Tiny Trailer Build

[NevadaBlue]

The door is glued, nailed and screwed. Maybe tomorrow I’ll start figuring out the hinging and framing. I need to let this adhesive set up overnight.

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[RJ Howell]

This door is going to be so cool!

[NevadaBlue]

I think so too! It is heavy, but who has a door like this?

This is the spot where the door will be mounted. Should work OK. The bottom hinge will be longer so that all three line up with the edge of the door casing and the door can swing all the way open. The good thing about cutting in this spot is that only the bottom edge of the topper will be cut, the remaining opening will be filled with fiberglass sheet I salvaged from an old camper tub surround. The door opening will be flush with the floor so I can sit comfortably in the doorway.

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This will be the only side door, so I suppose it is no heaver than the ‘normal’ two doors.

[NevadaBlue]

It has been a while since I have posted, but small progress is being made. I discovered that the old camper windows leak... no surprise, I had intended to remove some and re-seal the rest. BUT, snow melting and water getting on my raw interior wood can’t happen. So, the thing is completely covered with heavy tarp material now.
Also, I have no place to get inside to work on the trailer. Shop is full of vehicles and ‘stuff’.
I decided to build a ‘shop’ so I can cut the entry door opening and work on this contraption all winter. Much study of what is available around the property... turned up my scaffolding. I have the type that has walk through ends. Perfect! I’ll hopefully get this covered with plywood and tarps with a wood floor soon. The extension cord, a small heater and I will be able to work on the trailer all winter. It warms up nicely if it is sunny... the black tarps work great for that too. It is about 45 out today and it is 60 in the camper with the whole back end open. (Drying in the sun)

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The main shop is to the north of the camper, so it will be sheltered from storms and on the warm (and sunny mostly) side. The 5x7 ‘mini shop’ should give me enough room to work on the door.

In this pic, the cooler is sitting at the head of the bed. Remember this is a portable man cave, just for me... The vertical board on the left is where the door casing will be and the cardboard box is a mockup for a cabinet. The taped up window will be replaced with an awning window salvaged earlier in the fall.

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[NevadaBlue]

Another pic, I couldn’t get it to upload in the previous post.

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[NevadaBlue]

Some planning work today, mockups with cardboard boxes to help with cabinet size and location.
I also decided that the entire front window will be removed and replaced with the awning window shown. (Salvage from that 5th wheel camper I talked about earlier) That will allow more air movement over the bed and more cabinet space. The left side of the existing window opening (and the little bit on the right) will be fiberglassed in, using sheet fiberglass salvaged from the 5th wheel tub/shower.

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[NevadaBlue]

I got a little package from Amazon today. Two gas struts for the rear hatch and 4 ‘garage door’ handles. I decided to replace the struts, which were worn out, instead of making something mechanical. One less thing to make. They work GREAT. I’ll be attaching ‘limiting’ straps to keep the hatch just above my head, instead of going WAY up in the air. I intend to make an rear awning that goes over the rear hatch and extends the food prep area. The corners of the hatch will be rounded in order to protect the awning.
The handles will be used as grab/assist handles for my old feeble body to hang onto.

[NevadaBlue]

I’ve decided to use a Wiley window in the door. I found a tempered, clear glass cutting board on Amazon that is the perfect size. Now to decide how to screen it. The glass is 15.75”x20” and the window opening in the door is 16x21, so this should work out nicely. The plan is to cut a piece of plywood to fit in the door opening and fasten the Wiley window structure to that.

The door opening:

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The way the door is made, the metal will hide the edge of the plywood from the outside. If I paint it all to match, the window should look somewhat original when closed.

[NevadaBlue]

The weather won’t cooperate, so I am stuck inside watching a cold rain fall. I need to get the shelter finished so I can work on the trailer. All I have done lately is install the new gas struts for the hatch.

Here is how I think the galley will work. The blue on top is the rear edge of the pickup topper, the brown below is the ‘box’ I built to put it on. The 4 red squares are a ‘glass wall’ made from the front window of another salvaged topper. The squares are 14”x14” and the middle two slide to the side. This will make easy access to the galley from inside the living area and provide for more ventilation if needed.
The brown line below the window wall is a narrow shelf, one foot above the counter top which is the next line down. The fat brown horizontal line in the lower right represents the end of the bed frame. The other side is where the cooler will live. I hope to mount the cooler on one of the two ‘barn doors’ that will be below the hatch and be 3-1/2” deep. The right door will hold a folding shelf for the cooktop.

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The ‘window wall’ came from this topper.

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It should be perfect for this application.

[NevadaBlue]

I have been working on this, it has been slow because it is cold. I did finish the shelter so I can cut the side door and still be weatherproof. Also, the tempered glass for the door, the new wheels and tires and a bunch of electrical supplies (lights and whatnot) arrived. Lots of work to do.
But, I managed to cut the door opening so I can actually access the inside of the trailer without crawling in/over the back where the galley will be. I have a heater in there now and can probably make better progress now.
The entry door framing and hanging is next. Temporary door cut and shown in place.

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I put a grab handle on the temporary door so I can come and go and close the hole to keep the heat in and mice out. The carpet square is a sample of what the floor will be. I have a 2 foot tall pile of those I salvaged years ago.

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You can see the bed platform too.

[Louisd75]

Hi Ken,

You were mentioning looking for backup lights in a different built thread. I thought I'd mention that I used these ones and I've been happy with the brightness:


https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lights ... d-products

They are surface mounted with four screws and a small hole for the wiring to pass through.

There's an additional stainless trim ring that snaps on and covers the screws:

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-an ... 68SSB.html

Here's what the driver's side one looks like installed with the trim ring:

[NevadaBlue]

Those lights are really nice. I have already purchased LED replacements for the original tail lights, but now that I think about it, they may be two filament bulbs. Might have to get another set yet.
Not much done today. It snowed last night and my huge redwood board got wet, so I went out and cut it up. Long one for counter, shorter for under counter and that left the rest that went into the garage. I’ll probably biscuit join pieces to make a full 13-1/2” counter depth. That will require making the boards wider. At least they are in the dry now.

According to this super accurate pic, I should be able to get 13.5” counter in.

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[NevadaBlue]

By golly, I’ve done it! The side entry door is hinged and WORKS. It even has an appropriate 1920ish ‘Inner Sanctum’ type creak when you open it. LONG way from being finished, but it works!
Now to bolt the top hinge (no place for wood framing in the door there), and do a bunch of glue/screw/seal/paint stuff. It is all temporary right now. And, the entire right side of the door casing and top are yet to be built. OMG, what a task. This door curves in every direction. Top to bottom and side to side. If I get it sealed it will be a small miracle.

There is a temporary piece of fiberboard in the upper part just to keep out the neighborhood cats until I get the plywood cut for the Wiley window and all that made. Sigh... sure feels good to know it is going to be functional.

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Here shown open. It will swing all the way back when it is out of the shelter. There will be an appropriate stop of course.

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[rjgimp]

Nice work, Ken! I was looking forward to seeing how that REO door would fit the space.

[edgeau]

Looking good. The door might be a pain but it is worth it.

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