Trailer in Design stage

[billiebob]

I have filled a void in the market place a full 40" self contained topper than can be mounted on top or sides to crate more space. look at my ig for the working scale model. www.instagram.com/compositepods
Kevin
My pshop on a 4runner
View attachment 525512

I almost did a camper on my FourRunner 25 years ago.... but my son wanted it.
That FourRunner was one of my favourite 4x4s.

 

[The Artisan]

I almost did a camper on my FourRunner 25 years ago.... but my son wanted it.
That FourRunner was one of my favourite 4x4s.

Small space but have I great feedback on the pic on firstgen4runner forums. My frame actually is a dual setup for a softtop like a jeep and once removed bolt in the panels add topper and you can camp.
Kevin

 

[billiebob]

Heres one that came thru town today.

Fold out kitchen.
4 handles to lift it off.
Old school trailer siding. Full points for that. and all the old school extrusions, windows etc.
The door is a residential storm unit, cut down to fit. a $10.00 garage sale item.
The grab bar is a SS handicapped washroom item. a $15.00 garage sale item.
I should have asked where he got the windows.
I much prefer this style window which vent 100% and shed rain water.

THIS is the kind of unit I like camping beside.

Looks like the trailer set the parameters for overall size.
He just needs a 1960s Bronco to tow it.
And maybe a new axle with 15" tires.

If you are in the design phase, consider old school materials too.

 

[billiebob]

My own trailer hit the wall trying to find windows. Then we demolished a house and I saved 2 of the plate glass sliders..



THAT defined the trailer. FREE windows instead of $400 "RV" windows.
Plus I had an OSB Box I used to haul supplies.
Which set the size of my trailer.





Add a few 2xs, 1xs to define the doors, windows, some hardware from Home Hardware and for $200.00...
beyond what I already had, plus a free mattress from my grandsons old bed,
I had my TearDrop..... THE OSB BOX



The first roof was a $10 tarp.... they are watertight for 2 months...
The roof is now a translucent commercial panel. They sell it off a 10' wide roll. It will last a lifetime. Mine cost $110.

You have to love the light open feel of a translucent roof. I miss the blue tint. My son suggested we put the blue tarp on then the roof panel. I said no but I'm thinking yes when I reassemble it this summer. This trailer comes apart and stores against the wall. The roof, side walls, front wall, rear kitchen door plus 2 bulkheads. Right now it has no floor. I might add that, plus jacks and store it in the garage assembled.

This was the "prototype" but I like it more everyday.



Two ways to look at design.
Go high tech, insist on the "best".
Go low tech, look for free, insist on recycling materials and better than "best"

I've been camping, mountaineering, back country skiing for 50 years.

Our best skiing years were when my son was pre teen. We drove early to the mountains, had breakfast before the hill opened. Skied the full day. Setup a tent in the winter campground. Went for a swim, hottub, sauna, SHOWER at the city pool, out for a fine dinner, a movie, back to the camp ground by 10pm, wake up, pack up, big breakfast, up to the hill for a full day of skiing, drive home.

I cannot understand the need for a $30K RV, nor a $200 hotel room. Life is so much better when the "sleeper" is almost free and the money is spent on the trip.

That is my design philosophy.

I went from an idea to camping in it in 2 weeks.
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid.

 

[billiebob]

One last point on high tech, air tight, insulated, detailed construction.

100 years ago the "Box Bed" was popular, common in Scotland. Warm, cozy, humid it was also an incubator for disease and tuberculosis exploded into an epidemic. Not much different from a tiny, tight trailer today.

Northern Canada has had epidemics of tuberculosis too. Right now it is having a resurgence. Why? Because we let some southern architects design small, tight 3 bedroom houses. Northerners do live like us. They hunt and fish daily for sustenance, unlike you or I who do it for sport. There is ALWAYS something boiling on the stove. And the house is always full of people. Perfect storm for disease, created by a dream of "energy efficiency" lol.

For every choice we make there are reprecussions requiring compromizes. I've been supplying building materials, designing commercial kitchens, driving truck running businesses for 40 years. In those 40 years I have learnt those most convinced they have the best answers, perfect formula, flawless designs, end up falling hardest. I still have a lot to learn. Pick the important parameters for your design......... Then critique the hell out of it looking for better, less expensive, simpler ways to get there.

 

[Louisd75]

I just went through your build and see you skinned with aluminum. Getting way ahead of myself (sort of, still working out weight of materials), yet will ask. You chose aluminum over fiberglassing the plywood. Curious why?

The main reason was simplicity. Working with aluminum is pretty easy with a jigsaw and a router that has a pattern bit. I've got nothing against fiberglass, it can be a lot more work sanding, mixing epoxy batches, etc. The aluminum was pretty easy to work with once I got over my initial unease of working with a new material.

Also, I really like how the aluminum looks ?

 

[billiebob]

The main reason was simplicity. Working with aluminum is pretty easy with a jigsaw and a router that has a pattern bit. I've got nothing against fiberglass, it can be a lot more work sanding, mixing epoxy batches, etc. The aluminum was pretty easy to work with once I got over my initial unease of working with a new material.

