Van Life 101 How To Insulate a Cargo Van! 

Thank you for all the great ideas! Doing my build I'm a 55 year old woman it's the most important decision I've made for years. I'm so happy and feel free for the first time in 28 years

Thank you for being transparent about half-assing things. I am the queen of “good enough” and “better than it was”

When working with fiberglass and short sleeve shirts this is a sure fire way to get fiberglass out of your skin. Get yourself some shaving cream, spray it on your arms and working in one direction rinse the shaving cream off in one direction away from you while rinsing with cool water. Warm water opens up your pores and creates more problems. Great video Bob, you by far have the greatest in detail info on RV life. Thank you.

Run a garden hose through that top rail/space with the cord inside. Then you can stuff the fiberglass insulation inside the air space. The wiring and stuff your dragging with the cord will disturb the insulation, but when your pulling through a garden hose, it will not disturb the insulation. Hope that made sense.

I bought my mid high roof Ford Transit van three years ago. The former owner had installed fiberglass insulation and dark paneling to the walls and ceiling. There was also medal shelving along the left wall so I knew that that van wasn’t used for carrying heavy pallets. It was also equipped with a non slip rubber floor.

The shiny silver side of those panels is considered to be the vapor barrier which should be turned around and face the warm side of the wall to be insulated. Vapour barrier always goes to the warm side.

Hi Bob, I think this series is super popular because I had to click off about 10 commercials just now when trying to view it. Admittedly I've watched this video, and others in your series, multiple times but you should know that even when you hit the skip ad button, the ads won't skip. I have to exit out of RU-vid and come back to try, many times to view the video. I believe that means your series is a hit. Congratulations. Well done. I've certainly learned a lot from you and Terry by watching them and I hope you receive the financial compensation you deserve for providing such high value information. Best regards.

These DIY van videos have inspired me to become a nomad just like you! I’m 19 and preparing to start my life as a nomad, I plan to buy my van at the end of this year. ☺️ thank you so much!

"It would be done. It would work. It would be half-assed." 😂 A man after my own heart.

Bob, It doesn't matter how you do the job, there will be a lot of different ways ( and opinions ) of how it can be done. I think you did a good job. Terry is great at doing vans and has helped many people with their vans, THANK YOU TERRY FOR ALL THE HELP YOU HAVE GIVEN SO MANY PEOPLE.

Bob it's great to see you getting some help with your own van build. You are always helping others in there everyday life. Looking forward to see how your van turns out.

"The King of Half-Assed." Well, I am the undisputed "Queen of Half-Assed." I don't mean to be half-assed, I just work within my abilities, which started out pretty bad but got better. Glad you have good help Bob, and you can document and show people the details, instead of just speeding up and saying, "Ok, here it is, like my van?" This takes work, but it's worth it to the construction-challenged. Terry, great job!

love how you ramble and your blatant honesty of your flaws! I'm much the same!

As a person who did a few vans and campers over I found you can get some good cardboard from the appliance cardboard boxes that they come in. Most appliance dealers or showrooms will gladly give them to you. Thanks for the videos

I had no idea at all what he was talking about not do I have a van but I've watched his videos and its very interesting. Who knows I may have a van one day if I keep praying.

HUGE amount of work, I did my van two years ago in May, so the heat, and the fumes, plus all the crawling around on your knees..gets to be a pain...and then add in all the filming and editing.....man what a lot of work...thanks for doing this video...and at least you have some great help! BTW the 3M 77 spray is rated at 150 degrees, the 3M 80 is rated over 200 degrees...might be better for the ceiling insulation to have that margin for the desert conditions you and the 'tribe' are in occasionally.

Mr. Bob, you are tremendous my friend! The more I watch your videos..the more I'm convinced to go FREEDOM! Man I live this lifestyle! I meant to say, I love this lifestyle

Tracing around the wheel hub you could make a pattern to cut the insulation with a few pieces of aluminium foil pressed over it a day worked around with your fingers to crease it. Then use that as pattern if you don't have the compass.

