Exterior Is Done!!!

Finally got all the aluminum on the walls and roof!!!

Next up will be getting the air conditioner mounted and getting the rough-in electrical & plumbing done.

Installing Aluminum Skin & Windows

After getting all the wood sheeting installed we moved onto installing aluminum on the outside.

I used aluminum trim coil stock. This comes in various sizes and colors. For this project we used 24" wide white aluminum.

Using a brake I put a 1" return on the vertical sides in opposite directions. Then when I install it, I interlock each piece to the next one so that water can not get thru to the inside.

We started at the back and worked our way forward.

One piece at a time...

Trust me, it's tedious 😎

As we got to each window or door opening, I would cut the opening out of the wood sheeting and then scribe the aluminum and cut it out, then install the window or door as we got past it in siding.

And we just kept going one piece at a time...

Exterior Sheeting Is Done

When I last posted the walls were up and the sheeting was around the bottom half of the walls.

We finished up the sheeting on the walls and roof, and the trailer was closed in!!

The evening we finished it was getting pretty late, so I apologise for the dim pictures...

Now that the sheeting is installed, it's time to start covering the walls with aluminum...

The Walls Go Up

Finally it is time to stand the walls up!

As I mentioned earlier, I built the walls in 8' sections and sheeted only the bottom half to make it easier to handle setting them up.

First we set the front wall and a section of the side wall to get a sturdy corner to work from.

Got the two sections fastened together by screwing the stud parts of the walls together, then fastening the sheeting to both sections.

Then we just continued around the trailer fastening sections together.

The whole process went pretty quickly and soon the walls were up!!

After getting the walls up and together I added a rim board around the top.

The rim board is spliced in the center of the wall sections so that it makes the walls much more sturdy. It ties the walls all together nicely.

After the rim board was installed, I installed the rafters.

The trailer is starting to come along nicely.

Next up we will be finishing the wall sheeting and installing the roof sheeting 😁

Framing The Camper

With the subfloor finished, it was time to move onto building the walls. 

But first, one last trip as a flat bed trailer.

Off to pick up lumber and sheeting for the exterior walls and roof.

I framed the walls with 2x3 SPF lumber, I did this because every inch of floor space counts.

Because I'm getting older and walls are getting heavier, I built all the walls in 8 feet sections. This will allow for easier handling and setting.

After getting all the walls framed up, I cut my rafters. For the rafters I used 2x4 SPF lumber. 

I used 2x4 SPF lumber after consulting span limit tables for heavy snow load. I would like to believe I won't ever see snow again, but I live in Northern Pennsylvania. So, 2x4 lumber it is!!

After getting the rafters cut out, it was time to do some sheeting.

I used 7/16" OSB for the exterior sheeting. I was thinking of using 1/4" OSB, but it's not rated for exterior use at all, and it's very flimsy. 

Using 7/16" sheeting over 1/4" sheeting cost me a couple hundred pounds, but it was worth the weight to get the strength.

I only sheeted the bottom half of the wall sections so that when I stand them up and tie them together I could put the sheeting on in a brick pattern to really tie the camper together.

Next up - Stand those walls up and build a camper!!

Rough In Plumbing Started

Took a little time out in the construction process to make sure the plumbing would be able to be placed where I wanted it. 

I stubbed the main sewer line out on the passenger side in case I ever need to snake the line.

Got the toilet floor flange installed.

Main sewer line is mounted. Still need to do the shower and sinks tie-ins, then finish out the main line to a gate valve on driver side.

Now, back to building walls...

Installing The Floor System

Finally starting to build the "Mini Camper".

First item of business - Building the floor. 

After cutting out the ramps from underneath the trailer and removing a few of the floor boards from the trailer, it was time to start building the floor. The floor will consist of treated 2x4 joists and Advantech sub flooring. Advantech had the best warranty of sub flooring with a 500 day rain no sand warranty.

I installed the 2x4 joists side to side the length of the trailer, boxing in as needed for future plumbing.

I used 3.5" deck screws to screw the joists together because I have had much better luck with them over nails in my camper building experience.

To secure the floor joists to the trailer I used Headlok 4.5" Screws. These screws are rated to take the place of lag bolts. 

From underneath the trailer I ran the Headlok screws through the trailer floor boards into the floor joists. 

I did this across the front and back of the trailer and down both sides into each floor joist.

After getting the floor joists built, fastened together, and fastened to the trailer the next step was to fasten the sub-flooring to the floor joists.

I used 2.5" deck screws for this step. Running screws approximately 8" apart.

Next up - Time to start building walls!

Getting The Trailer Prepped To Become A Camper

It's all fun and games to be talking about building your own camper.

Then you go out and buy a brand new trailer, and it starts to get real.

Finally the day comes that you start building...

The first thing we did was use the trailer as a trailer and go fetch the flooring system.

That was fun, now for the no turning back step...

Grab your grinder and sawzall and crawl under that brand new trailer and cut the ramps and brackets off!

Next up, I needed to remove some floor boards from the trailer so that I could run plumbing lines at a later date.

The trailer is now ready to begin the process of becoming a camper...

Next step, installing the floor system...

Bringing Home A New Trailer

After searching forever, we finally found the perfect trailer. We will be building our Mini Camper on a flatbed car hauler. The floor is 7' wide by 18' long.

Notice how I already named this one "Mini Camper" - Bigger than a Micro, but still smallish... 😎

If you are in the market for a trailer, check out All Pro Trailer Superstore - www.trailersuperstore.com - located in Mechanicsburg PA. Great selection, even greater service!

Moving From A Micro To A Mini

As many people already know, I live to camp... 

When I'm not camping I am probably building a new camping toy or dreaming one up!!!

I have remodeled old campers for years and built a few "Micro Campers" in the past.

My current "Micro Camper" is a little 5x8 camper that I built a few years ago. It's been a great camper, but I'm getting older 😎

I'm getting tired of crawling into the camper and crawling back out at night to use the restroom. If it was not for the crawling in and out & the lack of bathroom facilities I'd never give it up... But it's time to move on to bigger and better. I'll miss the little camper but I'm excited about the bigger one coming along.

If you are interested in buying this one, let me know 😎

So... Marching forward we go!