Below -18°C (0F), inside temperature starts to lower; for example at -30°C (-22F) the maximum inside temperature is 15°C (58F) which is actually not that bad considering how cold it is outside! Thus, the best way to insulate a cargo van is by using and selecting materials that maintains that delicate balance. A: It’s GREAT! Hein has done the research and testing so you don't have to guess. We used tree pieces of insulation to fill the gap: one on the left-hand side, one on the right-hand side and one in the center. we will receive a commission fee. https://www.vanlifeoutfitters.com/category/van-build-parts/van-insulation After two winters spent full time skiing from the van (faroutride.com/winter-vanlife), we can definitely say that using Thinsulate insulation was a GREAT decision. Thinsulate is FMVSS 302 certified (federal motor vehicle safety standard). If you want to stay warm in your campervan, you need to insulate the van. 1- We used vise-grip and raw power to remove the pins (they were not damaged in the process and we were able to reuse them): 3- Then, we removed the four screws (total) under the driver and passenger side handles: 4- Next, we unsnapped the three pins in the center of the headliner. Hydrophobic fibers resist moisture, mold and mildew. and it is still in great condition after that time (no mold, no bugs, … , Ive just found you guys thanks so much for all the info here its illuminating! 6- It is now possible to lower the headliner a few inches and install the Thinsulate. Thank you, KCee, I don’t think that’s necessary to be honest; Thinsulate has been around for a while now and I’m confident about using it directly on the metal. 1512A Osprey Drive Hood River, Oregon 9703110 AM to 3 PM Tuesday - FridayClosed Monday, Saturday and SundayRefund Policy, Technical questions or product inquiries:Text or call Hein at 541-490-5098 or EmailOrder issues or changes:Text or call Kim at 541-490-4292 or Email. Thinsulate™ Thinsulate™, as the name suggests, is a very thin insulation, which works great for garments that are meant for being extremely packable. This photo was taken during the conversion without ez-cool installed; it means all the frames inside the van had no insulation on them: It was a cold and damp morning (37F) and we were heating the van with the Webasto heater (55F). Thinsulate doesn’t get soaked; which is a good thing if water has to accumulate in the cavities. Wondering which dehumidifier, subwoofer, glue, coffee maker or even scissors is best for your build? Some people have damaged them in the process, but they can be glued back in place later…. With insulation, the van takes longer reach the ambient temperature. Hein confirmed our reservations about using spray foam and encouraged us to use 3M Thinsulate and Low-E Reflective Foam instead. Sorry. We’re Isabelle and Antoine In 2017 we sold our house (and everything in it), quit our engineering careers and moved into our self built campervan. To unsnap them, the overhead storage must be pushed forward. 10×60)? It kept us warm, no mold, no bugs, since 2017. You can also buy rolls of the stuff to have the same effect in your van. 4. The price you pay remains the same, affiliate link or not. We had some leftover as well and we doubled it like you mention. Will the panels be able to snap back in? To minimize the thermal bridges, we will apply Low-E EZ-Cool to the “bare” frames (the wood finish will helps as well). Did you use any sound deadening like Dodo Dead Mats or did you just go on straight with Thinsulate? 1) Do you think there would be value putting Kilmat (sound deadening) underneath the Thinsulate? However, we found that application of small amounts of butyl mat helps further reduce noise intruding into the van. What would be the impact to use 2x SM400L? Please help settle this debate! We spent a week at -10F/-15F (-20 to -27C) last year in the Chic-Chocs (faroutride.com/chic-chocs-winter-wonderland-december-2016), but we didn’t have insulated window covers at that time and our insulation was about halfway done (no ez-cool), so we cannot draw real conclusions from that trip. more room – stronger chassis. and it is still in great condition after that time (no mold, no bugs, still holding in place). He would prefer to leave them empty but I want to avoid empty cavities. The answer is YES, if the insulated window covers are installed (if the window covers are removed, the temperature drop much faster AND it gets uncomfortable near the windows). 50 Sq.Ft. It is the standard 14 "x 14" size for RV… Thinsulate Insulation. Learn more about why you should choose Thinsulate for your van build here. Can I re-attach the stock wall and ceiling panels over the thinsulate and ez cool? 3M Thinsulate is a synthetic material, it’s non-toxic and easy to install, and also has some sound dampening properties. I am going to be insulating my work van and eventually it will be our camper van. 2- If the van is left in the sun without the insulated window covers, the temperature will increase beyond our comfort level (ventilation or not); if the window covers are installed, we can keep the van within our comfort level (with the help of the Maxxair fan). So take a measuring tape and find out what's the surface area you need to cover. But what if we turn off the Webasto heater? Note that there was condensation everywhere outside (on the van, on the ground, etc). https://sprintervanusa.com/2016/06/25/comparing-van-insulation-options There is about 1.5″ gap between the van ceiling & the headliner, that’s perfect to insert some insulation in there. 