My Homemade 12 foot Travel Trailer (UPDATED - 07/30/2011)

Hey guys I wasn't sure which area I should post this in, but it is going to be my build journal for my 12 foot travel trailer.. I will post more pictures as money and progress continue..

My estimated dollar amount for this camper should come in right at $2,000 -$2,500
My estimated weight for this travel trailer is going to be around 1,800 - 2,100 fully loaded

I got the camper as a 12' Jayco popup, which I traded for and it had a few parts that were usuable, it does have brand new tires, and a brake system (which needs rebuild)

Now on to some pictures.. I didn't take any when I first brought it home, but here is during the dismantling.


With my table saw and I built these cabinets, Too completely build all three it took six 8 foot 2x4's ripped down to 1"x1.5". And one sheet of 1/4" plywood (haven't picked it up yet). They are light weight and total cost was just about $30 total.
I have enough doors to cover them all, I just don't have my hinges yet, I also re-used the sink.










Here you can see where I am going to frame in the shower area



I put the old pop up door there as a mock up to make sure I would have enough room to squeeze in.. I will have to move the steps as well



Here are some google sketch up pictures of what I plan on it looking like.









I got some good idea for siding as well, I checked into Aluminum siding it would be $700 +/- So I found aluminum flashing for around $20 per roll of 50'x12" So I am going to buy about 8 rolls of it which will be enough to cover it all for around $180 - $200. I will do it on the side in sections, buy stapling and then I will cover it with fiberglass resin, sand smooth, repeat, paint. The front top and back I will do as one piece in stripes..

It should work out well, "bondo" sticks well to aluminum, and I am no rookie at body work, I build and painted a show truck, also build custom fiberglass enclosure for speakers on four wheelers.. Will see what happens, LOL

I still gotta find cheap parts like a good working roof top AC.

Here are what the outside will resemble when I am finished.


The black part on the front, I think instead of roof top AC i may just do a window unit under the dining table, the black would be a black box or a cooler, cut out to disguise the AC while in transit, at the site I would remove it for ventalation. IT would save me about $800 and I could use ceramic heat we have two left from our pop up days

Looks like you got a good project going on Dave. Hope to see you camping in it soon.

I am hoping to have it finished my late fall or early spring. That way Riley will be old enough to start camping

ocb_dave_ocb wrote:I am hoping to have it finished my late fall or early spring. That way Riley will be old enough to start camping

That would be great!

I like the window unit under the dinette. Lots cheaper. Abivens has one of these on his PUP and it works pretty well. Looks like a nice design. The stand-up shower will be nice.

Now see Richard, there is hope for Miss Danger.

That's a whole other thread Tim. I'm not modding as deeply as Dave is. He's serious about having things just the way he wants them!!!

Richard wrote:That's a whole other thread Tim. I'm not modding as deeply as Dave is. He's serious about having things just the way he wants them!!!

So, what your saying is that your mods are not serious ones?

Just for clarification, go back and look at ocb-dave's photos. He's the mod king now! I relinquish my claim to the title. Long live King Dave Smith!

Lol richard. I am always modifying something. I got my new estimates in I should be completing it for $1,900. Depending on what used stuff or free stuff I can come across

Richard wrote:Just for clarification, go back and look at ocb-dave's photos. He's the mod king now! I relinquish my claim to the title. Long live King Dave Smith!

You may relinquish the title, but I always will think of you Richard when it comes to mods.

Hope to see regular updates of this project, if possible.

I hope to have regular updates at least weekly. I am going to buy stuff to finish the cabinets up this weekend I believe. Or I may goahead and get some more frame work done. Not sure which yet

Here are a few quick updates, I only worked on it a few hours today.

I got my plywood flooring, it isnt attached yet, I have to coat the bottom side still. I skinned all of the cabinets, I actually got one trimmed and sanded. Its gonna have to get some filler and re-sanded. I trimmed it and put the counter top material on to check what it would look like..


Here is the shower area



cabinet skinned



A big mess lol



Big mess part duex



One cabinet almost ready for its coat of white



Trim around it



Sorry for the bad pics, they are from my phone and took at night



Better pic of the layout



I am going to try and get some more done after church tomorrow and I will take some better pictures

Thanks Dave for the update pics. It is one thing to read about the progress but it is something else to actually see it coming together. Have you ever seen the video of the guy who built a 5th wheel on U-tube?

Oh yeah I thought that was cool, but he actually bought his stuff from a factory that shut down. I read a lot of the TTT forum. www.mikenchell.com

After church I am going to try and clean the garage up a little and take some better pictures with it out in the yard.

I got a little bit more done today, I finished building the seat for the curb side, I will have to skin it and make a top for it still. I swept the floor a little and took a few better pictures.. Here you can see the tile, I bought this tile at a Dollar Store. I got enough to do 120 Square feet, which will cover the floor and all of the counter tops for $52 dollars..

I put a left over piece of the 5mm up against the seat so you could get an idea.

The cabinets need painted so bad. Next week I wont have a lot of build pics, but I will finish cutting on the cabinets for the doors, I will get the sink hole cut out, and I may tile the counters. I also need to get the roofing tar coated on the bottom... The wife has evicted me from the upstairs garage, so I will be moving everything down to the basement garage too lol.

Great looking job Dave. Will be looking for more pics as the project proceeds.

I put the goop on the bottom today and moved the trailer around to the basement. I also screwed the wood to the frame and I started laying the tiles on the floor nim not sure they are going to work they don't stick very good. I will try and get some good pictures in the next few days. I am going to try and build the walls soon. But I will probably put everything on hold after this week. Because daughters birthday is the weekend after that. More pics as soon as possible

Great job. What are you going to make the walls of Dave?

Im still undecided, Im either going to do the aluminum flashing and bend it with a brake, or Im going to go to indiana and buy from a surplus dealer, or I may just epoxy plywood and paint it.

Hey Dave, you have to add some glue to make the vinyl tiles stick to that OSB. It's pretty common. Looking good!

Yeah I figured that maybe the problem. I think I'm going to pull them back up and try maybe some liquid nails Or something like that. I still have a lot of work but I believe I should have a Campeche unit soon. Were
Shooting for September now since Riley is doing so much better

So, your going to have a shower. Are you going with a residential or a rv shower? How will you do the plumbing?