"Room for Two" (Chambre pour deux)

[SIXTOTWO]

Really enjoying your build!! Lookin' good!!
Hope you get a lot done for Cabella's Weekend!! Can't wait to see photos from that event!
Now git to work!!

[Mike_La]

This is what it looked like at the Cabela's event. The roof and galley hatch is not complete. Neather is the tongue box. I showed it as a work-in-progress. Had many folks question about this type of build.

[John T. Hodgen]

Hey Mike,
The campers looking great. I pulled ours to a car show last yr and for 9 hrs straight I had a crowd around it asking questions. The next day my voice was horsed..lol!
Til later by the fire--John T. & Linda

[S. Heisley]

It looks good to me. You're doing a nice job on it. The picture display makes it look finished.

[2bits]

That looks clean and complete in the pic! Funny, from the pic it almost looks like just one wall standing up LOL

[Mike_La]

That looks clean and complete in the pic! Funny, from the pic it almost looks like just one wall standing up LOL

Yep.
That's cause I only had that one side of aluminum mounted and it's cut an inch over-sized of the actual wall. Will route it down when I attach the fiberglass roofing.

[Mike_La]

Been awhile since I've posted. Haven't done much more on the TD. Did do a little bit on the inside(wiring). Brought the fenders to the paint shop a month ago. I was gonna have them powder coated , but the paint shop owner said he'd paint them for free, so I couldn't pass up the deal.
The build will be put on the side lines for now, because of other things going on here. I helped a friend of mine take down his barn to put up a new large workshop. I ended up with all the barn material and will be using it to enlarge my RV cover. I have 4 trailers here with only one under cover, so this will give me room for all to be stored out of the weather.

[robertey]

I'm picking up where Mike left off. After getting home and giving things a lookover, I started in with the stuff I can manage right now without buying a whole lot of hard to find tools or materials. I started by getting the galley out of the way, so I can get in and out easier in my tiny garage (the side doors only open a quarter of the way in there). I removed it in one big piece, leaving behind only the cleats on the floor. I'm going to leave the galley out until the trailer is much farther along, so that I can use it to haul the materials I need to build it home.



I also started in on the wiring. For a fuse panel/junction box I am using the Blue Sea item you see here.

This is my first wiring job of any sort, so after consulting some reliable print resources and a good friend knowledgeable in these matters, I began. It was pretty easy. I already had a multimeter that I used to diagnose problems with sockets at home, which came in handy. Fortunately the trailer came with a wiring diagram.

I also traced a template for the rear hatch. I'm debating what material to use for the ribs. The plans available on line offer lots of suggestions. I already had these sheet of half inch plywood, so I'm thinking about using those. Anyone have any better ideas?

[robertey]

Used the template to cut ribs for the hatch out of lightweight half inch plywood.

[img][/img]

It seems a little too lightweight. I followed the instructions on the wikibooks that suggested making ribs with one straight edge to prevent springback. If the hatch starts to bow, or doesn't seen solid enough, I'll beef it up with some additional wood. Need to go shopping for some lightweight 2x2s to finish the frame of the hatch.

I have ordered some sealant (epoxy resin) from jamestown distributors for the exposed wood, and a plastic piano hinge from monroe engineering. Need to pick up some aluminum strips for the screws that are going to go into the hatch. I also need to go pick up rest of the exterior finishing materials.

The original owner (Mike) left a hole in the front near the top.
[img][/img]

I think he may have been planning to run an air conditioner duct or perhaps place vents there. I'll have to ask him. I was going to just insulate it and seal it up with more thin plywood inside and out, but now I'm thinking, "Skylight!" Trouble is finding a little window or something that will fit well there, including following the curve, and making it watertight. I may just seal it up to keep the number of seams to a minimum. There's a nice radiused cut there, which would need to be trimmed down to get the next piece on there.

More updates to come.

[Mike_La]

I'll have to ask him. I was going to just insulate it and seal it up with more thin plywood inside and out, but now I'm thinking, "Skylight!" Trouble is finding a little window or something that will fit well there, including following the curve, and making it watertight.

Robert,

Glad to see you've made a start on the TD. The opening in the roof was going to be for a sky-light. I planned on using Lexan. Lexan can be installed to conform to curvature of the roof. It was going to be installed last, after the roof material.

Let me know when you'd like the rest of the items delivered to your place.

Later,

[robertey]

Howdy Mike,

Skylight it is! I'm ready whenever you are. Let me know when you are likely to head in this direction and I will find a space somewhere for it.

[robertey]

Some more progress. I framed the hatch and screwed it together with the little angle brackets you see here. It doesn't feel as rigid as it should, but I am told that once the skin is firmly attached it will tighten it up. I framed the hatch in place on a suggestion, as someone who got it right the second time around suggested. Below is a picture of the hatch in place and framed up.




Here's a close up of the joints. I lack the equipment and garage space to do things like using a pocket screw jig, but this simple construction will suffice, I think. Once the hatch is framed if it's not stiff enough for me I will reinforce it.



Here is the plastic hinge I will be using for the hatch. Also pictured is my pet alligator and backpacking gear in the background. As you can see I have plenty of the hinge, so if anyone needs some once I've got the hatch on give me a shout; it's all yours. I've been meaning to lay in some more supplies, but the constant rain has me unable to haul cargo in the empty shell of the trailer. Also the taillights are no longer in their temporary mounts, so I'd have to put those and the license plate back on. More progress to come. Next up is adding some sealant to the wood and getting the rest of the skin finished.

[KCStudly]

I have been considering using the living hinge, too. Is that the outdoor kind (the UV stable kind)? I thought it would be black.

Do you have specs? I'd be interested in sharing the cost of the big roll by buying several feet off of you (5 or 10 feet), assuming it is the heavy weight UV stable stuff.

[2bits]

I used the "Harsh Environment" hinge from McMaster-Carr for my galley hinge, and Mad Jack used it for his galley and doors. Kent used it for his doors too.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=45554&p=956244#p956244

I plan on using it for the doors on my new teardrop as well.

[robertey]

Yes, it's the outdoor harsh environment UV stabilized kind. They offered a choice of white or black. Can't remember where I bought it but it was a little over fifty bucks for a roll far longer than I could possible need. Or so I thought. There's a plastic storage chest in my backyard that had a broken hinge. A few bolts and screws and it was fixed right up. We'll see how it holds up, but I'm thinking it will do well. I have been delayed in building due to several things, not the least of which was a hurricane.