Who has used wood to skin there expedition trailer and floor also?

[lacofdfireman]

Probably about a week away from starting a 4x6 or 4x7 expedition trailer build with a slide out kitchen and a RTT and trying to decide how I want to skin the trailer and also do the floor. My plan for construction would be to use 2x2 or 2x3 steel for the bottom frame then use 1x1 steel for the sides then maybe cap the tops of the sides supports with 2x2 again and then build a roof on top of that from 1x1 steel. I want the roof to have hinges on the drivers side and open on the passenger side via struts. Also on my roof I would like to make it strong enough for a RTT. Haven't decided on that one yet but looking into them now.

I can't decide if I want to use wood for the floor of my trailer and also the sides and top. Hoping to get some pros and cons of each. Not sure what gauge sheet metal most use to skin there trailers so hoping to find that out also. I think one of my big concerns using sheet metal is basically doing the long cuts. Guess I could just do them the same as I do wood and use a skil saw with a cutting wheel? It seems to me that wood would be a better insulator but maybe I'm wrong. Also for those that do wood how have you attached your wood to the supports so you don't see the hardware? Just countersink? And what hardware do you use to secure the wood to the supports. I think I have most of my trailer figured out how I want to do it besides the skinning part. Can't wait to start building. I've been welding up bumpers for my Jeep Grand Cherokee and soon as those are finished I'll be starting on my trailer. Supposed to get my axle Tuesday and then I will order my spacers for my Jeep wheels and they said they take about 10 days to make. So I should be building within a few weeks. Can't wait...

Any help or info on the best way to skin up a trailer would be appreciated. It's not something you see much of on the builds that people have done...

 

[fog cutter]

.... wood would be a better insulator ...

would help reducing condensation. finish the sheets including edges before installation and might want to isolate it from direct steel contact to minimize squeaks. through-bolt wherever practical. in addition to mechanical fasteners, VHB tape can be your friend.

 

[OCD Overland]

I've seen it done where it looks cool, and I've seen it where it looks awful.

Pretty heavy either way.

 

[lacofdfireman]

I've seen it done where it looks cool, and I've seen it where it looks awful.

Pretty heavy either way.

What gauge sheet metal is used for skinning a trailer? Floor and sides? Also is it good enough to just tack on or do you need full welds to keep it from vibrating?

 

[1store]

This all goes back to what you plan to use the trailer for. Are you haling horse do do, sand, some thing that leaks oil ? Then steel is the way to go. on gauge I find a old truck bed steel floor. By not having the floor flat resets in the steel make it stronger and lighter. On the sides I like good fiberglass again good hand laid . No rust not likely to rot in my life time. If you go that way make it has many bends

 

[lacofdfireman]

This all goes back to what you plan to use the trailer for. Are you haling horse do do, sand, some thing that leaks oil ? Then steel is the way to go. on gauge I find a old truck bed steel floor. By not having the floor flat resets in the steel make it stronger and lighter. On the sides I like good fiberglass again good hand laid . No rust not likely to rot in my life time. If you go that way make it has many bends

Well fiberglass isn't going to happen for me. I have no idea how to do it.. I'm thinking I will end up doing rolled steel. Probably do the floor in 14 gauge and the sides and top in 16 gauge.

 

[1store]

If you go with steel if you can find someone with a bead roller and add a few beads look at the bottom of your ride to see what I talking about . You can round a 3/4 rod and tap them your shelf

 

[Terex]

Wood is not dimensionally stable. For as cool as it looks, it ends up as being heavy, susceptible to moisture (or, in my case, the lack thereof) and generally a PITA for off-roading.

 

[bybeed1]

I am using wood for mine... I am using 2x6's for my sides. Obviously still in the building phase, but it has to be ready for the Easter weekend in Moab

 

[Wavebreaker]

built from wood.. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/65881-My-Woody-expo-trailer

 

[jscherb]

I used wood to skin the flip-up camper top of my Jeep-tub trailer. The lid has a fiberglass outer frame and wood ribs, and the skin is 1/4" plywood. This is the lid before the plywood went on:

In this next photo the plywood is in place. The plywood is white because I used 1/4" pre-painted plywood, found in a home center as underlayment for tile floors.

I sealed the outside with epoxy primer and the inside with several coats of polyurethane varnish and then I used Olympic Rescue It deck coating on both the wood and fiberglass:

I also used plywood for the floor of my fiberglass military replica trailer, here's a shot under construction:

After sealing the plywood with epoxy primer, I shot both sides (top and bottom) with color-matched Raptor bed liner.

In both cases the plywood has held up very well.

 

[wagex]

my box is made from 2x12x8's and 3/4" plywood hindsight i wish i had used like 1" square tubing and skinned it in aluminum just because of the addons ive done ive had to do some bracing but i still saved a TON of money going this route and its pretty damn strong, all wood glued and kreg jigged 3" heavy duty torx decking screws.

 

[jwiereng]

This is how you should spell their in the title of your thread.


Example

They're going to play with their friends over there in the park.

 

[lacofdfireman]

This is how you should spell their in the title of your thread.


Example

They're going to play with their friends over there in the park.

Oh. Sorry about that. Guess I need to go back to skool. Been a Fireman to long.

 

[Sb_Moto]

UHMW.. cut it with a skill saw. tough as nails, but fairly expensive.

Might check with a local fab shop to see if they could sheer your steel for you. That would be the easiest way. Or take this as a opportunity to buy a plasma cutter