Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I need advice on where to locate the HH. Should I go with how I drew it below or do I need to turn down the roof a bit then mount the HH. Does it even mattter?

The way you have it drawn doesn't leave a lot of meat for the hatch screws. One way is to change your hatch framing from a plumb cut to a level cut, thus in plain with the roof, extend roof framing with an angle cut so comes in under the hatch, you'll get plenty of meat.

I'm wondering about your hatch framing?



It looks as if the hatch is about 1" or so thick?

Tony

Typically, the hinge will work well on two surfaces which are nearly flat, or parallel to each other in alignment. Tony has raised a valid point about framing & JasenC as well, with the beveled edge for fastening being weaker & less meaty.

It might be easier to build with a more "conventional" approach to building the hatch. If you add a returned edge to the cabin part, it would make framing, fastening & sealing a bit better, stronger & easier. Just sayin'...

Is this what you guys are recommending? Seems like the way to go. I am planing framing roof and hatch 1.5". Walls and floor 1". I also plan to add steel reinforced brackets to the hatch frame angle. Thanks for the constructive feedback. I have been fiddling and refining this design for too long and need start getting sawdust on the floor.

That looks easier to build, hinge & reinforce. You lose a small amount of height, but will gain in the ease of building & less leakage.

Onajourney wrote:Is this what you guys are recommending? Seems like the way to go. I am planing framing roof and hatch 1.5". Walls and floor 1". I also plan to add steel reinforced brackets to the hatch frame angle. Thanks for the constructive feedback. I have been fiddling and refining this design for too long and need start getting sawdust on the floor.

That's the ticket, that will be much stronger and accommodate the hinge much better.
You could also move that joint up onto the roof if you needed a bit more headroom, but then you have a little bit of a standing water scenario.

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Thanks fellas. I only want to cut the walls once. One last question...today. It appears I need to drop the wall a bit to accommodate the hatch seal to keep the external skin flush. Do you know that dimension? I am going to use the 4" T Molding trims from VT below which does not include that dimension on their site. Or should I get the trim and seal before cutting to verify? You would figure after all I have read on this site for months I would know these things.

I build a hatch that's flush with the roof.



I never have wrapped my little brain around the offset hinge. Maybe I'll learn something about it.

Tony

Usually better to have the parts on hand prior to making those decisions. With the parts, you can do a mock-up of the offset, location & trim. Without it, just a guess & it involves time, money & frustration if things don't go as planned...

Agree nose. Getting the order together.