How to insulate your cargo trailer with spray foam

When Brad originally bought this slightly used 8′ by 16′ Cargo Mate trailer, he imagined it becoming home to some of his ever-growing collection of tools.

Then the pandemic hit, and the RV lifestyle started to become a verrry appealing way to travel and enjoy leisure time.

Insulating our cargo trailer may not be my personal passion when it comes to building our Tiny Home (that’s the interior design part, and yes, it’s Tiffany writing this post) but it is vital.

When you’re planning to use your camper in the mountains, insulation becomes very, very important.
Tiffany, Doesn’t Like To Be Cold

As I fully ‘fessed up in my article introducing our YouTube series about our cargo trailer conversion, I am more of a hotel kind of girl.

But when Brad revealed he’d already done the first layer insulation on this trailer, my “weekend home” wheels started turning.

I’m talking about my thoughts, of course, but this metaphor was about to become very, very apt.

Brad’s the expert on insulating trailers (he’s done several) so I’d recommend watching the video at the bottom if this post if you’re about to jump into a similar project.

Meanwhile, here are my takeaways:

SAFETY FIRST: wear a serious 3M mask and disposable gloves. A Tyvek suit doesn’t hurt either!
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BOX
DON’T spray foam over important wiring connections
APPLY THIN COATS: because spray foam expands
You can always apply more later if needed
Spray in long, even strokes to distribute a consistent coat
CUT OFF excess foam with a saw or knife
It’s best to spray foam when it’s warm outside
Cold temperatures can damage the curing of the spray foam
Allow the spray foam to dry before adding more layers

If you’re considering building something like this yourself, you may be interested in our series, with all the nitty gritty details.

Brad is definitely the star of Episode Two, with all the details for insulating your trailer with spray foam.

Check it out for yourself!