If you want a quick easy temporary way to reduce the heat in van in sunny climates buy a couple of Arcturus Mylar survival blankets and some heavy duty magnets from Amazon. Attach the blankets to the side of your vehicle using the magnets. This isn’t pretty and it isn’t a replacement for insulation but it works because it doesn’t allow the sun to heat up the exterior of your vehicle. Be sure to put the shiny side out to reflect the sun. Total cost ~$50US.
I did closed cell spray foam (DIY mailorder kit). Messy job, but I’m CONSTANTLY amazed at its effectiveness. I e camped in snow with inside at 70F and 10F outside. And in summer, inside is nearly always comfy, so long as I park with glass away from the sun. And window covers make a huge diff too.
Great video. I have the exact same van as you and I installed one window in the sliding door as well. I have insulated curtains that I pull over them to keep the heat/cold out. The curtains are about 4 inches away from the glass and this gap helps. Also, this window has a section that opens up. I also use roof vent and vents in the driver and passenger front windows. Polyester batts in the walls and ceiling. I did not insulate the floor but have a heavy, rubber backed outdoor rug down over the plywood and it seems to be enough. Here in the Eastern part of the US we also have to deal with humidity. That makes the hot days even hotter. When it is really bad I go to a campsite with hookups and run my small portable AC. Love your videos. You are a legend.
Mark Owen Martin, what did you do about the vapor barrier? Some people say that if you live in humid climate you should be aware that condensation is inevitable, so isolate the van completely with vapor barrier is worse than don't do it at all, because the water formed between the outer metal sheet and the inside wall will not find a way out... I live in humid climate too, so I'm trying to find out what is best...
At the start of my build and went with spray foam myself. Noticed immediate difference in noise and temp. Going into winter here in Canada, insulation is a must.
BecauseiVan here on the east coast it’s been close to 0°C a few times already with some snow flurries. I expect weeks of -10 to -15. Clearing snow and ice off solar panels. Definitely colder parts in the country but don’t plan to experience that again for a couple years.
I have a small cargo Van, a White, Ford Transit Connect with no windows in back. There is some factory installed insulation in the ceiling of the cargo area, but because of its small size, I have decided not insulate the walls and floors. With barn doors in the rear, and two sliding doors on the sides, I find I can nicely air it out. In the western U.S. , where I do most of my roaming, its easier to just follow 75F (24C) by adjusting your altitude. Go up in the Mountains in Summer, and down to the Southern Desert in Winter. I don’t stay where its going to Snow in Winter, or where its going to get to be 100F (37.8C) in the Summer.
Smart thinking, don't try to heat or cool a small steel box on wheels, just move it to more temperate climes!! In the heat, cross flow ventilation is the coolest.
Good stuff, beating the heat here in Aus is the big one. I agree that glass is a real problem with heat and I would have liked to see you do your temp reading on the window with reflextix fitted over it. Tinting will also help. I have fitted solar panels on roof bars standing off the roof, which provide a surprising cooling effect in the van. Sort of like a flow thru ceiling. Also my roof box provides some shade. My roof vent lets in a lot of unwanted solar. I think the best option for the Ausie heat is maximum ventilation (sans A/C). Just make sure all windows and doors are well screened from mozzies.
I would recommend some sort of styro products over this setup. The rockwool in the best case has a thermal conductivity somewhere between of 0.035 - 0.038 W/mK, while some good polystyrene sheets can be as good as 0.022 W/mK. Either you win a few cm of interior space, or almost double your insulation effectiveness.
My question with insulation in all the spaces and directly against the metal is about humidity and possible rust. Isn’t the moisture/ condensation causing an issue with rust? Temperature differences between inside and outside is causing condensation. Isn’t it better to leave a small air gap from the metal and then insulate (independent of which method you use)? And keep the air gap able to breathe so don’t close everything off.
Natural insulation if you have t have insulation is perfect, you will have the least issues with cork. With cork you can buy it in several forms rolls, sheets, adhesive backed or not etc. It breathes, won't smell like wool and denim after moisture invades it. Great video, new subscriber.
Thank you so much for providing both C and F temperature readings! I'm from SoCal in the US, Farenheit is what I understand easily. I love polyiso rigid insulation for large windows or walls in a house..but I don't want to drive myself crazy applying the same material in my campervan. Polyester does what you say, for every reason i hate polyester for clothes, it will suffice for the van and keep me from going crazy about all the curved/unusual interior details of a van. Thanks dude!
Good to hear a fellow Aussie's thoughts on insulation. I am from South West WA and am currently in the process of doing a van build myself on a 2007 Ford Transit MWB high roof. I do think condensation is an issue so will definitely doing my best to vapour barrier. I plan to use a reflective type to create the vapour barrier this should also contain any stray fibres from Earth wool batts in the complex areas and over the larger foam panelled areas. Essentially there will be metal skin, rattle trap, Earth wool/foam panel, reflective vapour barrier, tongue & groove wood. Hopefully this will give me good sound and insulation cover. I have had an issue with trying to get first fix 12v & 24v electrical done as the "professionals" are just so confused with this self build concept and want me to return when it's fitted out....so frustrating!!! I noticed you haven't done your floor. I am planning to treat mine similar to the walls and ceiling regarding insulation, except sheet with 12mm marine ply prior to putting vinyl down. Unfortunately my build has been sent into snails pace due to having a severe injury, so physically am still recovering and financially crippled currently. Anyway has given me more time for planning and research. Hope you're enjoying your travels. Hope to meet you out on the road somewhere. Keep on keeping on.
