Material for framing a Shasta Compact

Kreg Screws have a specific purpose and are a great choice in special applications.  But they are not as good as a "normal glue and wood screw" in most joints.  Their advantage is when you're making a butt joint and do not have access to the backside to place a normal screw.  You need to use the best attachment method to make your joints, and the method used will be different depending on the joint. 

Think of your Doctor, sometimes he does the surgery, and you end up with thirty stainless steel staples, as my wife got in her elbow replacement surgery.  Other times, he places stiches that self-dissolve and do not require any removal.  Other times he might choose to just use a few Butterfly Band-Aids to hold you together during the healing period.  The point is, he looked into his toolbox, and choose the best method to make his repair based on the specific job and obstacles he had to work around.  It's not a good/bad thing, it's a "pick the best way thing".

I think you need to have access to a table saw, it will give you many more options for your wall framing.  You can buy 2 by 4's and rip them to your desired size.  Trailers that have only 3/4" thick walls need all the strength you can muster.  I like to buy rough cut Poplar and rip it on a table saw to size.  The rough cut has one finished straight edge.  Some Poplar is not to pretty for interior wood, but it is good for wall framing.  In any case it's way cheaper to buy the rough cut from a hardwoods store, and not at your local Big Box store.

John Palmer

I’ve used hard wood for the vent to avoid sagging. And even used a wider piece.

I’ve also used poplar which costs a little more but if you plan to keep the camper it’s, in my opinion, worth it.

I have mixed feelings about glue. Once you glue the camper together it makes disassemble for repairs, and to correct mistakes, difficult. Although it does add strength.