Uniframe?

[Oldragbaggers]

Very nice, Tom. There are a lot of different ways to tackle this job and accomplish a great end result. And you definitely have a great end result. Your trailer is one of the nicest on the forum.

@Khughes222, if you want that smooth surface for applying paint and don't want to lay up cloth, you can always just roll a few coats of resin on the exterior and sand it smoother than a baby's bottom. A lot of people do that as a method of sealing the exterior of their trailer. You would get the same finish as if you had included cloth, just not the additional strength. But if you're using a thick exterior skin, strength will not be an issue for you. It was for me because my skins are quite thin.

The cloth tape on the roof to wall joint is a good idea though if you are not planning on putting edge trim there. If you just brush on resin that joint could eventually crack and open up from the road vibration and bumps. Cloth tape should eliminate the possibility of that. Of course edge trim is the other possibility and gives the trailer a very nice finished look.

Just keep asking questions and you will get a lot of different suggestions and ideas which will give you many methods to choose from. There is no absolute right or wrong here as long as what you come up with works for you and is safe to pull down the road. There are a lot of beautiful and creative trailers out there, skillfully done in a variety of different ways. Go through the Hall of Fame and when you see a trailer you like, visit the build journal. Check out the Galley Gallery too. There is so much to be learned here. That must be why almost everyone eventually ends up building more than one trailer. There are just too many great ideas to incorporate them all into only one build.

[mallymal]

"Uniframe" ... I kind of like that description/label ... ... easier to remember than "cookie-cut", but not as descriptive as "stick-frame" ... it'll do 'til something better comes along ... ...! (Maybe we should have a contest to see who can come up with the best name for this construction method ... ...?)

I was gonna be really clever and say POTATO WAFFLE wall.... but then I did A QUICK Google and dont think they exist in the USA

http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1898-33056

[ecs]

I have always considered the tear a uniframe. about 7 years ago I decided to build a very light weight tear to tow behind my motorcycle. I did not want to spend a lot on the build but I did want a comfortable very light weight rig. I started with the floor 2x2 for the sides and cross braces and 1/4" ply floor bonded to 11/2" styrofoam and a 1/8" luan bottom panel. The walls were built using 1" framing around the perimeter and 1x2 for the door frame 1X2 was used for the foot/kitchen divider with 1/8 luan cover. the sidewalls are 1/8" harboard with 3/4" styrofoam and 1/8" luan on the interior. The kitchen was 1x2 with 1/8" luan panel. The weight of the wall before assembly was 22# each and the floor panel was 55#. The ceiling was 1x1 bracing with hard board and styrofom and luan sandwich like the walls. For the suspension I used the rubber torsion springs rated at 990# AND WEIGHING 15# EACH. I made my own tear drop shaped windows from 1/8# plexiglass and flip open latches from a car. For the hatch hinge I just used a large aluminum piano hing wit a piece of taxicab vinyl underneath- its held up for almost 8 years with no leaks.I have camped in direct sunlight i Lone Pine, calif. Temp outside 95, temp inside on low fan low cool, 68. The only problem we have is that even with outside temperatures of 40 degrees we have to have the windows open- it gets too hot! After checking the price and weight of fenders I made my own tear shaped fenders from hard board.Total weight complete was 250# with carpet on the floor. I later added a microwave, 5000btu air conditioner. I have covered thousands of miles with no mechanical failure. It goes to Death Valley for the 49ers encampment as well as trips to Yosemite, various beaches and general camping. I guess I forgot to mention the unit construction? There is no frame!
Cal

[Oldragbaggers]

Cal,
Please

[jonw]

Mine is a frameless, unibody-type construction. By trying to keep it light and less expensive I did away with a trailer frame instead using a high quality 3/4 marine plywood floor, and bolted a torsion axle and tongue through the floor. So far everything is working fine.

The weight of my TD is 700lbs. I don't think I'd recommend this type of construction for anything weighing more than this.