to insulate or not insulate.

[bc toys]

Come on Slow you know that you need to insulate your trailer it does not add that much weight (it gets cold up there).

[absolutsnwbrdr]

what are the disatvanatges of bare plywood?

Depending on what you're planning for wiring and lighting, bare plywood makes it harder to run wires. Insulated walls will let you run the wiring inside them. Although they are a bit more work and take more time. Insulated walls will be much lighter than solid 3/4" plywood walls. Can't wait to finish my new teardrop and see what it weighs compared to my last. I'm doing sandwich everything. 3/16" ply on each side of a 3/4" stick-built frame.

And the bare plywood supposedly sweats more than insulated walls.

[tony.latham]

Slow : remember that condensation you get in your first drop? You're going to double you're moisture output with two people. Insulated walls eliminate the condensation.

One more reason.

Tony

[Breytie]

Single layer construction is pure hell - ask me - I am trying it at this time with a full size extra light weekender.

There is no wriggle room, no space for any errors in design, layout, material, measurement or assembly sequence. Everything influences everything else, everything is as wobbly as a bowl of warm Jello until the last panel is in place. Every glue joint and screw is critical. Everything is visible in the final product.
Every surface is a drum skin, I am fearing my first hail storm in this thing, I am sure that will be an earsplitting experience.
I know I will build a MK II, with a curvacious double layer, 3/4" stick framed insulated hull perhaps 25% to 35% heavier than the current one, definitely less taxing in construction and less noisy.

Add to that your cold weather (that we don't have), and insulated double skin is the way to go.

[Thebigdirty]

INSULATE! This can happen at the drop of a hat in the mountains, Slow!

[Shadow Catcher]

Mike you are as I have said to many others, building an airplane not a tank. CR has 1/8 Filon skin and 1/8 interior wall board and 1.5 " X 1"X .060 aluminum frame with EPS foam and it stood up amazingly well to being on its side. Do you want insulation absolutely for the reasons mentioned above. Your wife may some time want to head south where it gets warm and you just might want AC.

[bdosborn]

Ever sleep in the back of a pickup with a fiberglass topper on it? You wake up to rain from all the condensation on the roof if it gets cold at all. You're way better of insulating, IMHO.

Bruce

[sagebrush]

Mike, the orangebox, the greenbox and Bloedorns all have 3/4 foam in stock here.
Will

[Treeview]

Insulation for heat is the most important issue. There's another issue to consider though.

Sound proofing. Not so much sound going from the inside to the outside. Any noise from the outside will come inside. Think of how noisy rain is on a tin roof or tarp/tent.

This became very evident to me when I was installing the ceiling in my ToyBox. When I had the rear half insulated but the bare aluminum for the front half I was out in a rain. It was very evident that the 3/4" foam and FRP panels dampened the sound a LOT!

Weight is NOT an issue unless you're carrying it on your back


Tom

[len19070]

I've been touting this for years.

Meet somewhere in the Middle. Install a "Foam Backed Rug" on the walls & Ceiling.

Its easy, cheap, can be done anytime during the trailers life span and makes a nice finish on the inside.











Happy Trails

Len

[jseyfert3]

Build a foamie, then you don't have to worry about adding insulation.

[Junkboy999]

+ 1 on jseyfert3 post.



Take you time and insulate it.

If you are worried about the extra weight the insulation added just make up for it by carrying one less lantern with you camping. I know. Sacrileges!

[Weirdnerd]

In my case I wanted insulation from the start, I knew we were going camping in the mountains and the weather can change in a minute without notice ( Colorado), also hot springs and the like, in perspective it was a good decision, as I have camped for months in deep winter, ranging between 30 to -10f, it has kept me warm and also cool in summer, my Wife loves it and she likes going camping knowing she will have a nice place to rest sheltered from wind, sun, bugs and crazy weather.

I went the "cooler" way, 1.5 inches of solid insulation, well worth the small weight penalty.

[2bits]

You gotta work with the stuff you gotta work with Slow, so that is totally understood. I think you already agree that you "Want" it insulate, but we canb't always have what we want, but then again... you will still have a camper and a companion, and I wouldn't worry about any complainin!

[S. Heisley]

Slow, if you can at least insulate the ceiling, I would do that, as it would help keep the moisture condensation down as well as keeping you a tad warmer. You can hang blankets or quilts on the walls, inside, like the settlers used to do, if the walls are too cold. Or, you can glue a carpet remnant on the inside walls, when you get a little extra cash. There are ways to make do; and, anyway, you'll have the heat from at least two bodies to help keep it warm.