DIY Foamie Camper Plans for Track Days

[JohnSeeg]

Hey all, New around these parts, but it seems like the place to be.

I've been playing around with ideas for a camping setup, mostly for track days where I don't want to pile hotel costs on top of everything else. Right now my leading plan is a a foamie truck bed camper, but I'm here to kick around ideas.

I'll be throwing a thread up in in "Foamies" to get into my current plans in more detail.

 

[Drag-an-Fly Camper]

HI all, Just like a lot of you I have been continplating building my own squaredrop due to cost and customization. I almost bought a Hiker trailer and looked at Runaway trailer, but decided to build Foam and PMF Build instead.

The following are deal breakers:
1. Must be able to stand up to put my pants on. I'm to old.
2. Must use same tires as tow vehicle.
3. Must be light, towing with RAV4 Adventure. 3500lbs capacity.
4. Must have airconditioner, live in Texas.
5. Must look cool.
1st foam model concept, but refining design still. Wish me luck.

 

[KCStudly]

Is it a rear entrance single door?

I like the look of the facets, but that very same feature (or features) will very greatly complicate construction and compromise side wall strength. PMF despises inside corners and every time you break the straight path of the long fibers the tensile strength of the skin becomes less effective. On the other hand, if those same features have internal structure, such as cabinetry or bulkheads to back them up, this becomes less of a concern. What can you tell us about your interior layout?

 

[KCStudly]

There was a young builder a few years back, seem to recall his name may have been Zach, whose 2nd build had a similar look and clamshell top. His was ply construction and he towed it behind a Subaru Outback (or similar model). He may have had a tonneau vinyl roof with screen mess under, but that's not important. Just saying, he achieved a similar look with intelligent use of panels that you might want to reference. Maybe one of our fellow members can help find that build.

 

[JohnSeeg]

That's a very cool idea for a popup mechanism! Definitely hitting your 5th bullet point. I'm still in the planning stage for mine over in the "Foamies" section, got some feedback on AC there that may be relevant to you.

I'm curious about the windows you have on the model, have you found a window that looks like that or will you be making your own?

 

[Drag-an-Fly Camper]

I found & bought a Climate right Airconditioner/heater 2500 BTU unit. Windows will be 1/4" acrylic on pvc frame embedded into the 2" foam. With the hatch up two vents will be exposed.

 

[KCStudly]

Zach's user name is Absolutsnowboarder. In second look the color changes and parting line in your paper model may have mislead me to think you were intending shaped sides, whereas maybe that's just a paint line and two pieces so that you can easily take the front top off of the model... perhaps not a feature of the full scale camper(?).

 

[Drag-an-Fly Camper]

Is it a rear entrance single door?

I like the look of the facets, but that very same feature (or features) will very greatly complicate construction and compromise side wall strength. PMF despises inside corners and every time you break the straight path of the long fibers the tensile strength of the skin becomes less effective. On the other hand, if those same features have internal structure, such as cabinetry or bulkheads to back them up, this becomes less of a concern. What can you tell us about your interior layout?

Yep, single door in back 28"x44". 1/8 ply laminated 2" foam inside and outside. Side walls 1/8" ply inside only cover in PMF In & out.

 

[Drag-an-Fly Camper]

That's a very cool idea for a popup mechanism! Definitely hitting your 5th bullet point. I'm still in the planning stage for mine over in the "Foamies" section, got some feedback on AC there that may be relevant to you.

I'm curious about the windows you have on the model, have you found a window that looks like that or will you be making your own?

I have decided whether to use acrylic or lexan.

 

[Drag-an-Fly Camper]

Zach's user name is Absolutsnowboarder. In second look the color changes and parting line in your paper model may have mislead me to think you were intending shaped sides, whereas maybe that's just a paint line and two pieces so that you can easily take the front top off of the model... perhaps not a feature of the full scale camper(?).

This is my 1st foam model. I am starting a 2nd foam model to scale based 0.1" = 1' and a little build friendly design.

 

[Drag-an-Fly Camper]

Is it a rear entrance single door?

I like the look of the facets, but that very same feature (or features) will very greatly complicate construction and compromise side wall strength. PMF despises inside corners and every time you break the straight path of the long fibers the tensile strength of the skin becomes less effective. On the other hand, if those same features have internal structure, such as cabinetry or bulkheads to back them up, this becomes less of a concern. What can you tell us about your interior layout?

I will be reinforcing the top hatch with pvc strips at the corners and ply in/out at hinge locations.

 

[KCStudly]

Looks like Zach changed his user name to zkengle. His 2nd build thread I mentioned was the X-Cubed.