Had your trailer sprayed with foam insulation?

[pappaw]

I was wondering if anyone here has had their trailer sprayed with foam insulation by a home insultaion contractor, and if so some tips and what was the cost (as I was thinking about having this done)?

Thanks

[pete42]

I often wonderif once all the electric wires were run either in conduit so thay could be replaced if needed or just
semi-loose if spraying in foam would be either faster than the solid foam and if it would insulate better.
but like most things one must weight the cost of each. i think spraying would be better.

pete

[BC_Explorer]

I had thought about this with my CT however I was told by a few sources spray foaming a trailer is not a good idea. The reason being is that it makes the whole trailer too rigid and can cause structural, especially side wall issues as the whole trailer needs to flex somewhat when going over bumps, uneven roads etc. When the whole trailer can't flex, something needs to give which can cause the very thin aluminum sidewalls to develop un-repairable creases, pop some rivets etc.

As for cost wise, I was quoted $350.00 for a 6'x10' CT.

[pete42]

Doesn't the plywood covered walls make the trailer rigid?

you say you heard the spray foam would make it more rigid than the plywood
or is it because the foam is bonding to the aluminum skin, seems it would in fact make it more rigid
but it would also take out the "oil canning" from the side skin.

I would not spray the sides with the plywood in place or was that what you meant?
that would make it rigid interesting to know what to do thanks for the new thought
wonder how we can find out if it would in fact cause any problems

pete

[aggie79]

Bill Livesey used spray foam on his Winter Warrior style TD/TTT:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?p=578826#p578826

[pappaw]

Hey, thanks for the poop Tom

Cheers

[BC_Explorer]

Pete:

Two different CT dealers, selling different brands advised against spray foam for the reasons I listed. I had also asked a residential spray foam person when he was down the block doing a spray foam job on a new house. He also advised against spray foaming due to the thin aluminum sheeting used on cargo trailers and the potential to damage as all trailers flex no matter that they have plywood or other materials on the interior walls.

[pete42]

Pete:

Two different CT dealers, selling different brands advised against spray foam for the reasons I listed. I had also asked a residential spray foam person when he was down the block doing a spray foam job on a new house. He also advised against spray foaming due to the thin aluminum sheeting used on cargo trailers and the potential to damage as all trailers flex no matter that they have plywood or other materials on the interior walls.

thanks for answering my question if and when I ever get a cargo trailer I'll skip the spray foam for the reason you stated .

seems every time I'm ready to jump something comes up and I'm back in the hospital,
if this keeps up the only time I'll get into a cargo trailer is on the way to the Cemetery, but I'll have smile on my face

pete

[PcHistorian]

Pete42, foam can be a wall unto itself. But it you are working with a container it might be more simple to just use foam sheets. The trailer I have I bought as a shell. And even though it was wood frame, it was built as a vinyl siding demo- and constructed as a 2x4 stud wall structure with the 1/2 inch foam outside layer and then the vinyl siding, just as normal vinyl siding is put up. I had to add the 1/2 inch foam sheets for the ceiling and the floor, which were not insulated. The ceiling I did on the interior and the floor I did on the exterior underneath. I will probably go with two more coating layers of the spray tar like sealant underneath. I put one on the wood floor, after I used a thompson type water seal. Then I"ll put another layer of the spray tar sealant over the 1/2 inch foam, and then one more spray tar sealant after I get the water tanks put in. ( I really don't want the wood to rot, or the metal to rust. )

Lastly, the spray foam insulation is for irregular shapes or deep fills. Not so much for clear cut, even spacing areas only an inch or two deep at most.

[Prem]

Last week's chat, in case you didn't already read it:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25377&start=765#p1042045