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Part 3 — Insulation, windows and trim
How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - Insulation, Windows/Door, Aluminum Trim (Part 3)
Source: How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - Insulation, Windows/Door, Aluminum Trim (Part 3) · 2018-07-24 · 15:54
What Joe did
- Installed the door with butyl tape and sheet-metal screws.
- Bonded Rmax foil-faced foam insulation to the skin and sealed gaps with canned foam.
- Caulked seams, added roof seam tape, then installed aluminum trim over butyl tape.
- Added wood backing, lights, and accessible trailer wiring.
- Changed the rear opening for a larger window, then added a second insulation layer.
- Installed wall board, accent stripe, and windows.
Numbers
| What | Value | Where in the video |
|---|---|---|
| Roof seam tape | 4 inches wide | “added a 4-inch wide seam tape” |
| Original wall insulation | 1 inch | “one inch of insulation on the wall” |
| Framework depth | 1½ inches | “inch and a half of framework” |
| Extra wall insulation | ½ inch | “add an extra half-inch on all” |
| Tongue-jack plate | ¼ inch steel | “a quarter inch steel plate” |
Materials and parts
| Item | Detail as Joe says it |
|---|---|
| Rmax insulation | Foam board lined with aluminum foil. |
| Weather seal | Butyl tape, permanent lap sealant, seam tape, corner/roof-edge tape. |
| Interior wall | Luan (utility plywood), sealed on the back. |
| Trim and skin | Aluminum trim and accent stripe; VHB tape. |
Tools Joe used
- Pizza cutter, table saw, drill, and sander.
Tips and mistakes
- Joe changed the rear opening after the first window was not the exit window he expected.
- He kept wiring accessible rather than burying it in the wall.
- He bolted the tongue jack so it could be replaced later.
For my build
- Nathan’s note: pick real windows before framing their openings.
- Nathan’s note: reserve a wiring route for off-grid power before walls close.
- Nathan’s note: insulation thickness must follow Nathan’s own layout and wiring plan.