FoamStream...

[atahoekid]

Thanks for the compliment, I still have some work to do to finish it completely but as I was pulling it along, relaxing in it prior to turning in for the night or just sitting by the campfire looking at it, I gotta say the feeling of satisfaction was pretty cool. I can't wait to see your foam stream come together. It's going to be cool!

[GPW]

Not meaning to be nosey’ ... any idea of your total cost for the Foamie ... ? Just trying to keep track of the Thrifty element ... Just thinking , a Foamie should cost much less than a wooden one ... especially in the long run

[atahoekid]

Not nosey at all, just part of our knowledge bank. Keep in mind that I never used "thrifty" as a guideline. My goals were to avoid rot and keep it lightweight and try something new. I could have built a standard teardrop pretty easily, but I wanted to play with new materials and methods. I also made it as "comfortable" as possible. It's got a full electrical system, a stereo, a heater, a full size fantastic vent, full size queen bed mattress, propane tank and battery on the tongue, top end materials for the cabinets, a fiberglass/epoxy outer skin, etc. and I bought the frame and the windows. I suspect I spent in the area of $3500 - $4000 If I kept it to a bare bones minimum (none of the aforementioned items) I think I'm done for about $1200 - $1500. The single largest ticket item were the windows. The only repurposed items in the entire trailer were the frame, heater, propane tank and the windows. I also agree that it would have been even more expensive had I gone with a traditional build. Before I settled on the Foamie, I was planning plywood sandwich, stick built walls with an aluminum skin. Remember also this is a "BIG" foamie. Just the body is 4 1/2 ft tall, 7 foot wide and 11 1/2' long, almost 50 percent larger than most "teardrops". I suspect that I am the proud owner of the most expensive foamie ever built. And I'd do it the same way again!!! (give or take a couple methods/solutions)

So the looming question for me is did I make my goals? 1) I think this is a whole lot more leak and therefore rot proof than anything else I could have built. There's nothing in the walls and almost nothing in the roof to rot except the interior lauan skin which I can keep an eye on but even in the driving rains of Oregon, no cabin leaks were evident. 2) yeah it's lightweight. I can still push it around on flat ground by myself without too much strain, even with most of our gear on board except food, beer and water. 3) I tried tons of new stuff and learned tons of new stuff. I'm satisfied...

[GPW]

Personally, I think you did SUPER !!! ... and nothing to Rot makes a BIG difference in the long run ... The ultimate value of these trailers remains to be proven over time , but I suspect they’ll be around and camping for a long long while ... plenty of time to think about it ...

[Wobbly Wheels]

The ultimate value of these trailers remains to be proven over time

Yeah, unfortunately 'amateur built' or 'home built' typically lowers an item's value. Anyone who has seen the attention to detail on many of these builds and also has experience with commercially built units knows just how bass-ackward that is.

Personally, I like the fact that the shell ought to last darn near forever and the only 'need' to replace it is to make space for another build !

If you tried to get that in a brand name RV, no one could afford it.

Another thumbs up here Mel, fo sho !

[GPW]

Not to get on my soap box about the RV industry .... we know what they are ...

But really , these Foamies are made to Last !!! That’s Bad for the Economy ... Tough S**t !!! (sorry!) I want something that will last as long as I do ... at least huh ??? Sitting outside in our weather for a year and a half now , my paint is starting to dull a little , the HF trailer has gone Pink in areas hit by the sun ... Looks like with the cheap Wal Mart exterior Gloss Latex , kept outside, you’d have to re-paint it about every two or three years ... Garage kept , who knows ... ??? Better paint brands probably work better , and camo colors are not known to wear the best anyhow ... Lighter colors are better outside , for obvious reasons , and surprisingly Baby Blue is the best (complicated) ... The test of time ... so far ! All this will be applied to the FoamStream to lessen maintenance to the minimum... forever... It Has to live outside , so it will be painted an more optimal color and with better brand paint this time ...

[atahoekid]

I agree about the RV industry.... My neighbor has a newer Airstream that he paid nearly 80k for a few years back. Nothing spectacular about it, it's not well insulated and there are many details that make him wonder why the high price tag... He's selling it now cuz he just bought a Big A** used motorhome for 145k. It has every bell and whistle imaginable and is ultraplush, but that's not how I camp. he can't even get that thing into most of the places I would camp. I bet my foamie will outlast both of those especially since I get to store mine indoors for free in my garage. He pays several hundred a month to store his two big beasts outdoors in someone else's storage facility. Maybe the rest of the world will catch on.... if not, Oh Well...

[GPW]

Many are called , but few “get it “ !!!

Forging ahead on the FS , I’ve selected a bit of flat floorspace inside the Studio to draw some chalk lines on the floor to ensure squareness of the skeleton frame ... Going to drop a plumb line from my loft and use that to square up one end rib vertically , index everything from that reference point . All stringers and plates will be measured and marked simultaneously so everything will be an exact fit ... The plan is to build the frame/ribs, then place it on the finished floor , mark and trim accordingly ... now plan to extend the floor out beyond the frame , the thickness of the foam (3.5”) so the foam will also sit On the floor instead of just “floating’" over the edge ... Stronger/easier that way ... Just a couple extra floor boards really , and a better attachment for the skin and reinforcing strips ... Now 79” Wide overall ... Moving along ... Slowly ...

[atahoekid]

Many are called , but few “get it “ !!!

Forging ahead on the FS , I’ve selected a bit of flat floorspace inside the Studio to draw some chalk lines on the floor to ensure squareness of the skeleton frame ... Going to drop a plumb line from my loft and use that to square up one end rib vertically , index everything from that reference point . All stringers and plates will be measured and marked simultaneously so everything will be an exact fit ... The plan is to build the frame/ribs, then place it on the finished floor , mark and trim accordingly ...

Now 79” Wide overall ...

I wish I had thought of using a refernce to make it plumb and square. As hard as I tried I'd be outta square by a bit and outta plumb a bit. Less than perfect fits, but I did overcome it. Just makes me crazy though...

Don't go over 80" or you'll need additional lighting to pull that thing. More expense, more hassle.... Know this from experience

[GPW]

It’s gonna’ be Close ...

[atahoekid]

It's gonna be soooooo cool...

[GPW]

Sure hope so eh , everybody else’s look so COOL already , fraid’ mine might be kinda' “plain” ...

[KCStudly]

Plain?

Just do it like this,

S'all I'm saying.

[GPW]

OK, that’s what Her Worship would like !!! Me , I kinda’ like the Victorian submarine look ... Nautilus ... If I can find some fancy thick wallpaper , who knows ? Figuring it should be around for a long time , The inside will probably a “work in progress” ... Trying to keep it Simple at first ...

[droid_ca]

OK, that’s what Her Worship would like !!! Me , I kinda’ like the Victorian submarine look ... Nautilus ... If I can find some fancy thick wallpaper , who knows ? Figuring it should be around for a long time , The inside will probably a “work in progress” ... Trying to keep it Simple at first ...

with it being foam it would float
I like the Nautilus look my self but having deck hands that look like that wouldn't hurt