pchast wrote:Have you made a weight target?
What can you tow with your current vehicle?
Do you need to budget part use for the weight of the
finished piece?
You are doing quite well with your finds. Better
than I could...
Thanks Pete.
I’m disabled from multiple strokes (I’m fairly good physically but have chronic post stroke fatigue and I just can’t stay awake for a continuous eight hour day) so I have lots of time on my hands to find bargains, and with the limited income that goes with full disability I have lots of incentive to find stuff cheap.
My Ford Crown Victoria is a small v8 but it’s rated towing capacity is only 1500lbs.
The original trailer was 340lbs. I added approximately 30lbs of steel at most when I had the tongue and bed lengthened.
I figure the 3/4” oak flooring is only marginally heavier than the two sheets of 3/4” plywood I had originally planned as a floor, which weigh 60lbs each. So I figure another 140lbs or so at most for the oak. The 1.5x3” framing might add another 60lbs, probably less.
I have 3” xps foam, so it’s probably 12lbs per sheet. Even if I use a dozen sheets, that’s only 140lbs.
Add on weight for the pmf. I have no idea how much that will add up to, but I doubt it could be more than another 100 lbs.
I’m sure I’m missing something, but I doubt the final build will be over 850lbs. That gives me plenty of margin for trailer contents.
I really doubt I’d add 650lbs in stuff inside. I don’t plan an elaborate interior. I have a large comfortable folding cot I’m going to use. I’ll have several five gallon spring water jugs with a hand pump for them, a collapsible sink, a non pressurized marine alcohol 2 burner stove for cooking and heat, a Luggable loo and a 12v cooler refrigerator. I’ll build a small kitchenette with xps and 1/8” plywood to house the water jug with pump, collapsible sink and 12v cooler, and stove. I’ll just use laundry baskets for clothing and other personal stuff that fits under the cot.
In 2019 I spent ten weeks driving from Maine, down to Tennessee, out Route 40 to southern California, up the west coast to Washington, then back east by way of Route 94 and Route 90, hitting all the big national parks out west I could fit in. That was in a GMC Safari cargo van, camping out and back in it, using most of the same equipment I’ll use for the interior of this camper. So I already know what’s essential and what is not really needed. Since I had the cot in the back, I could stop any time I needed to for a nap.
In June I’m going to head out from here in Virginia to Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier and Badlands National Parks. (Since I’m permanently disabled I have a lifetime pass into all the national parks for free, and 50% off their campgrounds.)
I’ll trailer the Foamie and take three or four weeks this time for the trip.
Brian, looking real good. I have a teardrop but thinking about the Vardos. Where in Virginia are you? I'm in Va. Beach. 