From Hoodoo Valley Idaho.
 

I just joined up folks, thank you for having me. I'm converting a truck to a tiny house, which I'll start a second thread detailing that, as well as asking questions. In the meantime, I've been at the same place my entire life, and been in construction and welding my entire working career so I love to build things! Anyone know how to add an avatar or is that a no go?

In the front door, and out the back. I'll get it on my own. Thanks.

On this forum you have to be patient, some times it can be a few days between new posts.

As far as the avatar go into your USER Control Panel and select edit Avatar, then select use custom avatar and upload your own (max 80x80 or 100kb).

Welcome. I'm south of you in P F. Lots of things to consider before you have a plan. Priest is going to be a hard place to beat... if you like peace and quiet, outdoor life, ect. Tiny house over an TC (truck conversion) Well if you don't want to move a lot or move long distance every time. Tiny house might be a option. Then you could contract the move when you wanted to. With a TC you have the option to move as often and as far as you would like. If you have no class 7/8 truck driving experience... well you might try it be for you purchase one. It is NOT like driving a pickup or a one ton, ect. Living where you do... this not the same as other parts of our country, nice that you could come and visit.....but don't stay,(for the most part). Working on the road... gets to be quite challenging, and some times just not worth the effort. If I were you I would (rent if need be) travel at least six months or longer to get the feel of the road and other locations. Then you can have a better idea of what you need to go for a longer time and what you might need. We all are different in what we put together in our traveling unit to make life content. Lots of things to consider....This form can help through some of your decision , and learn from our mistakes. So ask away. OU812

Thank you for reply
 

Hi Chris I'm not very good on this computer....so replies may take a while. Yes Post Falls. Well you are started... you have a truck with a box.....good start. I suggest that you make a plan on paper. Draw out what you would like, when on the road. How far and long do you plan to be on the road ? Plan on bringing a vehicle to drive when you stop on your travels? Bike, jeep, car..... What kind of places do want to go to....mid west, Alaska, south....? How many people will be traveling with you? If you get to P F let me know and we could meet at Super One, or where ever... Let me know a few days ahead, and talk over your plan. To build, think of it like building a small house on wheels. Living room, kitchen, bath, bead room. I tried to use hardware supply like Home Depot , for building supplies as much as I could. But this is up to what you want. It will take time to put things together, I worked on my plan for two years, before building . Roadside

I started working on my truck again since the snow melted. I added more closed cell insulation to the pile, now up to 35 sheets of two inch, and 6 sheets of 1 inch. Began welding up the curb for installation at the lift gate in front of the door. All my notches are cut in each end and today, I'll finish the welding aspect of the curb, and attempt to see if it fits in place and tack it up in place and bolt it up to the underside of the floor. Photos to come. I need to start the motor since it's been sitting for about 9 months, but wanted to change the oil and coolant and all filters before running it. Here is a photo of the inside shortly after I drove the truck home from Hermiston Oregon.

welcome to the fray!

Took more phote's here lately showing some of the work I've been doing on my project.

Bought more rigid insulation. Started fiber glassing the original wood deck. Still designing things in my head. Photos have been taken of progress at this point.

Thank you sir!

Really a bummer that there's not more traffic here.

Have reached alf way point on fiberglassing the floor. Another 2 pads and then we start building second floor, utilizing rigid insulation.

So you used fiberglass for weather proofing the floor? My Renegade uses gal. metal.
Got pictures to share?


Sam

Pictures are coming, but yes, I'm fiberglass coating the laminated butcher block type wood deck right now. This, after completely removing the wood deck boards..... 24 feet long, and restoring them to the best of my ability, and repairing the steel frame they attach to. That aspect is behind me now, and all screws replaced with new. I'm a little over half way back right now. One more session and I'll have enough to frame a section of floor over this deck, with 2x6, then insulate from my pile of 2 inch foil backed, then sheet that portion of the floor, then move the stack of rigid insulation to the new floor, and continue the last 10 feet with the fiber glassing mats. Also need to do a bit more welding on the inside of my 6 inch high curb at the door opening, but don't want any heat near my insulation!:eek:

In these photos, the curb is just bolted in place, but I did a continued weld across the bottom and sides, to prevent water from running under the secondary insulated floor.

I still need another 10 sheets of 2 inch and 12 sheets of 1 inch, but space is limited right now since I still need to frame the floor. Here's why! It's up to the ceiling! The OSB (sheeting) is to cover the wall and ceiling framing. There is a stack of wood inside as well as under the truck. Floor sheeting is in the garage. I'll be covering the walls and lid with FRP panels.

Here's the curb welded in place and photo's of the epoxying. I'm doing fiberglass mats. There will be a 2x6 framed floor on top of this, with the rigid insulation a half inch off the floor below. I was contemplating providing a ventilation path via a fan (already have the fan) to circulate air if water ever leaked under these two floors. Unsure if it's needed or not. I'm sure someone will give superb advice after the floor is built! (smiling)

By the way, one of these phote's is of the truck when I first embarked on this mission.

Tonight, I walk the fiberglass right up to the stack of insulation, then throughout this week, I'll start framing my floor over what's been fiberglassed already. Next step is to insulate that portion of my floor, reducing that pile a bit, then once the subfloor is down on that portion, I'll move the stacks of insulation and OSB to that section of floor, and then continue fiberglassing the rest.

