Newbie Alert

[Postal_Dave]

Greetings from South Carolina,
A Friend, who is a bad influence on me, sent me a link to the site and I got hooked immediately.
I'm going to build a Weekender.
I just ordered a 5X8 trailer from Northern Tools for the frame and I hope it will be here the beginning of next week.
My biggest fear is the cabin falling apart while traveling 80mph down the highway. So I want to know what type of wood do you use for the framing of the cabin? Do you use hard woods or are pine 2X2s good enough?
Thanks for the help.
Dave

[Cliffmeister2000]

Welcome, Dave!

Be sure to check out Joanne's Desert Dawg, as well as Mike' original threads!

http://www.mikenchell.com/weekender/

http://www.mikenchell.com/Weekender_Photo_Album/

http://www.mikenchell.com/Weekender_Photo_Album_2/

http://www.asolidfoundation.com/

Good luck! And remember, we like lots of photos!

[Postal_Dave]

Thanks Cliff for the links.

I already checked out Mike's designs and found them very helpful. The Desert Dawg is full of great information and pictures. He's got me scarred though. Do you have to fiberglass this thing? Please tell me that a good outdoor primer and paint will do the job.

BTW, Where do you order that top vent from?

[bobhenry]

Greetings from South Carolina,
A Friend, who is a bad influence on me, sent me a link to the site and I got hooked immediately.
I'm going to build a Weekender.
I just ordered a 5X8 trailer from Northern Tools for the frame and I hope it will be here the beginning of next week.
My biggest fear is the cabin falling apart while traveling 80mph down the highway. So I want to know what type of wood do you use for the framing of the cabin? Do you use hard woods or are pine 2X2s good enough?
Thanks for the help.
Dave

If you are wagging a trailer at 80 MPH the best wood to use would be "firewood"

Seriously It ain't brain surgery. Throw away your hammer and rely on a good glue and screws and some good common sense and you will have minor adjustments to make as you build. Just jump in and get started the build is the first of the fun times to follow. There is soon to be 11,000 of us on this board if you are stuck just ask ( and you will probably get 11,000 different answers ) BUT we are here !

Bob

[Cliffmeister2000]

I did not Fiberglas mine. I used 3 coats of CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer) and 3 coats of Uniflex 255 Aliphatic from the Rot Doctor. The Uniflex 255 Aliphatic is no longer available, and he suggests using ColorCoat Aliphatic in its place. http://www.rotdoctor.com

The CPES actually makes the wood much harder than it was, so make your cuts before you apply the CPES!

If I were to find any fault with these products, it's the shelf life. It's only about a year, and this stuff is expensive. Makes it hard to keep any around to do touch-up.

Like Bobhenry says, there are as many opinions as there are members. Pay special attention to what did NOT work (Bondo, for instance, is something that has failed for many members).

My big mistake was being in too much of a hurry. Have a plan, and though it may change as you go, always be thinking of the ramifications down the line of what you are doing now.

Again, this is the place to ask your questions!

Have a great time. I look forward to meeting you at a gathering some day.

[Steve_Cox]

Greetings from South Carolina,
A Friend, who is a bad influence on me, sent me a link to the site and I got hooked immediately.
I'm going to build a Weekender.
I just ordered a 5X8 trailer from Northern Tools for the frame and I hope it will be here the beginning of next week.
My biggest fear is the cabin falling apart while traveling 80mph down the highway. So I want to know what type of wood do you use for the framing of the cabin? Do you use hard woods or are pine 2X2s good enough?
Thanks for the help.
Dave

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the fun of little trailers!

I used all hardwoods in my teardrop. The gypsy trailer I used pine coated with about 10 coats of CPES in some areas.

Your trailer probably won't fall apart from 80 mph, these little trailers are "torsion box" construction. If it ever falls apart it will probably fall apart from water encroaching into the plywood, at least that's how a lot of them end up. Take care to double or triple all your efforts in sealing seams, end grain of plywood, trim and screw holes and you will be a happier camper.

[Postal_Dave]

Thanks guys,
I will certainly use the CPES. I emailed the Rotdoctor about usage and coats for their CPES epoxy. Here is what they said.

"One generous coating is usually sufficient, although we would recommend applying two coats to any cut edges. The cut edges are the most vulnerable, and they should be allowed to absorb all the CPES that they will. Primer and paint will bond with the CPES very well, and the sooner you get the paint on (after the surface is dry to the touch) the better the bond.
You can expect coverage of about 250 sq ft per gallon"

My trailer from Northern Tools is supposed to be here Monday. I feel sorry for the UPS driver because one box weighs 110 pounds, the other is 120 pounds.

