Heck YEAH -- you can waterproof a cardboard box with oil-based paint and
use it for a rain shelter. But there's something to be said for
clear-coated wood in terms of prettiness.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott

On 8/7/2008 10:02 PM brions cars wrote:

> 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
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>