Wow, I'm exhausted just from watching!

This is the most informative video on the application of insulation I have Ever seen! Thank you, both! 🔩🔩🔩

Wow!!! I am impressed beyond words. Bob, you do such a great job with your videos and give us such good info. You both get a kudos for all your hard work. Thank you & God bless!!

Your paneling lines match so well! Great job both of you! Great minds! Thanks to both of you.

Bob Thank You and Terri for showing how to do this! These videos help alot of people. One other comment, I know there are trolls, but really do you all have to argue on this channel? He takes the time to record and edit this information then upload it to help out people that are looking for the info. Try giving a person a chance before you automatically think they are being an a$$hat. Maybe they are trying to contribute. I for one read the comments looking for additional info or to see if someone did something a bit different due to money issues or climate issues. Try being nice instead of attacking.

Hey my friend! Nice to find your Channel! I am Patrick from Germany and right now I Life since 2 years in a Trailer in France! You rock buddy! Great Video

No Problems! Just CHALLENGES! No fails... just steps it takes to be successful! Persistence WINS

👍I I I did the same on my sailing boat in 2015, it works perfect!!! In the winter in the Netherlands I keep my boat nice and warm.

Thanks for all of your hard work, Bob! I have just shared this with my Horse Trailer Conversion group on FB. This should help a lot of folks out!

Wow, this video is so amazing. Saves money as opposed to buying an overpriced RV.thanx for knowledge.

Really get a lot from your videos, Bob. I'm planning my own egress from my house, into a home-made camper. Been looking at vans and have my eye on a chevy 3500 cut-away with a 15 foot box. I think it may have been a moving truck. Pretty low floor level. Keep on keeping on brother. You inspire, believe it or not.

Thank you so much Bob (and Terry) for everything in this video.. even if I am almost two years late.

I'm slowly catching up to watch these van builds in sequence. Nice job with the insulation... much more than I thought would be needed but nice to know it can be done esp with the cardboard templates helping. Saw the finished van you're living in now and enjoyed seeing that finished one first. ...And have a safe trip east. :)

Looks really nice BOB...i just did the same with 1" foam insulation for my camper truck shell, slept in it this weekend in San Diego...priceless and very comfy warm inside while outside was about 51degrees

SAY WAIT!: A super cheap greatly 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?! What could be cheaper? Thanks for your videos!

I love that Terry use the scribe/ scroll technique we use the same thing for our chicken coops and our horse sheds in Grandpa's machine shop when we made the buildings out of logs you get a good precise cut usually that way it's so much easier than trying to eyeball it great job Terry and Bob as usual great video bob looks like it is going to be perfect for you.. Blessed Be the tzu crew and me

I like that he glued the insulation to the steel, it is the way to go. I recommend leaving about a 1/2" gap around the edges of the insulation panel and filling that gap with spray foam to create a seal around the edges then tape all the seams where the insulation panels butt together. If you want to go the extra mile then you should consider filling the vertical ribs with spray foam. I am uncomfortable with the use of vapor barrier on more than one surface in the same wall system. this can trap humidity between the surfaces. I would recommend unfaced foam like plane white styrofoam on the interior wall surface because it breathes and won't trap moisture. As far as that goes I wouldn't use faced insulation at all in a van you don't need it and it could cause problems.

You guys are going to save me so much time and frustration this week. Thank you!

Great job guys! I really appreciate the added time and trouble it took to video the project as you went along. I can see a Chevy cargo van is a bit more uniform inside than my Ford cargo van. The Ford has window indents along with metal extending from the walls over the wheel wells. But as you pointed out, all vans have their curves and quirks to deal with. Thanks for a great video and I'll be looking forward to the next. 🚐💨

Thanks for sharing. Very creative, and smart to bring in other people with various experiences👍🏽. BTW, in future, put the metal part of the mask on your nose bridge, will likely fit better😊. Good job!

I hope to convert a van someday and am just watching and reading a lot...taking notes. Bob, most of these questions here are not answered and I wonder why. Honestly after weeks of watching about insulation I don't know what the RIGHT answer is. I do know, if you don't get it right you can have the prettiest van but will be deadly if the mold goes unchecked. Still searching and learning.

