Vandwellers Forum

wildthing

Hi All; am buying an '89 Chevy van and last owner put a hard camper top on it to increase headroom. Problem is he did not have a chance, or did not plan, to insulate/finish it. (The rest of the van appears insulated with the pink fuzzy stuff behind panels; lots of big windows but I think I've come up with a solution there that will not cut out the light, which I love).

The top is regular fiber glass, sort of a curved organic shape, about a foot high (not the very square models you see); any suggestions for how to finish it? The lower-fi the better, since I have imaginative 'art/crafty' skills-- I'll admit it: I was mulling over the insulative properties of papier mache! ((aka paper pulp- it can be very flexible and durable with linseed oil (ie. stuff used to make lino strong) and antimold substances can be added, I was conjuring an auto-version of the straw-bale house!))-- but not auto body skills. Frustratingly, I'm pretty sensitive to strong chemicals and odours so that's a factor, too-- don't want to be cooped in a tiny space with some toxic substance that's going to off-gas for months...

If need be, I'll take it to a detail shop and have them do the work but if I can do it myself and/or with friends, great.

Since it has more curves than straight lines, that is the challenge (ie. can't use hard panels). There are little windows around the edges I have to contend with also and would like to keep. Asthetics are pretty important to me, since if I'm giving up an apartment I want my little dwelling to look homey and nice. I researched soy-based spray foam and it's a fabulous insulator and very green (supposedly), but application is difficult (ie. renting compressor etc) and messy, and it looks kind of weird, not sure how I'd finish it, not sure it's appropriate here.

I've found a few sites for 'eco-friendly' industrial-use adhesives of all kinds, so that is encouraging. At this point, I'm wondering if just glueing some natural burlap onto it isn't a good option? or two layers?? It breathes and would look earthy and neat, without looking like regular fabric tacked up. But would it insulate AT ALL is the question...

And maybe I don't want something that 'breathes'? (I'm of course trying to consider condensation and imagine the physics of it). The roof is too curvy to adhesive a layer of reflectix over its entirety, but I wonder if I should cover as much as I can (ie. a long swath down most of its length) and could I glue burlap to that? (Not sure the adhesive will stick to something non-porous on one side, especially the 'green' ones that aren't quite as strong...).

I've read all the posts and others online about insulating a van, but most of those involve the metal sides of the vehicle, not fiberglass and not the roof. Because the surface is not nearly as cold-conducive as metal, I'm hoping the moisture would not be AS huge an issue, but of course I have to consider it. I'm in a warmer part of Canada, but it does get -10C in Winter in BC on average (it's hovering around zero right now) and I won't always be able to head south.

Any advice/conversation generated would be most welcome...!

David Hair · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:03 am Post subject:

The soy foam is a very good insulator, but not a very cost effective DIY project. You would likely be better off to prep the van for the spray and then find a local applicator. If you drove the van to their place of business and had it ready to spray when they got in one evening or before they left for a job some morning you might just work out a good price. With the economy the way it is now, you might catch them with a day they had no work. I don't think you can even rent all the equipment required to spray the soy foam as the 2 parts of the foam have to be mixed as they leave the spray gun.

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David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

caper58 · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject:

I did almost the same thing David is talking about but I cut a deal with the worker who does the work and drives the spray rig. He looked at my van and figured out the amount of materials he would need. He called me when he had enough left over material from another job, stopped by in a hurry and sprayed my van. Everything took about an hour, I gave him a $100 and he was off. That was a whole lot cheaper than the quote by the company he works for. Wink

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

wildthing · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:56 pm Post subject:

ok, thanks guys- I guess when you say prep the van, you mean cover everything, windows etc... I'll look into it.

Seems like the fabric/burlap idea not so good?
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torn between wanting to change the world and wanting to enjoy it, makes it hard to plan the day.

David Hair · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:27 pm Post subject:

clear the interier to the metal body. If you know how far inside you want your wall to be from the window, tape a cardboard dam around the window to that depth. cover the floor with plastic or cardboard to make over spray easy to clean up. Take out the headliner and go ahead and screw 1x2's to attach your ceiling to. You could go aheah and place framing to attach your side walls also. As the foam won't be even this gives you something to trim to. If you want to cover a window, give it a couple layers black spray paint and then foam over it. Make sure to clean and dry the window well before you paint.
_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

caper58 · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:17 pm Post subject:

David.... excellent advise, follow his suggestions you will be way ahead later on!! The only thing I would add would be smurff tubing from the front to the back along both sides. This is that blue flex tube at HomeDepot. if you place in in the van before foaming, you have a raceway for wires later. I always figure out what I need, then put in ample tubes plus a spare for something later or maybe something I forgot. Wink

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

David Hair · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:42 pm Post subject:

Very good idea. I also put two 1/2 inch emt with tee's about every 2 feet down the drivers side of the floor in the floor insulation. It won't insulate very much, but it is where I run most of my wires.
_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

wildthing · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:15 pm Post subject:

thanks again... wow... lots to think about. feels a bit over my head, to be honest, but I'm sure it will all come together and the great thing about this forum is building a slow knowledge base, and can look back on posts as relevent. Definately out of my comfort zone Embarassed

but that's not a bad thing.
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torn between wanting to change the world and wanting to enjoy it, makes it hard to plan the day.

David Hair · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:29 pm Post subject:

Don't let it scare you. The first van I did I cut the 1/2 inch thick foam to fit the void behind the wall. Where the van wall bumped out I cut a piece of foam board to the height of the bump out and used silicone caulk to glue it to the side. Then I would cut another piece that went over that and went higher up the wall. All pieces started at the floor and went higher and higher until I had a flat wall floor to ceiling. I then covered this with a 10 mill plastic sheet and taped down all the edges to keep air from coming through any cracks I may have had. It worked wonderful and id a very simple DIY project.
_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

caper58 · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject:

My first van worked out eventually but it was a lot more work than it should have been and I missed things I wish I had thought of.... so I guess we all are just trying to shorten the learning curve for you a little. Don't feel intimidated, just remember there's no big problem, it's just a bunch of little ones that look big. Take your time, make a list of what you want to do and check each one off as you complete them.

When I think back at my first few projects, I sure wish I would have had this type of information available..... Wink

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

surfcam · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:55 pm Post subject:

Hear an idea and I have not try it but what do you think. Buy some foam board. I prefer the polyurethane a little higher R value and tuffer. Get a can of polyurethane spray. Cut the board to fit. Now spray the back and stick it on. After you can fill all the cracks. Then cover it with some material. O ya don't for get the smurf tubes.

Hear a question what is the best way to insulate the front cab. I always find a lot of cold drafts coming from this area.
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