Another informative video. I'm fixing to instal the insulation in my new bus and wondered how I was going to combat the heat in summer with so many windows...I'm going to cover them up now!
If anyone says don’t insulate then they are bloody mad if you insulate correctly then you’ll have no issues. I’ve been down to minus 28 and plus 41 and I’m still alive. Btw the go pro filming is really good. Hi from the other side, ......of the world I mean. 🇵🇱
What type of insulation did you use? I live in Texas and have temperature ranging from -5°C to 40°C to 41°C. Any native Texan knows about how important insulation, ventilation, and window shading/tinting is for an environment like where I live. I am looking for maybe getting a van for recreational use, not full time living.
@@FreedomInMindtv How necessary would you say the vapour barrier is? I was going to use celotex (foam board) but now thinking thats going to be a headache with spray foam filler etc as you said so I think what you have done with polyester is the best way to go as it looks like a piece of piss to install, but is that vapour barrier really necessary bearing in mind the van is water tight and you have ventilation fans? Very interested to hear your thoughts as I'm going to be insulating soon! Thanks.
I'm going to share this video with van dwellers here in the U.S. because of the polyester insulation. The warmest winter coat I have ever owned was stuffed with polyester fiberfill, as you said, the same material they stuff pillows with. The first night I slept in my van I froze. It was November in the Boston area and the cold being transferred into the van through the windows felt like a cascading waterfall of frigid air. Next day I went to Wal-Mart and bought a bunch of large bed pillows. I pulled the polyester out and stuffed it into plastic trash bags and taped them over my windows. Problem solved. People here think I'm nuts because they have no experience with it and it gets no media attention. I also used it to insulate all those hard to reach cavities in the doors and walls. I used rigid foam insulation on the walls. The polyester batt insulation was introduced in the U.S. but it could not compete pricewise with other types dominant in the construction industry so it was discontinued. Too bad, it's the ideal insulator for a van.
Hi! I live in Qatar and temperatures are reaching 50•C. Heard somewhere I shouldn’t insulate as heat will surely get in but won’t be able to leave, that I should better use reflective material (leaving a gap between the reflective and the van). (Vans here are not common but caravans). Any idea about this? Thanks!
It would've been nice to have a portion of that window covered with refletix so that we could see the temperature reading on the refletix. Insulation batting requires vapour barriers on the warm moist side so that moisture does not condense within the insulation which would lead to mold regardless of what material the insulation is. This means on the outside in hot weather and inside for cold weather. Normally the side that does not have a vapour barrier is kept open so that ventilation can carry moisture away from the insulation. A vehicle is unique in that the insulation would have to work well in both hot and cold environments. The steel shell of the van can act as a vapour barrier on the outside but it isn't complete unless you flash the corners with a thin layer of spray foam. I suppose you could stuff a polyvinyl sheet in and then stuff the loose sheet and then tape another sheet on the inside. Also, if you're not in a dry environment to begin with, putting a vapour barrier on both sides of the insulation traps some humidity inside which can come out as condensation. To counter this, you can stuff in silica gel packs along the top as humid air rises. You can buy bulk silica gel at craft stores and use small envelopes to hold them. So long as you have enough silica gel and your vapour seal is complete, it should stabilize and maintain a suitably dry environment within the insulation. Obviously foam boards with all the crevices flashed with foam are effectively vapour barriers all around. Note that wool produces cyanide gas when burned as does polyurethane foam, polyisocynate foam (AKA polyisocynate), polyethylene etc. Note that polyurethane and polyiso can be fire resistant but when they do burn they burn at a very high temperature that can be impossible to put out, remember that tower fire in London. Polyurethane and polyiso produces copious amounts of carbon monoxide when they burn and this is actually more dangerous than the cyanide gas they produce. Cellulose as in loose cellulose fill, are considered a thermal barrier and actually cellulose coatings are sometimes used on polyurethane to delay ignition but cellulose will smolder and putting out a fire is not complete till all the cellulose insulation is removed as they can hide a fire for a long time causing recognition later, this can be very costly for homeowners as fire departments will have a contractor rip out all the cellulose at the owner's expense and often destroying the remaining interior of a home. Gypsum and cementous plasters are also used as thermal barriers to polyurethane and polyiso to delay ignition and they sell fire retardant paints based on cellulose, gypsum, or cements to further protect such insulations from ignition. The polyethylene insulation are probably made from the plastic used in soda bottles so check to see what percentage of the insulation are from recycled materials. Collecting recyclables is not recycling, buying products made from recycled materials us recycling.
Hi, loved this video. Also in Australia and trying to figure best insulation too! I reckon you've got the right idea... If you don't mind, what were the measurements (primarily thickness) of your poylester batts? There are so many options at the hardware store! thanks
From memory I think the thickness was about 90mm.. basically I went for whatever the thinnest was because there’s not a lot of room in the van wall cavities
Thanks for the video. How do you find living in an insulated van with two fans in the Australian summer? What kind of internal temperatures do you get? Thinking of converting a van in Melbourne myself.
if your using refletix and the polyester batts...as you did... I feel like you should put the refletix on the walls of the van(touching the metal) then the polyester behind that, then your wood walls or w/e you have.... anyone else have thoughts on that?
