This is what has worked for me in the past. I use 5/8" or 3/4" exterior grade B-C plywood. You have to keep the moisture from getting to the wood. So, with a dry piece of plywood prime and paint it on every edge with three coats of floor and porch enamel. It must be oil or epoxy based paint. I have had very good luck by doing this and get about eight years out of my plywood. I could do better if I maintained the finish and did not abuse the boards by dropping loads of gravel from a tractor into it. If I had just a tow behind gear luggage trailer, I would do the following. Paint as above on one side plus all edges. Then I would bond with contact cement, a piece of textured aluminum sheeting on the other unpainted side. Then I would use an good quality caulk sealer to seal the piece in place. While plastic/vinyl sheeting would work in other parts of the country, my uv exposure would quickly destroy it here. I get snow, rain, cold, and extreme heat here. Pretty brutal climate.

Brion S.
Zion Canyon, UT

> Tom Buese may have some suggestions about finishes for plywood that
> can
> actually stand up to weather. Then again, maybe nothing can.
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>
>
> On 8/6/2008 5:56 PM Chris S wrote:
>
>> The chassis is a kit from Harbor Freight:
>>
>> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf<http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf>?
>> Itemnumber=42708
>>
>> I bought it on sale for $120, but that was in 2001.  I initially
>> used it to
>> haul a car-top carrier.
>>
>> I had the remainder of the frame welded by a friend to my specs in
>> 2004.
>> They did an outstanding job!  The top section is a box with a
>> hinged lid
>> that bolts on to the original frame.  I did this so I could remove
>> it incase
>> the chassis was damaged.  I used birch plywood for the sides and
>> the lid
>> which took a lot of labor to sand and coat with several layers of
>> Helmsman's
>> "marine" finish.  I  think I worked 30 hours over 2.5 days to get
>> it done
>> before a planned trip.  The finish proved nearly worthless as it
>> did not
>> stand up to weather the way the can says it should.  I plan on
>> installing
>> marine plywood in it this winter.
>>
>> I'll dig up some construction pics this weekend.
>>
>> Chris.
>>
>> 2008/8/6 Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com<mailto:magikvw@gmail.com>>
>>
>>> Chris,
>>>
>>> I echo Pete's question here. Was this trailer part of a kit you
>>> found and
>>> if so any chance you might point someone towards where you found
>>> that kit?
>>>
>>> That trailer looks about perfect. Pete - it reminds me os Olsen's
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>> '90 Carat (Grover)
>>> '86 (We call this one Parts)
>>> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>>>
>>
>>
>>