Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[eaglesdare]

i will say i have a cut out in my door, and it is semi glued/canvassed. it is pretty well dry and i have to admit, it is pretty darn strong. much stronger than just the foam. feel stronger.

now i am not completely sold on the doors the way they are. but i have no other option at this stage, except to continue with what i am doing. but after out gathering in less than 12 more days, i think i am going to redue my doors so they are exactly what i want.

i am ready for tomorrow. would love to get some poly done. and cut that excess canvas off the top and glue that down. i hope to beable to get some reinforcement strips done. those couple of things will be my goal for tomorrow.

[eaglesdare]

Opps that's the gathering we're going to also so I'll be looking forward to meeting you and seeing the trailer up close.

Gary

PS after having the luan crack on the tight part of the curve on our first Winter Warrior I planned the second one with out any tight curves.

i see 2 gary's on the list. one is at 22 and one at 115. we have 73 and 74. that one seems like it will be a blast. lots of trailers to check out.

[RAYVILLIAN]

Trudy and I are the ones in 22. We have camped alot down in the Southcentral and Soutwest area in the past and have wanted to go East. This gathering looked like a good one to go to.

Gary

[TBuilder]

OK, the idea is too cool to not try.

I'm headed to the local HD to grab some 1" foam to make a 1/2 scale model.

[Bikerman]

Great progress, you do great work!

I have a question, while this doesn't go with the inexpensive side, it stays with the real DIY side: What about using foam over a wood frame, then expanded aluminum (that stuff that looks like latice or open dimonds) and then canvas and several coats? Just thinking the metal in the sandwhich would help with that bear...lol.

[eaglesdare]

OK, the idea is too cool to not try.

I'm headed to the local HD to grab some 1" foam to make a 1/2 scale model.

good luck and don't forget those pics!

[GPW]

Biker, Trying to keep it "Thrifty" Dude !!!

[GPW]

Now about those Bears ... I think we should not consider them in a build .... Basically if the Bear wants in , it'll Get in !!! Haven't seen anybody brag about having a Bear-proof TD ... or anything else ...

Better ways to keep the Bear away ... Bears follow the food ... Keep the food away , and the bears too ...

I think I'd be more worried about those Big cats ...

[Wolffarmer]

Yikes, forum quit sending me notices of new postings. I have a bunch to get caught up on



Randy

[pat g]

Guys,

Been following this thread. This is where I got the thrifty idea of using canvas on my build. Thanks! I built out of OSB for cost savings. While not light weight, it is cheap. I really like the look of canvas over the OSB, kinda textured. Thanks for keeping us up on this build. I plan to make a light weight no frills trailer over next winter.

Eagle,

looking good!

GPW,

cannot wait to see yours!

Pat G

[eaglesdare]

thanks so much for everyone's kind words. i actually had a dream where someone posted "it was great work for the sub-par category".

while this build is not 100% perfect, it really is pretty darn close. there are a couple of buckles/puckerings that i don't like. and i do think that reinforcing strips are a must have. but you can blend it all in to make it look good. i am pretty confident that this is going to work and hold up pretty well.

lousy weather again. so i am working on my doors in the house today. i think i may need one more item from the store to pull it completely off, but i am going to try to be thrifty and see what i have around the house that just might work instead of buying anything else.

if this weather would cooperate i think i could pull off completion in 10 days, but it is calling for rain in at least 5 of those 10 days. so i am so stressed about this. but i am working my butt off trying to get it to campable in 10 days it is not funny.

[Conestoga]

Great progress, you do great work!

I have a question, while this doesn't go with the inexpensive side, it stays with the real DIY side: What about using foam over a wood frame, then expanded aluminum (that stuff that looks like latice or open dimonds) and then canvas and several coats? Just thinking the metal in the sandwhich would help with that bear...lol.

Bikerman, i had a similar idea (that i believe i posted a ways back in this thread)...
about using cattle panel as the structural element.
instead of adding wood to the foam where necessary to reinforce &attach stuff,
i would be able to weld attachments &or little mounting plates anywhere i wanted.

the cattle panel at my local agway i think is 16ft long by 50" wide.
the cost when i asked about it a couple summers ago was $25.

greetings to all from windy Texas!

[GPW]

Pat, we'd sure like to see some pics !
Eagle .. although it looks simple , there are many little details to attend to ... That's why I'm keeping mine ultra Simple ... KISS for old me And building on a deadline although INTENSE is just like most production shops , so don't feel alone !!! All in the planning eh !!! I'd worry about getting the structural elements done first , and the decorative touches later ... Maybe after the camp out...

Cone' ..That still is a Great idea !!! You and Biker just have to make one for "show and tell" ...

[TBuilder]

Here's my attempt at building a scale model of a foam teardrop.

The first cut. A scraper with one side sharpened makes a great cut tool.


Here's how clean the cut is with the sharpened scraper:


Here's the obligatory profile shot, Generic Benroy:


Here's where I left off, glued and clamped:


Now if only building with 3/4" plywood sides were so easy.

[eaglesdare]

GOOD JOB! and your cuts look much better than mine did.


i now have the first coat of paint on one door. i went with a color that looked like it matched my car which is a reddish color.
..so hubby come home and says "it looks purple." i grabbed that door and ran out to my car and took a look. it matches pretty well. so its not purple, or my car is not red.


but those stupid windows and my idea is still throwing me and i just want to scream. it seems so darn simple, but its those curves that i went with. never again will i do curves!