@@DemopVWgarage Thank you for the information. I had assumed it was made of natural wool. I'm exploring natural, low toxicity ways to insulate and so far cork covered by bamboo, with natural washable wool throw rugs seems best for me.
thanks for that very helpful.Great video, sound great. I have tinted glass all round, can I get that removed and put in metal? or is that to hard.NO I am not handy. I am also finding the fridge is getting very hot when the van is locked up all day.
Replacing glass with metal is promising to be a costly project. Re: fridge - it produces heat and needs to be vented. If it's in a confined space it will get hot (not recommended). Ideally you would need a separate vent to let the hot air escape, otherwise it will add to the temp inside.
Instead of replacing glass with metal you could look into getting the outside of the glass wrapped in white vinyl. That would wake it more like the painted metal of the van without the huge cost.. thanks for watching 🙂
SAY WAIT!: A super cheap great overlooked free insulation material for what you might use to stuff into cavities in a van is used poly fill-pillow filling that you can fairly easily get for free from people's warn discarded sofa's are often found next to apartment dumpsters OR the Foam From the discarded Seat Cushions-New foam is Very expensive but this foam is FREE and should also sound deaden much! The cushions often have zippers or just cut the seat open. To cut foam to desired size and shapes, I use a hack saw taken out of it's holder, holding the blade loose in hand and saw back and forth although it does not work as quick and precise as an electric meat knife, it works ok. Don't use fiberglass insulation that goes in house attics, I think the loose fibers would get into your lungs no matter what. Also note that the stuff in used sofa's have been covered and protected by the outer fabric so it's usually in pretty good shape. Because any soft pillow pads or pillow backs can be full of the stuff. Just cut open with a knife to find out and take what you want before the garbage company crushes the sofa. Of course you'd want to give it a quick close scan smell with your nose on it in case it has pet urine but really most apartment deter pets by either not allowing pets or they charge a lot to have them. Manufacturers make the poly basically from plastic bottles and it's fluffy and no one is allergic to it and it doesn't make you scratch and it doesn't absorb water and although it isn't as good of an insulation as foam, it does insulate by holding the air in it's fiber fluff pockets. Of course you can buy it new in bag at hobby departments but it can be kind of expensive and why buy new when you can get for free and save the environment from more new plastic?! Bye for now
Great to watch your vids. Great work. Mate, how you go about your 12v wiring? I’m in OZ and am fitting out my Iveco Daily and I’m at the stage of wiring. Did you get a sparky to do yours for you? I’m wanting to run my wiring but don’t want any issues. Trying to sort that out before I put my ceiling up and walls on.
I loved this! So informative. I’ve been trying to find Aussie vanners to get some tips as I’m buying my van next year. I’ve kind of decided to go with the expanding foam but was great to hear about all the others & why u chose what u did (IN OUR CLIMATE). Thoughts on putting vinyl on the walls after insulation? I’m not a carpenter (obv) so wood scares me. I was in 2 minds about installing a vent fan but think I’ll regret it if I don’t do it. Again, great vid 👍 I’m up in Newcastle for now but hopefully will see u in the road one day ✌️
Gday fellow Aussie 🙂 glad you liked the vid! I would 100 percent recommend ventilation but as for insulation, go with whatever you’re comfortable with. As for vinyl, not my thing but you could definitely do it. I’m down in Sydney, so not far from you. Let me know how your build goes 👍🏻
Great info for me, as I love windows...lol..a bit claustrophobic in some small spaces, sometimes more than others...I haven't started my first van/ box truck...life yet, just learning alot before I do. Thank you!!!
great video. One question; would you recommend painting the roof of the van with a high opacity white paint or a specialist heat reflecting white paint to reduce the transfer of heat into the van interior. these paints are used in industrial buildings on flat roofs......but the jury is out as to their effectiveness in reducing heat. Thanks
@@FreedomInMindtv thanks for your reply. my feeling is that the factory exterior paint is very thinly applied and would provide minimal reflectancy to solar radiation. it clearly is a moot point as to whether solar relectancy paint is effective in heat reduction in building interiors - but is is applied on dark roofs so maybe it works. living in a steel clad van in a hot climate could be an uncomfortable experience so any additional exterior insulation may be beneficial. still, i take your point that air flow is key in keeping as cool as possible.
You could power a room size air conditioner and use a gas/electric generator to run it and have it in a carrier on a hitch. Air conditioner can be attached to back door of van or put a wall inside the back doors to create a garage and mount air conditioner on that wall.
So... watched the whole video.... If I understood you correctly. The ideal insulation would be reflections against the walls followed by polyester insulation and another layer of refextics on the inside to cover both hot and cold.
With your sunny climate you still need reflectix, in addition to insulation. reflectix goes on first with about a 3/4 inch air space from the metal of the body then whatever insulation on that silver bubble layer, then glue on your wood panelling.
Video quality was great. That camera will do you nice. Never heard of the batting insulation. I like it. Got to see if we have that in the U.S. Hope yo be building out a cargo trailer by next spring. Enjoy your videos. Keep up the great work. Be safe.
C converted into F is by this equation....... Degrees F = (9/5) (degrees C) + (32)....9/5 x 24 = 43.2 now add 32 to it and the temp. in F is ~ 75 degrees
Video and audio quality was great mate! I have sprayed my van in lizard skin then used combination of poly batts and rigid foam panels on floor and ceiling. Now working on completely covering everything in housing sarking as a vapor barrier.
