What to do with no end caps?

[jonplayers]

So what to do if you got no end caps. The PO gutted the trailer and I am thinking the end caps were removed and tossed. It is a 1978 Travelux it has a 13 panel exterior. I was planing on using plywood throughout. I think most people are using veneer over the orginal end caps . And since i don't have them. I am not sure what to do. Copy the exteriors in new aluminum?

Jon

[overlander63]

You could make new pieces out of thin plywood to mimic the exterior panels, and more or less match the rest of the interior.

[jonplayers]

So the interior end caps are not really structural. It is my understandsing that you could not use plywood unless it was going over the interior skins. I am hoping to tie in the ribs with c channel aluminium in order to be able to use only plywood. Anyone tryed this on a long trailer.

Jon

[Foiled Again]

Not sure on Travelux but it may not have HAD interior end caps. Some of the earliest Airstreams didn't at any rate. They just painted Zolatone over the inside of the end caps.

Others have done beautiful (If painfully detailed) work building interior ones of thin veneer flexible plywood, or even shiny aluminum. Figuring the difference between the inside radii and outside ones is a ____________ expletive deleted.

Searching for a link for Adairiondok Airstream except I can't spell the word! effit
Paula

[pbearsailor]

I did my front end cap with Baltic birch ply over my fiberglass original cap. I think you could do it fine in either wood or aluminum without the end cap. Fitting is really not that difficult since the segments overlap.

Cheers,
steve.

[adonh]

If you are going to use plywood maybe bendable plywood would work. I restored and old bonnet to cabinet and used 1/8 bendable plywood to make the curved bonnets that I found at the link below. It comes in 4'X8" sheets and is shipped rolled up in a canister. It only bends one way.

Don

Plywood Company - Buy Bending Panels Online

[Kevin245]

Check out Zepp's approach shown in post #6.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f454...ent-57687.html

[jonplayers]

Wow thanks for all info guys. I think I will end up doing ply in the front and metal in the back since the shower is there. I am still gonna have to figure out a way to use ONLY ply for panels.

[DontBSilly]

This is how A D I R O N D A C K is spelled. Not being critical but I live there so it's one of the words I know how to spell. And it is a very unique unit.

[jonplayers]

Wow just checked out ( and book marked) that trailer....WOW. Inspiring and discouraged at the same time Thanks for the great ideas. It reminds me of one of the first ones I had found online Timeless Travel Trailers has one in the gallery that has birch throughout. I plan on using birch in mine also. Thanks again for all the great ideas


Jon

[jonplayers]

Originally Posted by pbearsailor

I did my front end cap with Baltic birch ply over my fiberglass original cap. I think you could do it fine in either wood or aluminum without the end cap. Fitting is really not that difficult since the segments overlap.

Cheers,
steve.

What an awesome job you did Steve...love it...I have been reading your thread.