Insulating Your Camper Van
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The first major step in the van building process is insulating your camper van.
This is something you can accomplish before anything (really before you even officially plan your camper van layout).
As with everything in your van build, it’s important that you understand how something works in order to most effectively do it, so let’s talk about how insulation works. Insulation has everything to do with heat transfer, of which there are three types:
Radiation: Heat transferred through the air (i.e. sunlight). Radiant heat is primarily tied to van windows.
Conduction: Heat transferred through solids (i.e. touching something cold and feel your hand get cold). In other words, if it’s cold outside, the metal body of your van will conduct the heat inside to the outside, cooling the van’s internal temperature.
Vice versa for hot temperatures.
Remember, hot always moves to cold. When you touch something cold, it feels like the cold is creeping into your hand, but actually, it’s the cold object drawing the heat away.
Convection: Heat transferred through liquid or gas (i.e. warm air rising). This is why it’s important to insulate your ceiling more completely than any other area of your van if you’ll be spending any time in the cold. If you plan to stick purely to hot climates, then insulate it much more lightly.
However, keep in mind that a vent van does the job of sucking out risen hot air, so you can always remedy having too thick of ceiling insulation, but you’ll be hard-pressed to make it more insulated late on should you need.
What’s all this got to do with van insulation? Well, in simple terms, insulation slows and disrupts these types of heat transfer, keeping your van warmer in the cold, or cooler in the heat.
All about the R-Value:
R-Value refers to a material’s resistance to heat transfer and thus its ability to insulate. Higher R-values mean better insulation ability, so you’ll want to pay close attention to the material you buy.
Insulation Options
Rigid foam board:
These are generally going to be the best in terms of balancing the budget with non-toxicity. Foam boards are not quite a cheap insulation like fiberglass, but it’s still affordable van insulation when compared to more sustainable, non-toxic insulation, as we’ll talk about below.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS): This is a lot like Styrofoam, though many forms of it resemble polyiso foam in that they have a foil-faced side for additional radiant heat barrier capability. While it has the lowest durability and R-value of the foam boards, it’s super cheap, and still pretty insulating, so it’s a solid option for low-budget van builds.
any people complain about the ease with which moisture can penetrate and break down the foam over time, but this is easily remedied if you’re careful to purchase the kinds with polymeric skins on both sides that shield the actual foam from moisture.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS): These are the big pink and blue foams board you’ll see in the hardware store, a common form of insulation that is also resistant to moisture and runs the middle of the road price-wise. Unfortunately, it is not very environmentally friendly due to the HFC greenhouse gases released in the production.
Polyisocyanurate (polyiso): Another good “green” option that’s non-toxic, non-gassing, and has a high insulating factor. Cost-wise, it’s definitely affordable, but a little more expensive than the other rigid foam boards, but has the added benefit of having a foil-faced side for use as a radiant heat and moisture barrier.
R-Tech InsulFoam: This combines elements from several of the other foam types and is actually what we used for our van. The core is EPS foam, but each side is covered in polymeric skins, one of them being a thermo-reflective radiant heat barrier. This foam is designed to be resistant to both insects and moisture.
Unlike traditional EPS, it has a greater compressive strength (still not quite as much as XPS) and dimensional stability. It sort of combines all the best elements of the other foams and is Energy Star certified.
***We used the 1” thick boards, with an R-value of R3.8, plus a varied additional R-value added by the reflective side if used with proper air space to allow for the reflective film to be effective. This is a pretty high value and we’re happy with it. Of course, a thicker board would yield an even higher R-Value, but then the airspace between the insulation and the wall panels would be less and it would take up more interior space, which is why we recommend 1” thickness for any foam board insulation.
Fiberglass batting:
Before we go any further, let me just say you don’t want to use this. Plenty of van builders so, but we definitely don’t recommend it.
But let’s backtrack a bit. Traditional fiberglass insulation is the most common type of insulation, the default used in houses and traditional buildings. In a confined space like a van, however, it’s not a good idea because fiberglass insulation is known as particulate insulation. That means it is comprised of particles that slough off that you’ll breathe in over time.
Non-particulate van insulation is far safer for the lungs.
Plus, it’s prone to mold and mildew with the natural condensation that will form in your van unless you completely seal it with a vapor barrier liner (VBL). That’s still no guarantee. So why do people use it? Well, it’s by far the easiest and most cost-effective option with a high R-value because of the batting structure.
Vans are prone to infuriatingly unusual shapes and lots of small nooks and crannies, such as the ribs and the holes around the floor. Fiberglass batting is so easy to stuff in these holes.
Non-particulate/non-toxic batting:
Mineral/Rock Wool: This hard-to-find form of insulation is basically recycled stone spun into fine fibers. However, it’s REALLY expensive relative to its R-Value and doesn’t allow for condensation to vent, which will eventually breed mold. The last thing you’ll want to do is rip down the walls and cabinets to solve any toxic mold problems.