Thanks mate! What is lizard skin? You’re the second person I’ve heard about that from. Also pretty sure the reflective vapour barrier I used was also sarking 🙂 I was never 100 percent sure because it was just given to me in a roll. Thanks for watching!
BecauseiVan it’s a spray on coating that dampens noise and is great temp insulator! Hot rods use it so the exhaust doesn’t burn your feet to the floor lol.
I've used lizard skin thermal insulation paint on my little van too. Absolutely no need for Instagram/hipster refectix or foam insulation. Been in it 6 months now with no issues.
BecauseiVan the old school Lizard Skin can be made from ceramic glass beads purchased from an airplane supply company, and mix it with acrylic latex paint. The LS is pretty thick, sort of like brownie batter. Spray on with undercoat sprayer.
ThisBaeIsNotOrdinary Tv google search insulation. The goal of insulation is to keep your inside temperature closer to what you want, versus the inside of your van (or house or ice cooler- all have insulation) being pretty much the same temp as what is outside.
DONT USE DENIM. it's made of cotton. Cotton loves moisture and absorbs it, that makes it wet, heavy and a good breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Only use non-absorbent materials for insulation like polyester, and high density foam. Fiber-glass is fine once it's installed behind a vapor barrier.
Wool is green as it is sustainable and also mold and mildew resistant, more so than recycled cotton or recycled plastic bottles which are incredibly flammable and provide an air pocket to fuel the fire. Wool is more expensive but better option than those mentioned above .
Hi, Thank you for your videos I agree with you about windows, I too would like the one window like you have, if you rebuild a van, would you have a window and would you have one that could be opened? I’m in Australia too. So very interested 😀Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life ʚϊɞ 🐝
If you want a quick easy temporary way to reduce the heat in van in sunny climates buy a couple of Arcturus Mylar survival blankets and some heavy duty magnets from Amazon. Attach the blankets to the side of your vehicle using the magnets. This isn’t pretty and it isn’t a replacement for insulation but it works because it doesn’t allow the sun to heat up the exterior of your vehicle. Be sure to put the shiny side out to reflect the sun. Total cost ~$50US.
Good tip, thanks!
Awesome Tip..
I did closed cell spray foam (DIY mailorder kit). Messy job, but I’m CONSTANTLY amazed at its effectiveness. I e camped in snow with inside at 70F and 10F outside. And in summer, inside is nearly always comfy, so long as I park with glass away from the sun. And window covers make a huge diff too.
Nice! Whatever works for you ey 🙂
Great video. I have the exact same van as you and I installed one window in the sliding door as well. I have insulated curtains that I pull over them to keep the heat/cold out. The curtains are about 4 inches away from the glass and this gap helps. Also, this window has a section that opens up. I also use roof vent and vents in the driver and passenger front windows. Polyester batts in the walls and ceiling. I did not insulate the floor but have a heavy, rubber backed outdoor rug down over the plywood and it seems to be enough. Here in the Eastern part of the US we also have to deal with humidity. That makes the hot days even hotter. When it is really bad I go to a campsite with hookups and run my small portable AC. Love your videos. You are a legend.
Thank you! 🙂 sounds like you’ve got a perfect setup there mate
Mark Owen Martin, what did you do about the vapor barrier? Some people say that if you live in humid climate you should be aware that condensation is inevitable, so isolate the van completely with vapor barrier is worse than don't do it at all, because the water formed between the outer metal sheet and the inside wall will not find a way out... I live in humid climate too, so I'm trying to find out what is best...
At the start of my build and went with spray foam myself. Noticed immediate difference in noise and temp. Going into winter here in Canada, insulation is a must.
That’s for sure! You guys get pretty cold winters I hear!
BecauseiVan here on the east coast it’s been close to 0°C a few times already with some snow flurries. I expect weeks of -10 to -15. Clearing snow and ice off solar panels.
Definitely colder parts in the country but don’t plan to experience that again for a couple years.
I have a small cargo Van, a White, Ford Transit Connect with no windows in back. There is some factory installed insulation in the ceiling of the cargo area, but because of its small size, I have decided not insulate the walls and floors. With barn doors in the rear, and two sliding doors on the sides, I find I can nicely air it out. In the western U.S. , where I do most of my roaming, its easier to just follow 75F (24C) by adjusting your altitude. Go up in the Mountains in Summer, and down to the Southern Desert in Winter. I don’t stay where its going to Snow in Winter, or where its going to get to be 100F (37.8C) in the Summer.
Smart thinking, don't try to heat or cool a small steel box on wheels, just move it to more temperate climes!! In the heat, cross flow ventilation is the coolest.
Yea that’s the best way to do it if your life permits 🙂 sounds great man, would love to spend more time in the USA
Good stuff, beating the heat here in Aus is the big one. I agree that glass is a real problem with heat and I would have liked to see you do your temp reading on the window with reflextix fitted over it. Tinting will also help.
I have fitted solar panels on roof bars standing off the roof, which provide a surprising cooling effect in the van. Sort of like a flow thru ceiling. Also my roof box provides some shade. My roof vent lets in a lot of unwanted solar. I think the best option for the Ausie heat is maximum ventilation (sans A/C). Just make sure all windows and doors are well screened from mozzies.
