Boat building vs camper building
I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted
camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. |
Boat building vs camper building
Frogwatch wrote:
I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. Will yours look like this? http://www.belairshells.com/generic.tpl?PageName=11 Or are you building something embarrassing? |
Boat building vs camper building
On Feb 9, 11:27 am, HK wrote:
Frogwatch wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. Will yours look like this? http://www.belairshells.com/generic.tpl?PageName=11 Or are you building something embarrassing? Harry, I am totally oblivious to things that would embarass most people. What I build might embarass my wife though. No, the camper topper you show costs so little that I'd just go buy one. What i want is a slide in cab-over hard shell camper like the ones made by Lance. I do not want one with pop up canvas because I will be in places with bears, wolves and panthers (Wyoming) and although I have camped with bears wandering round my tent (even wandering round me sleeping outside my tent) I feel I have "been there, done that" and want the peace of mind of hard sides. |
Boat building vs camper building
Frogwatch wrote:
On Feb 9, 11:27 am, HK wrote: Frogwatch wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. Will yours look like this? http://www.belairshells.com/generic.tpl?PageName=11 Or are you building something embarrassing? Harry, I am totally oblivious to things that would embarass most people. What I build might embarass my wife though. No, the camper topper you show costs so little that I'd just go buy one. What i want is a slide in cab-over hard shell camper like the ones made by Lance. I do not want one with pop up canvas because I will be in places with bears, wolves and panthers (Wyoming) and although I have camped with bears wandering round my tent (even wandering round me sleeping outside my tent) I feel I have "been there, done that" and want the peace of mind of hard sides. Why not just buy one? http://www.six-pac.com/fits.htm |
Boat building vs camper building
On Feb 9, 11:55*am, HK wrote:
Frogwatch wrote: On Feb 9, 11:27 am, HK wrote: Frogwatch wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. *The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. *From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. *I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. *I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. *Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. *I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. *I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. *I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. Will yours look like this? http://www.belairshells.com/generic.tpl?PageName=11 Or are you building something embarrassing? Harry, I am totally oblivious to things that would embarass most people. *What I build might embarass my wife though. *No, the camper topper you show costs so little that I'd just go buy one. *What i want is a slide in cab-over hard shell camper like the ones made by Lance. I do not want one with pop up canvas because I will be in places with bears, wolves and panthers (Wyoming) and although I have camped with bears wandering round my tent (even wandering round me sleeping outside my tent) I feel I have "been there, done that" and want the peace of mind of hard sides. Why not just buy one? http://www.six-pac.com/fits.htm- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Because some people take pride in crafting something using their own given skills. And unlike you, most people are skilled enough to do so. |
Boat building vs camper building
On Feb 9, 12:46 pm, wrote:
On Feb 9, 11:55 am, HK wrote: Frogwatch wrote: On Feb 9, 11:27 am, HK wrote: Frogwatch wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. Will yours look like this? http://www.belairshells.com/generic.tpl?PageName=11 Or are you building something embarrassing? Harry, I am totally oblivious to things that would embarass most people. What I build might embarass my wife though. No, the camper topper you show costs so little that I'd just go buy one. What i want is a slide in cab-over hard shell camper like the ones made by Lance. I do not want one with pop up canvas because I will be in places with bears, wolves and panthers (Wyoming) and although I have camped with bears wandering round my tent (even wandering round me sleeping outside my tent) I feel I have "been there, done that" and want the peace of mind of hard sides. Why not just buy one? http://www.six-pac.com/fits.htm-Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Because some people take pride in crafting something using their own given skills. And unlike you, most people are skilled enough to do so. I just wanted to make something else. I figure that if this is successful, my wife might give in to my plans to rebuild the old log cabin on our WY property. |
Boat building vs camper building
On Feb 9, 12:51 pm, Frogwatch wrote:
On Feb 9, 12:46 pm, wrote: On Feb 9, 11:55 am, HK wrote: Frogwatch wrote: On Feb 9, 11:27 am, HK wrote: Frogwatch wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. Will yours look like this? http://www.belairshells.com/generic.tpl?PageName=11 Or are you building something embarrassing? Harry, I am totally oblivious to things that would embarass most people. What I build might embarass my wife though. No, the camper topper you show costs so little that I'd just go buy one. What i want is a slide in cab-over hard shell camper like the ones made by Lance. I do not want one with pop up canvas because I will be in places with bears, wolves and panthers (Wyoming) and although I have camped with bears wandering round my tent (even wandering round me sleeping outside my tent) I feel I have "been there, done that" and want the peace of mind of hard sides. Why not just buy one? http://www.six-pac.com/fits.htm-Hidequoted text - - Show quoted text - Because some people take pride in crafting something using their own given skills. And unlike you, most people are skilled enough to do so. I just wanted to make something else. I figure that if this is successful, my wife might give in to my plans to rebuild the old log cabin on our WY property. I thought that building the Tolman would convince my wife that I was competent to make things but she does not like power boats. So, now I am doing the dog fence (fencing in nearly an acre) but she keeps changing her mind about how it should look. So, when we take the camper to WY and are staying right next to the cabin, she will not be able to doubt my ability to rebuild the cabin. Of course, I'll probably rebuild the cabin anyway regardless of what she wants (She wants a "real" cabin with actual appliances, BORING.) |
Boat building vs camper building
On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 08:18:41 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. What is it you're glueing? I've had good luck using Elmers Wood Glue, according to the directions. The pieces to be glued must be clamped. |
Boat building vs camper building
On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 08:18:41 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. PS. Keep in mind that the camper won't take near the beating that a boat does. It's not like you're going to be pounding the camper into the waves! Are the plans available online? They'd be interesting to look at. |
Boat building vs camper building
On Feb 9, 1:41 pm, John H wrote:
On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 08:18:41 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch wrote: I am building a version of Glen-L "Importer" slide in truck mounted camper for my Nissan Frontier and I thought my experience with building 4 boats would be helpful but the techniques are very different. The camper has 1"X2" framing with 3/16 ply on the inside and Aluminum sheet on the outside. From a boat building perspective, structurally, this sounds like crap. I am desperately trying to suppress my normal tendency to think "Hey, I've got a better way" because my wife wants it to look good so I am really trying to follow directions. I am liberally applying epoxy to all joined surfaces instead of simply using wood glue as per directions but the whole process seems "wrong" still. Unfortunately, the design is from 1972 before epoxy was available. I would really prefer a design similar to boat building where strength is obtained from rounded shapes covered with glass and epoxy, sort of a stitch and glue camper. I will glass some of the joints that I think need it. I'd glass the whole thing but weight is an issue. PS. Keep in mind that the camper won't take near the beating that a boat does. It's not like you're going to be pounding the camper into the waves! Are the plans available online? They'd be interesting to look at. Floor plan is online on the Glen-L site. One thing that really bothers me is that the framing is assembled using those awful corrugated fasteners that seem to split the ends of the wood and then the framing is glued to the 3/16 ply. I'd much prefer to assemble the framing on the 3/16 ply with epoxy but the first assembly seems sorta necessary to get right. |
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