Squaredrop Camper Build, Part 2

[@brucestephenson5962]

Best part of the video is you’re son is helping. Regardless if he wants to or not. 1 day he’ll remember this.

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Thanks Bruce! I really enjoy getting the kids involved. We already look back at videos we posted a few years ago and the kids enjoy seeing themselves change. Thanks again for watching.

[@TheParkAttendant]

Trust me, those boys are having fun. I remember being involved with my father and grandfathers projects. It was some of the best times my brother and I had.

[@MichaelPerez-u9w]

You guys Rock!!! Father's being Fathers

[@roadhog1987]

Just subscribed to your channel love seeing homemade campers

[@gabrieluribe1852]

It's really nice, When your kids are still at the age where you can get them to Help, My younger son helped me build my 2014 Teardrop trailer, but I'm always modifieing it like a rear w/c and shower and next I'll be deleting the restroom and converting it into a slide out full kitchen, has an A/C And outside shower.

[@wranglerjeepdogs906]

Family fun! Timeless keep up the great work.

[@KLUJICS]

2 yrs ago and my input is way too late, but something that one might consider would be to take advantage of the front of the trailer, over the tongue. I would also consider taking advantage of the sides. It seems some reinforced light weight, durable metal framing would be practical for storage compartments over the wheel wells and front-back of the trailer. Those compartments could be weather treated and the doors to the storage could be water proofed to provide some much needed modest customized storage. I guess the weight limit of the trailer and axel might limit this idea a bit. Fun project and once again, quality time with the boys is priceless. 😍

[@gregoryfortenberry741]

Really great work, wife and I are doing this now, just getting ideas, got a 38 ft 5 ft wheel donor, plan on using everything from it. Should be a bonding experience 🌪🤷🏿‍♂️

[@kcb5336]

Good luck young man! I’m assuming you’re young because anyone married for any length of time tends to use projects like these to get away from the wife. My comment is meant to be jocular as well.

[@gregoryfortenberry741]

@@kcb5336 nope, I’m a young 58, brother with r. a. , if ya slow down you stop, if you stop you die. Plain and simple. Enjoy each day( and night) as it were your last.

[@mlangfordoutdoor]

Heck yeah this will camp I am a camper fan too

[@crossthreadaeroindustries8554]

Excellent design - binge-watching this build series, just what I need. Going 5x10 plywood really levels this up. The 4x8-based designs seemed just a bit too small for my liking.

[@garykamer9100]

Looks a lot like my build. Mine is 5x8 and is Osb and will be covered with PMF

[@stephenmason5773]

Very cool project!!!!

[@tonytellez2452]

Very impressed on your little pod...what is the weight on that thing?

[@Franisboche]

Where did you order 5x10 plywood?

[@jwiereng]

cool, simple is good. How did you decide that 6 inch spacing of the pocket holes is sufficient? Maybe I am a skeptic and would use 3 inch spacing, twice as many screws as you

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Just looking at it is how I decided. Also I glued every joint so there is no way this thing is coming apart.

[@patrickheath5011]

Dumb question. What is the lightest possible plywood that could be used? Would 1/2 inch work?

[@outbacktrax6699]

Hi all, I just found your site and this looks great, I’m making something similar mine is 5’H x 8’L with 3/4 fir. My question for you is when you did your pocket hole screws on the inside did your screws go through the other side? What was the angle you use y and what size of screws did you use. Garett

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

I used a Kreg jig to drill all the pocket holes. Not sure what angle that jig is but I’m sure you can look it up online. Screws are Kreg screws made for their pocket holes. They have a wide shoulder to grip the workpiece and hold tight. I also glued every joint on this camper. It’s solid as a rock. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@gorila1958]

Insulation ? Framing ? Just asking .

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Yes to all. You should watch the build series in full. 3/4” foam insulation all around and the box is extremely strong using pocket hole joints all around. Thanks for watching.

[@TheDouglash]

I might be getting ahead but if you leave the trailer rails on the door will have to be above those rails. That will put the door 10-15” above the floor (less if the mattress is down). Won’t that make an uncomfortable entry/exit into the camper?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Yeah, you’re ahead. You’ve probably watched the remaining videos and found out you’re right. The doors are situated higher. Entry isn’t really an issue.

[@jessys9868]

REALLY GOOD VIDEO

[@SixPack185]

How much extra weight does the wood make, advise using possible aluminum studs?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Weight is one thing I would try different if I built another one. It’s not terrible, but this one is build HD, 3/4” plywood all around and 3/4” trim and support wood. Do some math before building and estimate weight. It could make a big difference depending on your tow vehicle.

[@jessegross1760]

Where can I get 5 foot wide plywood

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

I ordered it from Menards. Came 5’ wide by 10’ long and 3/4” thick.

[@georgelanz5755]

I thought it only came 4×8 sheets

[@jamesbryson6563]

I'm old and don't see as well as I used to and that being said how do you get 5' tall side walls with no seams...at least I can't see a see a seam. Thank you

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Hi James…..I used custom order plywood that is 5’ wide by 10’ long.

[@CleoCoal]

I am building a camper like this it's also removable but it's very heavy because I used wood as well but it's coming along.

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Nice! Mine is still working great. Using a separate utility trailer makes the whole thing a bit heavier, but also very sturdy and reliable. Good luck!

