Rebuilding a 5th wheel from the frame up.
I bought a pretty cheap 32' toy hauler last summer and found a lot of water damage (rot, mold, mildew and smell). After getting into it I've decided to only way to completely rid the smell is to rebui...
Forum Discussion
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Watch the weight!
Remember, you're going to drag this thing down the highway. You don't want it to be overweight. Every pound counts.
KD spruce is strong yet lightweight.
Using strong alternatives, LVL, fir or others will substantially add extra weight when it isn't necessary.
Stick with KD spruce, fasten it well and use lotsa glue and physically join all studs to the plates. Once it's cut and fastened it will stay straight for the most part.
When I did my TT I used a one inch crown staple gun and shot all studs to the plates, both sides, one staple leg in the studs, one in the plate, 2 per side. Also ran a #8 X 3 inch decking screw up through the plates into every stud after applying copious quantities of glue first.
The wall paneling inside was also glued on to the studs and plates prior to stapling it in place.
Every lumber yard I ever go to always carries KD spruce.
Bob makes a very good point about the weight. I love LVL for all the reasons I listed, but it is heavier than spruce. You're just going to have to do some picking to get the good stuff & when you rip those 2x4s, a certain number of them are going to turn into pretzels. A proper lumber yard will often have better quality wood than the home centers.
Polyurethane construction adhesive would be a good choice for gluing the plates to the studs.
