Vardo Camper

[angeli]

Thanks, Angeli! I had already joined that one, and its still up and running&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />&nbsp;Yes, weight is a&nbsp;<em>huge</em>&nbsp;issue.&nbsp;

<br /><br />snort! &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />

That's why I decided on the bow-top. Less wood the better, considering that you're going to be having a lot of wood inside, as well as out. I really want to try and steer clear of using plywood, because I think its just weak, and would eventually break down in weather. So with a cedarwood tongue-and-groove base, and a "cloth" top (which is actually around 2/3 of the wagon, itself) I think I'd be pretty safe. Opinion?&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

<br /><br />I don't know, Brighid. &nbsp;I think it sounds lovely, but I don't know what you are using to pull it. &nbsp;When I was on the original vardo forum (not the yahoo vardoshavorah forum, but the one I can't find - wah) I asked questions of the folks who are building them, and almost everyone who answered said that the Lemke version of the bowtop, the one that is popular and currently built here in the US, is usually close to 1500 pounds. &nbsp;It's really not my 'opinion' that matters anyway, is it? &nbsp;It's whatever your vehicle is rated to tow.<br /><br />But on the interesting side, some of the foamies are using&nbsp;the foam/skin technology&nbsp;to minimize the amount of wood in the 'box' part of the bowtop, and using&nbsp;that technology&nbsp;on the bowed roof also for insulation and solidity. &nbsp;That's a very non-traditional build and not seen much except in teardrop ultra-lights. &nbsp;It could be very promising as far as an ultra-light vardo trailer for a small vehicle.

 

[Brighid]

Oh hell, lol I'm still in the process of trying to get my van to fix up, first! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> I'm looking for a bigger van that will be able to pull a lot. I still have no idea exactly what I'm going to pull it with. So at least now I know I'm looking for something that will pull 1500+ <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> And I have <em>no idea</em> what "foamies" are! lol But thank you for this information! Every little bit I learn helps!

 

[SirJoey]

<span style="font-size: 13px;">&nbsp;It is perfectly possible to have a 4 X 8 trailer weight over 1000 pounds.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;">

&nbsp;<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I can vouch for that. My little cargo trailer (BEFORE the conversion) <br />weighed 875 lbs from the factory, &amp; it's just slightly bigger, at 5x8.&nbsp;</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>The rooftop A/C alone added 140 lbs, so that put me over 1,000 lbs right there.&nbsp;</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I estimate my finished weight including cargo to be around 1,400 lbs.<br /><br /></strong></span></span>

 

[joey]

Oh hell, lol I'm still in the process of trying to get my van to fix up, first! &lt;img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"&gt; I'm looking for a bigger van that will be able to pull a lot. I still have no idea exactly what I'm going to pull it with. So at least now I know I'm looking for something that will pull 1500+ &lt;img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"&gt; And I have &lt;em&gt;no idea&lt;/em&gt; what "foamies" are! lol But thank you for this information! Every little bit I learn helps!

YOU NEED A V6 OR A V8 TO PULL WITH.

 

[joey]

Cargo trailers are built with a heavy duty frame. A regular utility trailer built with angle iron is half that. The materials used in the build contribute too. It is possible to build an ultra-light vardo,using 1"x1" OR 1"X2" framing for the walls with 1/8" luan for the inner and outer walls.Use foam sheets for insulation. I keep seeing vardo's built with T & G yellow pine,it's pretty stuff but also very heavy. It is overkill for siding. The walls on travel trailers and some class c's are a sandwich of aluminum,foam and luan glued together. That's why they can build them so huge.

 

[Brighid]

Just found this nifty <a href="http://www.csgnetwork.com/lumberweight.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">wood weight calculator</span></a>&nbsp; and so far, I wanted to keep to cedar (due to many reasons, but for me the biggest being bugs), it appears the white cedar is the least green weight of the bunch I put in (cedar, oak, pine, walnut). <br /><br />I'll check on weights of trailers and how much they can carry.<br /><br />Thank you for the information on the van! I'll make sure I look into that! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[angeli]

Foamie -&nbsp;<br /><br />Just a name for an ultra light small travel trailer built with wood framing, foam walls skinned with canvas and epoxy or fiberglass, much like a ship. &nbsp;No luan or other woods in many cases. Very tough build, very light, very easy and fast. &nbsp;A number of the teardrop builders over at tnttt.com forum are building multiple trailers that way and using them to see how they hold up over miles and time. &nbsp;So far, so good and lots of miles.<br /><br />It interests me personally because I think it is a great technological match for a bowtop, sheepwagon, or conestoga. &nbsp;You can build the whole thing that way, and have a much lighter box, and a sturdier bowtop.

 

[joey]

I would like to build a sauna wagon. The foam technique would be ideal for the build. It would probably look like a big sewer pipe though. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Brighid]

lol! I just totally envisioned that, Joey! xD

 

[stude53]

Can anyone give a link to a Foamie build?<br />I'd like to see the technique used.<br /><br />Bob

 

[joey]

Can anyone give a link to a Foamie build?&lt;br /&gt;I'd like to see the technique used.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bob

Foamie builds in progress,the next to last is a walk-in...... http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=44659

 

[angeli]

Foamie Forum index inside the bigger tnttt.com forum:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tnttt.com/viewforum.php?f=55&amp;sid=82e1f6db292d2406d0209526b5208783"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Foamie info</strong></span><br /><br /></a>And an excellent build thread by the forum leader of the foamies (if you click on the link in the first post of this thread, it will take you to the original 'thrifty foam' build journal thread, now many pages long:<br /><br /><a href="http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43647"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Eaglesdare's foamie build</strong></span><br /><br /></a>And it looks like Joey posted the updated general build thread, also excellent!

 

[Notsothoreau]

That vardo has over 28,000 miles on it. And he was able to move it off the original trailer and put it on a 6x12' trailer, adding on 4 ft. He's very conscious about the weight. You can get single axles that can handle more weight.

 

[highdesertranger]

Yes you can get axles with a higher weight rating. But with a single axle the heavier the trailer the worse the teeter tooter effect is. Plus a single axle 6000lb trailer has more tongue weight that a dual axle trailer of the same weight. You really need to pay attention when towing for the effects of decisions. Highdesertranger

 

[Notsothoreau]

My '65 Airstream was single axle. 22ft long. The only time there was an issue was when we had to move it with a vehicle that was too lightweight. Load it correctly with the right rig and you're fine.

I've spent a lot of time studying up on his design. He was very concious of the weight and knows where the center point of the vardo is. He was able to use that to leverage it into a longer trailer. The new trailer is a dualie. I've seen a lot of folks build on salvaged trailers, which doesn't seem wise to me. There's always some trade off. But 28k miles on the original is pretty impressive.