Started in: April 17, 2010
Plans and build information available at Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers
The weekender is supposed to be buildable in 2 weekends, one for the trailer and one for the body. I started with the body. It will not be done in one weekend. I'm trying for a very light build, under 500 lbs, maybe under 400.
I came home last night with 5 sheets of 5.2 birch, 5 sheets of 5.0 luan, and 20 select 2x4x8. I had a little time, so I ripped a 1x2 from each side of the 2x4s leaving a 2x2 from the middle.
Saturday morning I started on the floor. The floor is 2 sheets of the luan with a 2x2 frame and 1.5 inches of insulation sandwiched between. I used 6 tubes of construction adhesive and 2/3 bottle of gorilla glue. That gorilla glue is a mess. I may never get my hands clean again.
Things slowed down while I drew the profile and marked the framing for the side, then it was off to the races again. I cut all 4 side pieces and started glueing framing to the skin for the side sandwiches. The sides are 1 sheet of luan and 1 sheet of birch with 3/4 inches of insulation between. I finished one side by 6pm and it was time to clean up and REST.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size picture. Close the window to come back.
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These are the side panels. The tear is 114" long and takes 1.25 sheets of ply per
side.
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This is some of the insulation. You can see the floor underneath.
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One of the sides on the workspace. I keep a very neat garage. These are my
knockdown sawhorses made from a sheet of 3/4 ply.
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Close up of the side before insulation. Gorilla glue makes a mess. The side will be
fastened to a cleat on top of the floor to keep a width of 4' so the top will overhang the
sides.
Didn't fasten the sides this way. The sides fasten to the sides of the floor. Built
a narrower floor to compensate.
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The inner side of the side panel goes on. I put the 3/4 pressboard and the floor
on top to weigh it down until the glue dried.
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This is the wall getting skinned.
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Some of my hi-tech clamps.
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I told you I keep a neat shop.
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Some of the struts are in.
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Better view.
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It has wheels. Much easier to roll than drag.
Everything above had to be redone. My mistake was making the top of the floor 8 feet long.
The bottom of the floor is supposed to be 8 feet. The sides did not meet up with the floor correctly
and the floor was too wide. Rather than just rebuild the floor, I tried to make it fit by
cutting both the floor and walls down. I felt it lost too much strength. I rebuilt it all
using the same techniques, just different measurements for the floor. I also used all birch
and no luan.
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One side of the door skinned.
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Door finished.
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One door mounted and trimmed out. The windows came from ebay and the door
hardware from Lil Bear trailers.
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Tha kitchen area. The lower area where you see the generator will be closed in
and
accessed through the counter. A hatch will hinge up.
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A look inside before the second door is mounted.
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A close up of the inner cabinets and the electric outlets. I don't know what I
will use them for, but they are there.
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I had to add a wheel to the tongue support. It is light enough to carry, but I
poked a hole in the back of my leg with it. Rolling is easier anyway.
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Hooked up and ready to go. Not really, The other door and hatch are not on yet. I
just had to see it.
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Nearly complete. Notice the matching fenders. Just a little paint needed now.
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Inside, with the bed and pillows.
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Foot of the bed and cabinets.
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Open hatch and detachable table. The table fits in the hatch when not in use.
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Side view. Note the crutch for an adjustable table leg.
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The stripe goes across the top and bottom of the back for visibility.
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I think it's done for now.
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Ready to head out.
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Decided I did not like the white so I painted it the same yellow as my trike and replaced the eagles with the same spiders that are on my fenders.
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All set up and ready for the campfire.
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Time to put some burgers on the grill
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