Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

Canvas covered foamies (Thrifty Alternatives...)

Moderator: eaglesdare

Postby eaglesdare » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:19 am

i don't think it matters how much insulation you have, it will hold what ever the temps are outside. if it is cold outside, it will be cold inside. if its hot outside, it will be hot inside.

so you do have to think about heat and a/c. preplan for that. i have now camped in various temps, from cold to hot. trust me.

on my foamie i have 1" foam for the roof with spars. also there is a frame already built in for the vent/fan. haven't got one yet though.

i have a queen size mattress inside mine. i do not know exactly how wide my truely is.

i do know mine is 8' long. or very close to that. going another foot in length will be fine. i am 5'2" and i can stand with slouching. so adding some height would be good also and doable.

to spar or not to spar: i do believe you could get away with not using spars. as long as your foam is one solid piece attached from wall to wall. once that canvas is put on like a sock it should be fine. however, i am more confident with the spars in there. adds more solidness (is that even a word?).

remember the above is only my opinion from my experiences only, nothing more. as gpw says, build the way you want and are comfortable with. we are here to assist in anyway we can.



now back to that money tree. i think i see some washingtons starting to grow. so i might beable to get back to my second build within 2 months maybe. i so hope so. but then i have to worry about school clothes. but i still should beable to pick up some things here and there.
..hubby has to do one thing, and if he does that one thing, then we can do the trip to indiana. if he does not do that one thing, then momma ain't gonna be happy and you know how the rest goes. :roll:
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm

Postby GPW » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:53 am

Keep watering that tree... ;)
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans

Postby Wobbly Wheels » Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:23 am

Welcome Jakie !
New guy to new guy, I gotta tell you to watch out for these folks. They'll steal your great ideas and give you nothing but credit in return...especially that 'Wobbly' clown...
:lol:

Good to see another Canuck (though that's a sensitive word right now, lol)
Where do you call home ?
I'm on the coast north of Vancouver.
User avatar
Wobbly Wheels
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1080
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:51 am
Top

Postby GPW » Fri Jun 17, 2011 4:03 pm

I thought it was just HOT here... apparently not ... http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/u ... -hot-20965
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans
Top

Postby eaglesdare » Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:54 pm

that is cute! but i don't want to see one in my ponies water bucket!
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm
Top

Postby GPW » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:40 pm

You have a Pony too ... 8) Everybody here has horses (except me ) . and there's this one little golden pony ... But it's a Fool , constantly getting out , then standing in the middle of the road ... :roll: Can't reason with it, won't shush back in ... have to call the owner and tell him his Fool pony is out again ... It is very Cute though !!! But DUMB!!! :lol:

Sorry , a little OT there... :oops:
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans
Top

Postby jakie » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:23 am

W2 I live just south of Edmonton. (or should I say Edmonchuck) as far as canucks are concerned, at least yous guys made the playoffs the last two years :lol: Do you live on the sunshine coast? BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY north of Vancouver! Thanks all of you for the great welcome. I once wanted to build a Q2, or a dragonfly aircraft, so I now can get all foamy about a teardrop instead! I believe I will use the 1.5 inch foam, with the luan inside wall, and the 1.5 by 1.5 inch wood glued into the bottom of the wall, for joining to the floor. The roof will be interesting. Iwill ask more questions as we get closer to that area of build. I actually read the entire 131 pages (ocd or stubborn) and learned so much just following the thought processes during the discussions. This is just so cool :applause:
I was going to build a gen benroy....now...foamie here I come
User avatar
jakie
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 44
Images: 5
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 4:43 pm
Location: Beaumont, Alberta Canada
Top

Postby GPW » Sat Jun 18, 2011 6:41 am

Thanks Jakie , your plan sounds very doable ... Having read all that :o You know what to do ... and help is just a click away ... if needed... ;)
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans
Top

Postby eaglesdare » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:56 am

jakie wrote:W2 I live just south of Edmonton. (or should I say Edmonchuck) as far as canucks are concerned, at least yous guys made the playoffs the last two years :lol: Do you live on the sunshine coast? BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY north of Vancouver! Thanks all of you for the great welcome. I once wanted to build a Q2, or a dragonfly aircraft, so I now can get all foamy about a teardrop instead! I believe I will use the 1.5 inch foam, with the luan inside wall, and the 1.5 by 1.5 inch wood glued into the bottom of the wall, for joining to the floor. The roof will be interesting. Iwill ask more questions as we get closer to that area of build. I actually read the entire 131 pages (ocd or stubborn) and learned so much just following the thought processes during the discussions. This is just so cool :applause:


interesting read to say the least huh? :lol:


gpw..i have 2 ponies. they are nothing but yard ornaments however. hubby likes them because they keep the grass mowed. of course right now there is no grass. most of it is all burned up. not enough rain it seems. gotta keep buying hay for the them to eat. normally the pasture is enough for the summer, but not this year.

