Body Frame (Studs) Construction

[Chef_Stan]

Hi all,
I am new and just beging to look into this whole thing. I am likely looking at building over the winter or next summer.

I have a couple of thoughts, first was to build a wooden frame which would overhang and enclose the wheels thus giving an extra foot or so of width. I saw on another thread that this can be done. Any comments or thoughts about this technique? How about hanging exterior storage boxes under this overhang? If I do this would it be best to use full 2X4's on edge?

Then how difficult does it become to get sheet material (plywood and skin material) over 4 foot wide? Where would you likely source it from?

My other off the wall thought is why don't I see people framing the walls and roof with metal studs? It seems like this would save weight, does it sacrifice strength?

Thanks for the novice question.

Stan

[dh]

Welcome!!!

If you used steel studs, you won't be able to glue your skin to the framework and will, IMHO, sacrafice a lot of strength.

How much do you want to put in the boxes? 2x4 sounds like overkill to me. Watch your gound clearance too, you don't want to scrape off yourboxes on a speedbump.

As for plywood in widths over 4', Baltic and Russian Birtch come in 5'x5' sheets, Mike mentioned 5'x10' ping pong table plywood on his Baha Benroy build. Check the plywood places in the phone book or Google ''plywood your town'', make sure plywood comes first. Avoid the box stores for plywood.

[atahoekid]

Welcome to the forum. Great minds must think alike.

I plan on doing just what you are talking about. I plan on putting storage underneath accessible by hatches but yeah, unless you are planning something real heavy I'd say 2 x4 framing is overkill. Essentially I plan on putting a 1/2" floor over the frame and 1/2 floor in over the top of the wheel wells. 3/4"ply cut to size will serve as internal bulkheads. Everything in between and in front of the wheel wells is for storage and a foot well for the small table in the TD. Behind the wheels all that space becomes part of the galley. I'm not planning on storing anything too heavy, just the bulky stuff like chairs and shades.

As for anything wider than 4', I think 5 x 5 baltic birch is your best bet. For me, I think that will still be a bit short so I am going to join sheets and do my best to hide and support and stiffen the joints.

Good luck on your build.

Just so you know, you are now obligated to show us lots and lots of as you proceed on your project. We love 'em

[H@nk]

Long time ago, I bought 3 sheets 18 mm plywood 10x5. 18 mm=¾". 10x5 = 3.06 meter x 1.53 meter

[Deryk the Pirate]

Im in NJ but the place I called deals in the tri state area and they have 5x10 sheets of exterior 3/4 ply for about $80.

Tulnoy Lumber http://www.tulnoylumber.com/ they might have a location in Ct.

deryk