Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I finished my trailer in 2012 and now am ready for improvements. I "painted" the canvas down and that didn't work. I would strongly recommend titebond glue to adhere canvas in a build. My canvas has been slowly disintegrating and now needs some major reworking. I have decided to put aluminum siding on the camper. I'm going to make the siding out of roof flashing found at Menards. The top of the roof will be one piece, purchased online. I think the whole aluminizing will cost around $600. Wish me luck.

Joe , thanks for that information ... Best of Luck changing that out !!!

I thought I had read in one of the "Foamie" posts that canvas could be painted down. I tested that and wouldn't recommend it. I also had some areas where the canvas stretched as it dried and as a result wasn't tight against the foam. Those are the areas where I'm seeing problems. It was a good test, just didn't work in my favor. Hopefully someone else might not make the same mistake. I could have removed the old canvas and then re-canvas the trailer, but I'm opting for the aluminum.

Joe , we made the exact same mistake about the canvas shrinking as it dried and pulling away from inside corners... Although we initially glued it in place and fit it so nicely square , as it dried it all pulled away from the foam leaving an air space ... which here results in canvas rot ( note: NO rot ever found with “attached" canvas ) Eventually we were so concerned we modified the roof and eliminated any inside corners , so it can now shrink as tight as it wants to ...

Very nice build. Thank you for giving an update as well. Good to know the rest of the camper is doing well and has lasted for you. Looking forward to seeing the aluminum siding take shape.
I always assumed the canvas would be pre-shrunk in order to stabilize it when soaking with TB2 or paint and then heating and cooling it. Is this not the case?
Gator

Here are my before and after camper pictures. I only have two sides installed and very little trim, but so far, I like the look.

That looks great!

Am I correct in thinking it is aluminum skin on top of foam? And if so how is the aluminum attached?

The aluminum is attached at all the edges, windows, and doors. if it needed extra holding, I drilled a hole and used a screw with P/L glue. Each piece hooks onto the adjoining piece. Kinda hard to explain.

I think I get it, interlocking seams right? And the screw gets covered by the adjoining piece of siding.

Yes, the seams are simple. I put a u bend in the top of the bottom piece going out and a u bend on bottom of the the top piece going in. I used 24 inch flashing from Menards. It comes in 50 ft lengths.

I think I no longer fit the classification of "foamie". My camper has been re-done. Aluminum siding and a rubber roof.I used 24 inch wide roof flashing, three rolls at $65 each and rubber roofing at $150. Assorted trim and caulking, another $50. Total cost right at $400. Had I put the canvas on correctly, all this would not have been necessary.