Creating a replacement floor template from a sketchy predecessor...

[KCN]

The trailer had a partial and very terrible, awful, no-good rear floor replacement at some time in the past. As a result, I'm not sure what the original specs were and from what I've read, with AS engineering being relatively EXACT, I'm worried that my new floor will be the wrong size...

Suggestions on how to handle this?

Posting pix of some of the ugliness.

Thx all - appreciate all the input. Also posted this question on my other thread on General Repairs...

KC

[mhutchinson]

My J-channels were in decent shape so I riveted them back onto the interior skin and clamped and traced the floor profile onto the plywood.



So far it seems to have worked well at matching the cardboard patterns I made when the trailer was together.

My floor was so rotted in all 4 corners it fell to mush and was no use for a template.

Good luck,
Matt

[VIKING]

I made a template of the inside of the "J" channel and then retraced a line 1-1/2" beyond that line to give me the radius at the outside edge of the "J" channel. It was very close to 22" radius on mine, but you can't go entirely by that.
Best of luck,
Rich the Viking

[Minno]

We did the same as Viking, traced the interior of the channel and added onto it what we thought would be the right amt. We used 1/4 inch Luaun for the template just on the back and front curves. It worked for us. We did a shell-on floor replacement, though, so a little different from yours (shell-off is easier, I think, after going thru a shell-on).

Kay

[KCN]

Originally Posted by mhutchinson

My J-channels were in decent shape so I riveted them back onto the interior skin and clamped and traced the floor profile onto the plywood.



So far it seems to have worked well at matching the cardboard patterns I made when the trailer was together.

My floor was so rotted in all 4 corners it fell to mush and was no use for a template.

Good luck,
Matt

Okay, so here's what I did...hope it works but won't sweat if I have to play with it a bit Thanks for suggestion (and Minno and Viking as well). The rear one I traced from above, the front, which had a solid floor still, I traced from beneath the trailer. The rear ended up larger (wider radius) than the front, as it's supposed to be, I believe.

Luan was a great suggestion for pattern material - light enough for me to manipulate by myself, stiff enough for a good pattern.

KC

[CanoeStream]

It's called other names too but I've had good experiences using a 'story stick' to deal with duplicating curved shapes -- Story Stick to copy irregular shapes