The beginning of this thread will be a repeat from my first post, "New foamie build.....and our first big mistake....", because I wanted to document our little project without the "mistake" in the title and start a build journal. My husband and I (we're Mike and Jessie) are building our very first foamie trailer and we're already a bit addicted to the whole process. This will be an incredibly simple squaredrop, nothing fancy right out of the gate, but already we have come up with different ideas that we will probably incorporate in the future. We decided not to add a galley to our first build because as a former Eagle Scout, my husband wants to make a good old fashioned scout patrol box for a kitchen. I think the nostalgia of using those brings back a lot of good memories and I'm on board with it.
***I also wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all of you that have been a part of this forum and have dedicated so much time to it, this opens up such an amazing world of opportunities for travel that might not otherwise be realized by some and we consider it a fantastic find!!***
First, we have a 2014 Chevy Impala with a 1,000lb. tow rating, so we searched and searched for viable, AFFORDABLE options for camping. Luckily I fell down an internet rabbit hole one day and came across foam teardrop builds and we've met our solution! After much deliberation, we decided to go with the 5'x8' Northern Tool trailer. My husband is 6'2", broad shouldered and doesn't want to feel terribly cramped. We have a lot of exploring to do of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan and we think this will be exactly what we want!
We thought long and hard about the shape and style and opted for something relatively simple. I made a small, to-scale model of what we were thinking so we could get an idea of cuts and how much supplies we would need. This has changed a little since we decided to put the door on the other side but everything else is the same.
We got everything calculated as best we could, borrowed my dad's truck, and headed to the store.
Following our drawings and our model, we got our cuts made.
The floor we made out of 4'x8' OSB, cut, fitted together and glued with construction adhesive. We then got our 2x2's in place and secured down.
Then, of course, I made a goof and asphalted the floor like a nerd instead of waiting until much, much later in the build. Don't know what I was thinking! Not only did this make things a little more complicated, be we also lost our big "table" surface to work on. Everything, and I do mean everything sticks to this stuff. It starts out OK when the weather is cooler in the morning, then by afternoon you feel like a dinosaur in a tar pit. Don't get me started on the smell. Lesson learned!
This past weekend I drew up plans for the wiley windows and started the build on those while Mike was at work, but I forgot to take photos, so I will add those to this on my next post.
Mike named our little creation the "Tilly Trailer" as Tilly has been a family nickname of mine since I was born. Don't know where it came from, but it sure has stuck! So here we are on our journey to making the Tilly Trailer road worthy and ready for exploring!
I welcome any and all recommendations, suggestions, critiques and kudos to keep us going. You guys are absolutely great!
