how much insulation in your teardrop?

[canned o minimum]

I currently have a 1946 aluminum,traditional 4x8. The cabin is made of aluminum angle and skinned with aircraft aluminum. It was never "finished" on the interior so I insulated it with 3/4 inch Styrofoam and skinned the interior with 1/8th red oak paneling. I've camped in near freezing weather (34 degrees) and it was warm and cozy. I also have 4 sheets of the Styrofoam on the floor ( To bring the mattress up to meet the door)

I hafta say that when I owned a "Little Guy", the walls wetre 3/4 plywood and I veneered the interior walls with 1/8th birch. I insulated the ceiling with sum fiberglass, owens corning, pink panther, house insulation and it was quite warm in 30 degree weather.

I believe that with a traditional" build ( 4x8 ) you don't need very much insulation to keep the cabin warm with such little "volume" to heat up. Of course, a good sleeping bag or wool blanket helps a great deal...

[Socal Tom]

I have R10 in the ceilings, and 3/4 ply walls. With two bodies it stays pretty warm. I had it below freezing (17F) for one trip, and now I have a couple of cheap blankets that I hang on the walls. The really cut the chill coming off the walls.
Tom

[noseoil]

Slow, my sandwich walls have 3/4" foil-faced foam for inserts & the roof has 2 layers of the same. Used 3/4" plywood for the sandwich walls (with 1/8" birch skins inside & outside) & 1 1/2" for roof spars. For the small amount of money it cost it was worth the extra time it took. I figure it's like a house, too much insulation isn't possible, since it ends up being comfort in the long run.





For me now, comfort is a good part of the camping experience, otherwise we would be sleeping on the ground with a woobie under a tarp. Nothing wrong with woobies & tarps, I just prefer a trailer.
http://taskandpurpose.com/why-the-woobi ... r-fielded/

[Tomterrific]

I insulated the ceiling, 3/4" Styrofoam, and nothing else. My worries are heat and ventilation. Jalousie windows and doors that prop open a crack with full screens for the ventilation. The roof is super bright white roof coating and the sides are white rustoleum to reflect the sun's heat. Seems to work out okay for us.

Tom in Columbus

[lfhoward]

My trailer has (or will have) 3/4 inch styrofoam in the walls, 1.5 inch styrofoam in the ceiling, and 1.5 inch gym mats on the floor. It's nice to hear that most people have been plenty warm with comparable levels of insulation. I have an AC ceramic heater for winter camping in places where I can plug the trailer in. I might be alright without that, because I will be able to use DC electric blankets.

Photos of insulating in progress:

[Roly Nelson]

All of my 3 TDs have 1/8th or 1/4 inch plywood, single layer. Not a problem here in 'endless summer' So Calif. No desert camping! Roly ~~

[Shadow Catcher]

CR has 1X1.5X .06 aluminum and so 1.5" EPS