Thanks mate, sounds like a great setup you got there 👍🏻
I would recommend some sort of styro products over this setup. The rockwool in the best case has a thermal conductivity somewhere between of 0.035 - 0.038 W/mK, while some good polystyrene sheets can be as good as 0.022 W/mK. Either you win a few cm of interior space, or almost double your insulation effectiveness.
My question with insulation in all the spaces and directly against the metal is about humidity and possible rust. Isn’t the moisture/ condensation causing an issue with rust? Temperature differences between inside and outside is causing condensation.
Isn’t it better to leave a small air gap from the metal and then insulate (independent of which method you use)? And keep the air gap able to breathe so don’t close everything off.
i would also like to know if this is the best way
Natural insulation if you have t have insulation is perfect, you will have the least issues with cork. With cork you can buy it in several forms rolls, sheets, adhesive backed or not etc. It breathes, won't smell like wool and denim after moisture invades it. Great video, new subscriber.
Thank you so much for providing both C and F temperature readings! I'm from SoCal in the US, Farenheit is what I understand easily. I love polyiso rigid insulation for large windows or walls in a house..but I don't want to drive myself crazy applying the same material in my campervan. Polyester does what you say, for every reason i hate polyester for clothes, it will suffice for the van and keep me from going crazy about all the curved/unusual interior details of a van. Thanks dude!
Good to hear a fellow Aussie's thoughts on insulation.
I am from South West WA and am currently in the process of doing a van build myself on a 2007 Ford Transit MWB high roof.
I do think condensation is an issue so will definitely doing my best to vapour barrier.
I plan to use a reflective type to create the vapour barrier this should also contain any stray fibres from Earth wool batts in the complex areas and over the larger foam panelled areas.
Essentially there will be metal skin, rattle trap, Earth wool/foam panel, reflective vapour barrier, tongue & groove wood.
Hopefully this will give me good sound and insulation cover.
I have had an issue with trying to get first fix 12v & 24v electrical done as the "professionals" are just so confused with this self build concept and want me to return when it's fitted out....so frustrating!!!
I noticed you haven't done your floor.
I am planning to treat mine similar to the walls and ceiling regarding insulation, except sheet with 12mm marine ply prior to putting vinyl down.
Unfortunately my build has been sent into snails pace due to having a severe injury, so physically am still recovering and financially crippled currently.
Anyway has given me more time for planning and research.
Hope you're enjoying your travels.
Hope to meet you out on the road somewhere.
Keep on keeping on.
Sounds like a good setup! Yea maybe see you on the road some day 🙂 thanks for watching
ruclips.net/video/GPahBz8wevI/видео.html
Another informative video. I'm fixing to instal the insulation in my new bus and wondered how I was going to combat the heat in summer with so many windows...I'm going to cover them up now!
Awesome, glad you like it 🙂
If anyone says don’t insulate then they are bloody mad if you insulate correctly then you’ll have no issues. I’ve been down to minus 28 and plus 41 and I’m still alive. Btw the go pro filming is really good. Hi from the other side, ......of the world I mean. 🇵🇱
I agree! And hi from Australia!
What type of insulation did you use? I live in Texas and have temperature ranging from -5°C to 40°C to 41°C. Any native Texan knows about how important insulation, ventilation, and window shading/tinting is for an environment like where I live. I am looking for maybe getting a van for recreational use, not full time living.
@@FreedomInMindtv How necessary would you say the vapour barrier is? I was going to use celotex (foam board) but now thinking thats going to be a headache with spray foam filler etc as you said so I think what you have done with polyester is the best way to go as it looks like a piece of piss to install, but is that vapour barrier really necessary bearing in mind the van is water tight and you have ventilation fans? Very interested to hear your thoughts as I'm going to be insulating soon! Thanks.
I'm going to share this video with van dwellers here in the U.S. because of the polyester insulation. The warmest winter coat I have ever owned was stuffed with polyester fiberfill, as you said, the same material they stuff pillows with. The first night I slept in my van I froze. It was November in the Boston area and the cold being transferred into the van through the windows felt like a cascading waterfall of frigid air. Next day I went to Wal-Mart and bought a bunch of large bed pillows. I pulled the polyester out and stuffed it into plastic trash bags and taped them over my windows. Problem solved. People here think I'm nuts because they have no experience with it and it gets no media attention. I also used it to insulate all those hard to reach cavities in the doors and walls. I used rigid foam insulation on the walls. The polyester batt insulation was introduced in the U.S. but it could not compete pricewise with other types dominant in the construction industry so it was discontinued. Too bad, it's the ideal insulator for a van.
VANgazmic Voyage I like your pillow idea!! First time seeing that !!
Very good video. Yes winter is coming fast, we had our first snow fall here in Laurentians, Québec, Canada. 🇨🇦🍂🍃🍂
Thanks bud 🙂 I’d love to visit Canada one day 🇨🇦
There is a insulation made form hemp that seems to be very user and environment friendly with good R values.
What’s the name of it?
Hi! I live in Qatar and temperatures are reaching 50•C. Heard somewhere I shouldn’t insulate as heat will surely get in but won’t be able to leave, that I should better use reflective material (leaving a gap between the reflective and the van). (Vans here are not common but caravans). Any idea about this? Thanks!
Exceptional points. Totally agree. Reflex plus polyester is really clever. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome 🙂 glad you liked it mate!
24 Celsius is 75.2 Fahrenheit. Wish my country, the U.S. , would just go Metric.
Thank you! 🙂 yea it’s a little confusing but variety is the spice of life, right? Thanks for watching!
