Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well in my other posts you will see I got a $100 trailer.  I am using this as a one man camper conversion project (teardrop'ish) to see if I want to do a much larger conversion.  I plan in this being a one man camping, fishing, and kayak setup.  It is only 47" wide on the inside and being it is a bolt together trailer and the roof is leak free so I do not want to widen it and lose the benefit of the existing structure.  The sides are skinned 3/4
plywood.  Is it worth it to insulate the sides?  I hate to lose the 2 to 2.5 inches in width to add the insulation.  Any experience with .25 insulation or refectix with luan over it on the inside?  If I go thinner it would be better or just leave the insulation out?  I am still reading up on the strength 3/4 inch sandwich sheets too as a possibility.  Since this trailer is so small I can experiment without being concerned of losing too much money. The roof has 1 inch metal ribs so it will be easy to insulated and cover.  It's just the sides I am concerned about.  Any insight or lessons learned is appreciated.  Rick

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I forget how much moisture a person gives off but it's significant.

My first teardrop was commercially built with plywood walls. Condensation was always a problem. Our current teardrop has sandwiched walls with 3/4" of insulation inside. No condensation.

And make sure you have lots of ventilation capabilities.

Tony

I plan on lots of ventilation especially since this one is so small. I was debating using 3/4 sheet between 1/4 plywood. I can leave the wood sticking out from the edge so I can still utilize the existing brackets. I will k ow more when I get one teardown. I want all new wood since what is in there is full of oil and grease soaked wood.

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I tend to camp more in really cold weather than when it's nice outside. What I've discovered is that mere wood as insulation has a tendency to have frost build up on it in really cold weather. Where you use foam, you don't have the problem. Perhaps a sandwich incorporating both would be a good thing. My td is 4 feet wide and I used 3/4 insulation on both sides. I fit inside with a medium sized dog and I am not exactly fit or trim in size.

Art

Insulate between the ribs at least under the new plywood interior. You'll be glad you did. It'll be cooler when in the sun and condensation will be less of a problem at night. Quieter too.

I've got a sandwiched build of 1/8" luan, 3/4"Styrofoam between supports (1x2" poplar), 1/8" maple ply. Top, bottom, and sides are insulated.
I've camped in 27 degrees and been comfy. On that same trip, a couple camped in a metal sided td without insulation and were so cold that they left the next day. Insulation helps combat condensation, frost, noise, cold, and heat. It's cheap and lightweight; so, the only reason not to insulate might be because it's a small amount of extra work. But, you'll be sorry if you don't insulate.

Yep !

January 08 shivaree !

It went to -1 temp that night with a -16 wind chill. Thank God for a good heater and lots of insulation.





Bunch of crazies anyway !!!!

bobhenry wrote:Yep !

January 08 shivaree !

It went to -1 temp that night with a -16 wind chill. Thank God for a good heater and lots of insulation.





Bunch of crazies anyway !!!!

Damn funny. You hang with some shady desperados.

T