Foam TD (build journal)

[eaglesdare]

wow, how exciting! i am so glad things went well for you. thanks so much for those pics. and it does look fantastic!

[pat g]

Thanks GPW and Eagle. Funny thing, I had to give an impromptu tour to a good ole boy at the rest area on I-79! He loved that it was so light and I could "haul a##" LOL

Pat

[pat g]

Hey Brian (wobbly wheels)

Just looking through the thread and saw that I missed a post from you about the spare tire. I actually would like to make a bracket for the back to have the spare tire mounted as a Continental Kit ala Lincoln. Sorry for the late reply.

Pat G

[GPW]

Continental kit on a Foamie ...  It does sound Cool !!! Think it would affect the balance ...??? That spare tire and mount probably weighs as much as the entire trailer ..
So Pat , what were your impressions of how it handled on the tow ... any observations we should know about ?? Did you ever feel the cabin was going to slide off the trailer ??? Any changes you're thinking of making ? Even little things are important to us ... and of course, more pics would be Cool !!!

[pat g]

Gpw

Probably right about the spare! LOL

In tow the only thing I saw is that the springs are a bit stiff for the weight of the cabin. Tracked beautifully, no sway to speak of. Next trip I'll figure the mileage since this one was skewed towards more mountainous roads.

I think that the cabin is securely attached to the trailer. The two bolts in the front corner pass through the perimeter of the frame and there are long lag screws into each of the 4 cross members which pass through the floor framing for a total of 11 points of attachment.

Changes? Probably more like refinements. Stay tuned. One thing I have always planned to add is a roof vent. Just wanted to finish the build first. I figure, with this build method, a vent is an easy add on.

Pat G

[GPW]

Thanks for the Info Pat !!! I'm at that vent stage too ... Are you adding wood around the vent ... ??? I was thinking to skip the wood and just glue/foam the vent in place with some more canvas strips on top to seal it , or maybe just some Eternabond tape .. Would be quick ... Don't think the vent will blow off the top .... nothing else has .... yet ...

[Ratkity]

Thanks for the Info Pat !!! I'm at that vent stage too ... Are you adding wood around the vent ... ??? I was thinking to skip the wood and just glue/foam the vent in place with some more canvas strips on top to seal it , or maybe just some Eternabond tape .. Would be quick ... Don't think the vent will blow off the top .... nothing else has .... yet ...

I believe the vents without fans are certainly light enough to be put on the roof of a foamie with appropriate weather sealing and without additional structural supports. If one worries about fly-away vents, you can always put a thin supporting piece of metal inside the foamie glued to ceiling for bolting. I replaced one of these in my old popup with no additional support other than the thin aluminum roof. With appropriate silicone and butyl tape (I think that's the stuff that came with it), it never moved as I warp sped down the highway with it.

Any vents with motors like the "fantastic fan" are significantly heavier and have more weight with the addition of more gadgets in place. I would recommend some additional support for the 1 inch foamie roof, but doubt you'd need any more with the 2 inch roof. Again, the addition of some thin metal if you are worried about bolts compressing the foam, but that's it. Eagle has a perfect setup in that a wooden frame was built in and connected to her spar ribs that hold up the 1 inch foam.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[GPW]

Thanks Rat , I was kinda' thinking the same thing ... Just a light weight vent on mine ... So should be OK ...

[pat g]

GPW

I think that a light vent could be attached with some sort of sealing media and maybe canvas strips for added insurance against leaks. I'm not even sure that the extra strips are necessary.

Pat G

[GPW]

Pat , I hope it works out like that .... trying to keep it simple as possible ...

  96F here, Humid ... feels like 100F .. No vent install today ...

[pat g]

Hey Guys,

Tried to post update last week but could not get to the site.

I made a simple vent in the roof of my TD by cutting a 5 inch hole in the roof with a hole saw, screening it, and installing a foam cover over the hole. I shaped the cover, very carefully on the table saw and installed it with fabric strips painted in, then pinned it through the foam from the inside with four 3 inch nails pushed through the foam at opposing angles. It stayed on perfectly for my 300 mile trip this past weekend to Slippery Rock Creek in Pa. below are a few pics.













I plan to add a computer fan to the vent hole and screen the opening at the bottom.

Pat G

[elginrunner]

Hey pat,

What size computer fan? 120mm?? How are you reducing the voltage from 12v down to 5v? (i'm assuming your using a 12v of course...)

That's a fine piece of sculpting by the way on that cover.

[GPW]

Pat , very Ingenious !!!! Just outright COOL !!!!

[eaglesdare]

that is cool! but i like it lots. looks like a great place for camping.

[pat g]

elginrunner,

I plan to use a 12 volt battery so no reduction of voltage. As for the sculpting, just roughed out on the table saw and finished with a surform plane. There are 120 mm fans that should work or whatever my son has lying around.

GPW,

Thanks. Next is a sliding screen so I can leave the door open for more ventilation.

Eagle,

The camping was at Breakneck Campground in McConnel's Mill State Park near Slippery Rock. It is a great place to camp only $8 for a tent site. Really nice family owned campground. Just a minute or so from the creek!

Pat G