Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[mikeschn]

Hey Glenn,

You're getting pretty good at this foamie stuff! I like the curve in the front better than the angled front.

So, are you going to seriously advance foamie technology? Do check out the Glidden Gripper that Jack mentioned in the other thread.

Mike...

[KCStudly]

re: the mitered "compromise shape" front curve.

I think that once you assume that a table saw is available, then kerfing is the way to go. You get a much closer approximation of a true radius, fewer or no butt seams to deal with, and no angles to deal with.

[OP827]

re: the mitered "compromise shape" front curve.

I think that once you assume that a table saw is available, then kerfing is the way to go. You get a much closer approximation of a true radius, fewer or no butt seams to deal with, and no angles to deal with.

^^ +1 and kerfs also can be successfully done with a basic straight edge and a skill saw.

[GPW]

Bonnie ... maybe , but it would be better on a new build ... a bigger build ... JMHO

Mike , we’re trying !!!

TB2 and Gripper , both valuable in their own way ...

Guys , the only thing I dislike about kerfs is that it weakens the foam , leaving only a thin non kerf piece all along the top of the bend .... Just as a test we filled in the kerfs in the FS with GStuff and it all of a sudden it became MUCH Stronger... Really !!! Cutting the kerfs at an angle (the Math way) allows the kerfs to completely close and be glued solid ... Which is why we’re working on a method of heat bending the foam which is much easier , and waaaaay less messy , producing a stronger product ... We’ve heat bent thinner blue foam for years now with great success ... If we were doing a production run of Foamies , it would be worth making a full size bending form and getting a large industrial ”heat blanket “ which would allow the foam to be heated to the correct temperature for easy bending ... 190 F ... Once you see heat bent foam , you’’ll never go back to kerfing ... Smooth , strong , and it keeps that shape , so you have NO built in stresses... Just saying’ , we could accelerate this light years with a little proper bending equiptment ... but alas , for building one Foamie , it’s not really worth the expense and trouble , hence the tend toward simpler to build Foamies with No curves , or just one ...

Perhaps ..... it may be possible to heat bend foam with lower heat .... Maybe ??? .. more testing ..

[mikeschn]

Did you ever consider adding a curve in the side walls at the front of the trailer to reduce the CD? Kinda line Arne did on his build?



Mike...

[dales133]

GPW.... wondering if you could do me a favor please and pop into the "small caravan box by tom" thread and point the bloke in the right direction for me
Not sure if you've seen his build but he's had some tough luck and he's looking at applying canvas over a pre painted surface.
Thanks mate, Dale

[mikeschn]

Glenn,

What is the purpose of the rear door (or the side door if the rear is the main door)?

Where is the bed? The porta potty? The table? The cooking area? Am I cramming too much stuff in there for you?

Mike...

[GPW]

Well then , since this is all for discussion , the rear door is popular with folks , especially if the galley is back there ... Side door is popular too .... Just showing all the options ... Nothing chiseled in stone ...
All that other stuff is wherever you want it ... I left the FS basically Open , save for the Mini Galley , so it could be arranged to suit the particular situation we find ourselves in ... Remember , the FS was built for Hurricane EVAC primarily ... We have only spent one EVAC in a trailer , and the one we did ( Jayco) wasn’t arranged like what we wanted ... found that out by living in it a couple days ... One thing we found out , is instead of traditional furniture inside, just a lot of big cushions could be arranged for a variety of positions till some comfortable position is found ... The Jayco was equipped with seats ,benches, and a fold up table , but NONE of it was the least comfortable to sit at for more than a few minutes. It made a pretty layout and appearance , but just didn’t work in reality ..

Many years we slept on the ground (tent) , now looking for something a bit softer, and no rocks ...

Potty .... Curious device , we don’t want it near the food prep , or the sleeping area... In the past, we’ve always found a place to camp (van) where a bathroom and shower (or stream ) was handy ... Potty might be better OUTSIDE ... or as J.K.Rowling put it .... “ No solids in the en' suite !!!

[GPW]

Note: this is a much Bigger trailer team normally built around here... 12-15’long x 6’+ wide (inside) ... The magic number for me seems to be anything over 60 sq. ft. of floor space .. Foam makes it lighter than any other construction type for that size accomidation ...
Multiple entries may (or may not ) be wanted.. ?
And naturally speaking of entries, why is a door so difficult for a foamy ??? I don’t think it’s the door .but the way we do it... We’ll have to talk about that too ...

