Floorless Homemade Shelter

[Yukon Yahoo]

HI All,

I was in the process of building a 4x8 portable (I got the floor sidewalls and the runners built) that I was going to cover with a thinsulate/canvas cover when I stated to see the weight of the shelter going up and up. I used 1/2 plywood with 1 inch Styrofoam and 2 x 2 for the walls frames and 2x4 for the runner supports.
I stopped construction when I realised this was going to be too heavy for me alone and I started to see where the weight was coming from - the floor

My aluminum poles and connectors are less than 20 lbs, my insulated cover is aprox 40-50 lbs so I wanted my shelter to be less than 100 lbs and so I think the only way to do it is a floorless design. I have started to re-design the hut so that I have a bolted 2x6 with 2x4 runners and a 2x4 front and end frame. This is only to provide and attachment point for my poles. The shelter can be set up at the "boat launch" and skimmed over the ice all day without taking it down at the end of the day. removed the pole and cover and you are only left with a 4x8 wood frame and some puckboad plastic on the runners. light and warm - what more could I ask for?

Has anyone build or seen something like this?
I will post pics of the build as I go.

[Whopper Stopper]

Looking forward to seeing some pictures. Good luck making it.

                   WS

[michianafisherman]

Still too heavy and you are going over your budget of 100 lbs, plus the strength with be affected if you let it freeze in. Without a floor it will be hard to keep it square or from tweaking itself apart. Plenty of other ways to meet you goal of a lightweight shanty.  1/2 inch plywood isn't one of them.

[Yukon Yahoo]

Hi michianafisherman,

first off -  Your portable shanty design is unreal! what a great hut,  and as I posted I would love to build one of those, but I have purchased nice lightweight aluminum Poles and some fantasic insulation fabrice to cover those poles, so I am down that road until completion.

I should have mentioned that this is a portable hut (so freezing in place should not be an issue, and I have limitations with my 5x10 trailer in that my Skandic take up all but 1 foot by 10 fee of it. So I am trying to construct a shelter that folds near flat and is warm.   

[michianafisherman]

With a floorless design you can rig a shoulder harness and walk inside while moving from one spot to another.

[Drift Dodger]

... set up at the "boat launch" and skimmed over the ice all day without taking it down at the end of the day. ...
... I have limitations with my 5x10 trailer in that my Skandic take up all but 1 foot by 10 fee of it. So I am trying to construct a shelter that folds near flat and is warm.   

I believe the ice, snow and slush of an open floor contributes more to the damp & cold in-shack conditions than most people realize, particularly in more extreme cold outdoor temps. So, just thinking outside the box a bit ...

YY, since you were planning 2x4 runners already, maybe just build a combination skid & hinged floor system that folds out to a platform large enough to secure your 5x5 SubZero or Cabela 6x8 shelter; include some trap doors for holes of course! You could make it a bit oversize ... even at say 4x8 'folded-up' it would easily fit the available space on your trailer. Set it all up at the 'boat launch' and you're good to go; tow it around the ice with the snowmobile, don't have to tear down between moves ... just back at the launch when done for the day.

Sorry, I realize the topic is 'floorless' and this doesn't address your insulated wall preference either!

[Yukon Yahoo]

Thanks for the suggestions,
michianafisherman, I just got back from a horrible night - see my last post fro the details (but the short of it is my hub shelter is kaput)
how well does your shelter stand up in high winds? I am reconsidering a different build after last night maybe a sectional type michianafisherman shelter.

any chance you could offfer any help or suggestions - I would like a 5 x 10 footprint.

thanks

[michianafisherman]

Thanks for the suggestions,
michianafisherman, I just got back from a horrible night - see my last post fro the details (but the short of it is my hub shelter is kaput)
how well does your shelter stand up in high winds? I am reconsidering a different build after last night maybe a sectional type michianafisherman shelter.

any chance you could offfer any help or suggestions - I would like a 5 x 10 footprint.

thanks

My shanty holds up well in the wind. The critical part is folding up or down in the wind. But once it is up, I have ways to keep it strong. My shanty walls are only held on by the small screws in the hinges.

[Yukon Yahoo]

That is good news. Do you have any ideas for a 5x10 type set up?

[michianafisherman]

Are you kidding? I have more ideas than time, money, or room!



Do you want a cool design that fits on a trailer? Because a 5 won't fit in a pickup bed. Needs to be a four or you have to make some inserts to go over the wheel wells. Then it rides higher going down the road. Or do you have an enclosed 5x10? Then I would need the rear door size because all trailers are different height.
Other problems are the plywood comes 48 inches by 96 inches or 4x8 foot. So to make a bigger shanty you need to put a splice in the floor. You can do a splice but I don't like adding weight. I hate adding one piece of wood unless it is absolutely necessary.