Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

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Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:30 pm

My no-name trailer build has begun, with the assembly of the Northern Tool 5x8 aluminum non-folding trailer.

The deck is going to 5/8" plywood directly on trailer beams, no frame.

The walls and galley bulkhead are insulation panels with 1/4" doug fir ACX to create a type of structural insulation panel (I know they aren't true SIPs, but I don't know what else to call them. Non-structural insulation panels. Yeah, NSIPs.) A local buddy has a 5'x10' vacuum bagging setup and is helping me. I joined the local SynShop to gain access to their carpentry tools, including a 4x8 CNC router.

I've done some design using onshape (free in-browser CAD software), you can look at the panels I made here:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6ec1f ... ac616a5dfc

The construction method will be slot and tab, with 1" tabs screwed to the deck with a corresponding slot in the NSIP to fit over, glued and screwed. The galley walls and counter will connect to each other and to the walls the same way.

I think that will be the most interesting part of this build. Lots of new skills for me to learn including: CAD software, CNC router, vacuum bagging, electrical system design.

I'm homeless (by choice) but also couch surf w friends and family when I'm not out exploring the southwest US. Thanks for the ongoing help and sharing of experience to everyone here.
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby tony.latham » Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:06 pm

Sounds like you're headed down an innovative creek. :thumbsup:

with 1/4" doug fir ACX to create


I'm a big fan of 1/4' subfloor plywood. It's usually a few bucks cheaper and higher quality than ACX. No voids and a prettier grain.

Image

That floor is fir and the wall is the subfloor plywood. Six bits says your local lumberyard has it –– and no, Home Depot doesn't qualify as a lumberyard.

Tony
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:45 pm

tony.latham wrote:Sounds like you're headed down an innovative creek. :thumbsup:

with 1/4" doug fir ACX to create


I'm a big fan of 1/4' subfloor plywood. It's usually a few bucks cheaper and higher quality than ACX. No voids and a prettier grain.

Image

That floor is fir and the wall is the subfloor plywood. Six bits says your local lumberyard has it –– and no, Home Depot doesn't qualify as a lumberyard.

Tony



Yeah, that wall is gorgeous. What kind of wood? 'A' side of ACX doesn't have patches either, though.
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby tony.latham » Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:30 am

kevindford wrote:
tony.latham wrote:Sounds like you're headed down an innovative creek. :thumbsup:

with 1/4" doug fir ACX to create


I'm a big fan of 1/4' subfloor plywood. It's usually a few bucks cheaper and higher quality than ACX. No voids and a prettier grain.

Image

That floor is fir and the wall is the subfloor plywood. Six bits says your local lumberyard has it –– and no, Home Depot doesn't qualify as a lumberyard.

Tony



Yeah, that wall is gorgeous. What kind of wood? 'A' side of ACX doesn't have patches either, though.


That's the 1/4" subfloor. I think it's some kind of birch. I believe that subfloor––which is rated for moist environments has to have fewer footballs or perhaps none.

Here's the other side:

Image

The last time I bought 1/4" ply, the ACX was $24 and this subfloor was $22. :D :thumbsup:

Tony
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:20 am

3/4" ply for the deck, finished w a couple coats of polyurethane on top and rubberized rustoleum on the bottom.

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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:25 am

Northern Tool 5x8 aluminum trailer assembly

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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:28 am

First vacuum bag process for bulkhead panels-

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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby Kaz » Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:16 pm

In the desert you can't remember your name:
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kinto » Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:42 pm

Maybe it's just the angle of the pictures, but the door looks almost centered(?)

I'm assuming you've checked that the door & fender will clear each other? :thinking:


kent
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imay ildbay urnaljay

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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby tony.latham » Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:31 pm

kinto wrote:Maybe it's just the angle of the pictures, but the door looks almost centered(?)

I'm assuming you've checked that the door & fender will clear each other? :thinking:


kent


I think you may be talking about my #3 build since the above photos were taken of her when she was being built in 2015.

Here's a photo of my #1 that has the same profile showing the fender clearance.

Image

It may look farther back than most teardrops. These cabins are ten-feet long with slider storage up front that forms a headboard. Thus the doors are placed right at the hips. :thumbsup:

Tony
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:17 am

Kaz wrote:In the desert you can't remember your name:


Cuz there ain't no one for to give you no name :-)
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Re: Building in the Desert on a Trailer with No Name...

Postby kevindford » Fri May 11, 2018 11:19 pm

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