This trailer was going to my Winter Project. I think it's going to get an early start.

[eamarquardt]

There is soon to be 11,000 of us on this board if you are stuck just ask ( and you will probably get 11,000 different answers ) BUT we are here !

Bob

Not to quibble, bicker, or argue but more like 22,000 different answers, more or less, depending on the time of day and phase of the moon.

Cheers,

Gus

[Postal_Dave]

Christmas in July.

I got my trailer today. Now I have to put it together. I plan on taking a lot of pictures and posting them in my album.

Is there a thread on the forum for new builds and documenting them?

Also, how do I attach pictures to my posts here? I got the picture in my album but I didn't see how to attach it.

Thanks guys.
David

[bobhenry]

Go to your album click on the pic you want to post. It will come up bold and right next to the forward back buttons in the upper left is a box with the address left click on it and select copy them close and go back to your post where you want it incerted.

click on the Img button them left click and paste then the Img again to close.



and submit or simply continue typeing.

[Postal_Dave]

Thanks BobHenry. I'm not only new to this forum, I'm new to forums.

I've been playing with the free CADstd program and designing the size and shape of the trailer. The shape is coming along nicely but trying to fit everything in it proving to be an interesting challenge. I'm glad so many people have taken photos of their builds so I can learn from them and adapt their ideas into my build.

I've seen some standardized doors on some of the builds. Where can you order pre-made doors from?

Thanks guys

[rbeemer]

Postal Dave,

If you look at the top of the forum and click on sdtripper2's Index, you will find a lot of links to lots of things.

Welcome to your new home. sit and rest a spell. feel free to 'chew the fat' with the rest of the addicts....and yes you are an addict.

[azmotoman]

Remember the 'grade school' slogan?: Knowledge is power

These Guys and Girls have forgotten more than we will ever know!

Good luck and happy campin'

[Postal_Dave]

Guys, I need some advise.
I have a 5 X 8 trailer. The Finders come out to around 6'8". I'm wanting to build a wooden frame that's 6'6" wide and 8 feet long to attach to the trailer and then build the camper on top of that.

1) I'm thinking of using Pine 2x4s to make this wooden frame. Should they be pressure treated and then use the black roofing tar to protect it or should I use CPES on un-treated 2x4s? Another Idea is to first put down 1/2 inch BC plywood then build the 2x4 frame on top of that then put down the floor for the camper on top if that. I don't know what will last the longest and I'm searching for everyone's opinion.

Next, I plan on putting in a drop down floor for storage and foot room. The axle for the trailer has about a 9 inch clearance. The trailer itself is 19 inches tall.

2)How far down can I go with the drop down floor? To the axle or should I give it more ground clearance than that? I don't want to hit something when pulling in or out of a campground and lose part of my camper.
Thanks everyone,
David

[bobhenry]

Guys, I need some advise.
I have a 5 X 8 trailer. The Finders come out to around 6'8". I'm wanting to build a wooden frame that's 6'6" wide and 8 feet long to attach to the trailer and then build the camper on top of that.

1) I'm thinking of using Pine 2x4s to make this wooden frame. Should they be pressure treated and then use the black roofing tar to protect it or should I use CPES on un-treated 2x4s? Another Idea is to first put down 1/2 inch BC plywood then build the 2x4 frame on top of that then put down the floor for the camper on top if that. I don't know what will last the longest and I'm searching for everyone's opinion.

Next, I plan on putting in a drop down floor for storage and foot room. The axle for the trailer has about a 9 inch clearance. The trailer itself is 19 inches tall.

2)How far down can I go with the drop down floor? To the axle or should I give it more ground clearance than that? I don't want to hit something when pulling in or out of a campground and lose part of my camper.
Thanks everyone,
David

I like the idea of the plywood bottom then the 2x4 joists then the plywood sub floor. Since you want a " basement" cut an opening in the bottom sheet and have a shallow sheet metal pan made with a top out turned lip drop it in the hole and screw the lip to the surrounding material. Cut an access panel inside and you will gain the additional 3 1/2 inche depth of your floor joist with a 6 to 8 inch deep pan you will have 10" to 12" of storage.

A few of the guys have chosen to install outside drawers which make for much easier access to your gear.



Here is Erv's