I think that USA should go Metric and Everyone should drive on the same side of the road.
Alicia9745 Which side, Alicia?
@@Alicia9745 if everyone drove on the same side of the road then there would be to many head on collisions lol
@@danieltigges8590 LOL! That's great!
Building out a van in 6 months. Subbed and thx for the info.
Awesome! Good luck and thank you 🙂
It would've been nice to have a portion of that window covered with refletix so that we could see the temperature reading on the refletix.
Insulation batting requires vapour barriers on the warm moist side so that moisture does not condense within the insulation which would lead to mold regardless of what material the insulation is. This means on the outside in hot weather and inside for cold weather. Normally the side that does not have a vapour barrier is kept open so that ventilation can carry moisture away from the insulation. A vehicle is unique in that the insulation would have to work well in both hot and cold environments. The steel shell of the van can act as a vapour barrier on the outside but it isn't complete unless you flash the corners with a thin layer of spray foam. I suppose you could stuff a polyvinyl sheet in and then stuff the loose sheet and then tape another sheet on the inside. Also, if you're not in a dry environment to begin with, putting a vapour barrier on both sides of the insulation traps some humidity inside which can come out as condensation. To counter this, you can stuff in silica gel packs along the top as humid air rises. You can buy bulk silica gel at craft stores and use small envelopes to hold them. So long as you have enough silica gel and your vapour seal is complete, it should stabilize and maintain a suitably dry environment within the insulation. Obviously foam boards with all the crevices flashed with foam are effectively vapour barriers all around.
Note that wool produces cyanide gas when burned as does polyurethane foam, polyisocynate foam (AKA polyisocynate), polyethylene etc. Note that polyurethane and polyiso can be fire resistant but when they do burn they burn at a very high temperature that can be impossible to put out, remember that tower fire in London. Polyurethane and polyiso produces copious amounts of carbon monoxide when they burn and this is actually more dangerous than the cyanide gas they produce. Cellulose as in loose cellulose fill, are considered a thermal barrier and actually cellulose coatings are sometimes used on polyurethane to delay ignition but cellulose will smolder and putting out a fire is not complete till all the cellulose insulation is removed as they can hide a fire for a long time causing recognition later, this can be very costly for homeowners as fire departments will have a contractor rip out all the cellulose at the owner's expense and often destroying the remaining interior of a home. Gypsum and cementous plasters are also used as thermal barriers to polyurethane and polyiso to delay ignition and they sell fire retardant paints based on cellulose, gypsum, or cements to further protect such insulations from ignition. The polyethylene insulation are probably made from the plastic used in soda bottles so check to see what percentage of the insulation are from recycled materials. Collecting recyclables is not recycling, buying products made from recycled materials us recycling.
Hi, loved this video. Also in Australia and trying to figure best insulation too! I reckon you've got the right idea... If you don't mind, what were the measurements (primarily thickness) of your poylester batts? There are so many options at the hardware store! thanks
From memory I think the thickness was about 90mm.. basically I went for whatever the thinnest was because there’s not a lot of room in the van wall cavities
reflectix is NOT for insulation. btw, you have an easy to watch and listen to channel. good videos.
Thanks mate, glad you’re enjoying the vids 🙂
Thanks for the video. How do you find living in an insulated van with two fans in the Australian summer? What kind of internal temperatures do you get? Thinking of converting a van in Melbourne myself.
It would have been nice to do a comparison on the window with and without reflective material
Maybe in the future
Thank you video was great I'm at this stage with my van at the moment was very helpful
Awesome, glad I could help!
Polyester looks nice but seems to have low R-value.
Do you know thickness and R-value?
2" EPS (styrofoam) - R7.7
2" XPS - R10
2" Polyiso - R13
So my van has windows all the way around. What do you think I should do to keep it warm in the winters?
if your using refletix and the polyester batts...as you did... I feel like you should put the refletix on the walls of the van(touching the metal) then the polyester behind that, then your wood walls or w/e you have.... anyone else have thoughts on that?
earthwool works very well and isnt itchy.
If the van got hot inside, would it damage the wool similar to how tow too hot of water would?
@@moreda3 no as its made for house roofing and has a fire rating. You can put a flame to it and it will not burn.
@@DemopVWgarage Thank you for the information. I had assumed it was made of natural wool. I'm exploring natural, low toxicity ways to insulate and so far cork covered by bamboo, with natural washable wool throw rugs seems best for me.
Hey man just a quick question how do you make money on the road?
thanks for that very helpful.Great video, sound great. I have tinted glass all round, can I get that removed and put in metal? or is that to hard.NO I am not handy. I am also finding the fridge is getting very hot when the van is locked up all day.
Replacing glass with metal is promising to be a costly project.
Re: fridge - it produces heat and needs to be vented. If it's in a confined space it will get hot (not recommended). Ideally you would need a separate vent to let the hot air escape, otherwise it will add to the temp inside.
Instead of replacing glass with metal you could look into getting the outside of the glass wrapped in white vinyl. That would wake it more like the painted metal of the van without the huge cost.. thanks for watching 🙂
@@jcrnda can you put vents in the door for the heat from the fridge?
