Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have been on the forum for about a week now - meticuously planning my project. I have only heard about the foamie method a little bit and just came to this section to check it out farther. I'm blown away by the fact that so many of you have built these things out of mostly foam board. I plan to use foam insulated walls with playwood on either side of that insulation. I had been weighing the ups and downs of using 1/8" ply, 3/8" ply and 1/2" ply and even thicker for the walls and roof. Now that I'm seeing that you can actually use ONLY foam, I'm thinking a bit differently! I don't see why I can't get away with 1/4" ply on outside walls and 1/8" ply for all the rest - ceiling and interior. My trailer is larger than a teardrop however.. It is going to be 10 feet long and 6 feet high. More of a micro travel trailer - one that you can stand upright in.

My first trailer I used 3/8 on the outside, 1 inch of foam and 1/4 on the inside. If I was to build it again I would use 1/4 on the outside and 1/8 on the inside. Plenty strong. Maybe even 1/8 inch all around.
Randy

Irv, we’re not quite sure what you mean by “ only Foam" and with 1/4” and 1/8” foam ??? seems rather thin to me , and with little insulating properties ...

GPW wrote:Irv, we’re not quite sure what you mean by “ only Foam" and with 1/4” and 1/8” foam ??? seems rather thin to me , and with little insulating properties ...

1/4" plywood outside walls and 1/8" plywood interior walls with a layer of foam (probably 1 1/2") between the two sheets of plywood. I guess I didn't make that clear.

Thanks , yes, that would work !!! Sorry for the misinterpretation , I was thinking you were going to use the foam all by itself , which also works ...

GPW wrote:Thanks , yes, that would work !!! Sorry for the misinterpretation , I was thinking you were going to use the foam all by itself , which also works ...

I realize that it's a well established building method on here.. but I can't help but think it would be so fragile if it was only made out of foam!

Perhaps I can get away with 1/8" plywood inside and outside with a 1.5" foam core.

QUOTE: “ but I can't help but think it would be so fragile if it was only made out of foam! “ ...

GPW wrote:QUOTE: “ but I can't help but think it would be so fragile if it was only made out of foam! “ ...

What is the meaning of that silly face?

Irving wrote:

GPW wrote:Thanks , yes, that would work !!! Sorry for the misinterpretation , I was thinking you were going to use the foam all by itself , which also works ...

I realize that it's a well established building method on here.. but I can't help but think it would be so fragile if it was only made out of foam!

Perhaps I can get away with 1/8" plywood inside and outside with a 1.5" foam core.

I just want to let you know that foamies are not fragile.

eaglesdare wrote:

Irving wrote:

GPW wrote:Thanks , yes, that would work !!! Sorry for the misinterpretation , I was thinking you were going to use the foam all by itself , which also works ...

I realize that it's a well established building method on here.. but I can't help but think it would be so fragile if it was only made out of foam!

Perhaps I can get away with 1/8" plywood inside and outside with a 1.5" foam core.

I just want to let you know that foamies are not fragile.

Oh I believe you. haha The whole concept has just really opened up my mind to making my planned trailer much lighter. I had originall planned to use 11/32" or 1/2" plywood with 1 1/2" foam sandwiched between with the whole thing framed with 2 x 3s and 2 x 2s. But now I'm thinking I can drastically reduce this.

Irv, we make a lot of silly faces here, think nothing of it .... if we were talking directly , I’d still make silly faces as well ...

Did you read the BIG thread ??? That’s the initiation around here, just so we can all talk on the same level of knowledge and information ... Highly Suggested All this has been thoroughly tested, and re-tested , with tens of thousands of miles under their wheels ...

GPW wrote:Irv, we make a lot of silly faces here, think nothing of it .... if we were talking directly , I’d still make silly faces as well ...

Did you read the BIG thread ??? That’s the initiation around here, just so we can all talk on the same level of knowledge and information ... Highly Suggested All this has been thoroughly tested, and re-tested , with tens of thousands of miles under their wheels ...

Oh I wasn't put off by the face, haha, I just didn't know what was trying to be conveyed.

What is this "BIG thread" you speak of?

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=39373 It’s where it all started ...