Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm a retired trucker. The low weight + high profile equation is well worn into my cranium.

Correct me if I’m wrong , but I believe in all the years we’ve been here, the only Foamie “ blowover" was Catherine , who built an extremely tall narrow trailer and drove in high crosswinds … A bent coupler and minor foamie scrape was all that happened ….

The FS is very tall, but the top is rounded over, and the “board” trailer floor is heavy , All the weight down low. Low Center of Gravity …

Yes, that is the only blowover I am aware of.

At first there was all kinds of wild speculation from the old die-hards about the awful things that woulds happen to a foam trailer on the road … none of which ever happened ...

GPW wrote:Correct me if I’m wrong , but I believe in all the years we’ve been here, the only Foamie “ blowover" was Catherine , who built an extremely tall narrow trailer and drove in high crosswinds … A bent coupler and minor foamie scrape was all that happened ….

The FS is very tall, but the top is rounded over, and the “board” trailer floor is heavy , All the weight down low. Low Center of Gravity …

That is very encouraging.
All the worries proved false with actual results.
Considering the variety of methods and abilities of those making their own trailers out of foam it shows how strong, simple, low cost, and lightweight can be.

Here’s the whole story ( and a picture ) …. viewtopic.php?f=55&t=44431&start=120

Thanks for the picture and link.

There is a wind limit for every trailer no matter what size and/or weight.
When the wind can blow a loaded semi over on its side, a small and light trailer owner has to be paying attention.
But, what an excellent demonstration of the strength of the foamie!
A typical manufactured trailer may well have burst apart when tipped over like that.

I've straightened and reinforced the tongue on my little HF trailer and it is just a flat deck for hauling things, they aren't very strong.

You can see here how the height to width ratio made her trailer unstable to crosswinds …

Yes a lifting roof of some sort is called for there

http://woodenwidget.com/Images/bollocks.gif

A lot of weight way down low (batteries, watertanks) can help

same with slower speed driving

but only so much.

Unfortunately Catherine’s trailer was a recipe for disaster ( twice blown over) !!! The high skinny profile on a narrow HF frame , and those treacherous SW winds … Not much could have saved that … Except removing a section out of the middle and re-gluing … But I believe she just impulsively cut it apart by the roadside , towed the remains home …

Just FYI , All this has been discussed ad nauseum in the Big Thread ( thrifty alternatives) that nobody reads, because there’s too much information …

GPW wrote:Just FYI , All this has been discussed ad nauseum in the Big Thread ( thrifty alternatives) that nobody reads, because there’s too much information …

I'm actually contemplating doing something TOTALLY crazy... I want to read through the Big Thread again, specifically because of the amount of information there. The first time through it felt a bit like sipping from a fire hose. Hopefully after a second go a few more tidbits might stay put in my tiny cranium.

Maybe, just maybe... I'll even add to the index thread!

RJ, Everything was discussed there , it ’s all we had at the time … and I had no editing power … Points discussed then are still valid now …except for all the naysayers who said it absolutely wouldn’t work !!! I wonder where they are now ???

GPW wrote:George , funny you should mention that … Years ago I had a friend in Seattle who had a House boat , but no boat . It was a house down on the lake with styrofoam underneath to keep it floating … everybody had one … it felt strange as it would rock a bit every now and then …

I guess the next idea is Foamie pontoons for the FoamStream, and that seems entirely PLAUSIBLE …and with the inclement weather this year and years to come , perhaps Necessary …

Since I built a successful fishing Kayak, I've been kicking around the idea of building a 10' pontoon boat. That will probably be next summer's project.

STH, a foam boat is in our plans too , we started “Gathering” pieces of foam … Building on a budget , again …

With the FS going on it’s seventh season , and still in great shape , ( very little to do ) The boat will make a great summer project ( building indoors )
and unlike my 1969 SAAB 96 restoration , a Foamie makes very little mess in my Studio ....

I know all about resto messes. My first car was a 75 Dodge Dart Sport that my dad and I "restored". It definitely puts a strain on the project budget.