Hi Bob ... First i have to say I love your videos. I make kettle corn poppers. They get very hot and it is (or was) difficult to insulate so the chef doesn't burn themselves on the hot metal. 4 years ago I discovered a very inexpensive and easy way to insulate the people popping from the hot metal. I saw it on This old house with Bob Vila... I use ceramic beads mixed in paint. One complete coat of any paint mixed with these beads gives you a amazing R29 of insulation. 2 complete coats is almost R60. This solves the mold moisture problem too. You can reach those cracks and crevices that regular insulation can't fill. I use it on my poppers I make and also my shop walls. My walls also have pink R19 covered with sheet rock with the R60 ceramic beads painted on top of it. So my Shop walls have a R rating of at least R90. Yes I know it's hard to believe but it is true and it works amazingly well. It does not do much for sound dampening so I would still do what you are doing in the video above, but your R rating would go off the charts in a van. Paint the inside the doors or any where you want...Imaging a mold free insulation in a van of R 70 +++. You could heat a van with your own body heat or a candle..The weak point is now the windows. --- Here's what I would do and will be doing next winter in my van when I redo it. ... I go buy any junk recycled paint at the home recycle center. My local store sells used paint for a buck a gallon. Just make sure you only mix latex with latex of enamel with enamel. I bought up all the white latex I needed and mixed them together in a 5 gallon bucket. I put 1cup of the ceramic powder/ beads per gallon, then mix well, paint on and walla R29 +++ If your painting the metal walls of a van that will be covered with wood or some other sub-straight then the color won't matter. Pink, black who cares if you are not going to see it. The paint is just the vehicle to apply the beads to the walls. If you want to know more you can via Face book (Mitch LaMoure) or I can give yo my phone number. Here's some videos that might help explain it more ... Oh and the website I buy my beads from. It's called Hy-tech, it was used on the Space shuttle and all NASA space craft to insulate them -- www.hytechsales.com/ ... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FRq4UJLqLDI.html -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9EuR4zeijfc.html -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cDXMMnwt_NE.html

Wish I had my own Terry!

Thanks for this video--will come in handy. Was imagining what it would be like to skip the glue when you mentioned mold--good point.

This is an old video so you may never see my comment. I just have to say, Bob, that I love you for all you’ve taught me and helped my future dreams progress. I’m still a year or more away from joining the nomad family but hope to meet you some day to thank you in person.

Good solid build! More than good enough. Perfection is the enemy of good. Suggest running the parachute cord inside that flexible automotive conduit, and some 10 or 12AWG wiring, then fiberglass insulation will not be a problem in that channel.

Thanks Bob. Learning this here for my first van build 2019. Very much appreciated bro!

I cut the panels to snugly pop in the large windows in my motorhome in the winter. and they fit behind the jack nife sofa out of sight and on the floor under the bed. they work great at keeping the cold from the windows out.

WOW NICE SHOW INSULATING THE VAN.IM SO GLAD TO BE BACK MY PHONE WAS STOLEN SO I GOT ANOTHER ONE. I ALWAYS LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS. LEARNING SOMETHING EVERY DAY EXPANDING THE BRAIN CELLS. GOD BLESS BOB

Great instructional video. Lots of tips for someone who is a newbie when it comes to insulating.

That was great! Thanks for all the work in showing us how to put insulation in.

I want a Terry. I learned so much from you both. The idea of getting mold in your home is scary. So many YoutTubers have shown issues with mold in their Tiny House or Van Home. This is a great series. Thanks Bob.

In my former life as a engraver we used both 77 and water based contact cement I preferred liquid contact much better control and less waste using foam brushes or rollers and saves you money by having more for other projects the valves on the cans are problematic and the propellant will run out before the glue is used up generally speaking

Thanks so much Bob & Terry! I just bought my van & I'm learning from you how to do it right! I hope to show it off to you at the 2019 RTR!

