Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[droid_ca]

Hehe...like filling your tires with helium ?...

Tires what tires we don't need no stinking tires

[GPW]

Droid , I’m probably the Last one you should be asking about sleds ... I live in the South , no snow ... Only things we have resembling a sled is things we tow behind boats ...

But if a sled is like everything else , there must be some major considerations... Things like balance , that’s gotta’ be important , and then there’s the constant flexing .. That has to be stressful on a cabin , unless you have some type of independent suspension. More complexity, expense. maintenance ...

Maybe this was all worked out by our ancestors ... simple flexible frame , light weight, locally available materials lashed together with rawhide , and the “cabin” was a couple furs wrapped around the passenger ... seems to be some ancient Logic there ..

In order to incorporate foam into this , maybe the idea of a thick Soft foam “cabin” with an inner and outer canvas skin , like a big Bag , jump in , zip it up ... Insulated , flexes with the frame , rolls up like a big sleeping bag for storage ... little plastic windows sewn in so you can look out , enjoy the view ...

[droid_ca]

In order to incorporate foam into this , maybe the idea of a thick Soft foam “cabin” with an inner and outer canvas skin , like a big Bag , jump in , zip it up ... Insulated , flexes with the frame , rolls up like a big sleeping bag for storage ... little plastic windows sewn in so you can look out , enjoy the view ...

Now that's what I'm talking about

[GPW]

Should be easy enough to make eh ? gotta’ get the Sled first ...

[droid_ca]

so a tent that hangs withing theframing of the sled... I think that is doable

[GPW]

INSULATED, More like a big People Cozy .... with a window ...

[GPW]

Like this , a big Padded tent /Cozy ... with thick foam rubber in between the fabric that retains it’s shape ...

[droid_ca]

That is AWESOME I love the concept I'll show it to my friend....So your the model plane guy ...Know anything about Ducted Fans
Thanks again for the

[Jack B.]

Nice thing doing a sled, you don't have to deal with highway speeds.
A tent frame on a sled - check.
Clear sheet plastic windows - check.
Super light weight - check.
Pull it with a Vespa. Get to the camp sight and hang it from a tree.

Jack

[GPW]

Ducted fans ... The only thing I know is when a Duck walks into a fan , you get pate’...
Seriously , ducted fans don’t work so well in the “scale “ air ... LESS efficient than a propeller ... " Scale effect" can be demonstrated by observing birds.... Small birds have to flap their wings a lot to fly , while big birds hardly ever have to ... All about the density of the air ... The Bigger the wing , the More lift is created proportionally ... and Drag .
Applied to trailers , the bigger the trailer the more Drag is created ...exponentially more power is needed to tow it .... as we all know by now ...

[pete42]

pate’
duck walking into a fan congers up a strange visual image....................

pete

[GPW]

Sorry Pete, it’s early ... still on my first cup of coffee...

[droid_ca]

Thanks GPW I knew you would have a good answer...Thats all I needed to know ....For now

[GPW]

This is probably a job for a good tentmaker .... More sewing than anything ... Industrial sewing ... You could work out the pattern on large sheets of kraft paper , taped together to see how the parts fit ... Find the right fabric for the outer shell and inner shell , guessing they’d be different ... outer tough , waterproof fabric , inner fabric something softer , warmer .. like a sleeping bag ... Same thing really ... just BIGGER ...
About 2-3” of foam rubber between the fabric (s) will insulate and hold the shape of the design .... heavy duty straps , sewn into reinforced areas secure it to the sled... Like a foamie (sorta’) , just softer foam inside ... Flexible Foamie ‘ Hmmmm?

[GPW]

This may be a better (easier) Idea ... Run the zipper down the top middle (like a sleeping bag ) split the windows ... entry would be right through the top ... Simple !!!