Trailering a foamie

[tag1260]

OK. New guy here. I am thinking of building a foamie but was wondering how stable they are, say, passing a truck at 65mph or in a crosswind? Seems as if they could get tricky to pull at times. Thanks

[linuxmanxxx]

Anything over 400 pounds is ok to pull as long as the axle placement is balanced for the tongue weight to be perfect or a smidge heavy. It also depends on how it fits the wind tunnel behind the tow vehicle.
Steve

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[OP827]

A lot depends on size and shape. I personally can barely feel my build behind TV and I tested with no issues at 125km per hour, well beyond I would ever dare to try with my previous manufactured trailer which would start to wiggle beyond 100kmph. My build roof is all rigid foam and fibreglass and only lower walls have 3mm plywood inside and fibreglass outside. It is very light for the size.

[GPW]

“ I tested with no issues at 125km per hour” … Well, That’s certainly a good Test !!!

[tag1260]

Thanks for the replies. Do I want to design with as much weight at the floor as I can?

[rjgimp]

Yes. The lower you can get your center of gravity, the better.

[GPW]

Normally the trailer weight will take care of that CG … Foam is the lightest element , and without much extra “framing” will be very light …

These concerns were expressed early in the Foamie game , but have been proven to be inconsequential , with only one “blow over” of an extremely tall and narrow trailer and in Strong crosswinds ( NM ) …

[Postal_Dave]

GPW, I'm worried more about a "blow over" happening at the camp site. I like to camp on islands at the beach and I've been there when the wind gusts were well over 50mph. Have you ever heard of a foamie tipping over while parked or being blow off it's camp site? I've been wondering if I should add tie downs and stake the trailer to the ground.

[ghcoe]

We had a storm come on this trip. You will have to scroll to 19:26 on the video. I believe it was pushing 50 mph winds. You can see the trailer actually rocking in the video. Never felt like it was going over though.

[Wolfgang92025]

I remember that storm.
Once it started up,we all retreated to our trailers.
Couple ours later it was over and we had a beautiful evening.
It was over as quick as it started.

[ghcoe]

I remember that storm.
Once it started up,we all retreated to our trailers.
Couple ours later it was over and we had a beautiful evening.
It was over as quick as it started.

Yup that is the one. It was really kicking it there for awhile.

[tag1260]

Thanks everyone. Seems I'm worried about nothing. Well, not really worried but cautiously questioning.

[tomhawk]

I too had concerns about high winds and foamies.
It seemed like it was cheap insurance to add some attachment points to the chassis during fabrication.

So I welded some bent 3/8" rod to my chassis in several places:


I figured it might be useful for guy lines in high winds. Or maybe to attach something to the trailer. I wasn't too sure.

Earlier this month we had a storm they called a "derecho" with straight line winds in our area at 80 mph.

I think maybe guy lines might have been helpful if I had my trailer outside.

I guess I am worried that the old adage about trailer parks attracting tornadoes might apply here?

Tom