The jist of this post is a search to design a truss without it’s key member as it is normally configured, and I am at a loss to understand why…
Continuous ties are a proven part of good design.
I know I am blessed to be in a part of country with an almost ready supply of long locally milled timber, in part, this is driven by the demand created by the large number of area framers and this is not true for all regions. There are always national timber brokers or the possibility of convincing your local bandmiller that an investment in a bed extension represents regular orders from you, or you could always set up your own mill, it need not be a fancy one if your intent is only to mill the dozen or so long sticks each frame represents, and maybe some tapers here and there
I and other area framers I work with regularly, routinely include continuous ties, plates, joists, and purlins into our designs / frames. It just makes for a stronger and superior frame and additionally, it is far cheaper labor wise to design with long sticks, than it is to join a bunch of short ones.
Guess I’m sayin… fix whats broke.
And Joe is not only an engineering whiz kid, he’s a highly capable framer, well worthy of a listen.