[bonnie]

[quote="GPW"]Bonnie ... maybe , but it would be better on a new build ... a bigger build ... JMHO
/quote]

Well, I do have a 5' galley hatch frame already built. But seriously, I'm not done with additions to the Nookery, nor is it likely I will ever be.

[GPW]

Planning some add-ons now ??? No , I guess we’re never done with em’ eh ? The other day , found myself happily in the shower curtain aisle at the Wally World looking for something for the FS ... just minding my own business... nothing “grabbed" me ... We’ll keep looking ... Always something to do on these trailers ... trick is, not to get too carried away ... I believe sometimes if we feel like building (happens) then it may be best to put that effort towards a new trailer ... a Better trailer ...
Thinking what we need now is your basic “step by step” with pictures and circles and arrows ... showing how to make “sections” for a Basic Foamie build .... it’s all about properly making a few easy sub assemblies , then marrying all that together , then putting a sock on it ... basically !!! baby steps ... then everyone could be on the same page for these legendary discussions ... such as “ Will foamies be the beginning of the End for poorly built Commercial travel trailers ??? ... or ... “Will my Foamie’ implode above 55 MPH ??? “ The relevant material !!!
Well maybe not ? But everyone could do with a brush up on the most Basic of foamy trailer building, especially the new folks that weren’t here sweating out the development ..... and skeptics ... JMHO

Foamie #1 (Nookery ) was the Essence of Foamie’ .. The Adventure beyond the Box !!! (out the box )

[GPW]

Bonnie , since I know that trailer fairly well , if you need any help or a design drawing ... Please let me know !!!

[mikeschn]

Glenn,

If I recall, you don't have any hard edges on that trailer. What is your current opinion of hard edges all around?

Oh, another question. Has anyone experimented with canvas over the galley hatch hinge as a means of water proofing the hinge?

Mike.. .

[GPW]

Mike , what I think doesn't matter , it's a personal preference, But sharp edges do tend to create vortices aerodynamically ... but are easier to find trim pieces to fit ... 6 of one half dozen of the other ... All what YOU like really ...
The canvas hinge would have to be painted on both sides , so as to not quickly rot ... Maybe a sewn hinge with a rubberized center seam ... ?? Don't think it's strong enough for the pivot , but perhaps OK for waterproofing ... more testing...

I used a piece of Firehose inner core , split lengthwise and used as a waterproof gasket on my old hard edged wooden trailer hatch ... glued down and secured with aluminum strips screwed to the wood ... It worked ... already rubber coated...

[djdawg]

Congratulations to everyone who's made it through this thread recently. It is a very educational act of madness to try and read it. Once you come out the other side you're clearly a foamling!

So I have a question that I haven't found the answer to in the big thread. I have some parts of my trailer (internal) where I woud like to cover the fabric clear not with opaque paint. I want my AWESOME FLOWERS to show.


Has anybody tried covering things with either clear untinted base paint or with varnish? I can't find it in the thread. I can't figure why it wouldn't work I just am wondering where my best odds are for getting a good look without having to buy ALL the possible clear finishes first.

Hey everyone! Been lurking for quite awhile now and am starting to get ideas for my TD. I have a question about canvassing/covering the outside of the TD.

First, Laura...I'm wondering if you found the right product to cover your flowers that would allow that cool pattern to show? Seemed like there were several good ideas here.

Her question brings up something interesting. From what I've learned at this point, what has typically been done is people will take canvas and apply it to their foamie using the Glidden stuff, other latex paint, etc. Is this correct? What I'm wondering is if a clear non tinted paint could be used that would allow a pattern to show after it dries could this allow for some really incredible designs? I understand that canvas is typically used but it seems like any fabric could be used? And if so, could we not create some amazing designs, "paint schemes" using patterned bed sheets, or material from the fabric store? For instance one could cover part of their teardrop with the flower pattern (like an accent) cover another section with a complimenting color found in the flower pattern, etc. and cover it all with the non tinted latex. I realize this might compromise the structural integrity of a teardrop because it would be comprised of numerous smaller pieces of fabric instead of instead of one or two larger pieces of canvas. However, paper mache uses numerous strips of newspaper so maybe it might work?

I would think each design section would need to overlap the next to help with overall strength but then the material thickness might end up making the whole thing look like crapola.