Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[bonnie]

I would try to keep the existing back wall as your new galley bulkhead, shift the existing cabin forward (if at all possible), and build the new galley on the back. Maybe add a xmbr to the chassis under the front lip of the new galley floor (could be 2x4 notched to fit into the existing C-frame members). Might have to extend the frame rails back or sister on some cantilever supports if you can't move the cabin far enough forward to get some support under the new galley (galleys can get heavy with cooler full of ice and whatnot).

That way you would be adding and taking advantage of the existing structure, rather than cutting into it. You could add a small pass thru w/o degrading the strength of the existing back wall much, and that would probably be beneficial in bad weather if full timing it; access to snacks when the weather is bad and you are holed up.

Sort of what I have in mind. As it happens, I have two HF trailers of the same make. The one the Nookery sits on and a newer one. I am thinking having a 12" extension welded to the front and a 6" extension welded to the back of the newer trailer using the older trailer for parts. How's that for confusing? None of this may happen, depends on finding a welder, help to move The Nookery to it's new home, and how quickly I can build the "pantry". One consideration is would I need to re-register the trailer at it's new length?

GPW, would you mind putting your artistic powers to work and do a quick sketch of a pantry type box in relation to the Nookery? I have Tupperware type containers for dry goods (squares) and a rice cooker and stuff like that. I am also considering getting an ARB refrigerator/freezer to help me stay on a more regular diet.

[bonnie]

All this talk about expansion , takes me back to the time and fable of another trailer that got modified out of existence ...

I'm missing the inference. To which trailer do you speak of?

He might be referring to BUB, which ended up being parted out.

[KCStudly]

Ah, yes, that is likely the one. Thanks.

[GPW]

Yes, just when we figured out the Hobbit door hinge , BUB was GONE ... Rice cooker , reefer...??? Bonnie , you’re going to need a bigger trailer ...
Being a HF trailer , you “could" just bolt on the new braces ... (no welding)

[bonnie]

Yes, just when we figured out the Hobbit door hinge , BUB was GONE ... Rice cooker , reefer...??? Bonnie , you’re going to need a bigger trailer ...
Being a HF trailer , you “could" just bolt on the new braces ... (no welding)

I did keep the door though.

I hadn't thought about just bolting something on. I am going to essentially living out of this little wonder for a bit. Just trying to get my plan straight in my head. I like the Nookery. I would like to improve it so I'm more organized on the road. Maybe one of those HF luggage racks bolted onto the rear could hold a chuck box type of thing.

[GPW]

I had a dream !!! Now that we got to sleep on the idea , I imagined bolting parts of one trailer to another , maybe even adding another axle .. (tandem) ..
As we recall you can move the axle back and forward on the HF trailer so balancing wouldn’t be that difficult .... For a mini Galley , you wouldn’t need but a couple extra feet and move the axle back ... That would be even better for the door too ... Easy enough to add that on ... That and a little storage box up front would add a lot more versatility ...

Here’s a Crude drawing of the idea ...

[bonnie]

I had a dream !!! Now that we got to sleep on the idea , I imagined bolting parts of one trailer to another , maybe even adding another axle .. (tandem) ..
As we recall you can move the axle back and forward on the HF trailer so balancing wouldn’t be that difficult .... For a mini Galley , you wouldn’t need but a couple extra feet and move the axle back ... That would be even better for the door too ... Easy enough to add that on ... That and a little storage box up front would add a lot more versatility ...

Here’s a Crude drawing of the idea ...

That's it! Thank you! Now, to just get it done.

[GPW]

You might want to fully study the trailer frame situation first to see the easiest and best way of doing it ... The cabin is light enough to put atop a couple strong saw horses ( How I built it ) ...making trailer mods not so physically exerting ...

[bonnie]

I found this on another thread.

http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=quote&f=35&p=1003337

[KCStudly]

Hmm, that link opened into another thread, in a reply composition screen with quote from another post already initiated. Strange.

[bonnie]

Hmm, that link opened into another thread, in a reply composition screen with quote from another post already initiated. Strange.

I was trying to link the reply. Obviously something didn't work. Shoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT8JGdkkfAU

[GPW]

That’s one way of doing it .... (video)
Note: since we found "Clear and dry “ pressure treated lumber at a REAL Lumberyard , I’d recommend doing any wooden trailer additions with the Pressure treated wood ... The clear means no knots , the dry means the chemicals are dried into the wood , no mess of freshly soaked (treated) dripping wet with poison wood like comes from the HD ...

And then , 2X4s are going to add a lot of weight ... For a Foamie , not sporting a lot of weight like a wood camper , you could go Lighter ... Ripping some real 1X4 ( True 1” X 4”) would be fine used with proper joinery ...

[greygoos]

Not sure if this should go here. I just spoke with the sales department of thermalfoams.com about geofoam. I was wondering if anyone has discussed this item before and or has any experience with it. They cut it from 4 x 8 sheets to any thickness. A full 4' x 8' x 1.5" would run less than 12.00 per sheet. They will also cut sheets to your dimensions, we discussed a simple teardrop profile and the cutting is roughly 50.00 per sheet. Rough calculations would put 8 full sheets and 2 sides of tear profiles cut to shape and door openings at less that 200.00. They also have spray adhesives available for this product. Comments. thoughts etc greatly appreciated.

[GPW]

Need to check into that ...

[GPW]

Speaking of Thrifty , ran across this You Tube video .... thought the first one was particularly interesting ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-dwNRkTZB0