Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **fornesto** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:24 pm

I'm just catching up on this topic (and others). Any thoughts about using lightweight aluminum framing instead of wood for the door and/or window openings? My thought is to frame up and over to create both door openings within a contiguous U-shaped internal frame that could even attach to the frame. You could possible wrap this frame into the foam/canvas structure. These would be your hard points and would be similarly lightweight. The stress of the doors would go the frame rather than the sidewalls. The materials are available at the big boxes and even more at metal shops.

Just some thoughts for discussion.

by **GPW** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:27 pm

Aluminum framing would be nice ... :thumbsup:

by **GPW** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:31 am

Speaking of aluminum framing , I was digging in the tiny Cargo trailer , for foam (where I stored it)... Noticed the doors are 3/4" plywood with aluminum channel around the perimeter.. pretty sturdy , but heavier than we'd like ...Seems like Al channel around foam would work too ... The channel would be the strength of the door ... nothing to rot ... Just a thought ... :roll:

Obviously , wood framing would be more "Thrifty" ...not necessarily lighter...
Going over to NOGC today , see if I can scare up some cypress... it's very rot resistant , so may be a better choice than the more common woods ... If we have to use wood , might's well use something with a lesser chance of problems later ... :thumbsup:

by **Wolffarmer** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:45 am

GPW wrote: Going over to NOGC today , see if I can scare up some cypress... it's very rot resistant , s

I don't think Casper could scare up any cypress in any Idaho lumber store.

Randy

by **eaglesdare** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:26 pm

Wolffarmer wrote:
GPW wrote: Going over to NOGC today , see if I can scare up some cypress... it's very rot resistant , s

I don't think Casper could scare up any cypress in any Idaho lumber store.

Randy

same here

by **GPW** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:59 pm

There must be some good rot-resistant wood you can get there...??? http://www.plowhearth.com/magazine/woods.asp

by **GPW** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:54 am

Even an exotic wood (teak, mahogany) ... very expensive ... but we need so little of it anyway , probably not a big deal ...
My recent experiences with ROT , makes me even More cautious ...

by **bobhenry** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:28 am

Guys I am sorry to harp on this but If the wood is not gonna show (or you don't mind white) put on 2 heavy coats of elastopolymer mobile home roof coat. I used polar seal white on my little toy 3x5 tear. After 3 years it was removed from the frame and is now setting in the snow and rain flat on its butt on the ground and the cheap osb looks as good today as the day I built it. No swelling, no puffing up, no delamination. It is going on 4 years now and all 1460 days the shell has been outside in whatever mother nature decided to throw at it. I coated EVERYTHING inside and out that was wood after building the framework.

by **GPW** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:33 am

Bob, That's a Great Tip !!!! Thanks !!!! Wrote that one down !!! :thumbsup:

by **droid_ca** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:20 pm

this might be off topic but what about casting material like when you break your arm noi the plaster kind but the fiberglass kind ?? that stuff is nearly bulletproof

by **GPW** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:38 am

Got a little sidetracked with TT repair s... grrrr... Now that is being resolved , I can get back to this Foamie build ... Going into town today for the glue(s) ... Hope to have some build pics by next week ...

by **eaglesdare** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:18 am

i think i am getting the foam this morning. i told the neighbor about what i wanted and where i was getting it from and he mentioned that he knows an employee that might beable to get a better discount than my 10p/c. i said i'll take it. :lol:

so to make a long story short, i think i am getting the foam this morning. :thumbsup:

by **GPW** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:32 am

That's COOL !!!

Can't wait to see what you got !!!
Soon as we get past band rehearsal tonight , I'm re-arranging the Studio and dragging out the foam to start cutting ...
The temp is already in the low 80's here, perfect for trailer building ...

I had a little delay fixing the bigger TT (rot) .. got that sorted!!! Back to the Foamie' now !!!

A friend saw these ideas (snagged the model) , and wants to go into the business of making these... I told him he was Crazy , but he persists .. :roll:

by **CARS** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:57 am

I just joined to learn how to build a TD. Last summer I met a guy who built one from insulation panels. I didn't get all the details, but he made it sound like his panels were fiberglass based because he glassed the whole thing together.

I am really interested in building a lightweight TD to pull behind my '68 Dodge Dart to take to car shows, the races, etc. With the price of gas, I don't think the Ford F-250 with 10' slide in is going anywhere!

Are there any other "foam" TD builds or is this the first documented build??

by **Wolffarmer** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:09 am

Cars. Welcome to the madness.

here is a foamie. I have not found any write up about how they built it. Just the pics.

starleen2 wrote:Dave (davel) has built a foam teadrop and used resin soaked fabric for the interior instead of fiberglass - It's a bluebonnet design

http://www.tearsoftexas.com

Link to picture
http://www.tearsoftexas.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=920

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

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