Advice on tear-down/rebuild?

[SettingOutSoon]

I want a 5th Wheel/TH about 38' long, and I'm debating whether to build from scratch (on a drop deck trailer) or buy a cheap, used 5th Wheel/TH and tear it down to the "foundation" and rebuild. (I've given up the idea of moving prefab walls, and I want a structure that will support a rooftop deck.) Any advice?

What chassis would you recommend? Three axles much better than two? Newer Thor or Forest River better than older Nu Wa, Newmar or Travel Supreme? What should I be most focused on?

[BoonHauler]

SettingOutSoon wrote:
BoonHauler, I see you framed your rig with tube steel. That would clearly support a rooftop deck. Do you have an opinion about building with SIP panels? How much might that save in weight and how smart would it be? I have very accomplished tradesmen in my family, but none have built on a trailer (my son has *built* trailers, but not houses ON them...)

Setting Out Soon:

I personally would stay away from SIP's for the construction of a TH or any other TT for that matter because of the dynamic forces that trailers generate by being towed (wind loading, weight shifting, braking, etc). To me you'd constantly be chasing leaks (water and air) and all the other problems that trailers incure due to all the bending and twisting they encounter. In engineering terms it's called 'rotation'.

I've been chatting with a few others on this board that are very competent and now that I've built a trailer from the ground up I'd do a lot of things differently.

The first would be to lighten the guage of the steel framing materials that I used. I'd have to think I'd be able to lose about 30% of the frame weight by doing so.

One of the requirements of my project was a full on walk on roof and I have that, it's bulletproof and can easily handle the weight of many people. The framing itself is bulletproof.

If you've taken the time to read through both the threads that are on SBR you'll have a good idea of what the project is all about. I've come to the conclusion that most, if not all, factory built TH/TT are junk and that's why I decided to build mine from the ground up. This way I know what I'm getting, it's not cheap and it's not easy but it will be well worth it once the project is finished.

I'll be retiring soon and will be going fulltime and I'll feel much better knowing that I've taken the time to do it right.

If you like to discuss things further fell free to send an email. My address is on the front page at SBR.

Good luck and Happy RVing ...:)

[SettingOutSoon]

BoonHauler, I see you framed your rig with tube steel. That would clearly support a rooftop deck. Do you have an opinion about building with SIP panels? How much might that save in weight and how smart would it be? I have very accomplished tradesmen in my family, but none have built on a trailer (my son has *built* trailers, but not houses ON them...)

[SettingOutSoon]

Ken and Kathy, thanks very much for the link!

BoonHauler, what are you trying to do, break my spirit? I've never felt so under qualified and in over my head in my life. Very impressive!!

[BoonHauler]

SettingOutSoon wrote:
I want a 5th Wheel/TH about 38' long, and I'm debating whether to build from scratch (on a drop deck trailer) or buy a cheap, used 5th Wheel/TH and tear it down to the "foundation" and rebuild. (I've given up the idea of moving prefab walls, and I want a structure that will support a rooftop deck.) Any advice?

What chassis would you recommend? Three axles much better than two? Newer Thor or Forest River better than older Nu Wa, Newmar or Travel Supreme? What should I be most focused on?

Checkout my build thread BoonHauler Project
Trust me, it's a lot of work!

[TheAmRheins]

just google wayzalot,