3M Thinsulate (TM) SM600L Acoustic Thermal Automotive Insulation for van and car, Minicell Floor Insulation Packages for the NCV3 and VS30 Sprinter Vans, Minicell Floor Insulation Packages for the Ford Transit Vans, 3M Thinsulate (TM) SM200L Acoustic Thermal Automotive Insulation for van and car, Minicell Floor Insulation Packages for the Promaster Vans, Low-E SSR Reflective Foam Core Insulation 60" wide, 3M Thinsulate (TM) TAI 1547 Thermal Insulation, 3M Thinsulate (TM) AU4002-5 AcousticThermal Automotive Insulation Double Scrim, 3M Thinsulate (TM) SM400L Acoustic Thermal Automotive Insulation for van and car, 3M Engineered Damping Material EDM1029, 2.9 mm, Aluminum, Low-E SSR Reflective Foam Core Insulation 72" wide. The Amazon link doesn’t ship here. This is quite tricky, keep calm! The challenge with the ceiling is to work against gravity. Thinsulate & Polyester camper insulation 3M have created Thinsulate, which is a product used in a lot of outdoor clothing garments to keep you warm. In other words, there is heat loss where there is no condensation. Large cutouts were filled with insulation: We also filled the cavities where possible: The plastic panel is attached with several push pins. 1-16 of 45 results for "3M Thinsulate Insulation" Skip to main search results Eligible for Free Shipping. (If any), This is a great website We won’t go in details here, because there is not much to say…. (It might be wise to choose a van with light color if you are living in a hot and sunny region). Thinsulate is FMVSS 302 … I ordered everything (Thinsulate, minicell, etc.) *International Shipping (Outside USA): Order the Thinsulate from eBay rather than Amazon. Hi. We didn’t finish it… it’s still on the plastic. The brand name Dynamat is … In fact, we took the habit of turning the heater off when going to bed to turn it back on when we wake up (or use the MultiControl timer to automatically turn it on 30 minutes before we wake up). It's up to you to determine what length (feet) you need! Thanks much They are fairly easy to remove with a flat screwdriver, or you can do it with a push pin pliers. We personally used Thinsulate in our van. We observe that condensation remains where Thinsulate is installed, but this condensation is “evaporated” at the frame locations where there is no Thinsulate. I feel like it’s not worth it, but that’s me… We did not use adhesive since the gap between the ceiling and the headliner is about the same as the Thinsulate thickness. 1: To account for waste (it's inevitable due to the multiple funky-shaped pieces needed), mistakes and estimation errors. 7- Sliding-in the insulation right-piece (left not shown…), The challenge with the ceiling is to work against gravity. THat’s what I’d personally do for my van…. It is made up of polyester and olefin. as to the insulation I was wondering what the options are as the box isnt metal i still need to insulate so would thinsulate still be the best bet here? Insulating a van or campervan is an inexpensive and DIY way to create a cosier and more comfortable travelling and living space free from moisture, condensation and unwelcome temperature extremes! Best Insulation for Van Life 2021 Camco RV Vent Insulator And Skylight Cover with Reflective Surface It is basically a foam pillow that solves the problem of heat transfer through one of the most sensitive areas of an RV: ventilation. would it be best to insulate and then recover with the original black plastic? In regards to insulating the cavities, did you guys open up the panels over the front seatbelt columns and insulate in that cavity? We had ours shipped to Montreal 60" wide, scrim on one side. It has kept us warm (down to -25F!) Rockwool is also easy to … Thinsulate is FMVSS 302 certified (federal motor vehicle safety standard). We’ve been on the road since then and every day is an opportunity for a new adventure; we’re chasing our dreams and hopefully it inspires others to do the same! -Below what outside temperature do we need to leave the Webasto heater running all night? Thanks for all the helpful information! Does our insulation solution will maintain the ambient temperature for a while? 2 lb density. To build your knowledge about vanlife insulation and what's best for you, we highly recommend reading this article first: Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click a product link and buy anything from the merchant (Amazon, eBay, etc.) Thinsulate is a product developed by 3M and is similar to fiberglass insulation. To make things easier, we came up with the "Thinsulate Calculator" just below; hope that helps! you indicated and it is coming in each day. If we were to do another van, we aren’t going to use it again as we think Thinsulate is enough. The function of standard insulation is to slow the transfer of heat. The Thinsulate is warm-hot, but the wood paneling is warm-cool. At the same time, in our extreme weather conditions, the right floor interior insulation can help to keep your work van cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter – a critical concern when your van doubles as a shop and workspace!