FoamStream...

[crumbruiser]

I haven't slept on it yet, not all night anyway but, a futon mattress on top of a Coleman cot, is what I have in my camper. I have taken a few breaks and layed down on it. It feels comfortable to me laying and sitting as a couch.
Frank

[KCStudly]

Usually framing carpenters use a scrap of the ply with the tongue on it placed into the far side of the board being installed, and they hit the scrap piece with a mallet or sledge to set the joint.

[GPW]

Tried that KC , hard to do with just one old person . Tried twisted rope to pull it together too , that didn’t work ... As the OSB sheets meet over a 2X4 , I didn’t need the T&G anyway .. but that’s what they had , so tried to use it ....grrrrr!!!

CB , I thought cots with pads would be perfectly acceptable ... the wife said NO !!!

[GPW]

OOPS !!! Fitting the third floor sheet to the trailer , did a few quick measurements and found out we were Long on design and short on trailer ... Not the overall length , still more than plenty tongue left , just short on the framed out parts that I can easily bolt another crossmember too ... Have to shorten the nose by a couple inches , OR The front 6” of the trailer will be floating in mid air

[Ned B]

hold the phone... before you go lopping off parts from the back of the frame... figure out just how much of the nose will go 'unsupported', for just 6" or so of the Nose... won't much of that area be nose cone only... as in frame and foam? I bet you could just tie in to the existing framework underneath..treat them like Purlins... screw down through the existing floor into some 2x material to support the extension... it isn't like you'll be Standing on that point, just the extremely lightweight walls rest on that short section of flooring.

[GPW]

Ned that’s True !!! I can always have my buddy weld on a bracket to accept the tip of the nose , although as you say , there’s really no weight on it .. I’ve got 148.75” from the back to the most forward bracket/center bolts with a 2X4 crossmember there , we’d have ~150” ... 6” left to go ... need 156 “ just to support the tip, not counting the foam , which will just sit on top of that ... I could “cheat“ it a bit ... not like I’m going to be towing it fast either ... The wife still makes a Big Deal about when I pass somebody ... which is usually someone broken down on the roadside ... True !!!!


Also thinking of making a new nose shape .... Shorter to better fit the trailer ... here’s the idea ...
We haven’t committed to cutting the nose ribs on the CNC as yet so a change is easily possible at this stage ...

[GPW]

Here’s some pics of what I’ve got ... remembering of course that was an absolutely FREE trailer ...

[KCStudly]

I'd be tempted to just use a short length of the same PT 2x turned perpendicular to the xmbrs, and just bolt it length wise onto the top of the tongue (ahead of that little bracket remnant). No need to tie back to anything, just a spacer, really.

[GPW]

Hmmm??? That sounds like a Good idea !!! Thanks KC !!!

[KCStudly]

I see now that there may be a little bit of elevation difference between the tongue and the frame proper, but that should be easy enough to compensate for.

[mezmo]

Hi GPW,

You could do a shallow triangular-like support from that short
cross- member, either by half-lapping the ends or do angled butt joints
and use some mending plates on the top and bottom bolted through.
And use some kind of "U" bolt to attach to the front single member tongue.
It is 'at the end of the run', so-to-speak, and won't be subjected to a
lot of weight but rather is needed to have something to attach the
floor sheeting and the subsequent wall components to.

I would go for the original full semi-circle shape. You already have the
CNC set-up for that, and I think it'd be stronger if you maintain that shape on
the front end. I know it's only a "Bug-Out" build, but that attenuated curved
front, just doesn't 'look' right and you are actually introducing a sharp kink
at the corner where that'd meet the sides. I don't think that'd be as aero
or as strong or as aesthetic as keeping the smooth continuous line and flow
of the semi-circle shape [the top front being a quarter sphere, really]. It'd also
be easier for you to build as you would just continue what you're doing on
the sides and not have to adjust and work a new transition on the shortened
curve to the established side curve.

Just something to consider...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[navionflyer]

Hi GPW,

You were talking about Home Depot and I saw this tonight:
http://pages.homedepot.com/orange_signup?cm_mmc=CJ-_-1225267-_-10368321&AID=10368321&PID=1225267&SID=cpY39r3lEeKVn_J1rARu_g0_6VqY3_oEN_0_0&cj=true

It's for $5 off $50 purchase if you sign up for the newsletter. Use a few email addresses and break your purchases into $50 chunks. Hope this helps someone out there.

Good through 5/27/13.
Tim

[GPW]

Yes , I need to continue with "the Plan" , and just make some adaptions to the trailer front ... The elevation can be made up with a shim , possibly a doubler on the front two cross members or the floor itself ... If needed , I ’ll get my friend (and band member) to weld on a new bracket ... the new nose does look Dumb , doesn’t fit with the rest of the shape ..and I’d lose some square footage too .. Just have to wait till it gets light enough , and I’ll get out there and take some critical measurements ... Hope to have the floor wrapped up today so I can get the band to help me position the Skeleton on the trailer ... Gotta’ get it Out of the Studio for band practice tomorrow night ...

Just thinking , I was worried about the 6” protruding out the front , but then remembered the sides protrude 11.5” off the sides ... so no big deal eh ? ... Like Ned said , there’s really no weight on the front , and any wind pressure would exert a downward force on the nose , so no worries of it “lifting” whilst towing...

Nav , Thanks !!!

[GPW]

OK, got the nose cross members bolted down and front floor attached ... I had to use a shim to keep it level ... Glued and screwed the front floor down now ... All Good !!! When I get the front ribs , I’ll trim the rest and fit in the last little nose piece ... custom fit ... next is to prop the skeleton up on the floor , I’ll need some help for that ...

That floor is now 12’ X 79” (and remarkably exactly Square ) ... Only need to add another foot to the front to make it ...

[GPW]

Ps. exasperated at the OSB fit , I just cut the tongue off and it fits better and easier now ...