Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[linuxmanxxx]

I started a build journal for the truck model.

[bonnie]

I hate to be so Late in the game to mention this but lately I’ve seen many Nice BIG pieces of corrugated cardboard lying about doing nothing .... Thinking if it was waterproofed (the Mix) then it would be essentially like plastic wood eh ? easy to cut , easy to bend .... used in conjunction with the foam .... can you guess where this is going ???

I've collected a bunch of cardboard boxes (heavy printer boxes) and am getting ready to put together a full size prototype of the camper. I'm hoping to make the pieces the final templates for the actual trailer. Then I can fabricate the various pieces without to many do overs.

I can't wait to see what you do with this idea.

[GPW]

Bonnie , it would make a truly “disposable" camper ... although , once waterproofed , it should last a long time ...

My ideas on this is for the roof... Two Foam sides with a few cross braces , TD shape , cardboard wrapped over the front, roof and back , between them .. Easy for a small TD ...

[GPW]

Here’s a sketch .... Pretty self explanatory ...

[loaderman]

HMMM, All Cardboard Camper, Maybe a little wood for stiffning. Or use cardboard posts. amazing what Drama groups do with the stuff.
Some time ago I saw a website where I guy made a Yurt out of the waxed cardboard.

[GPW]

It would seem we’ve yet to explore all the Thrifty material choices ...
i did sail once on a 45’ catamaran that was made of Cardboard ... not the box kind (Nomex) but cardboard none the less ... It was Nice ...

[SteveW]

Did a couple tests with my contractor paper today (the thick brown stuff that's used to keep floors safe during construction jobs) and I'm really starting to think this stuff could work well for the exterior. Nice and rigid, and very lightweight. Definitely lighter than the canvas, and at about $10 a roll, it can't be beat for price. My plan is just to use it on the interior on this build, but when build 2.0 gets started I might try it for the exterior.

[mezmo]

Using cardboard in a TD was done extremely well 07/2011 by
South African forum member bgordon:

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=38781

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[GPW]

I was somewhat taken back by the comment “ If you can do that good with cardboard, I can't wait to see you build the real thing! “ ....
What is the “real thing” ??? Plywood that rots ??? There seems to be a perception amongst the die hards that only a wooden trailer is a real trailer ... We know better eh !!!

[GPW]

Update: Yesterday we had a gullywasher blow through here ... Rained like Crazy !!! So after seemed like a good time to thoroughly inspect the Foamie ... Turns out everything is the same ... the rain washed off the old leaves and bird poop , and the paint is yet unchanged ... Inside was completely DRY , no leaks , and surprisingly No bugs , lizards , or frogs got in ...
All our other trailers had that problem ... especially Ants after a good rain ... Nothing in this one ... Maybe the lack of wood offers nothing for the ants to “nest” in ... I’m still very Happy with my “toy” Foamie ... Best trailer I’ve had so far for sitting outside all the time ... This aging test will continue ...

[Wobbly Wheels]

I was somewhat taken back by the comment “ If you can do that good with cardboard, I can't wait to see you build the real thing! “ ....
What is the “real thing” ??? Plywood that rots ??? There seems to be a perception amongst the die hards that only a wooden trailer is a real trailer ... We know better eh !!!

That was Big Mike in 2010 - I'm guessing his eyes have since opened to other materials. He IS working on a foamy after all....well, maybe not working on it at the moment....

[atahoekid]

There are those who are pioneers and then there are the others who need to have someone open their eyes for them. GPW is a definite pioneer. I thought I was open minded, he's way beyond that...., Good for him!!!

[GPW]

Mel , must be all the Beer !!!

[linuxmanxxx]

I've been playing with materials on the side and still trying to find the perfect blend of conventional and unconventional that works and balances ease, weight, cost, and time.

[GPW]

Steve, I certainly think you’re on the right path , I Love your campers and do agree a harmonic Blend of materials seems most practical ... What they are has yet to be determined fully ... Each part seems to have its own particular needs as far as a material vs the job ... Guess the thing to do is try everything and see what works ... which is actually what is happening here in the Foamie section... Everybody has pitched in with great ideas and examples ... NASA couldn’t have done any better ... (well, you know )