Fish House Frame Options

[mossyoak_87]

I have been wanting to build a fish house for some time now, and I am starting to get all the pieces together, but don't know if I am going to be wasting my time. I have recently purchased an older pop up camper (early 90's) to be gutted and used for the frame, and have a bunch of second hand barn steel. I know that the fish house will weigh more than the original pop up camper, does anyone know somebody who has done something similar and does the frame hold up? Also was thinking to cut weight by investing in a rubber roof over barn steel, I'm worried that the screws on the barn steel will loosen over time and cause the roof to leak. Main thing is the frame though, will it hold????? The house will be 7 x 10 plus a 3 foot V.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

What is the camper frame made out of?

You won't want to put a rubber roof over pole barn steel. At every screw and rib in the siding, you won't be able to get the roof to seal down tight, and over time the roof will 'flap' and create holes. You'll also have sharp edges at the sides.

Best bet is to get some sort of an upside-down J-channel to go over the top edge of the wall siding. You'll want the top part of the J channel to be the same height as your roofing plywood. Run your rubber roof over the J channel, and down. Secure this with the aluminum termination strips sold next to the rubber roofing, and pole barn screws.

From my 2009 build:

[mossyoak_87]

The frame is made mostly out of steel 2"x3"x(1/8)" thick U channel. Horizontal members running the width of the trailer every 2 feet.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

You won't want to load that up too heavy. Better than an angle iron frame, but not nearly as strong as tube steel. Should be okay...just keep the load light, and take it easy on rough roads.