Sheep’s Wool: An increasingly popular form of sustainable van insulation for those seeking to make vanlife more eco friendly, this 100% natural batting is non-toxic, non-particulate, and far more moisture-resistant than other battings. Think of a wool shirt; wool is valued because of its ability to keep insulating even when wet. The same goes for your van, and it actually manages overall van moisture because it wicks it away from whatever paneling you put over it and is resistant to mold.
However, it can be hard to find and has a relatively low R-Value, meaning you would need to sacrifice a lot of space to use enough of it for it to be effective.
Denim: Also an organic-based, sustainable insulation option for your camper van. This is the particleboard of the insulation world, made of scraps of recycled denim. It insulates comparably to fiberglass but is more expensive. However, as it is cotton, it soaks up and holds on to moisture, so again not ideal for a van.
3M Thinsulate:
If you’re a gear junkie like I am, you may have heard the term Thinsulate; it’s used as synthetic insulation of many high-end outdoor puffy jackets. It also acts as sound deadening insulation for vans, ultra-breathable (hence its use in outdoor activities clothing), and easy to install. This is probably the single most expensive option for the little R-value it provides.
However, it’s a good option for filling the awkward nooks and crannies that foam can’t reach.
Closed-cell Polyurethane Spray Foam:
This is basically expanding liquid that sprays out, foams up, and solidifies into a hard mass. You can buy entire kits to do your whole van, a messy process that would cost you upwards of $500 and wouldn’t allow you to change anything about the insulation, or you can do what most van builders do: use it to fill in the gaps and cracks.
In fact, the spray you want is literally called Great Stuff Gaps and Cracks. Use this to seal around your other insulation and to fill in the awkward pockets of the van, like the ribs. If applied properly, it also seals out moisture so condensation won’t build up between your metal walls and your insulation.
Reflectix:
Basically reflective bubble-wrap that works as a great radiant heat barrier. However, do not make the mistake of using Reflectix as your sole form of insulation, as many van builders have done. It only has an R-value of about R1. Instead, this is better used for window coverings and in other small gaps of your van.
Keep in mind: radiant heat barriers only work if there is an air gap next to it. That’s why it works fine as a window covering or in the ribs of your van, where a natural air cavity will exist in front of it. It will not work if you cover your walls with it then panel over it.
Mind the Moisture: Are VBLs Necessary?
The biggest problem you could run into down the road with your insulation is condensation and subsequent mold and mildew. Condensation is a natural thing in your van, but it’s important to protect the metal body of your van from it.
Water is not its friend; rust is really the biggest killer of vans, especially older, non-coated ones.
Some believe that in order to protect the inner metal walls of your van from moisture build-up, you need to install a vapor barrier liner (VBL) over top of the insulation so moisture from the living space can never get to the walls.
Others think it unnecessary as long as your van is properly ventilated with a vent fan. Plus, one small flaw in a VBL can still allow moisture to get in and then trap it behind.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the VBL and think that condensation can be mitigated and pulled from your van with a good vent fan (which you definitely need anyway). Any that does build up on the walls will drip down and run out floor vents that most modern cargo vans are made with.
Insulating Our Van
Materials Used:
3M face masks 4 pk. ($5.56)
6- 3M90 Hi-Strength Adhesive Spray (77.88)-
2- 3M77 Super Adhesive Spray (16.34)
Gorilla Tape 1.88”x35yds (8.89)
4- Great Stuff Gaps and Cracks foam spray (16.58)
Reflectix Foil Wrap 48”x25’ (41.35)
6- R-Tech InsulFoam 1” EPS boards (95.10)
TOTAL INSULATION COST: $269.78
Van Square Footage: 345 sq. ft.
Average cost/sq. ft.: $0.78
The Process:
1) Measure your surfaces:
Start by determining the square footage of your van. This will help you at literally every stage in the process and will help you determine exactly how much material to buy. If we were close in numbers, we tended to round up, better to have too much than have to stop working and go back to Lowe’s and buy more (though we ended up doing that anyway).
2) Clean your surfaces:
If you’re buying a new van, theoretically your van will be blank and clean. But if you’re buying used, you might have some demolishing to do before you build. Rip out any existing fixtures you don’t plan on keeping and clean every surface.
3) Insulate the walls with foam:
There isn’t necessarily a strict order by which to insulate, but we wanted to do the walls before we installed the floor Reflectix.
That way, we wouldn’t be popping and depressing the bubbles before getting a protective subfloor on it (which, as the word implies, goes underneath your camper van flooring). Insulating it actually a super simple process; just cut out pieces of foam board with a utility, fit it to the panel (shaving down where necessary), and affix it using 3M90 Hi-Strength spray adhesive. 3M90 works like this: spray a complete coat on the surface you’re affixing it to.