Also, I really like how the aluminum looks ?

All these reasons ^^^^ plus..

On my "toolbox".

I had the choice of an aluminium skin screwed or a composite skin bonded to the frame. I choose aluminium because it is easily repaired, replaced or modified. And when I added a left side door the screwed aluminium was pure simplicity to work with.

Took 20 minutes to open the wall, 20 minutes to close it back up. An hour to move, weld the frame to fit the door.

Another reason to like traditional manufactured construction over a "better idea".

 

[billiebob]

Another factor in design of a trailer is movement. Things do move. If you build it rigid things eventually crack and break. The multiple piece construction of alloy extrusions, screwed to a welded frame, covered in a loose skin will last forever. Plus a sealed, encapsulated build cannot breathe or drain.

There was a trend to build housing tight, tighter, too tight. Now we use air barriers which breathe and houses use mechanical heat recovery ventilators. OR you can just build a looser structure which will breathe like an old house, without mechanical assistance and drain naturally to dry after a run thru a rainstorm.

Design is not just about sealing the structure. It is also about providing a route for infiltration to escape.

 

[RJ Howell]

Well those last posts are 'food for thought'. With all my years of camping, only in the past few have I towed anything. Towing has been a learning experience for me.
"Another factor in design of a trailer is movement. Things do move."
Oh do they! It's a mini, self created, earthquake in that trailer!
So many items are falling apart in my conventional trailer from being bounced around.

 

[opp]

Have you looked in to TrailTop" modular components infill fiberglass skeleton frame glue and go? The real ones not the advertisement

 

[shade]

Have you looked in to TrailTop" modular components infill fiberglass skeleton frame glue and go? The real ones not the advertisement

From here?

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...ar-trailer-topper-building-components.121184/

 

[opp]

advertisement good read . But not at $35 a running foot chopper gun fiberglass. This advertisement has been running from 2012 to sell other things . This way of building has been around for 75 years in fiberglass. If you look at bottom /back doors 3 different trailers .can make any shape you want

 

[jwiereng]

Where can I get these components?

Beyond jscherb making some prototypes, I am not aware of any advertising.

You appear to claim they advertise since 2012 to sell other things. What other things are you aware that they sell?

Who are you referring to when you say ‘they’?

 

[RJ Howell]

Have you looked in to TrailTop" modular components infill fiberglass skeleton frame glue and go? The real ones not the advertisement

I do like his concept. Not so sure I would buy his frame-works.. yet do like his concept.

I'm an old-time carpenter and do see my trailer being plywood/resin/fiberglass. It's what I know. Well, been out of practice on fiberglass and think a basic stitch-n-glue kayak is coming first to get back in practice.
I do wish it to look good!

I don't see a whole lot of framing involved, nor insulation. The floor, yes for insulation (no one wants a cold floor) and of course the pop-top (can't see a way out of it) and be structurally sound (I do see snow load at some point, hopefully not more than a few inches).

Heat... I really don't get why those 13K-20K heaters are in these units.. A simple unit will work. In my current we were fine with my candle lantern. Okay, few moments of kicking on the furnace, yet I do see that being over come with something simpler. Hopefully something to run on 'house propane' vs. a small disposal tank..

Toilet is a work-in-progress. I have always had a theory of those-who-poop empty it. No one s does! It has come down to 'Wag-Bag' when required and it works for us. So a composting toilet is far too expensive, and seems to be a waste of money. A fixed toilet takes valuable space.. A portable has the issue of no water to keep it clean.. This has to be worked through and suggestions are 'really' welcome as to how you're dealing with this.

Basic gray water will be in a tank. We wash dishes like we're camping in a tent. It's how we've always done it and will continue to do so. Showering, now that we're older and want a decent shower, inside, when we need to, means a tank. Hell, I hit an awesome rest area that had fresh fill and privacy. Okay, maybe not cool, but I dropped the curtain and showered outside.. Wifey went inside. Dump was also there, so I had no issues.

That leads to hot water! Insta-hot or tank? I have insta-ht at the house and there's nothing like never running out of hot water. Especially if you live with women in your house, no offense meant, I just know what it means to jump in the shower behind 3 girls in the house.. burr..
Is it worth it for just two people now or will a 6 gallon tank be better?
I'm leaning on Insta-hot.. smaller space and hot on-demand. Problem is how easy it is and how much more we would use. If that convenient would be be use more than nessicary...
What do you folks find better?

 

[RJ Howell]

Where can I get these components?

Beyond jscherb making some prototypes, I am not aware of any advertising.

You appear to claim they advertise since 2012 to sell other things. What other things are you aware that they sell?

Who are you referring to when you say ‘they’?

I'm not certain on this whole idea of fiberglass frame.. It still needs to be skinned, interior and exterior. If I was to frame, then probably aluminum framing. It's the whole framing thing to me.. On a space so small, framing to me means insulation in the walls, nothing more. Wiring comes up through the floor and cabinetry. Roof/ceiling light.. 18650 batteries come to mind.