Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[eaglesdare]

Just wanted to get something on the 100th page of this topic!!

wahoo, we did it. who would have ever thought that. look at what you started gpw aka the bear!!!!!!!!!!

[eaglesdare]

i do hope you all stay dry down there. i mean rain would be nice, but not the floods.

gpw, put some foam on the bottom and you might be able to float around.

[GPW]

luckily it's just big enough to fit in my skiff ... so I can make a TD houseboat and just float away .... Foam Tiki!!!

[swampjeep]

i've got bad weather here today. rain, and rain. so i can't even do the measuring stuff. so i might (perish the thought) have to clean the house?

wished i knew how to do those sketches with cad, would love to play with some inside design ideas.

there was a guy on tv a long time ago, that used to say "if you can't build out build up.

and in my case i can't do much "out building" but i have room for upwards building. so my mind has been going all over the place.

I'm not so sure a 2 story foamy is a good idea...

[eaglesdare]

well not exactly a 2 story one. but with some "cough cough" wood, and proper support, i know it can be done. the foam walls would just be attached to wood. not unlike the bunkbed/support wall/shelf i have in mine now. that would work for a bed, its just too short. this second build will be wider, so that shortness issue will be gone.

one can always dream right?

[swampjeep]

yes

[DJT]

Eagle, I was playing with the idea of having a rear door under my hatch, just to limit openings for water/dust penetration... Still on the drawing board for the second one maybe

I should have the initial plans done this week, just found a local axle for cheap, just hope that I won't have to change my frame design!

Dave

[eaglesdare]

Eagle, I was playing with the idea of having a rear door under my hatch, just to limit openings for water/dust penetration... Still on the drawing board for the second one maybe

I should have the initial plans done this week, just found a local axle for cheap, just hope that I won't have to change my frame design!

Dave

welcome, and hope you stay around. will be waiting for those plans. you will post them won't you? are you doing a foamie? or woody with the hatch/door?

[DJT]

Originally it was going to be a metal skeleton with FRP, but I've been lurking around this thread since the start, and this foam is a great idea.

I've built RC boats/airboats with covered foam before, and wood/canvas canoes, so I'm pretty comfortable with the idea, just need to find time!

I'll post up some pics of the plans, just need to do the doors, and any changes with the axle dimensions.

[GPW]

Dave , Welcome aboard ... !!!

Got my rough door assembly glued up , the 2 panels (didn't have one piece big enough ) and the door hinge support ... once this dries (foams ) we can cut it to fit ...

[eaglesdare]

this is getting exciting! so glad for these threads, i am learning alot about building a much better door.

[GPW]

The doors do seem to be the more difficult part ... I've given more thought to that one door , than I have the rest of the trailer .. still comes down to cut and fit ...

[DJT]

Thanks for the welcome!

Anyone have ideas for windows? I'd like to have them open for a breeze, but the inset acrylic (?) windows in the "Glass on foam" link look really nice (and I have a sheet of Lexan kicking around the shop I think...).

Another question: when people are pre-wrapping the interior, are you still running support strips along the edges afterwards? and how wide are people using?

Also for us Canadians, Busy Bee Tools has the best prices on TBII and GG that I've found so far (and shipping may be free depending on where you are?).

[GPW]

Got my door to fit ... marked the lines for the outer wood framing surrounding the foam ... Now to cut and fit/glue that accurately ...




DJ, I'll be running the interior reinforcing strips once we're done on the outside ... 8" wide with a centerline ... 4" overlap in each direction ...

[Ratkity]

Got my door to fit ... marked the lines for the outer wood framing surrounding the foam ... Now to cut and fit/glue that accurately ...




DJ, I'll be running the interior reinforcing strips once we're done on the outside ... 8" wide with a centerline ... 4" overlap in each direction ...

Very nice fit! I'll be interested how you do your corners for the door. With the solar panel cover, I just allowed extra room because of cloth folding.

I'm thinking if we had just covered the front and back of Eagle's doors and then put a reinforcing strip on the edges, that would have eliminated a lot of bulk.

Hugs,
Ratkity