Then spray it on the non-reflective side of the foam board. Make sure not to remove the protective film on that side; this is what protects the board from both moisture and corrosion from harsh chemicals (like adhesive spray!).
Allow the glue to set up for about 1 minute before putting the panel on the sprayed wall. Hold for about 30 seconds to allow the glue to set.
Chris and I tag-teamed this. He cut the panels and I would follow behind and adhere them to the walls.
Remember to wear a facemask whenever you’re using an adhesive spray. It’s very toxic and even with the mask, I’d be lying if I said I totally didn’t get a little high during this part. A facemask at least helps eliminate some of the major toxins.
Hindsight advice: Don’t try to be cheap and use the 3M77 spray. We experimented with this and just ended up respraying those panels with the higher strength spray. For stubborn pieces that fall off as time goes by, you can use duct tape or Gorilla Tape to stick them on.
4) Insulate your camper van floor with Reflectix:
Next, we did the floor, basically lying out a sheet of Reflectix and cutting it around the edges of the van. Since the sheets are so flexible, this is easy to do. Just like with the walls, use 3M90 spray to adhere it, but before you glue it to the floor, use it as a template to trace your subfloor and save yourself a lot of headaches later.
Use something heavy to weigh it down while the adhesive dries. We used pavers, then followed by immediately installing the subfloor over top.
Hindsight Advice: If I could go back, I would install something thicker on the floor, like XPS foam board because the floor definitely gets chilly. But! It’s not the end of the world and we appreciate that we didn’t sacrifice more vertical space but still. Since heat rises, we’re not necessarily losing heat through the floor. We just need to wear slippers.
5) Insulate wheel wells:
You’ll probably end up boxing off your wheel wells, so insulating them isn’t all that important for warmth, but it can help dampen the sound of your van. A LOT of drive noise comes in through the wheel wells, and a thin layer of Reflectix really helps absorb this.
We even added an extra base layer of thin foam packing sheets (which we had saved and recycled from packages we received) before putting on the Reflectix. We couldn’t believe how much quieter our van drove after that one simple move.
6) Insulate your camper van’s ceiling:
This was the first step of insulation that we actually waited until something else was done. In our case, we waited until we had installed studs in the ceiling before fitting the insulating pieces in between the studs (though we has cut the pieces to size before even installing the floor insulation and subfloor).
With the ceiling, we used purely Gorilla Tape, rather than deal with 3M90 dripping on the floor and having to hold the pieces in place until it set long enough to withstand gravity.
Be sure you leave space for your vent fan if you don’t already have it installed!
7) Insulate ribs and doors:
Once all the major stuff was done, we could start filling in the small, detailed spaces. Spare Reflectix pieces are great for this. Just cut the Reflectix into strips wide enough to shimmy into the ribs of your van; rolling them up can help for narrower openings.
The natural air pocket created by the rib will maximize the radiant heat barrier potential of the Reflectix.
8) Fill in the gaps:
When you’re finally ready to seal the deal with your insulation, you can spray Great Stuff Cracks and Gaps foam spray along the edges of your foam panels and into any other large gaps you find in your insulation.
Just bear in mind that once you spray this and it dries, it’s like glue. You won’t be moving anything touching it, so make sure you won’t need to move anything.
We didn’t actually do this until the frame of our bed was built!
Quick Tips:
Don’t be a perfectionist: You will literally go crazy and quit the entire process if you allow yourself to be consumed by a sense of perfection. Remember, your insulation will not be visible; it doesn’t have to be pretty.
Cardboard templates are a waste of time: Others recommend making cardboard templates of the inset panels in the van and then tracing them onto the foam board. We found that clunky and time-consuming, and after about two panels, we tossed the cardboard aside and just starting chopping rough approximations of the panels directly out of the foam.
Again we stress: INSULATION DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
If there are gaps, you can always just cut smaller pieces and fill them in, or use spray foam at the end. You won’t see the insulation, so save yourself the headache of thinking it has to be perfect. A Frankenstein job will keep you just as warm.
Don’t skimp on glue: It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to save money (those 3M 90 cans are like $12 each!) by being conservative with the amount of glue you use. When you open your van the next day only to find all your insulation hanging limply by a few attachment points or just on the ground, you’ll see the flaw in that logic. Just take the time to do it right the first time.
Cut as much foam as possible inside your van, not outside: Rigid foam boards shed pieces of foam like crazy, and you don’t want it flying around outside where it’s hard to clean up. If it’s all in your van, it’s easy enough to vacuum out.
If all else fails, Gorilla Tape it.
We hope this has helped you in all your van insulation endeavors. Camper van insulating should be exciting! It’s the first major step on your road to vanlife!
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase something from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.