Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Many van-dwellers are using fiberglass window screen over foam for making cabinets and interior furnishings for their vans. Has anyone looked into this for camper trailers? There are several Youtube videos on this, but am at work and hard to look them up.

I'd like to get some links when you get a round tuit.

I followed the mystery13 guy's cabinet attempts, IMO he was unrealistic about loadbearing/rigidity, and obviously impatient about the process, more comfortable with woodworking.

I think aluminum screening would be stronger.

And am curious about using the technique for full walls on a DIY foamie, maybe between loadbearing posts, since I want a strong roof rack.

Should work, sounds lke another ‘test” …

How are they bonding the screen to the foam?

Tony

Glidden Gripper latex primer

Gorilla Glue for wood-to-foam and foam-to-foam.

http://intothemystery13.com/ultra-light ... technique/

That can make for some interesting YouTube videos, build up several identical foam boards using different coverings then weigh them and test them to destruction

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Researching strengths of different screens, aluminum sounds like it's the strongest material mentioned except for brass and stainless which are both quite a bit heavier, but I suspect that covering a camper in aluminum wire might play hell with cellphone reception inside the camper....but no more I would think than one covered in sheet metal

A well chosen weight of fabric is likely stronger than the Screen , less problems too … JMHO
For indoor cabinets , I’d think a thin chipboard would be better for ease of installation and a nicer finish too … Over the years here, we've all tried many things … some work better then others , some are just overkill … All comes down to what YOU want …

It may be stronger, but is it lighter? For that matter, would doubling the layers (and maybe even placing one on a diagonal) affect the strength/weight ratio?

If the goal is the lightest weight then epoxy with Kevlar and or carbon fiber.

What is the goal? Lightest, cheapest, strongest, best looking, to some extent these things are mutually exclusive.

The bulletproof teardrop, for Bond, James Bond.

If you use aluminum screen, does your cell phone work?

Somewhat more seriously, ever seeking "stronger" seems misguided. Good design is strong enough for expected loads.

Actually, my interest in is in lighter which is why I'm curioys about fiberglass window screen versus canvas.

These are ballpark and quickly researched numbers, but fibreglass screen and 4 ounce fibreglass cloth are both close to 1/2 ounce sq ft. My 5 X 10 (in drawing) has about 150 sq ft of walls and roof - so less than 5 pounds and I think around 5 pounds of epoxy/gripper/glue/whatever. 10 ounce canvas is around 1 ounce a sq ft or under 10 pounds total, and maybe double (or less) that for sticky stuff and paint. Less than 10 pounds difference. I appreciate that back packers cut the handle of a tooth brush and then share it among the group to save a few ounces (i'm not that dedicated I guess) but struggling to see this is enough weight difference on a trailer to override cost and performance considerations.

Simply based on instinct and feel - no science or experience - it just doesn't seem the screen would "fill" as reliably and as completely with whatever coating you plan as canvas, and wonder if a lighter canvas - maybe with just a 5 pound "premium" - doesn't make sense.

I understand you quest, just my 2 cents.

The advantage of screening is greater tensile strength. Get the "pet proof" and finer no-see-um gauge.

The Gripper adhesive ends up "suspending" the mesh, while sticking directly to the foam.

In the case of interior cabinets, cubbies & shelving, you want stiffness while bearing reasonable loads, minimizing flex.

The weight advantage **is** enormous there compared to plywood.

If tensile strength or resistance to gouging, punctures etc, isn't so important to you for the outer surfaces, then stick to fabric.

I do think some test build reports would be very exciting.