Low Wider... Simple

[GPW]

As a last resort I consulted the local Craig’s list ... Found this ... http://neworleans.craigslist.org/mat/3051922462.html
Bead foam , dense , used for structural concrete work ... ‘ A little slicing with a hot wire and I’d have enough foam for a really big one , and a pittance of what the Commercially available foam costs ... I don’t mind bead board at all ... it works , just have to make it a little thicker ... No problem ..

[GPW]

Just got off the phone with Steve (linuxmanxxx) , really nice guy and he’s got some Great ideas ... We compared notes ...
You just meet the Nicest people here in the Foamie section !!! Open minded , enlightened !!! For that I’m very Thankful !!!

[bonnie]

That looks pretty darned handy!

[GPW]

Worth a try huh ??? Starting from blocks is like cutting down a foam tree...

[angib]

just another thought on the LowWider ... sloped nose to further decrease wind resistance

Sloping the nose won't do any harm but for it to be an actual benefit, rather than just styling, what matters is that there is a really gentle curve from the sloped part to the flat part. Nothing tighter than a 12" radius for sure, and a 24" radius would be much better. Exactly the same thing is important at the sides too - indeed, it may be more important as there are two of them to cause drag.

[GPW]

Angib , with the possibility of obtaining 10” thick blocks now , the thought of even more Rounding becomes possible .. Build a box , whittle it round .... Although I’m not trying for the ultimate aerodynamic shape , just trying to keep it from being just a “Box” ... Counting on the overall lightness , combined with as much aero tech as I can practically do for towing ease...and yet keep it SIMPLE ...

Ps. Just thinking , with the blocks I could finally carve out one of those Vette’ looking trailers ... Cheap too .... But if I went through all that trouble , I’d want to glass it ...

[GPW]

So , this whole project isn’t getting any Simpler ... The thought of cutting slabs from blocks isn’t Bad , just more complicated (work ) ... I have all the HW cutting eqpt , no problem , just the thought ...
On the other hand , I could slice out Five 24” 2” X 10’ sheets out of a block , which is ~ $4.00 a sheet or the equivalent or $8.00 for a 4’X8’ area ... Compared to the prices around here , that’s a huge savings ...

The foam is a dense beadboard ... I could make it 3” thick for the extra strength , and even More insulation (much appreciated in this Heat lately ) That’s still ~ $14.00 for a 4”X8” area ... still much cheaper than buying sheets ...if I can find them ...
Rosey told me she found a source locally , but the New price is like $43 and change ( + 9% sales tax) for a 2” 4X8 sheet ... grrrrr!!

OK, so I’m a cheap b*****D , but it’s the little things that quickly add to the price of the construction ... Still trying to Save where I can ... I’d still prefer working with the standard extruded foam , rather than the bead board , only because it’s so much easier to sand ... Sanding beadboard will result in a Gazillion little pebbles all over the yard ...Which I know will get tracked into the house ... the usual foam dust just sinks into the ground ... not as noticeable ...

Could go with the 1X2 stick framing Stevexxx suggested ... and the thinner /cheaper foam that IS available here ...

Hmmm? I feel another drawing coming on ...

[GPW]

LowWider with wood framing ... 3/4” foam as a filler between the frame members , and as an overall exterior skin ... 2 layers total = 1.5” insulation ... then covered with the canvas/fabric ...

[KCStudly]

Do not assume that the wood is cheaper than the foam.

Finding good wood that is not a miserable wretched experience to work with can add to the cost of your "Simple Foamie" lickety split.

Ask me how I know, then poke some more fun at my build budget. (All intended in good ol' fashion fun, no malice.)

$12/ft 2x10 x 10ft select cedar. Worth every penny, and treated like Gold. Karl jokes about burning the scraps.

[GPW]

KC, with wood , I’d need to get out the woodworking tools too ... I built my Foamie with a handsaw .... that was it ... Being also a guitar maker I get a bit “anal” with my wood working , precise fits , square joins,working in thousandths instead of sixteenths , etc.etc.. and you know how much time that takes ... Foam is so “free flowing” Almost “expressive” ... as we’ve seen here by the wondrous variations on the theme built here ...

Not really worried about wood rot from some enclosed framing members .... just NO plywood for me ... So simple lumberyard 1X2 would work fine ... I think ....but I would still select it carefully anyway ... #1 wood ... I HATE Knots ... don’t even like “knotty Pine “
My trouble is too many plans ... so many alternatives ... just have to see how the cards deal out ... And as usual , Money is No object !!!! .... I have none ...

[GPW]

As much as I think , draw , and imagine , this still seems like the simplest build ( for me ) ... a Boxy compromise between Streamline and practicality , and upmost , ease of assembly !!! The most space for the buck .. Standy would be nice , but I can stand up outside ...
Old saying : "Why stand when you can sit , why sit when you can lay down ? “ Being OLD , I can go along with that .... I do need my siestas...

[linuxmanxxx]

Glen here's my take of a standy based on 5 x 8 tractor supply carryon trailer and is very similar to what you've drawn here recently. Let me know what you think guys. I'll be building this and also massaging this config to be my cabin on a toyhauler as well. I haven't drawn it but the shelves on the sides could have microwave and some other appliances and room for a porta self dumping toilet inside as well. I'm envisioning the bed pivoting up toward the ceiling for more seating room in case of rain/snow/ice/summer heat lol.

[wagondude]

Looks good, but I would make the front wall taller. I really don't see any bennefit to running the slope that far down and it would make it feel roomier even if there was no real use to the extra few cubic feet over the bed.

Bill

[GPW]

Stevexxx, JMHO, a little rounding of the front would give it more room inside and a less boxy look outside .. Easy enough to do , especially for you ... Perhaps more commercial appeal ...

[GPW]

I’m just thinking , whatever I end up building , the WIDE part is most important ... even my "Toy” Foamie would have been adequate if built 6’+ WIDE... instead if the usual 4’ ( 44” wide inside .. )

Something about the magic 50 sq.ft. of floor space ... and wide enough for two .... The big space savings comes when you can sleep sideways , with the possibility of a “trundle” bed / sofa ... No reason the bed should take up most of the room by day huh ??