goshawks
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working on the trotwood when not camping
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Post by goshawks on Jul 12, 2014 3:35:21 GMT -8
rebuilding a 49 Trotwood and have the old siding and homosote (?) off . Working on the structural framing but thinking ahead to hold I will repair the exterior covering. Is there a new viable substitute for the old waterlogged homosote? What have you project guys used ? Thanks Barry BTW new guy and first post |
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Post by bigbill on Jul 12, 2014 4:30:38 GMT -8
Welcome to VTT. Why don't you post some pictures so we can see exactly what you have, then we can make suggestion that might help you make it stronger, lighter, and better using commonly available materials. Photos can be shared from almost any photo sharing site.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jul 12, 2014 6:55:12 GMT -8
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goshawks
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Post by goshawks on Jul 12, 2014 14:24:02 GMT -8
I'd love to but I am away from my camera. It's really pretty bad, I need to replace quite a bit of the structural framing which in it's self will be time consuming enough. I'm sure you veterans have seen plenty of rot ant infestation w/o posting more bandwidth. BTW I am a seasoned AS guy having done a complete redo on a 66 Safari,(won reserve Best of show at this springs TCT rally in Milford Mich) and am deep in a frame off 54 Flying Cloud whaletail. This is my first 'canned ham' and I'm trying to get up to date on techniques/ materials that are used in rebuilding them ( this looks like it's going to be a frame off also)anyways any help is greatly appreciated.
Retired and going broke in Mich.
Barry
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jul 12, 2014 14:33:37 GMT -8
I don't have any idea what homosite is. I know what Masonite is.
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Post by bigbill on Jul 12, 2014 15:41:15 GMT -8
Homosote is sort of like a heavy Cellotex about 1/2" thick fiber board with a tar like base. Some trailers in thirties and forty even used it for exterior siding. Later it was installed under the floor as a insulator/buffer. A long time ago my uncle had a trailer that the entire exterior was homosote board and painted. It work fine until you didn't keep it painted and water got to it. During WWII they even built cabins for people to live in out of the stuff. They were called defense cabins. Many were built in our area to house the people brought to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.Then when the war was over most were tore down. They used 2x2s for studs and no interior wall surface or insulation they were one room with a path and for heat most used a fuel oil stove. Also no foundation they just sat on blocks. The electric was a single bulb that hung from the roof in the center of the room. People bought adapters that screwed in the bulb socket and had two receptacles plus a pull chain controlled socket for the bulb. People were glad to get one of these in fact there was a waiting list. In today's world if you moved your family into one you would be arrested for child endangering.
If his trailer used it in the floor I would replace it with plywood if it is in the walls? I think Mobiltec addresses this in one of his videos for the floor.
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goshawks
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Post by goshawks on Jul 12, 2014 16:07:31 GMT -8
Thanks Bill... this trailer had Homosote for both an exterior wall covering and also the roof. As you said it was then painted. and repainted at least twice more before going into dis-repair. This, as suspected, amounted to wholesale deterioration and rot, along with the ant infestation. At some point someone did an aluminum makeover sandwiching the Homosote between the interior walls and the aluminum. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAd! At any rate we are down to studs and flooring and trying to determine how to cover the studs and eventually put on new metal. That leads back to my original question - what to use for siding below the final aluminum. BTW the under floor was wrapped in some type of material not unlike what was used as felt for undercoating house roofing back in the forties/fifties. Yes I remember those days though I was young<G> Thanks for any insight, Barry |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jul 12, 2014 18:58:53 GMT -8
Homosote is sort of like a heavy Cellotex about 1/2" thick fiber board with a tar like base. Some trailers in thirties and forty even used it for exterior siding. Later it was installed under the floor as a insulator/buffer. A long time ago my uncle had a trailer that the entire exterior was homosote board and painted. It work fine until you didn't keep it painted and water got to it. During WWII they even built cabins for people to live in out of the stuff. They were called defense cabins. Many were built in our area to house the people brought to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.Then when the war was over most were tore down. They used 2x2s for studs and no interior wall surface or insulation they were one room with a path and for heat most used a fuel oil stove. Also no foundation they just sat on blocks. The electric was a single bulb that hung from the roof in the center of the room. People bought adapters that screwed in the bulb socket and had two receptacles plus a pull chain controlled socket for the bulb. People were glad to get one of these in fact there was a waiting list. In today's world if you moved your family into one you would be arrested for child endangering. And then came Masonite. Wow, Bill! You are a great history book! Now I'm going to look that up and ask my son if he knows about defense cabins. Goshawks, even if you can't share some rot pics, I hope will share some some restoration pics with us. I really would like to see your trailer. |
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Post by bigbill on Jul 12, 2014 19:31:07 GMT -8
OK now I know what you have my suggestion would be to read 1968 Shasta 1500 major overhaul underway by Jodybitzz they are rebuilding a 68 Shasta 1500 and they added wood under the Aluminum When they are finished it should be the strongest nicest 1500 on the planet. They have covered the exterior frame with Luan I believe which is adding a huge amount of strength to the entire unit. I thought you was possibly talking about a trailer that came from the factory with no aluminum skin that was why I wanted some pictures. If you rebuild with a light weight skin under the aluminum the trailer will most likely be lighter in weight than new, that homosote was heavy. I think you have the opportunity to create a fantastic trailer as I have always thought a Trotwood was a very thought out well designed trailer in their day, it is a shame their factory burned down. I assume that you will cover it with flat aluminum no pattern. Painted it will look original but brite aluminum would look good also. If you are going to paint it you can use flat sheets of plan aluminum which are most likely available locally and save a lot of money.
