to illustrate my opinion here in your thread, but, I plan to build my teardrop in the exact style you're speaking of... which will be an uninsulated Baltic birch plywood monocoque bolted to a very minimal steel trailer chassis.

I will watch this thread with interest...

[t-vicky]

I would put at lest a 2X2 frame work around the edge of the floor to give you something to attach the walls to.

[BigDaddyCool]

i was thinking bolting them up directly into the frame ( 2'' sq steel tubing )

[Roly Nelson]

Hi BDC, if I were to build my woody again, I would not insulate the floor, nor cover the bottom with plywood and line-x. I feel that the void created by covering the bottom, is a perfect place for moisture to gather, and you won't be aware of it until it is too late. My feeling, contrary to some builders, is to add 2x supports below a 3/8" floor, bolted to the frame. Then, coat the whole mess with Henry's roofing pitch. Hey, I have even built a super-lightweight tear with only an inch and 3/8ths hollow-core door for the floor. Good luck with your building plans. Do it to suit yourself, and take some of this advice with a grain of salt.
Roly

[BigDaddyCool]

that's what i was thinking

[madjack]

BDC, I use a single sheet of 1/2"ply for the floor, the walls are 3/4", they are attached to each other using 1x1/16th aluminum angle as cleats...the walls are bolted to the steel frame tying it all together...I do insulate the ceiling but did not feel it needed to insul the floor...due to some condensation problems around the edges of the floor/wall join, I changed my mind and added a sheet of styrofoam between the mattress and floor......
madjack

[kennyrayandersen]

I t depends on where you live and how you are going to use it. In Canadia it is cold in the wintertime and if the walls are cold, which they will be since there would be no insulation, your hot moist breath will form condensation on the walls and you could easily have a moisture problem on the inside (the old water on the inside of the tent!). If you are not going to use it in the winter, and not us any AC in the summer (which is possible since you live pretty far North), then maybe you could get away with it.

Same goes for Cali, where Rolly lives. It’s pretty mild and dry in places, but they still have winter in the mountains and some pretty hot places in the summer, so it just depends again on how you use it. Personally if you glue the bottom sheet to a foam core, for instance, and seal like Rolly suggests, I think there is little opportunity for moisture entrapment.

[bve]

BigDaddyCool if you consider most of the tent trailers (in Canada at least) tend to only use 3/4 ply screwed directly to the frame you can probably get away with just that, however as many have stated it really comes down to how YOU intend to use it.

Many a builder have stated (after the fact if course) how they feel they have overbuilt.

I have yet to build, however I have done two tear downs of commercial tent trailers, neither with more than 3/4 ply for the floor and both floors were still very solid after 30+ years - in fact on the last one pulling the floor probably took the longest time.

Again though it really depends on your intended use, in terms of strength 3/4 ply on it's own is plenty, in terms of insulation the mattress - even if it is just an air mattress - is still going to provide insulation. If you intend to camp after early November or before late March then insulation is probably a good idea, otherwise it won't offer much value even up here in Canada - I am however only speaking in terms of the floor.

The other thing to perhaps consider is resale value if insulated, and cost of materials involved, 2 sheets of insulation and 8-10 sticks of 1x2 or 2x2 are not going to break much more than $50 if that.

Burke

[john curtis]

Am in the middle of building my TD and that was the first thing I did was to insulate the floor,because were I live it can get pretty cool at night even in the middle of summer.So that little bit of extra work and price are worth it for me,but that depends on were you live and what the temps.are in your area.

Personal preferance is a great thing.

[bve]

Hey John I am also in Edmonton, if you ever need and extra set of hands PM me I'd like to get my hands dirty on a build even if it isn't my own yet. Do you have a build thread?

[john curtis]

Hi Burke.
Dont have a thread just the pics on my album.Have to ask what is the make of the trailer with the slopeed front.Also thanks for the offer,will be keeping you in mind when I need a hand.

John

[bve]

John I'm guessing you are referring to the dual axle unit in my album, that's one I spotted in an alley a while back, best I can tell it is home built, there didn't look to be anyone around to go asking questions.

Sorry for the hi-jack BigDaddyCool

Burke

[BigDaddyCool]

thanks for all the info