Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I stopped by a shop here in Indianapolis that builds TDs. Owner invited me over to look at their operation and offered any assistance in my build. They strictly build reproductions of the 1947.

The one thing that stuck out most to me, is the fact they do not use any insulation. All spars are exposed on the inside, stained dark and really looks kind of cool.

Obviously, most on this site do insulate. I would like to hear from someone that has not. Do you wish you had?

I need to make this decision early. I think I am going to build a woody. If I do not insulate, I need to buy finished veneer good on 2 sides instead of one.

Actually quite a few don't insulate. A lot has to do with your normal camping locations.

my take...insulate the ceiling...it will cut down on radiant heat and help with condensation problems in the winter...we build solid sides so no insulation there and also don't do the floor...if that system is good enough for Camp-Inn it is good enough for us.....
madjack

p.s. a ceiling also gives a good place to mount lights/etc. and run wiring.........MJ

It's a good question.

When I sleep in a tent, not a canvas one, but a new poly something or other tent, the inside temp is about 10 degrees higher than outside. I once had a canvas tent and it was even warmer.

There are a LOT of pop up capers out there with AC and furnaces both. If they complain, they don't do it to me.

I put a lot of insulation into my tear and it is a lot warmer than outside, but was it worth the trouble? I am not sure. I am not a scientists, but I doubt there is much of a way for laymen to measure the effectiveness. If there is I'd sure like to know.

dave

Our roof and floor is insulated being that we live here in the far north..Reindeerland. other than that the side walls are just 3/4 inch ply...


Classic Finn

PS Its Fred who holds the title of the Northernmost Teardrop Builder.
I reckon I come in 2nd ...as far as location..

Not to hijack this thread but, I'm going to insulate the roof and floor. My walls are going to be 3/4 ply. I bought some 3/4" sheet insulation that has a silver mylar on one side. Does the silver side go towards the outside?

SkipperSue wrote: I bought some 3/4" sheet insulation that has a silver mylar on one side. Does the silver side go towards the outside?

I would say for the roof, the silver side should go on the outside to reflect the radiant heat from the sun. I don't think the bottom would matter one way or another.

As far as keeping the inside warmer or cooler, I think mine is better at keeping the heat out in the summer. The insulation cuts down on the outside noises............ rain, vehicles driving by, raccoons rifling through the trash .

The next one I build will probably just have the roof insulated, I don't know.

WarPony wrote:

SkipperSue wrote: I bought some 3/4" sheet insulation that has a silver mylar on one side. Does the silver side go towards the outside?

I would say for the roof, the silver side should go on the outside to reflect the radiant heat from the sun. I don't think the bottom would matter one way or another.

As far as keeping the inside warmer or cooler, I think mine is better at keeping the heat out in the summer. The insulation cuts down on the outside noises............ rain, vehicles driving by, raccoons rifling through the trash .

The next one I build will probably just have the roof insulated, I don't know.

Hehe, I know what you are talking about with the racoons. I kinda thought that the silver side should go to the "elements". I'm still waiting for the boiled linseed oil to dry before I flip my floor over to finish the bottom with the insulation. That's the only thing I don't like about the boiled linseed oil, the LONG drying time.

I insulated my floor and ceiling. My walls are 3/4" Plywood. I haven't been in too cold camping yet (40*s). I'm going to try to get out the mountains this weekend.

My walls are just 3/4" plywood. I did the roof sandwich with a cheap white foam board insulation from Menards inbetween. I can not say yet how well it works, as I am crawling on productive pace.

On a sidenote, where are TD's being built in Indy if you don't mind sharing? I am on the Southside, and would love to check them out.

The guy's name is Jim Linder. I think the name of the company is PT Snoozers. 30 N Gasoline Alley just north of Rockville Road.

I guess mine was over kill....3/4 in the walls and 1 1/2 in the floor and ceiling. lol It does cut down on the noises and makes it rather quite..

I don't know about overkill, but I agree it depends on a lot of things. Noise proofing, warmth, cooling, condensation, and on and on. I'm sure someone will come up with a very scientific and rational reasoning for the addition and thickness of insulation.

For me, I'm putting 1 inch in the floor and sides and 2 inch on the top.

If you were to ask why....I have no clue as to what the benefits may be or why. I went with 1 inch because that is the thinnest foam I could find in Juneau, I went with two inches in the roof because I'm not following any plans, and that just seemed to work out with my construction. What a laugh...here I am...an engineer...and have no rational that counts what-so-ever!!!!!

LOL (at myself)

Was out in Seymour, MO 2 weekends ago. During dusk to dawn, misty cold wind came in, little rain over night, and temps dropped in the low 30s!!! I have a Pleasant Valley flat top which is suppose to have 3/4" marine plywood floor and walls, then insulation in the roof, front and rear. My son and I woke up in seeing our breathe. Condensation was on the doors as the walls have carpet. It was a bit chilly in the camper to say the least. We were in heavy sleeping bags that I have used in 0* tent camping so we were warm inside the bags. To put on clothes that are cold, bbbrrrr....Taught my son that if you pack you next day clothes with you in the bag, they will be warm. So he slept in for another hour. If was frosty that morning.

Only thing I can say, insulating may help with sound and heat, but really don't see much for holding the heat in.

We were at LCG over the weekend. I can attest that the insulation helped.
I insulated the walls and floor with 1/2" foam board with 1/4" foil bubble wrap insulation. The roof with 1 1/4" foam and 1/4" bubble.
At the LCG on Friday night we got in the camper and I turned on the heat. Nothing happened. I said forget it I'll look at it tomorrow. ( I forgot to turn the breaker on at the post. )

It was 39 and kinda chilly. We cracked the top vent 1" before we went to sleep. At 2 AM we woke up hot. Just from our body heat. We opened up the vent all the way and it still stayed toasty in there. We didn't have to run the heat all weekend.