Wooden Roof Trusses for Travel Trailer...where??

[cynthiab0626]

Hello. We have a 1997 Skyline Layton and currently stripping the inside to replace the roof. We cannot find wooden trusses anywhere including dealers and lumber yards. A little sketchy on making our own. Does anyone know where these can be purchased, already assembled? Thanks in advance.

[BFlinn181]

Elkhart, IN is the recreational vehicle capital city. They have numerous suppliers of lumber and parts for trailers, most are wholesalers though.

What are the dimensions of the parts you need? Are the arched or flat? If arched, you could cut the profile out of plywood and laminate them together. You could do the same thing if they're straight too. You mention 'trusses' which in my mind usually means multiple parts fastened together. Do you have an old one out to use as a template?

[LadyFitz...]

Most the trusses I've seen would be simple to build yourself. They are just 1"x2" strips of lumber usually spaced with 2"x2" or 2"x3" blocks. The factory versions use truss joining plates to fasten them together; don't use them. While very strong, they really need to be pressed into place; hammering them in doesn't work well (don't ask how I know). Instead, just screw and glue everything together. Be sure to use good, straight grained lumber without any knots (cherry pick the pile no matter how much the dealer may not like it). You can deconstruct one or more of the old trusses to make patterns for the spacers if needed (they need to have the correct top angles although that isn't too difficult to determine).

[BFlinn181]

Use C Select or at least 1 Common grade of lumber. D Select or 2 Common will have knots, splits, and other imperfections that wouldn't make a very strong rafter in such small dimension lumber.

[cynthiab0626]

I thank you for all your suggestions. Another thing we are wondering, when we are replacing the trusses, how do we put the duct work for the ac/heating, and wires back through the new trusses? Will we have to cut and splice all the wires and cut the ducts? We are going to be removing the outside top roof and replacing all the wood and putting on a new rubber roof. Sorry for all the questions but we are just starting this process....
I tried attaching a video...that didn't work. Tried pictures instead, that didn't work.


Thank you to all of you who gave us the great suggestions for the trusses.

[BFlinn181]

How many trusses do you have to replace? If it's only a couple, I'd build the bottom and uprights on the floor, lift it into place and screw the top arch on top, enclosing the wiring and duct work inside. It would be a lot faster and safer than cutting and splicing all the wiring, plus it's not legal to just splice 120 v wires outside of a junction box.

[cynthiab0626]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

How many trusses do you have to replace? If it's only a couple, I'd build the bottom and uprights on the floor, lift it into place and screw the top arch on top, enclosing the wiring and duct work inside. It would be a lot faster and safer than cutting and splicing all the wiring, plus it's not legal to just splice 120 v wires outside of a junction box.

Thank You SO MUCH! That makes perfect sense. We actually have to replace 10 of them but some are two together, side by side. We did not want to splice or cut anything. We are going with your plan. Thanks Again!!

[LadyFitz...]

Originally Posted by cynthiab0626

Thank You SO MUCH! That makes perfect sense. We actually have to replace 10 of them but some are two together, side by side. We did not want to splice or cut anything. We are going with your plan. Thanks Again!!

Instead of putting two trusses side by side, just make one truss twice as wide. Less work and will be a little stronger.

[cynthiab0626]

Thank you. We were contemplating making the trusses wide. You all are Very Much Appreciated!