[@hugoperaltaaraya8583]

Great work i like

[@bluediamond4442]

Hallo! I like your camper very much. Could you tell me the dimensions of the wood wals?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

The exterior dimensions are 10’ long, 5’ wide and 5’ tall. The interior dimensions of the sleeping cabin are just short of 5’ tall and wide by around 7-1/2’ long.

[@michaelhakala7742]

Nice plan.

[@kcb5336]

Why do pocket holes if there is an option to screw all the way through?

[@kakman1958]

Especially if you're going to do the pocket holes the wrong direction. They should never screw towards the edge of a board.

[@svetlanagladkih4777]

thanks

[@AR-do3gj]

Where did you get the 5’ wide plywood? I can’t find it anywhere.

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Roseburg 3/4 x 5 x 10 ACX Sanded Fir Plywood at Menards From Menards home improvement store here in Michigan.

[@AR-do3gj]

@@LivingOurAmericanDream So I looked it up and they don’t ship to my state My state sucks. Thanks for the reply!

[@rickelliott7653]

Great job. I’d really like to build something like this. I have a question for ya. I have a trailer very similar to yours but a 8’x5’. Do you think I could build my removable 9’ which would leave a one foot overhang off the back? I really want a roomy rear galley but I think it would be too cramped inside if I build the square drop 8’. I followed your entire build beginning to end and am thoroughly impressed. Happy camping.

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Hi Rick. I think you could get away with a design that overhangs the rear by 12” as long as you have appropriate weight in the front. Maybe adding a sliding drawer in the front that has your fridge and maybe some storage. Just make sure your tongue weight is right or you will have problems trailering. If you followed my build, I ended up sliding my pod further to the front for more tongue weight and it trailers much better now. Thanks for watching the series and good luck with your build.

[@rickelliott7653]

@@LivingOurAmericanDream Thanks for the quick reply. I was actually thinking of running the front of my square drop approximately 12” up and past the front of the railing which would give me room to add front interior cabinets which would in turn add additional tongue weight. I plan on making mine more of a 12 volt solar system with the option of running shore power but mostly 12v. Thanks again

[@ronb6182]

Just get a trailer one foot longer if possible. Maybe more balanced with the axle on the trailer, a double tandem trailer would also help.

[@josephwallis6402]

What's your plan on getting it on/off the trailer. I've got the exact same situation but I couldn't think of a good way.

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Hi Joseph. I use the winch on the front of my atv. There’s a hitch on the front so I attach the trailer to that and then the winch to the camper pod. To get it off, the trailer is attached to the tow vehicle and I winch it off from the rear. I’ll be doing a video on this in the future. Thanks for watching.

[@uncle_creepy2743]

wait 5' x 10' plywood? is that a thing.? if so, im so enlightened now, ive been a carpenter for 25 years and ive never seen 5x10 :) awesome

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

It is indeed a thing. Special order at Menards.

[@pascualmedina3897]

Also come 12 for long

[@djalexa92]

Is that 5x8 plywood? Sorry if I didn’t hear you mention that on the video. Only stuff I can find is 4x8

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

It’s actually 5x10 plywood at 3/4” thick. Mine was special order at a home store here in Michigan named Menards. I had to ask someone at the service desk because most of the employees did not know they sold that size.

[@axemastersinc3269]

Why is it so short?

[@ВладимирВоронин-н7щ]

Мне нравится ваше решение

[@barbarawalker3620]

👍👍👍

[@douglansburg4545]

Plywood is it 5 ×10

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Yes.

[@Paulcrystalwater]

So 5 sheets of ply, BETTER PICK UP THE PACE!!!

[@hldye7442]

trailer LxW ?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

My trailer deck is 5’ wide and 10’ long.

[@garymull1972]

Found you on tictoc

[@jugglingtaxibikeride2170]

No 2/4 or 2/3 studs are you sure not going to fall apart on the highway . Why not put studs or medal studs first than plywood.

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Hi. Actually, if you’ve ever built structures using a Kreg jig with glued joints, they’re really, really strong. So far we’ve taken this rig across Michigan several times and from Michigan to Florida and back once, no problems. Next trip is Michigan to Yellowstone national park this summer, camping in grant village campground. Looking forward to that one. Thanks for watching.

[@charliemoore1199]

Why not tall enough to stand in ?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

I based the design on tiny campers with the intent being small and lightweight.

[@robertsisu]

mr. Smiley

[@paulmilne3242]

Unfortunately you wasted a HUGE AMOUNT of space. You should have built the walls up from over outside edge of wheels

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Paul, with that logic, it should be two feet taller and two feet longer. The intention was a small camper that can be removed from the trailer. It works great. The neat part is, when you build yours, you can build the walls up from the outside edge of the wheels! Thanks for watching!

[@jugglingtaxibikeride2170]

No 2/4 studs

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

There are no 2x boards in this camper. Tried to go lighter weight and less bulky walls.

[@senolstepford]

5:26 :D

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

😅

[@garykamer9100]

Looks al

[@Palmercot]

Nice to have slave labor. My two sons are grown and in a different state.

[@crazylk10]

Where did you get the 5 foot wide plywood?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Menards home improvement store. It’s special order

[@VeggieBeard]

Where did you get the 5x10 plywood?

[@LivingOurAmericanDream]

Menards