The Ultimate DIY thread - Ubuilding (Pics)
Hey all, There is another, albeit smaller, side to this whole RV thing - those crazy folks who build their own for whatever reason. Whether you've scratch-built it from the ground up, assembled a kit...
Forum Discussion
This weekend we got a break in the incessant rains we've had, so I was able to start standing walls up. Overall length will wind up around 13' with a 4X4 slideout off the back to give me length I need for the bed, the width will be 6' inside and the height an inch or two over that. The panels aren't glued in place yet: I'll take them all down and glue them in once they're all shaped. The thickened epoxy I'm using is pretty hard so I'll do as much of the sanding as possible first so I'm not trying to sand down a hard glue line surrounded by soft foam.
I've built three temporary 5' X 5' frames to hold the foam in place until the outside is shaped and glassed, then I'll dismantle them from inside and glass the inside.
I made up the door months ago as a tester to see if it was a viable build method. I was impressed with the rigidity, especially as compared to the weight, and would suggest this for anyone needing to make a mostly-flat panel for a mod of their own. The door is clamped temporarily into its position and, being 6' tall, shows about where the headliner will be (about an inch above that)
The trailer is sitting on cinder blocks rather than its wheels, so it gives a little better idea of the overall height once I put the 12" wheels on.
The top edges to the roof will be canted in as well: I don't need big overhead cabinets because I don't want to have any weight up there so I'm eliminating those square corners from the cross section altogether. There will still be small cubbies up there because I'm gusseting the corners.
The roof will wind up @ 4' wide. I'm going to glass up some curved roof spars and use two 1/2" 4X8 foam sheets to give me a healthy camber on the roof. I have a bunch of windows, including a couple pieces of tempered glass for skylights, but I'm thinking of cutting everything out of plexi instead - MUCH lighter and harder to break.
I'm thinking of putting a skidplate of alum diamond plate on the underside of the back wall: the glass isn't going to provide much protection should I drag it while crossing a creek or ditch.
I've built three temporary 5' X 5' frames to hold the foam in place until the outside is shaped and glassed, then I'll dismantle them from inside and glass the inside.
I made up the door months ago as a tester to see if it was a viable build method. I was impressed with the rigidity, especially as compared to the weight, and would suggest this for anyone needing to make a mostly-flat panel for a mod of their own. The door is clamped temporarily into its position and, being 6' tall, shows about where the headliner will be (about an inch above that)
The trailer is sitting on cinder blocks rather than its wheels, so it gives a little better idea of the overall height once I put the 12" wheels on.
The top edges to the roof will be canted in as well: I don't need big overhead cabinets because I don't want to have any weight up there so I'm eliminating those square corners from the cross section altogether. There will still be small cubbies up there because I'm gusseting the corners.
The roof will wind up @ 4' wide. I'm going to glass up some curved roof spars and use two 1/2" 4X8 foam sheets to give me a healthy camber on the roof. I have a bunch of windows, including a couple pieces of tempered glass for skylights, but I'm thinking of cutting everything out of plexi instead - MUCH lighter and harder to break.
I'm thinking of putting a skidplate of alum diamond plate on the underside of the back wall: the glass isn't going to provide much protection should I drag it while crossing a creek or ditch.
