New here - why doesn't everyone foam?

[djdawg]

Ok, up until about an hour ago, I had no idea what I foamie was....I thought it was a new Starbucks drink but I see it's part of the teardrop trailer options that have me so excited!

So a few questions...I've searched nearly every thread but didn't see this....so....

Why doesn't everyone make a foamie? Can you not have a galley in a foamie? They seem easier to build (or maybe that's just my imagination?) then a standard wooden TD....certainly less expensive - I think?

Has anyone taken all the wonderful ideas and put them into one step by step, how-to manual on building a foamie?

[bonnie]

Foamies aren't for everyone. Each build chooses the materials they wish to include. Some people have amazing wood working skills. Some have easy access to the tools and machinery need to work wood easily. It's really a personal choice. For me, weight is a huge factor. I can -- for sure -- build a foamie trailer under my car's tow limit. With wood, it can be done, but it takes much more planning, I think. My skill set is suited to a foamie build.

[djdawg]

Makes sense!

[KCStudly]

On the other hand, not all foamies are simple and thrifty. I wanted my interior to be more traditional with the "warmth" of wood, but I liked the idea of the weather proof exterior of the foamie technique and the rounded edges between walls and roof without trim (and thus less chance of leaking).

Light weight isn't as big of a concern for my TV, but if I can build strong enough to carry all of my CI, and other gear required to be self sufficient boon docking in deep wilderness for at least a week, while still keeping the camper weight at least a little lower than an over built tank, then so much the better.

TPCE is not simple, not thrifty, and may not end up lighter than many traditional options, but ... and this is the crux... for what I hope it to be when done...a pseudo off-road capable TD w/ full perimeter frame, heavy suspension, shock absorbers and running gear, 5x9-1/2 size, full wooden interior, and a few other tricks... it should be lighter than a comparable camper would be if I were doing a fully traditional build, slab sided, skeletonized, or even stick built.

Lots of different ways to get there and every road is a journey. One foot in front of the other.

[atahoekid]

Like KC, my Foamie was not built with thriftiness nor light weight in mind. I went with foam because I saw so many people having to rebuild their traditionally built teardrop due to issues of rot caused by exposure to water/moisture. I didn't want to do things twice. I went all out with my build figuring I really didn't want to have to do this twice. I have a foamie with all the amenities and yes you can build a galley in a foamie. There's nothing in a teardrop that can't be done in a foamie.

I think the biggest reasons we don't see everyone build a foamie is that it is somewhat untraditional and we're still exploring the limits of what you can do with foam. The first few builders can be considered pioneers.

Keep digging around, you may want to check out a few of the foamie build threads to see what can be done. I too had no idea what a foamie was till I stumbled onto this thread. If you have any questions, please ask... we'd love to convert one more person to the foamie life...

[Shadow Catcher]

Ours is stress panel with aluminum frame and 1.5" foam Filon outer skin and 1/8"inner skin. Oak cabinetry is fairly heavy and there is a good bit of it. One of my concerns is also that we will be doing some boondocking and some of the roads we use are less than well maintained. Torquing the frame would I think be difficult to compensate for.
If I were to build one I might well be tempted to build a foamy as an exercise in rolling art and light weight. It is possible to glue and sculpt foam in some fantastic shapes, limited only by your imagination, but I have yet to see any one explore this.

[GPW]

SC, that’s yet to come .... Everybody now is still Proving that they really Work !!! Some rather extensive and frightening “testing” indicates success ...


Proposed Foamie #3

[djdawg]

I think this has been tried before...putting Luan wood inside and out with the foam in between...sandwich style? Could a person still cover the rest of the outside (hatch?) with wood or would that not make any sense? The covering of the outside with canvas seems to be one of the most difficult pieces of the puzzle.....

[GPW]

Dawg, the canvas covering is really easy in actuality ...kinda’ Fun too You could do like we did and make a small one first , just to get used to the process...

[atahoekid]

I agree with GPW. Early on in this thread, we beat ourselves over the head trying to figure out how to attach canvas to foam. Multiple people (including myself) weren't sure that glue would work. In this case, we figured out easiest is best. Most builds now are done with exterior latex paint or primer instead of glue, simply because paint is essentially glue with colorants added. The sock concept or something of a similar nature is important to keep it all together but there's a lot of strength in that simple skin. If canvas worries you, you can go with fiberglass and epoxy like I did and WW is doing but from a functional standpoint, I think canvas works fine. I went with fiberglass cuz "she who must be obeyed" and therefore I wanted a smooth finish But I admit I was leaning that way too without her input

[pete42]

I built a two person airplane from foam and fiberglass when I found this site I often wondered why no one used foam and fiberglass
then several started using foam and bed sheets covered with tite-bond II they even held a couple build get togethers using foam and glue
then on to paint now glidden gripper even the more costly way a spray on which no one has tried yet but looks good.
there was one chap from austrailia who built one from cardboard and fiberglass.
over the past year or so I have seen leaps and bounds in how the foamy is constructed
only trouble is you new builders may have a hard time rediscovering how it's done so
ask and someone will be more than glad to help in fact they love to help.
me? I don't know how I just read...........

pete

[djdawg]

Thanks everyone! A galley in a foamie? Cool....I'll have to keep looking at the foamie builds but the first question that comes to mind is aren't most foamies have the fixed back end? Where the canvas fits over....it looked like it was permanent in most builds that I've seen....if someone were to make that hatch with the option to open I would think it would snap in half?

[bdosborn]

Here's why I didn't build a foamy:




Seriously, no one was building foamys when I built mine, I didn't even know it was an option.

Bruce

[djdawg]

Here's why I didn't build a foamy:




Seriously, no one was building foamys when I built mine, I didn't even know it was an option.

Bruce

Holy crap Bruce! Awesome!

[GPW]

Many common misconceptions about Foamies ... We’ve proved most of them Wrong , except for Bears and Frozen Turkeys (yet to be tested ) .... But then most any trailer wouldn't be Bear proof and still be light enough to tow without an 18 wheeler .. ... it’s Always been people with no foam experience that make wild statements that are to the contrary of what we now Know to be true ... With so many foamies on the road now and thousands and thousands of miles travelled , all that negativism is just mere erroneous speculation (BS) ...