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Post by bigbill on Jul 12, 2014 20:02:23 GMT -8
! Now I'm going to look that up and ask my son if he knows about defense cabins. SusieQ I will look through some old pictures one of these days and see if I have any shots of one, you will have trouble believing that people lived in them. But this area just did not have the housing for people that came here looking for work. We had factory jobs and government jobs increasing beyond belief, we were lucky my dad was a supervisor for the telephone company and was transferred here to help increase and secure the area phone service and the government had just built some new brick two story apartments limited to what they considered essential personal and their families so we got to live in one. They were very nice for the forties. It always bothered my dad because he wasn't allowed to join the service because of his value here state side. |
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Post by vikx on Jul 12, 2014 22:20:57 GMT -8
Home Depot sells 3/4 inch "soundboard" which is very similar to Celotex; a fibrous sheet board that adds insulating properties. Coat the bottom side with roof sealant (FINALLY: a good use for this crap!) and it works very well as belly material. That being said, I used 1/8 bottom coated Masonite on my last build and am very happy with the results. Easy to work with, no squish factor and the insulation is in the floor cavity (foam). Very clean install:   |
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goshawks
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working on the trotwood when not camping
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Post by goshawks on Jul 13, 2014 13:08:06 GMT -8
That's fine for the bottom, most likely will do the AS type belly pan... I am more interested in side wall?/& roof material, which when all is said and done will be wrapped in aluminum also. Thanks for the suggestions... btw I am currently reading through the suggested build ( er rebuild) by jodybitzz Very nice and has some food for thought there!!! Others? Suggestions?
Thanks you all in advance,
Barry & Karen in SE Mich.
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Post by bigbill on Jul 13, 2014 19:05:20 GMT -8
goshawks I built a truck camper for my families personal use in 1968 and I had a very heavy duty Ford truck so I built it to withstand abuse It was 71/2' x12' constructed with 2x2s and covered with 3/8" plywood then aluminum skin. I was going along a highway about 55 or 60 mph when a **** pheasant flew up in front of me as he came over the hood the wind lifted him up higher and the front of the camper got it. I had to drive another mile or so before there was a safe place to pull over, when I out out a motorcycle rider that had been following me came walking up and said what did you hit I have never seen so many feathers in my life and it looked like a cow when it went over my head. I laughed and told him a pheasant, he said bet it trashed the front of your camper, we walked around front and no damage just some blood and feathers. This gives you an idea of the strength you will gain be sheeting under the aluminum but you will gain weight and size. In your case where you had the homosote board and have to buy new aluminum anyway it won't matter. I would suggest using the cheapest wood panels you can find, even wall paneling. I wouldn't go over a 1/4" thick and thinner would be fine it mainly is going to tie all your frame work together and add strength. You might want to seal the wood to protect it from moisture before you install the aluminum skin. If you have sheet goods on both sides of the framework with insulation in between it will strong,quiet, and comfortable inside. You are on the way to a fantastic trailer. I see you are fro SE Mich, I am from Ohio so maybe our trails will cross someday. I will be the old guy with the ugly trailer.  |
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goshawks
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Post by goshawks on Jul 13, 2014 19:15:27 GMT -8
Thanks Bill, I have met you several times, that is- old guy with ugly trailer, in fact sometimes I'm that guy!! It's funny how these Trotwoods are build, the side framing is three stacked layers of 'bent' 1"x3/4" timber , I suppose pine. There are no knots visible in the wood so I'm not sure though. Where in Ohio are you, we're south of Ann Arbor about 25 miles. Thanks again for the needed info.
Barry & Karen
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