HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Mar 16, 2014 15:20:17 GMT -8
Most of you know I have been building and restoring old cars most of my life and have accumulated a lot of materials over the years.
So leave it up to a guy that has never restored a camper to ask what some may see as a dumb question.
My question is have any of you substituted some of the wood with something like 3/4' square tubing?
I have the equipment to form the tubing and thinking I could couture the metal and possibly have a stronger structure for the sides and top,not eliminating the wood altogether just use the tubing for the basic skeleton work.
I'm a big boy so let me know if I am totally out in left field or if you have used anything like this before. Danny
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soup
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Post by soup on Mar 16, 2014 15:48:59 GMT -8
Aluminum or steel tubing? Weight is a factor. Some vintage (Some Barths and maybe others) and a lot of new high dollar ones use aluminum tubing for coach walls, floor & roof.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Mar 16, 2014 17:37:36 GMT -8
This is only a personal observation (read that "opinion") The structure of these ole canned ham trailers is more supported by the layers of materials that make up the walls and ceilings, which are all tied together by their round shape, more than the actual materials themselves.
An aluminum-tube frame may outlast your grandchildren if done right....the amazing part of these ole girls is they are still around and being enjoyed today after all these years. What you propose may provide a time capsule that archeologists will wonder over thousands of years from now...
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Post by bigbill on Mar 17, 2014 4:47:03 GMT -8
These trailers seem to flex as they go down the road. I believe that alum. tube could be used but I think you would have to redesign the entire chassis, then you would have to rivet the skin and the interior on. My thoughts would be if you want that restoring an Airstream would be a better path. If you decide to try it take lots of pictures then after it is on the road keep us advised as to how it works out, maybe you are on to something great or maybe a great disaster but there is only one way to find out. Whatever you decide Good Luck.
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HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Mar 17, 2014 5:42:54 GMT -8
I have seen several older campers where the top had supposedly been repaired but the top seemed to be concave and held water,one of my ideas was to add a slight convex using 3/4" aluminum tubing alongside the wood thus aiding in the water runoff. Danny
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Post by bigbill on Mar 17, 2014 6:02:36 GMT -8
I agree completely with any thing that would strengthen the top of these trailers I put a 3 inch crown in the roof of my current Shasta project roof. I used 3/4 inch plywood screwed to the existing roof joist, put a screw in one end then worked my way across pushing original up even with bottom of new board till everything was as it should be. trailer seems to have gained much strength and no longer ponds water on the roof. I did not crown the first or last joist as this would effect the radius over the ends causing it to look weird.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Mar 17, 2014 6:59:49 GMT -8
Bill what kind of canned ham trailer would it be if it didn't leak or pond water?
LOL My opinion is that the tops of these old trailers are the most vulnerable spot because of the dreaded CAT issue. Cats and other critters like to jump from one roof to another and your trailer Is one that just happens to be perfect for a landing spot half way to the ground. Kinda like a step if you will. This is why I tell my trailer friends to get a hard cover for their work of art or don't park it within 15 feet of any other building. Or both! And if you think that aluminum bracing will stop the sag which causes ponding in the top, well it won't stop the cats from landing on your roof thus sill creating a dent that will pond. So really, unless you plan on putting an AC unit on the roof the aluminum framing will do you no more good than the wood framing will when it comes to cats and the damage they can cause.
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Mar 17, 2014 7:30:14 GMT -8
This is why I tell my trailer friends to get a hard cover for their work of art or don't park it within 15 feet of any other building. Or both! And if you think that aluminum bracing will stop the sag which causes ponding in the top, well it won't stop the cats from landing on your roof thus sill creating a dent that will pond.
May we add, "nor near a tree." 'Round these parts, if it's not the cats, it giant squirrels, even raccoons. And don't even get me started with the crows that drop walnuts from great distances in order to "shell" them. Kind of like golfball sized hail.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Mar 17, 2014 8:27:18 GMT -8
My teardrop hatch is framed with aluminum tubing, I think. I haven't seen it in while.
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Post by bigbill on Mar 17, 2014 9:42:04 GMT -8
Bill what kind of canned ham trailer would it be if it didn't leak or pond water?
LOL My opinion is that the tops of these old trailers are the most vulnerable spot because of the dreaded CAT issue. Cats and other critters like to jump from one roof to another and your trailer Is one that just happens to be perfect for a landing spot half way to the ground. Kinda like a step if you will. This is why I tell my trailer friends to get a hard cover for their work of art or don't park it within 15 feet of any other building. Or both! And if you think that aluminum bracing will stop the sag which causes ponding in the top, well it won't stop the cats from landing on your roof thus sill creating a dent that will pond. So really, unless you plan on putting an AC unit on the roof the aluminum framing will do you no more good than the wood framing will when it comes to cats and the damage they can cause. Larry are saying we would be better off in a world with no cats.
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Post by bigbill on Mar 17, 2014 10:01:07 GMT -8
Larry This is the way a neighbor of mine where I used to live solved his cat problem. He had a 1957 Ford convertible with a custom leather top and the neighbors cat used to come over and lay on it right over the drivers head causing the leather to sag down. he and the cats owner debated this problem for several months. He said the neighbor should keep his cat home like he did his dog and the neighbor said cats need to roam free that they can't be confined.The tension kept increasing until he told the cats owner that if he didn't keep his cat off his top he was going to shoot it off. The neighbor said go ahead it will be harder on your top than my cat. About an hour later a loud bang was heard. He proved the neighbor wrong both the top and the cat was gone. The moral of this story is if you love your cat don't tell some nut to go ahead and shoot it as it might happen. That twelve gauge took out the drivers door glass about two feet of top and the cat. The cats owner never said another word he just sold his house and moved away.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Mar 17, 2014 10:57:50 GMT -8
LOL Bill. I never said anything about shooting cats. That would get me thrown outta here and don't think I haven't thought about a live trap and a long trip for a few cats that live here. I've also thought about a bigger live trap and a trip for some of the residents but I just don't think that would fly for some reason. Just sayin that cat's "and other critters" (for some reason no one reads my posts completely) are a major problem for the tops of these trailers so I tell all my clients/trailerite friends to get a hard cover for their work of art if they value the top and don't want it compromised by unforeseen attacks. So far only two of the people I have built for have listened to me and went with the hard cover. They are also the only two people who have not had roof problems within 6 months of getting the trailer back. Once a trailer leaves here I have no way of controlling what happens to it so I give absolutely no guarantees once it's off the property.
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Post by bigbill on Mar 17, 2014 17:55:14 GMT -8
Larry I didn't say any thing about shooting cats except for the story about a neighbor I had where I used to live and that was only to give an example of peoples lack of sanity/intelligence. It cost one man his pet and the other a thousand dollar top back when a grand was worth a whole lot more than it was today ( mid 60s). I think the biggest problem we have with these trailer roofs is the are covered with too light of a gauge alum. trying to save weight and cost. I have wondered how it would work if a guy sheeted the roof on top of the joist with a thin light weight sheeting then placed the alum skin over top of it for a water seal. if you take a piece of 1/8" paneling and put a piece of roof alum over it you would be amazed at what it would take to damage the alum. If that was done a dozen cats wouldn't hurt it, not even a coon unless he fell from a very tall place. By the way I like cats we always had bunches of them on the farm. We haven't had a dog or a cat since we had to put our 18 year old dog down ten years ago. we keep talking about getting another pet but not till the Boss is better.
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Post by vikx on Mar 17, 2014 22:06:06 GMT -8
WELL EXCUSE ME....
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Post by bigbill on Mar 18, 2014 1:58:32 GMT -8
Why what did you do?
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