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Old 03-01-2015, 12:10 PM   #1
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1978 25' Tradewind
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How to find the center-line on the floor?

OK, my new dinette is coming together, but I need to make sure that things are parallel and perpendicular and stuff.

And for that, I need to find the center-line. I need to make a fine Sharpie line right down the middle of the (still bare plywood) floor.

Seems like the exact center of the front window and the exact center of the rear window would be easy-to-find reference points, but there's furniture in front of both of them, and no easy way to transfer that position to the floor.

Does anybody have a quick easy method of laying out a center-line?
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:23 PM   #2
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On some newer model trailers, there is a steel brace running fore-and-aft down the center line. A stud finder would help you locate it.
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:26 PM   #3
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Unfortunately, mine is a 1978. I'll give it a shot, though.

Thanks!
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:27 PM   #4
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I would use a string with thumb tacks first. Tack down front and back measure and move as needed to get center.
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:29 PM   #5
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Also if your trailer is level side to side find the center of the ceiling then use plumb bob.
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:30 PM   #6
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I'm liking the string with thumb tacks. Thanks!

Now I'm stuck on "how do I figure out where to put the string?"
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:51 PM   #7
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Plane geometry memory... Pick a point on each side of the trailer - say the front of the wheel wells and with a compass (or string and chalk) draw a semi-circle big enough to cross the center line, then do the same from the front of the other wheel well keeping the length of the string exactly the same. The two points where the semi-circles cross will be directly on the centerline. Use a straight edge and draw the line, extending from front to back.

Of course where that can go wanky is if the side to side points are 1/3 of an inch off.

Paula
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Old 03-01-2015, 12:56 PM   #8
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Try a laser level that projects a line up the wall as well as across the floor to find window center.


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Old 03-01-2015, 04:52 PM   #9
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Well, what I ended up doing was this. I ran a string from the bottom center of the front window to the bottom center of the back window, held on with gorilla tape. This gave me a center line about 3 feet off the floor.

The I used an L square with an extension to transfer that line to the floor. I used a long board crossways to reduce the inaccuracy due to the undeveloped floor. I had a roll of 8" aluminum flashing that made a great straight edge.

Of course, there was my usual amount of fiddling and remeasuring.

Thanks for all the great input!
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Old 03-01-2015, 04:54 PM   #10
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That would be "uneven" floor. Dang autocorrect!
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Old 03-01-2015, 06:01 PM   #11
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It works.
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Old 03-02-2015, 04:03 PM   #12
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The Handyman has it right.
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