FoamStream...

[KCStudly]

Geep-dub, I am sure that with your creativity you could take just about any material that you can scrounge ("thrifty style") and make a work of art out of that floor. Some times you just have to start in order to be happy with the result.

Just, "Get 'er done".

The sooner you get the floor in, the sooner you can add the purple shag carpet, velour and silk pillows, and the chintz!



(I will not be letting up on the genie bottle theme until you scream uncle!)

[ghcoe]

Regrettably , this “floor” business still has me boggled ..

I am at the same place. I am thinking going with the OSB as well. If you stain OSB and put a clear coat over it, it looks pretty nice.

[GPW]

Thing is , I’ve used OSB before ... and found there are different grades ... and if it’s “treated” (the mix ), holds up very well ... all the board flooring I found was Pricy ....The wood planks at the “box” stores were disappointing , the nice stuff, T&G flooring , from Real lumberyards , was above budget ... Plywood , forget that ... I’d need 3 sheets ... and my friend sold his cypress sawmill ... (no free wood )
So OSB is Inexpensive , strong enough , and when joined (glued and screwed) to the lower lumber framing of the “skeleton” it should work fine .... we may have to add more crossmembers to reduce the span of the OSB from Xmember to Xmember (2.5’ now ) , but that’s easy, just a couple more 2X4s ...

Now in this particular circumstance, this trailer will Not be hauled all over the place , for camping ... It will quietly sit outside in the driveway , awaiting the "call to EVAC" , which for us is about twice a year around here ... usually late August, early September ... If you gotta’ go , you Gotta’ Go !!! So it doesn’t have to be a “showpiece” , just Comfortable and WATERPROOF ( and for Her Worship , air conditioned ) ... From the experience with the little TD size Foamie , it’s still sitting outside , the HF Red trailer faded Pink , but still dry as toast on the inside , and No leaks , No Rot ... which is all I ever wanted in the first place ... Been what , two years now out in the weather ... the only thing I can find Wrong , is I didn’t use SS screws on the window hinge , so some are a little rusty (grrrr!!!!) and will have to be replaced ... NBD ! So we are Positive that Foam works and works Well !!!
I’ve long drooled over all the Beautiful campers the members here make , real works of Art , and I really Respect all the time and skill /creativity that went into making them .. but I just need something Simple ... hat Up , get outta’ town !!! Bring the wife (naturally) , the dog, cat , and now Django (chirp) .. for an undetermined period (usually 3 days , and on that one occasion 6 weeks ) Just a place to sleep , hang out , keep the food ... while we do “stuff" outside .... Hmmm? Sure sounds like Camping doesn’t it ?


Apologies for the rambling ‘ .... still early , first cup ...

[wagondude]

For thrifty and your intended purpose, The OSB (well sealed) is probably your best choice at this point. Any chance that they will have some at the local Restore? Sheet goods are usually harder to find there, but you may find a few sticks of dimensional stuff at a lower price. Worth a look anyway.

[GPW]

Thanks Bill, I’ll look around ...

[bonnie]

Sure sounds like Camping doesn’t it ?
:

Sure does.

[GPW]

Bonnie , it’s like going Camping , never knowing when or if you’re going back ... With a million other people on the road too , it gets “interesting" ... Ever see armed National Guard in front of the Wal Mart , only letting people in a few at a time ?... Get in Line .... “show us your papers ! “ ... All very Bizarre ... Having a comfortable little place to stay really makes a HUGE difference in “peace of mind” !!! (especially for “Her Worship” , the Domina'... who always manages to “shop” her way through Every evacuation ) ... My friends across the country , have a little place picked out in their driveway/backyard for me ... just in case ... We’re all Well Practiced at all of this ...Dreading the end of every summer ... Good thing it doesn’t happen ALL the time , just every now and then ... gotta’ be Prepared...
FoamStream should be big enough , without being a Big beast ... something the Seniors can handle ... (like me )

[GPW]

Enough of that ... back to the build .... One of the problems has been finding 1”X2” boards (stringers) in the 10’ length... I need 10 (ten) of them ... So have decided to take the EASY way out and just use the 8’ lengths , and stagger the splices ... Not the absolute Best thing to do , but these only serve to align the Ribs and all will be glued to the foam anyway, forming one Unit ! ... by doing it this way , I can take advantage of the much cheaper prices of the “standard” lumber...

[ghcoe]

How about purchasing 2"x?"x10' and having them ripped to a 1"x2". If you can not do it yourself it may not be too much to have a lumber yard rip them for you if anything....

[GPW]

That’s probably the Best idea huh ?
Sorry , I was just being cheap .... I can “supposedly get the 1x2x8s for less than a buck a piece whereas the good lumber would be a buck a foot from the lumberyard ... http://www.lowes.com/pd_4511-99899-4511 ... 446&rpp=32

[ghcoe]

Must be cheaper there than here.

Just picked up some 1x2x8's and they were $1.12 each.

2x6x10's are $6.38 here. You could get six 1x2x10's out of one 2x6x10 which would be about $2.00 less for 100 linear feet if you can rip them. Plus you would not have to have as much waste trying to stager the 8 foot lengths.

Just some friendly input....


On a side note. I have found I like the HD 1x2's and 2x2's better. I have found on the Lowe's lumber that the edges are rounded over. I do not like that, I'll pay the little extra, if any, for the nice squared edges. Just be careful not to cut yourself on them though. Sliced my knuckle wide open one day.

[GPW]

George , when we cut the ribs on the CNC , it left a little radius that fits the rounded stock exact ... my tiny scrap 1X2 pieces fit perfect ... That and I have to travel 40+ miles to get any decent size wood ripped (Vinnie’s) , my little Cheapo DD table saw is not up to the task ... If I ripped the wood , I’d have to plane a small radius into the stock anyway .... you can see my dilemma ...

[KCStudly]

One single knot in the middle of that 2x6 will blow the yield out the window. Trying to find knot free lumber at the big box, and/or for cheap will be hard.

That's why I used the 2x4 stud lumber for the slats on my laminated wall edging.

Just buy extra and rip the 2x4's as needed. The shorter pieces where the knots are can be used to extend the full 8 footers, or for other things. You can make half lap joints that land on your arches to strengthen the joints.

[GPW]

" You can make half lap joints that land on your arches to strengthen the joints. “ That’s a GREAT idea !!!

[droid_ca]

GPW how's your hot tub coming are you going to make it all out of foam use titebond3 over canvas or staock tank