i don't have a problem, and i know you don't either, but its ok to chit chat/off topic here in the big thread. we need our spot for just that.
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm
Top

Postby GPW » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:35 am

TWO Ponies :o Pony mowers... I like the way Hubby thinks !!! 8)
Almost 3 month drought here, lawn turned to dust , edible container garden kept alive only by my slowly emptying rain barrels .... well off the usual cycle of a TS every afternoon (tropical) ... Something's up ... :roll:
Nice to chat !!! 8)

The trailer is ready now to stick the shell on , and bolt it down ... Just have to wait till we can get a couple more guys over ... figure I'll get the band to help on Tuesday evening ... Not that it's heavy ,but I have to walk it across the yard and lift it over the 4' fence... Once it sits on the trailer I can push it around to see how it falls out ... The trailer is bigger than the cabin ... 54" wide , the cabin is 48" ... May have to do some creative wood cross members on the trailer itself ... or more welding ... :thinking:
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans
Top

Postby eaglesdare » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:11 am

we have managed to hang on to our garden by lots of hand watering. we've had so much great lettuce this year. wonderful to just walk out and hand pick all the leaves you need. we eat lots of salad, so summer we save tons on that. now if i could only get those darn green beans to grow. we have tons of tomatoes on the plants, still green right now. i hope they continue doing well, if so, this will be the first year we are successful with those. no problems with zucchini and squash. but lots of hand watering is needed this year. we've had rain, just not enough. the spinach is not doing well unfortunately.

i kept lots of seeds to plant later in the year, so i am hoping to get a nice crop in the late summer into fall.

on your build, if the trailer is bigger, you could always get creative and add foam to the cabin and sculpt a shape.
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm
Top

Postby GPW » Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:19 am

" you could always get creative and add foam to the cabin and sculpt a shape. "
You know that's not a bad idea .... :thinking:

Alas , my spinach is small and not doing much ... thinking it may like the cooler weather... ? Got a cantaloupe that is about ready to take over... that and the Mint ... Mirleton , not growing yet??? Still water every day ... :roll:

Eagle , seems we've said most Everything we can about Foamies :o .. I know I have .. :roll: Looks like it's in the hands of "the builders" now ... Everybody knows what to do and how to do it (we just Had to cover it all huh? ) Can't wait to see what evolves from this ... it sure looks like a Great way to make a well insulated , attractive and affordable TT or TD without power tools or exotic equipment, or any special skills ... 8)
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans
Top

Postby eaglesdare » Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:38 am

yes those appear to be cooler weather veggies. spinach, lettuce, stringbeans, among others.

yup, can't wait to see some of the builds coming along. i would love to continue on mine. i am thinking about a slide out bed, for when youngins come along. (and just because) :lol:

right now i just keep thinking but won't decide til i can work on it. might do some mock ups when i get to that stage. just to see if i like placements and such.

well i think its getting near time to get to the beach. i love living so close to it.
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm
Top

Postby GPW » Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:12 pm

Old cardboard appliance boxes make great templates for mock ups ... Cheap ...

To the beach ... :icedtea: NICE !!! Now is that the beach in ... ...... or ...... ..... ???
There’s no place like Foam !
User avatar
GPW
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 14920
Images: 546
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:58 pm
Location: New Orleans
Top

Postby eaglesdare » Sat Jun 18, 2011 4:10 pm

hey i happen to take internet security somewhat seriously. so with that said i went to the beach at ................ and it was wonderful. took another nice long walk and actually went into the ocean. now i have a fear of sharks like most have about bears here. i would rather do bear country than the home of sharks. :o

hubby cleaned up the kitchen while i was gone and he is working on dinner also. gotta love that huh? :thumbsup:
Louella
May the foam be with you.
User avatar
eaglesdare
Donating Member
 
Posts: 3168
Images: 13
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:06 pm
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Foamies

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: jgmahoney and 6 guests