Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Has anybody built with SIPS before? Seems like a fast and easy solution to the insulated wall question. Has anybody found a suitable panel? 7/16" Outer with a 4 inch core is a little much, I am thinking but I did se some that only had one side skinned.

They couldn't be SIPS if only one side is skinned . . . . right?

Don

I was following this guy for a while, seems pretty dormant though

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=7543&highlight=sip


Mike

I've read that thread through a few times too. Very interesting results.. I wish captainsam would have continued experimentation.

I plan my next build to pour the expanding foam into skinned walls. It's not going to be under alot of pressure, but that foam sticks really well to pretty much everything. I'll be going for half-sip.

I'm starting parts ordering this week, will post up a build thread and let y'all know if my nutty idea of pour foam will work.

Here we go again!

It can be done but it's a lot of what I believe is un-necessary work.

Nitetimes wrote:Here we go again!

It can be done but it's a lot of what I believe is un-necessary work.

...it's amazing how some things come round and round only to leave again...then show up again!!!! Keep in mind that commercial RV's are generally made using SIP construction methods and it works quite well for them...of course they have the money to invest in the presses and such, needed to doit properly...don't forget to add the proper framing attachment points for doors, windows, shelves, cabinets, bulkhead, ceiling/roof/floor, etc, etc, etc............
madjack

p.s. some things are called tried and true, because, well, they are tried and true!!!!!!!!!!!MJ

p.s.s. ARKPAT is building with SIPs(steel door blanks)...giveim a shoutout............MJ

Oh my head hurts!!! The great heating/CO poisoning debate...countless black goo alternatives.....the needless haggling over politics, religion, and Elmo's dress code!!!!



None-the-less...the search for a suitable SIP panel must go on (and I believe that!). It's only a matter of time before that panel arrives...and (mark my words) it will revolutionize insulated panel construction on T&TTT construction. I envision a reception of a new SIP panel by the traditional builders much like the unwashed masses poo-pooed the Jarvik heart, a man on the moon, and Microsoft Windows Vista!!! But the effort will be worth it!!!

I wish I could explain better the Steel Door blanks with PolyU foam inside. The panels weigh about 25# with 28ga steel on each side when I get them. The size is 20" x 80" long x 1 5/8" thick.
I use them as is as a building block. At the doors and windows I use 2x blocking just like the doors have in them when they are whole. You can cut the doors with a circular saw ( carbide 40 tooth blade makes a finer clean cut - do ware safty glasses because of the tiny metal chips from the cut - also use a cheap HF saw - you would not want to ruin a good saw with the tiny metal chips ). Then at the edge that are to be mated just make a 1"cut on each panel at the edge for a lap joint. Then use self-taping sheet metal screws to attach after appling the "Gorolla Glue" to the joint ( spread thin the glue ). Then build what you want and cover the shape with what ever make you happy ( Wood, putty fill and paint like a car, Tuck-N-roll vinyl ). And if you dent just "Bondo" and paint or cover.


I know I need pictures. Everytime I try something gets in the way or it is to dark to get a good picture.




Pat

PS: Yes even I can walk to the middle of a panel suported at the ends and bounce at 280#.

With the exception of some cabinetry, the entire body of the HappiTrails Teardrop is made of SIPs ... floor, walls, roof, hatch lid, even the slide-out counter-top ... 1/8" mahogany plywood on either side of 1-1/2" foam, Filon® exterior skin & floor. I've watched his 160# shop forman dance on the roof of one of the two on my lot ... pretty impressive ... ... ...! Jamie made his own presses, and figured out how to do curved panels, and yes ... there is a $ub$tantial inve$tment involved ...

If it's conceivable, it's acheivable ... with the proper application of just the right blend of sweat, creativity, careful thought, time, and $ufficient fund$!

CHEERS!

Grant

WoW! 10 pages on that thread! Need to read that when I have an hour uninterrupted. Sounds like a contentious subject too.

I was out in the Mojave last weekend looking for Agate and Geodes and ran into a desert rat that was the BLM custodian where we were. He was building a "trailer" out of them that was quite nice. It was an old single-wide frame that had burned and he had the floor and walls and half the roof in. Said it took him 2 days to do all that. It had no axles though, and was sitting on railroad ties.

A mini sips has been found before... Citadel products

A Polystyrene core with a smooth or embosed aluminum or steel finish on both sides available up to 5' x 12' in metalic as well as solid colors.

Let's go back to my sip thread, pretend we are captain sam, and continue the fun!

Mike...

Yep I agree Mike that way everything is in one place to find!


Pat

The bottom line of the argument for SIPS was the panel attachment ... stress considered, braces added/tested...requiring more framing..presses /etc. (as so aptly put by MJ)... good if you're going to make quite a few...for onseys and twoseys, it's just too much investment in time and $$$$

Much easier to produce a strong structure with the proven methods of the past 75 years...for the bucks (qualifier)

I will get some scraps gathered and take some pictures of the panel seams and connections. I will post them in my album. I hope my extra SD card work in the camera cause I washed the other one this morning.




Pat