Fascinating and inspiring, Bob! Thank you.

Have you considered spring expanding foam inside the holes of the ribs and also along the edges under the metal lips to fill gaps? I have used expanding foam in my home to seal up wholes where there is pipes coming through it to insulate as well as keep insects and rodents from coming in through them. You might try that and see it could also be used for sound insulation as well. There are different types. And they have adhesive in them so they stick to whatever you spray them too.

if you want to control mold , try using expanding foam in the weir hollow hard to get too spaces. be careful though. because it expands more than you think and is very sticky and can move things if you dont allow for that. tI used spray foam for the entirety. To heck with panels and cutting which will not stop moisture /mold nearly as well as spray can foam.does. Use cear tubing to reach deep blind areas and have everything moved and prepped because once you start a can you can't stop until its empty.

Hot water heater insulation or any kind of fiberglass insulation once it gets wet it holds the water. Best to use spray foam instead which easily carves off. It becomes a water sponge in the PNW October - June

To make me sound better I tell people that I do things half slow...... Great video as usual Bob.

Another good video Bob. I used spray foam to fill in all the ribs in my build. It worked great. The ribs on my Transit van were not as large as yous. I used a big roll bubble wrap for all those large gaps like you have up along the roof line. The bubble were 3/8 diameter. People can get big rolls of it a U-Line.

Thanks Bob. These are skills I'm going to be using in just a few weeks.

Really good stuff here. Thank you for taking the time to show us.

You guys are doing a terrific job. Thanks for the info about the 1/2 inch thermo space while using reflex makes good sense. Regardless of your comment about doing half ass work. It looks great for the amount spent on materials. Great info and video coverage as always.

Expanding foam for all your nooks, crannies and irregular shapes works well and trims easily with a utility knife after it cures.

Bob, I hoped you previously lived in a really, really really extreme cold climate and built houses and then lived in several van much longer than almost anyone so that you know what you are doing and can pacify the lounge chair experts! Lol. Ignorance and laughter are two of life's best antidotes.

I learned a lot!! Leaving the parachute cord behind the wall is I learned that squeezing fiberglass together, basically renders it useless. (A MUST KNOW!) The

Thanks for the great video. I had a high top; I ran a piece of ½” pex through the roof ribs in case I want to wire later. . . . Jack

Get a roof vent on top of the van, just like RV’s have, it will help immensely with hot days.

A quick way to do things ( well the cutting away of excess and cleanup after is not so quick lol ) that also removes airgaps where mold can grow due to condensation is use expanding foam in cans - first filling the wall ribs with that and cutting the excess when its cured, then plywood panels along the cabin length and injecting expanding foam behind it. Prime the metal surface by sanding coarsely it and degreasing so the foam can adhere well. Proper way to do this plenty of videos on youtube how to work with it I suspect but basically start at the bottom and move up. Having some injection holes along the wall helps fill consistently. Cut the excess foam away, finish the plywood trim around the edges and on to the next part of the build. You will end up with a great R value.

Hi, Bob, I really enjoy your videos - they are very informative and inspirational!

Totally agree with you and Flower Child! My favorite saying is: "Somebody gets paid to do that." from cooking to insulation! hahaha

LOL!! I am the King of Half-assed and Good Enough. You could have knocked me over with a piece of reflectix after that one! LOLOL!

Nice job Bob and Terry!

Spray foam seems like a great idea. I never considered the problem that it absorbs water and therefore the condensation against the metal can ruin it and cause mold. That's a good tip! A few questions... I was thinking... How about spray rubber? Would that work? Put down a coating of spray rubber (like a truck bedliner) as the first layer on all the metal. That way, the metal has a rubber coating first. Then, lay the insulation atop that. Think that would work to prevent sweating and mold? Also, have you ever used _Bora-Foam_ or _Foam-Control EPS with Perform Guard_ instead of _Polyiso_, as a way to prevent possible termite damage?

One good thing about insulating the floor is road noise. I've actually used insulation with a sticky side to insulate underneath my long haul tractor. This probably isn't an issue in your van, but it's very discernable in my class 8 truck. Love your vids, I'd like to retire to this lifestyle!

