EXPANDING FOAM

[High Desert]

Prem, I'm thinking you could have molded fenders, window awnings and all sorts of interesting shapes doing a trailer that way.

[Prem]

Shaun,

Next summer in the heat for the foam to expand right. Why don't you come help me?

Prem

[High Desert]

Shaun,

Next summer in the heat for the foam to expand right. Why don't you come help me?

Prem

now that would be a kick

[Prem]

Shaun and fellow "outside the box" thinkers / designers,

Look what I found. Check this out:

http://kcupery.home.isp-direct.com/PBArtic/issues.html

Prem

[Todah Tear]

Prem, I'm thinking you could have molded fenders, window awnings and all sorts of interesting shapes doing a trailer that way.

I have a Mitzubishi Eclipse that sits low in the front. The btm of the bumper gets dragged across things and cracks. I jacked the car up and cut away the snagged part. I reformed it by creating a pocket in the shape of the piece that I had to cut away with long strips of thin cardboard. I used duct tape to support the weight and shape until the Great Stuff had cured and hardened. It work like a charm. I peeled away the paper and most of the tape, spray painted it the color of the rest of the bumper. It looked good, but I put a car bra over it (I had planned to do that anyway.) THe important thing was that the bumper shape was restored. You can't even tell there was an issue there unless you get close to care and look.

As far as someone giving you gried for the shape of you teardrop, you put in the work and you built what you wanted and needed. When they are willing to build for you free of charge, then they build it the way they want. Sorry, but I just find it distasteful when people criticize someone's build. Every time that I have heard someone make ill comments about someone else's campers and it has made me think less of the individual who made the comment.

Todah

[Prem]

Todah,

That was a good solution for your low car bumper.

I got rear-ended once, stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and my rear bumper got blown apart. It was full of foam (factory). It saved the metal body of my car.

I called the teardrop "purists" curmudgeons. It's actually just one guy. He mass emails everyone telling them what the attendees' trailers have to look like and what brand they can be and what age they can be to come to the gathering. So most TTTs wouldn't qualify. None of Mike's or DanDan's innovations or anyone else's variants here would qualify.

This fellow makes enemies out of good camping friends thinking that he will derive some enjoyment from his sense of nostalgic "purity." In his requirements he invites anyone with a conventional teardrop, AND factory Tabs (but only if they have the rear galley). THEN he also invites anyone with a "classic trailer." So a 30' Silverstreak can come to his teardrop gathering, but not a 12-foot cargo conversion with the galley on the rear! The organizer told me personally, "We have to draw the line somewhere."

Quite a few of my friends go to that gathering. I like to camp with them every opportunity. So I'm thinking of building a 4x8 cardboard and foam Redneck teardrop painted flat camo tan. Now I'm thinking I'll build it so that it can just slide in to my trash hauler trailer, just inside the weathered boards of the removable sides. It will look like an old teardrop on it's last camping trip on the way to the landfill.

I like made-up Spanish names, so I'm thinking of naming it "Martí de Bohemia." The camo pattern in flat brownish green could be done with a small roller and a homemade stencil of the Zig Zag man with the beret.

Prem

[Cliffmeister2000]

In my Weekender, there is a gap where I cut the sideboard and it doesn't quite match the fender. I filled this gap with Great Stuff, then tried to trim it away to a flat, paintable surface. There were too many large bubbles in the Great Stuff. Any idea how to eliminate (minimize) the bubbles?

[Prem]

Cliff,

Sounds like you shot the foam when it was quite hot outside. It does that. Try the minimally expanding version. It makes micro-bubbles and is generally denser, easier to sand.

You can also mix some JB Weld (epoxy), thin it with a (very) little acetone, spread on with a spatula, sand and paint. That puts a tough, hard film on top of the foam.

Prem

[Cliffmeister2000]

Cliff,

Sounds like you shot the foam when it was quite hot outside. It does that. Try the minimally expanding version. It makes micro-bubbles and is generally denser, easier to sand.

You can also mix some JB Weld (epoxy), thin it with a (very) little acetone, spread on with a spatula, sand and paint. That puts a tough, hard film on top of the foam.

Prem

Thanks, Prem. Here in the land of the sun, it is quite often quite hot outside. I'll give it another go next week, when I'm back from camping.

Note: I had one tiny spot of aluminum that wasn't properly masked, and got some Great Stuff on it. It permanently stains aluminum.

[Prem]

Cliff,

Yup. So do wet ashes. (Caustic) And once I spilled a little acetone on my aluminum running board. It made the aluminum go dull.

Try a little aluminum colored paint from the hobby store if the stain is really bad. Lightly sand the effected area first. (Probably not worth it in the long run. Paint doesn't last.)

Prem