SAY WAIT!:
A super cheap great overlooked free insulation material for what you might use to stuff into cavities in a van is used poly fill-pillow filling that you can fairly easily get for free from people's warn discarded sofa's are often found next to apartment dumpsters OR the Foam From the discarded Seat Cushions-New foam is Very expensive but this foam is FREE and should also sound deaden much! The cushions often have zippers or just cut the seat open. To cut foam to desired size and shapes, I use a hack saw taken out of it's holder, holding the blade loose in hand and saw back and forth although it does not work as quick and precise as an electric meat knife, it works ok. Don't use fiberglass insulation that goes in house attics, I think the loose fibers would get into your lungs no matter what. Also note that the stuff in used sofa's have been covered and protected by the outer fabric so it's usually in pretty good shape.
Because any soft pillow pads or pillow backs can be full of the stuff. Just cut open with a knife to find out and take what you want before the garbage company crushes the sofa.
Of course you'd want to give it a quick close scan smell with your nose on it in case it has pet urine but really most apartment deter pets by either not allowing pets or they charge a lot to have them.
Manufacturers make the poly basically from plastic bottles and it's fluffy and no one is allergic to it and it doesn't make you scratch and it doesn't absorb water and although it isn't as good of an insulation as foam, it does insulate by holding the air in it's fiber fluff pockets.
Of course you can buy it new in bag at hobby departments but it can be kind of expensive and why buy new when you can get for free and save the environment from more new plastic?!
Bye for now
Jim McDaniels does it have hazard problems??
Great to watch your vids. Great work. Mate, how you go about your 12v wiring? I’m in OZ and am fitting out my Iveco Daily and I’m at the stage of wiring. Did you get a sparky to do yours for you? I’m wanting to run my wiring but don’t want any issues. Trying to sort that out before I put my ceiling up and walls on.
I loved this! So informative. I’ve been trying to find Aussie vanners to get some tips as I’m buying my van next year. I’ve kind of decided to go with the expanding foam but was great to hear about all the others & why u chose what u did (IN OUR CLIMATE). Thoughts on putting vinyl on the walls after insulation? I’m not a carpenter (obv) so wood scares me.
I was in 2 minds about installing a vent fan but think I’ll regret it if I don’t do it.
Again, great vid 👍
I’m up in Newcastle for now but hopefully will see u in the road one day ✌️
Gday fellow Aussie 🙂 glad you liked the vid! I would 100 percent recommend ventilation but as for insulation, go with whatever you’re comfortable with. As for vinyl, not my thing but you could definitely do it. I’m down in Sydney, so not far from you. Let me know how your build goes 👍🏻
Thanks you did a great job. I’m on your team. Perfect ......
Thank you!
Great info for me, as I love windows...lol..a bit claustrophobic in some small spaces, sometimes more than others...I haven't started my first van/ box truck...life yet, just learning alot before I do. Thank you!!!
No worries 🙂 you’re welcome
My plan is Lizard skin sprayed against the metal for sound deadening and insulation. And then thinsolate with no vapor barrier.
Let us know how it goes bud 👍🏻
I currently build 787's in 16 months it will be vans. Good job with your channel
I worried about indoor air after the rough spray
@@lauragin5402good point, like the paint in the van it will flash off.
@@Scrambler85
How do they insulate the 787's?
yea, windows let lots of heat in , it also lets a lot of cold in .
100 percent
Great vid, appreciate the details and comparison of window to wall.
Awesome, glad you liked it 🙂
great video. One question; would you recommend painting the roof of the van with a high opacity white paint or a specialist heat reflecting white paint to reduce the transfer of heat into the van interior. these paints are used in industrial buildings on flat roofs......but the jury is out as to their effectiveness in reducing heat. Thanks
Never considered it, I think if your roof is already white then the impact would only be minor.. insulation and ventilation is key
@@FreedomInMindtv thanks for your reply. my feeling is that the factory exterior paint is very thinly applied and would provide minimal reflectancy to solar radiation. it clearly is a moot point as to whether solar relectancy paint is effective in heat reduction in building interiors - but is is applied on dark roofs so maybe it works. living in a steel clad van in a hot climate could be an uncomfortable experience so any additional exterior insulation may be beneficial. still, i take your point that air flow is key in keeping as cool as possible.
75.2 F
Easy way to remember (?)
Celcius
Double it
Minus 1/10th
Add 32.
So
24 x 2 = 48
48 - 4.8 = 43.2
43.2 + 32 = 75.2
Simples
Cheers for the tip Roger!
Thanks for the conversion format! Been out of school too long to remember and got used to having scales on side of isolettes that did it for me.
@@FreedomInMindtv Even easier. C*1.8+32=F
24*1.8=43.2+32=75.2
F to C? reverse the formula. F-32/1.8=C
Ha. Or just triple it. Close enough.
@@raemunroe tripling only kind of works for anything within a couple of degrees of 25/75. 10C = 50F, for example.
Your beard is exceptional
Thank you 😁
Anyone have any advice on air conditioning the living space of a van?
You could power a room size air conditioner and use a gas/electric generator to run it and have it in a carrier on a hitch. Air conditioner can be attached to back door of van or put a wall inside the back doors to create a garage and mount air conditioner on that wall.
So... watched the whole video.... If I understood you correctly. The ideal insulation would be reflections against the walls followed by polyester insulation and another layer of refextics on the inside to cover both hot and cold.
Starting our build......very helpful! Did you insulate the floor and over the cab? Thanks for the detailed video
24 C x 9/5 = 216/5 = 43 F degrees above 32 (freezing) = 75 F
With your sunny climate you still need reflectix, in addition to insulation. reflectix goes on first with about a 3/4 inch air space from the metal of the body then whatever insulation on that silver bubble layer, then glue on your wood panelling.