Caught you smiling, Bob. First time I've noticed in all your videos I've been watching a couple of years. Yes, it happened at about 32:14. You should do it more often. I'm too serious, too. Guess I need to do the same. You should clip that picture to use somewhere. Appreciate all that you do for the community.

Terry has carpenter skills, and so do I.

I'm enjoying watching you guys work! That compass tool is pretty slick.

Hi Bob, enjoy you vids and input :) and some of the others also. The bottom line on the van insulation debate is it's just not possible to be 100% efficient period. At least @ this time. You have barn doors or slider doors in a living space of approximately 40 square feet. That alone should raise eyebrows, even if you vacuum sealed off the rest of the vehicle perfection isn't happening. At some point common sense (Read $$$$$) enters the equation, and the realization the 100% just isn't going to happen. And it doesn't have to in order to be comfortable. Looking forward to the next vid and Regards from the Great White North

Merci Bob for all this great info.. it is indeed hard to aim at a One véhicule… at each RU-vid discovering new rigs.. I still hope that I will find the right one perhaps here in VA where I live!

That glue stuff you scraped off was made to glue the skin of the van to the ribs (or skeleton) of the chassis. It does help minimize flexing and it can help with vibrations.

Miminal expanding foam (windows) would work for the joints.

For drilling/screwing in paneling to ceiling, I would make templates indicating where the holes are in those ribs, so I wouldn't waste time drilling and hitting one of those holes. I would, also, still put in spray foam insulation into those ceiling ribs. Heat and cold ARE going to transfer.....I would want those ribs sealed up as much as the rest of the ceiling is.

Thank you for posting this video. I always wondered how it was done 🙂👍

Great video,I bet you two had fun doing it . Plywood on floor as a base cuts down on holes to outside. Then covering and attaching is easier. Look forward to more vids, there great!

Thanks for showing the details - like the compass & materials.

Easy way to insulate is just hang cheap wool blankets lift up and check for moisture if wet take blankets down let dry hang back up.

Bob why didn't you just fill the ribs with spray foam? It expands and fills the whole rib?

Thanks for the video bud! Heading out to buy some insulation and a vent fan for my week old van now. Been living in it for about a week in the Inyo Forest in Cali just to get a feel for it, and now it's time to build. Enjoy the Kenai... I miss it! Hopefully I'll make it back to the SE next summer. Amalga better save me a bottle of gin, and Klondike better have a beer waiting for me.

I got so stressed out I had to turn away from the screen and just listen to what you had to say. Good information though thank you.

Spray foam is toxic and I'm glad you didn't use it. Most don't consider what they use in a hot metal environment when buying materials made for outside wood applications. I like the heater insulation idea.

I think instead of spray adhesive I would use foil tape around the edges to make a complete seal.

Your a good teacher, thank you

I.. will not use fiberglass insulation. Not the fluffy shedding stuff, anyways, with all the vibrations, no matter how much sealing I do, I worry that it will get into the air. And if not for myself, then for my dog.. Not something I would use. And of course it's what I picked up because I was in a hurry, so.. Gotta correct that one. Great video though! Now I know what kind I AM using. :D

Thank you, Bob and Terry. 😄

Great video BoB and Terry for your help.

Love to see u r beard shorter and ur hair cut! U look younger with the kerchief and trimmed beard! Van is looking good too! Lol

❤ fascinating! Thank you!

This is a great video! Great information!

So fun to watch how you do this. Thanks!

Instal spray foam and install double conduit . Make modular kitchen modular bed modular power modular water system. So you can relocate components to cargo trailer or container base camp. Can instal in mini storage. Leaves options for the van for work or recreation. My preference a box truck or utility box truck. They make a spray food grade plastic that creates a vapor barrier inside and out as second option.

There are high temp trim adhesives made just for installing insulation and automotive fabric. The 3M 77 will not perform well past 120 deg. Van skins will exceed that in the hot summer.