Travel trailer, cargo trailer or.....

[FIGJAM]

There's still time! BUMP.

[FIGJAM]

New bump.

[at1ment]

Very cool design. Lot's of good thinking, little creeping elegance, simple. I like it.
One question: What do the guts of the evap cooler look like? Is the evap screen/mat the same profile as the fan itself? Does that work? Where is the reservoir, how does the pump work, etc? TIA.

[FIGJAM]

Go to cooling your tent or van on the same page.

Check your PM.

[FIGJAM]

[FIGJAM]

Been having big dust and rain storms here lately.

The inside of the "Playapod" is still spotless!

[FIGJAM]

Better than tents bump!

[FIGJAM]

&

[FIGJAM]

Bump.

[Canoe]

Check this, the tounge weight is about 10 pounds. ...

that's one thing so many people don't seem to understand:
Tongue weight.
You gotta have enough tongue weight. It helps keep the loaded trailer from "fishtailing", and, helps avoid "jack-knifing" in an emergency stop.

It's a 3500 pound axel upjohn.

Ditto on the tongue weight.

Most people put their load in the center over the axle, as they often feel, or are, pushing the load limit of the trailer. With the bulk of the weight over the axle, it's easy to fishtail (rotate on the vertical/polar axis).With your 3500 lbs. axle, you don't have an axle worry.

If the rest of the structure will take the weight, a simple thing to resist fishtailing and provide stability, is load the trailer with the bulk of the load (on the floor - for a low center of gravity) in two spots:
* far forward as possible,
* far rearward as possible,
(adjusting between front/rear for correct tongue weight for safe handling).

What this does, to quote Jay Baldwin, "weight is concentrated at the ends ..., like a huge dumbell, providing what engineers call a “high polar moment of inertia”".
Illustrated by:
* take a dumbell and place the weights near the center - easy to pick it up in the middle by one hand and rotate it
* same dumbell, but the weights at the end where they should be - pick it up in the middle and the inertia of the weights at the ends resists rotation.
Bulk loaded front and rear, the trailer is like a dumbell with the bulk at the ends.

BUT, balance front/rear for a correct tongue weight!!!

[Canoe]

Having a rough time finding that Henry Solarflex or their other white roof coatings.
http://www.henry.com/roofing/coolroofco ... ofcoatings

Home Depot, but not near me...

[FIGJAM]

There are a lot of brands of roof coating and they're all about the same.

Call all the local hardwear stores in your area.

If you spill a little and let it dry, it's about like a sheet of rubber.

The playapod wieghs just under 1000 pounds loaded for the playa.

[Canoe]

Only white stuff I can find around home is $215 for the 10 year 5 gallons, or $79 for 1. Ouch!
Lots of choice in black: run a sauna or a bakery?

Looks like I can get 5 gallons for $80 sent to Lowe's in upper New York State for me to drive down and pickup.
Two more chains to check up here tomorrow.

How long does this take to dry?
Is it plausible to leave with raw wood, take a day off along the way and roll it?

(so much to do before leaving)

[capjbadger]

Just use the black then spray paint it chome/silver.

-Badger

[Canoe]

Just use the black then spray paint it chome/silver. -Badger

I thought the 1/2" aluminum tape might work better?
That or sandblast it with silver glitter...

[FIGJAM]

Only white stuff I can find around home is $215 for the 10 year 5 gallons, or $79 for 1. Ouch!
Lots of choice in black: run a sauna or a bakery?

Looks like I can get 5 gallons for $80 sent to Lowe's in upper New York State for me to drive down and pickup.
Two more chains to check up here tomorrow.

How long does this take to dry?
Is it plausible to leave with raw wood, take a day off along the way and roll it?

(so much to do before leaving)

Here it dries in about an hour.

It depends on humidity, so get info on the brands site for yor climate.

I like to put it on thick, so use the longest fuzzy roller you can find.

If you can precut your pieces and lay them flat, I would use a 1/16th knotched trowel.

Lay all the pieces down flat, do that side, and leave it alone for 24hrs, then flip and repeat.

Don't forget to do all the edges too.

[Canoe]

Here it dries in about an hour.
It depends on humidity, so get info on the brands site for yor climate.
I like to put it on thick, so use the longest fuzzy roller you can find.
If you can precut your pieces and lay them flat, I would use a 1/16th knotched trowel.
Lay all the pieces down flat, do that side, and leave it alone for 24hrs, then flip and repeat.
Don't forget to do all the edges too.

Thanks!
Exactly what I was looking for.
(it's been wonderfully dry here for a few weeks; I bet it switches to high humidity for the next two)

Now, if I were to rely upon the white goop to both MOOP-proof and Water-proof the wood, then tweak the design by adding 1/2" silver foam board (a la hexahurt) to a few key areas (like the roof or the south side, ?, ...), I'd be inclined to add it to the outside to reject the source of the heat. Thoughts?
Add the silver foam board (edges pre-taped) to a surface by what method, and before driving to the playa or after arrival? As in, how road-worthy would the attachment/installation method be?

[FIGJAM]

You can use regular styrefoam and put it on the inside, then go over it with the coating.

I did'nt insulate cause I wanted to keep it simple and cheap.

[Flabio33]

I just got my trailer. Now I have two weeks to assemble. I am considering using the hexayurt style foam board rather than wood panels. When I get home I will take it apart and put the foam boards in the attic in my garage. I am worried that the foam panels from HD are not waterproof.

I also plan to extend the vertical 2x4s by about a foot above the roof so that I can hang the shade cloth from them.

[FIGJAM]

I'm not sure how well those panels will withstand the wind when your going 75mph.

[DustHand]

Very impressive playapod! Hope to see it out there!!

[FIGJAM]

Very impressive playapod! Hope to see it out there!!

Thanks. It was a snap to build and tows like it's not even there.

[Canoe]

... I am considering using the hexayurt style foam board rather than wood panels...

Even if securely attached (how?), with the buffeting from driving down the road, we don't know if the panels themselves will blow apart or not.
Build the trailer at home, disassemble, then transport the panels same as done for the hexayurts so they don't blow apart in the wind? Then final assembly on playa?
I'm probably coating the trailer with the white goop, then on playa add the silver foam board to the roof and south side.

... I am worried that the foam panels from HD are not waterproof...

Another reason the sides and any cut openings HAVE to be sealed with tape.

[gyre]

I saw a Goodenough Street in the news recently.

[FIGJAM]

[FIGJAM]

Everything worked as designed!!!

[FIGJAM]

bump

[MyDearFriend]

Figgy, that is just awesome. You are the man.

But what will you do next??? I know your brain must be whirling with ideas...

[FIGJAM]

Well, with my set up done, I can now attend the event for under $1000.

Now I'm working on a shade design for moonrises horse trailer that has no stakes or guylines.

[MyDearFriend]

No stakes or guylines?

Well if you are doing it, it can be done. Can't wait to see.