Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[GPW]

And another You Tube video showing how much LABOR goes into building a wooden Teardrop trailer ... made me tired watching it !!! Makes me GLAD I built with foam ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMDsuQYU-3k

[linuxmanxxx]

I'm not sure anyone has ever found this but here's a spray plastic coating for foam that is the first I've ever seen that was cost effective.

StyroSpray 1000 company based out of Houston and it covers at roughly a dollar a square foot and not toxic at all compared to fiberglass or epoxy resins.

Says spray it with a hopper sprayer which is cheap at the HF. I estimated it would cover a standy for between 300 and 400 bucks and is a very hard shell at 65 on the D shore scale and can be painted with either water or oil based paints. I found a post of a guy wanting to coat his foam molds so cnc wouldn't tear it up and this is what was suggested.

http://www.industrialpolymers.com/products/styrospray-series

With the cost of canvas/glue and all this is just slightly higher and way cheaper than glassing or metal exteriors by far.

I might feel a foamie coming on since this was the last thing I was really looking for to build one since I never warmed to the canvas much and I HATE fiberglassing as to me not enough return on cost/effort/toxicity.

Hi Glen I know you'll answer lol

[GPW]

Steve , please take pictures . I’m sure everybody would like to see your progress .. I sure do !!!

[greygoos]

I'm not sure anyone has ever found this but here's a spray plastic coating for foam that is the first I've ever seen that was cost effective.

StyroSpray 1000 company based out of Houston and it covers at roughly a dollar a square foot and not toxic at all compared to fiberglass or epoxy resins.

Says spray it with a hopper sprayer which is cheap at the HF. I estimated it would cover a standy for between 300 and 400 bucks and is a very hard shell at 65 on the D shore scale and can be painted with either water or oil based paints. I found a post of a guy wanting to coat his foam molds so cnc wouldn't tear it up and this is what was suggested.

http://www.industrialpolymers.com/products/styrospray-series

With the cost of canvas/glue and all this is just slightly higher and way cheaper than glassing or metal exteriors by far.

I might feel a foamie coming on since this was the last thing I was really looking for to build one since I never warmed to the canvas much and I HATE fiberglassing as to me not enough return on cost/effort/toxicity.

Hi Glen I know you'll answer lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50w-pzU9XK4
I know you guys have a hell of alot more experience than I do. saw this on the net regarding styrospray over foam.

[Pmullen503]

I've used lots of Styrospray on my TV planes. It would definitely work for a foamy but it does have a bit of a learning curve to get the most out of it. It cures with humidity and is temperature sensitive like epoxy. For compound curves it would be my go-to choice over glass or canvas.

[GPW]

Here's what the airplane Foamie guys say about it... http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthre ... styrospray

[GPW]

Here’s an interesting video about Sheep Wagons , and with lots of good ideas that we could possibly adapt for our purpose ... Coincidentally , similar to the Conestoga trailer in the Vintage plans section here...

We found it interesting that a structure like that (similar) could easily fit on /off a “carry on “ trailer allowing for the metal trailer ”box” structure as part of the cabin as they’ve used it on these old wagons ... sorta’ ish’ ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0m6MpjFvS8


Ps . we need to get our terms straight... ( me ! ) What are those trailers really called , you know , the low ones with the metal framing on top and the ramp in the back ... Landscapers use them around here... ???

[KCStudly]

UT - utility trailer.

[GPW]

Really , that simple .... UT ???  

[GPW]

All this “discussion” and all about a BOX to spend the night ... So many shapes , but when it comes down to it , it’s hard to beat the basic BOX ... Simple , easy to build ... the Maximum room inside .. room for all your ... ”stuff” ... The only concession we could make to upmost Simplicity is the shape of the Nose , only because we know FLAT noses create a lot of Drag ... ( Unless the TV is fitted with a “deflector” like 18W’s ) ...

How Simple can we make it ???

[GPW]

The one depicted above ^ would naturally be built on a 5’ wide trailer ( like the new Aluminum NT trailer ?) and would have ~55 sq. ft. of floor space ... That’s Big , yet it would still easily fit in a garage ... especially if we abandon the silly idea of a roof vent ...

[OP827]

May V-nose be better?

[GPW]

You’re right . it just may be !!! I’d think either would offer an aerodynamic advantage over a plain box.

[CanuckShooter]

The one depicted above ^ would naturally be built on a 5’ wide trailer ( like the new Aluminum NT trailer ?) and would have ~55 sq. ft. of floor space ... That’s Big , yet it would still easily fit in a garage ... especially if we abandon the silly idea of a roof vent ...

Silly roof vent?? What would you propose as an alternative, to let the heat out of the top portions of a foamie?

[GPW]

The Old Timers ( I always refer to those folks ) used vents up high on the wall ...m Actually an upper vent ( or more ) and a lov=wer vent ( floor ) work best .... Hot air goes out the top , cool air comes in the bottom ...
Now I’m not saying roof vents are BAD , they just usually leak around here...