Video quality was great. That camera will do you nice. Never heard of the batting insulation. I like it. Got to see if we have that in the U.S. Hope yo be building out a cargo trailer by next spring. Enjoy your videos. Keep up the great work. Be safe.
You guys will definitely have insulation batts over there. Finding the polyester ones is the harder part. Glad you’re enjoying the vids, cheers bud!
New subscriber. Great video. I'm planning to convert a cargo trailer but the info still works! Safe travels.
Awesome, thanks for subscribing!
where did you get yours?
Awesome! Helped heaps!!
Thank you for this. Best video on temperature I've seen. Temperature comfort is my #1 requirement. How's it working for staying warm in winter?
75.2 degrees
C converted into F is by this equation....... Degrees F = (9/5) (degrees C) + (32)....9/5 x 24 = 43.2 now add 32 to it and the temp. in F is ~ 75 degrees
Great video! Did you do a similar video on your electrical system?
You forgot closed cell spray foaming the whole van professionally....
Correct, that would also be an option 👍🏻
Will that help with cooling?thanks
Yes
Video and audio quality was great mate!
I have sprayed my van in lizard skin then used combination of poly batts and rigid foam panels on floor and ceiling. Now working on completely covering everything in housing sarking as a vapor barrier.
Thanks mate! What is lizard skin? You’re the second person I’ve heard about that from. Also pretty sure the reflective vapour barrier I used was also sarking 🙂 I was never 100 percent sure because it was just given to me in a roll. Thanks for watching!
BecauseiVan it’s a spray on coating that dampens noise and is great temp insulator!
Hot rods use it so the exhaust doesn’t burn your feet to the floor lol.
I've used lizard skin thermal insulation paint on my little van too. Absolutely no need for Instagram/hipster refectix or foam insulation. Been in it 6 months now with no issues.
BecauseiVan the old school Lizard Skin can be made from ceramic glass beads purchased from an airplane supply company, and mix it with acrylic latex paint. The LS is pretty thick, sort of like brownie batter. Spray on with undercoat sprayer.
Addy Burnham - are you using just lizardskin?
very good info. Good job!
Thank you!
Great vid mate thanks heaps. Seeya Rob...nothin' like a nice cuppa !! anytime !!
Thanks Rob!
Thank you 🇬🇧very useful information
You’re welcome 🙂
First time view in you Excellent Quality vidio a picture.
Thank you!
Very helpful, thank you.
You’re most welcome
What does insulation do? I mean, for what use? Sorry I honestly don't have any idea. 😣
ThisBaeIsNotOrdinary Tv google search insulation. The goal of insulation is to keep your inside temperature closer to what you want, versus the inside of your van (or house or ice cooler- all have insulation) being pretty much the same temp as what is outside.
I thought the video quality was better. Great backyard you have there !
Thanks bud 🙂 and thanks for watching!
Unfortunately, polyester off gasses producing toxins in the air, made worse in the small van space. It has other issues too.
Good info. Thank you
You’re welcome!
All these links and you didn't even leave on to the insulation you used...
fiberglass is not hazardous and helps if it is a fire, imagine what would happen with polyester...
As always mate...👍👍
Cheers mark 👍🏻
25 degrees C is 77 degrees Fahrenheit according to Google
Did you use the polyester as roof insulation?
Yep roof and walls
From C to F 'c' x 9 /5 + 32 F to C 'f' - 32 x 5 / 9
Awesome thanks 🙂
Reflectix has no insulation value; use as vapour barrier only.
.
It’s quite effective against radiant heat
DONT USE DENIM. it's made of cotton. Cotton loves moisture and absorbs it, that makes it wet, heavy and a good breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Only use non-absorbent materials for insulation like polyester, and high density foam. Fiber-glass is fine once it's installed behind a vapor barrier.
I agree mate
They discontinued the only 2 brands of polyester batts we had in the US. Disappointed, looks like it worked well for you
new subscriber let's c what u got RSA
Wool isn’t good for the environment, denim recycling is great 👍🏼
Wool is green as it is sustainable and also mold and mildew resistant, more so than recycled cotton or recycled plastic bottles which are incredibly flammable and provide an air pocket to fuel the fire. Wool is more expensive but better option than those mentioned above .
good info thank you
Hi, Thank you for your videos
I agree with you about windows, I too would like the one window like you have, if you rebuild a van, would you have a window and would you have one that could be opened?
I’m in Australia too.
So very interested
😀Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life ʚϊɞ 🐝
Yea would be nice if the one I have would open 🙂 thanks for watching
Reflectix is not an insulator! It only reflects heat it does not insulate
It is, just doesn’t have a high R value because it’s primarily designed to reflect radiant heat. Which is still a form of insulating.
Wool has moral issues too.
How's that?
I broke my collar bone too.
I used styrofoam sheeting because I got a lot of it for free.
Has that worked well for you? I have a bunch from a dumpster dive.
guys that do "hair decoupage" are friggin' weird .
Not sure what that is sorry mate
Who cares about imperial units !? Let’s forget farenheit things
Bla bla bla and nothing 👎
Cutting insul. with scissors? We're supposed it take his advice? Nah
Nice video but you took 4 minutes with intro jibberish. Get to the point.