Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[eaglesdare]

yup i too will be watching how this door will come together. that is the one area i really hate in my tear.

[Conestoga]

TD is lookin good "Bear"!

DJT - I too like the idea of fixed flush-mounted windows. There is no
rule that says windows and ventilation have to happen via the same
hole.

Here's what I did before our most recent trip and i'm happy to say
that they worked out very well in all weather conditions.
I put the same port/flap on both inside and outside of each door.
A piece of screen is sandwiched between.
The fresh air right in my face while sleeping was just what i wanted.
These vents seem to be the perfect size for draw for the
roof vent when cracked open on cold nights. (on warm nights we
leave one or both doors open.)

I'd love to see somebody improve on this.

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=78862

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=78863

[eaglesdare]

TD is lookin good "Bear"!

DJT - I too like the idea of fixed flush-mounted windows. There is no
rule that says windows and ventilation have to happen via the same
hole.

Here's what I did before our most recent trip and i'm happy to say
that they worked out very well in all weather conditions.
I put the same port/flap on both inside and outside of each door.
A piece of screen is sandwiched between.
The fresh air right in my face while sleeping was just what i wanted.
These vents seem to be the perfect size for draw for the
roof vent when cracked open on cold nights. (on warm nights we
leave one or both doors open.)

I'd love to see somebody improve on this.

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=78862

http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=78863

do you have any more info on that first pic? is this yours? i like it. do you know how big it is?

[Conestoga]

eagle, yes this is my camper.
these things are called "rv access hatches" or something like that.
i got them on ebay.
the inner diameter of the port is 3.5".
i think hole i cut out of the door was about 4".
the total width is 6".

[swampjeep]

eagle, yes this is my camper.
these things are called "rv access hatches" or something like that.
i got them on ebay.
the inner diameter of the port is 3.5".
i think hole i cut out of the door was about 4".
the total width is 6".

nice, then you just added the screen when you bolted them in?
I like it.

[GPW]

Cone', That's perfect !!! After seeing the Old Timers with the side vent , didn't want to put a big modern vent on the roof ... Rain and all here... when it rains that is ...
Rat , the door plan is, to face all the sides with the 1/2" cedar , cover the inner edges and back with the sheets , and the outer face with the same canvas as elsewhere... less thickness on the sides ... The bottom outside of the door will have a metal or plastic plate as a "flashing , hanging down below the door line to keep water out the door bottom , and all the water on the door to run right off , and not run inside ... Something I learned from my tiny Cargo trailer ... Still looking for a suitable drip guard for over the door.. and some thrifty windows ...

[Ratkity]

Cone', That's perfect !!! After seeing the Old Timers with the side vent , didn't want to put a big modern vent on the roof ... Rain and all here... when it rains that is ...
Rat , the door plan is, to face all the sides with the 1/2" cedar , cover the inner edges and back with the sheets , and the outer face with the same canvas as elsewhere... less thickness on the sides ... The bottom outside of the door will have a metal or plastic plate as a "flashing , hanging down below the door line to keep water out the door bottom , and all the water on the door to run right off , and not run inside ... Something I learned from my tiny Cargo trailer ... Still looking for a suitable drip guard for over the door.. and some thrifty windows ...

Sounds simple and very doable!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Conestoga]

thanks folks

swampjeep, yes exactly. i cut a round piece of screen about 6" diameter
and pretty much wrapped it around the inner side of one of the vents.
then i pushed that in the hole. i shoved the second vent into the other
side of the door. then bolted them together and sealed with caulk.

GPW, if no roof vent, will you have something else to vent out at the
highest point in your camper, perhaps on the sides?

[DJT]

Here's the plans in progress:



A cut away:



Still need to add a rear receiver, electrical, the gas cans, vents, windows and obviously doors!

[GPW]

Cone', couple vents like yours up high on the sides (near the top) should do me fine ... I wasn't best pleased with the overhead vent in my other TD ... a source of leaks and dead lizards ...

DJ, Looks good !!!

[eaglesdare]

that is nice looking. looking forward to this one.

[eaglesdare]

i am not sure where it was discussed about the strenght of a piece of foam, but i was thinking for me, any shelving inside my tear covered would be strongth enough. i don't plan to have any thing super heavy on any shelves.

my thinking is for a raised bed/counter. if i wrap it twice and add more support closer together i wonder if it would serve for a child. weight under 100 lbs.

gpw..on that one drawing you had with the shelving, could the bottom part of the bracing being cut into an arch?

[Wolffarmer]

i am not sure where it was discussed about the strenght of a piece of foam, but i was thinking for me, any shelving inside my tear covered would be strongth enough. i don't plan to have any thing super heavy on any shelves.

ED

I have found I mostly have clothing in mine. A couple of books and such. So unless you are a person that must have TV, Stereo, Game console and Lava Lamp they probably will not see much weight. Only my galley shelves carry much weight.

Randy

[GPW]

Got my Studio cleaned up spotless... took a while to get up all those little foam bits ...Aargh !!! So now the whole project has moved outside ... and now the wife is on me about all those little blue bits in the yard ... I told her that when it rains (if it ever rains again ) the grass would grow up over it and it would be assimilated into the earth .... Her response: " Well, that's Not very Green ! " Possibly , perhaps ???
Totally Amazing this foamie' idea has taken off like an Olympic sprinter on steroids... Not like the old days when we had just one thread to follow ... This is like WORK .. Good Work , but a lot of reading/thinking ... poor Eagle ... What a Huge responsibility !!! Thanks for all your efforts leading the way !!!

[eaglesdare]

i am not sure where it was discussed about the strenght of a piece of foam, but i was thinking for me, any shelving inside my tear covered would be strongth enough. i don't plan to have any thing super heavy on any shelves.

ED

I have found I mostly have clothing in mine. A couple of books and such. So unless you are a person that must have TV, Stereo, Game console and Lava Lamp they probably will not see much weight. Only my galley shelves carry much weight.

Randy

i do know a one layer wrap will hold a laptop, a skillet, the stove we have. actually i know it would hold all of those things together on one counter, with proper support. not that i am using anything for that. just saying.

but i need to come up with something strong enough for kids. and i am seriously thinking that if i wrap the foam twice, and use proper supports, the kids could use it to sleep on.

i was playing with the editing program, i am frustrated right now, as i will be building over the wheel well and that darn bump takes up floor space. floor space i don't want to give up. but since i am a visual person, i will just wait and fool with the inside once i get to the stage and see what will work and exactly won't work.
my problem is that i have 3 kids that want to go camping with me, and hubby. now this will not always be the case. the number of campers could be 1 (myself) or could be 5, 2 adults and 3 kids. and anything inbetween. so how do i figure this out so i do not have to bring a tent. i never ever want to deal with that again.
i suppose i could always count on the car for at least 1 person. my son slept there when we did the maiden voyage.