In addition to the photos above, I did a count of my insulation, and to my surprise, I only need 4 more sheets of 2 inch, so I'm $250 ahead!!! (happy)

Looking great and I have a better understanding of what your up too. In the winter, my floor is cold, but it has insulation, and wood on top, then either tile or carpet. I don't notice the heat in the summer. Now for the cabinets they get hot and cold, but the wall and ceiling has insulation too. I am not like everyone else that stores there RV I keep mine going year around. And we stay in the rv off and on year around. Make sure you water is insulated good so if you decide to go in the cold your ready or store with out having to do too much.
And your looking good.


Sam

Thanks Sam! I decided actually, to install runners directly over the frame, then build the 2x6 floor on that, this way, I'll have air circulation under the framed floor. All my plumbing will be to the interior side the walls and yet hidden. I'll keep the phote's coming!

In addition to the photos I recently added on page 2, I have acquired some ultra hard bamboo flooring which will be screwed down to the wood deck directly over the frame, then the floor joists will bear on those runners. Buying some 2x6 tomorrow to begin on the floor framing. I can't wait to be done with the floor! So can't wait!

In addition to the photos I recently added on page 2......


I applied the bamboo flooring runners that my floor joists will sit on. As mentioned earlier, these stack directly over the frame, and are intended to keep the floor framing 3/8 of an inch of the already fiberglassed wood deck in the box. I have my rim and joists all cut to length. I ripped a crap ton of 7/16 X 7/16 wood strips that will be applied with glue and screws to the bottom side edges of the floor joists, to act as stops for the closed cell insulation. I'll be pre drilling those tomorrow, then ripping another batch. Photo's coming soon!

Quiet honestly I would of went a different route of spray insulating and adding furring strips to increase the wall cavity. Though fiberglassing the floor is great idea what are you using, epoxy or polyester resin? Hopefully epoxy since it’s stronger... Ever heard of Sketchup or good with computers? I use the free trial version to draw my plans up and then compare them with measurements inside the rig.

Thank you! I had wanted to spray it originally but it was just cost prohibitive. The foam panels are essentially the same material (closed cell) but half the cost. It also allowed me to "buy in" with X amount of sheets and money spent at a time, whereas the sprayed would have been all up front. Just couldn't swing it. Other issue in my mind was the potential for leaks. I intend to do routine check overs for leakage, but just in case something ever did leak, the sprayed would harbor that moisture, but with the panels being 1/2 spaced off the outside, allows that moisture to escape and dry out without damaging the insulation or wood framing. The floor is epoxy with fiberglass weave mesh.


As regards my plan, I have it all in my head, and initially, I'm going to bring the exterior walls to an "FRP" finished state, then do the interior wallage.

Sounds good and sounds like you not only mitigated from moisture damage but thermal bridging too of outside temperatures. Sounds like you know what you are doing unlike one forum I am on. What’s the outside dimensions of the trailer 96 or 102 inches, any plans of solar panels on the roof?

Yes sir! I've been a builder for 35 years and certainly dealt with my share of rotten wood and mold issues. I'm also huge into advanced framing and insulation / energy conservation. My home has some innovations to it that are my passion.


The box, a Grumman, is 96 inches wide. I sure wish it was wider because I'm going to lose 8 inches with my walls.


Out of curiosity, what other related forums you belong to? Absolutely craving info and this forum is really got an echo in the halls!

Don't have as many as years as you but I sure learn quick and know you got it going on right! Losing 8 inches isn't bad as I thought it was at one time then I ended up with a truck camper I'm living in and see it takes some getting used to. I'm over on cheaprvliving.com and some the things they are doing there make one scratch their head or think WTF? but can be comical too. So you are into passive solar homes too and such right? Advanced framing ah yes 24 OC with 2 x 6's or (2) 2 x 4 walls staggered 24 OC...

Some of the joists with insulation stops. You can see the beads of glue laid down on the joists that the strips will set in.

Attached additional bamboo strips that will rest under the joists.

Although not attached yet...... I rolled all the floor joists into position. Need to build another 4 to finish that up. Will begin attaching things tonight.

Going to fiberglass the joists too or will they sit as is?

Naw, I'm just gluing and pocket screwing them to the rim joists then upside down hangers using cabinet screws.

Photo's coming soon...... Attached about half of the joists with glue and screwed hangers placed upside down. Looking sharp!

Will be waiting for them. Seems this place is dead in the water and the number of people actually building something on here is just us two. At same time the number of people like us dwindle in this country too...

I'm stalled out just starting a 1979 Dodge cube van conversion as the weather is crap and the fatso won't fit in the garage.

You two aren't alone. I just haven't got much to say.

Cheers,

G.

Welcome to the forum! How about some photo's? ;)

Ebay find. $2500. 7500 original miles.
40 years old. 440 cu in. 8.3 mpg. Drove it from California to Ontario.

Had carpenter ant damage. Roof leak. Mostly repaired. Rain keeping me down.

Bought RV windows and full door. All with screens.

Full appliance load from an old Sportsmobile going in it.

I'll start a build report soon.

Cheers,

G.Attachment 2963Attachment 2964

Nice score! I like the barn doors. If mine had barn doors instead of a roll up, I'd probably leave them in place. I had a bit of wood deck repair that I had to do on my truck, over one of the rear wheels. I biscuit jointed a piece of trex decking in place of the wood I cut out. Figured the plastic decking would hold up better. We'll see! Looking forward to keeping tabs on your build, as well as weldmans. Keep us informed!

Looks more solid than most cube vans I usually see, I like the barn doors just as hoodoo mentioned. If anything put a door in a barn door, but at all cost leave those on.