We have chased deep powder for 3 years in our camper vans. It is fair to say that we have nailed down the proper insulation strategy quite well! What most beginner DIY van builders don’t realize is that not only is insulation important for keeping your camper van warm in the winters, but also for keeping it cool in the summers.
The below guides will teach you everything you need for proper camper van insulation.
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Yes! Insulating a camper van is necessary even if you don’t plan to chase winters. As a van lifer, you will be exposed to all types of weather no matter how hard you try to stay away from any extreme. Additionally, your camper van is a metal box that is an extremely good thermal bridge for cold, and warm temperatures. The most important factors to insulating your camper van are:
The best camper van insulation is easy to install, affordable, and effective. We highly recommend:
This is generally not recommended as it can cause warping of the sheet metal if not done correctly. Additionally, if you ever need body work, it is near impossible to do if you insulated with spray foam. If you choose to use spray foam, we highly recommend to get it installed professionally so it expands correctly. Or, to use Great Stuff Spray Foam only in small, hard to insulate areas.
Yes! By far the most eco-friendly camper van insulation material is Sheeps Wool (Havelock Wool). It is all natural, and instead of being full of chemicals, it works to extract them from the air. The process to create wool insulation batts is also low impact, renewable, and sustainable.
3M Thinsulate and Lizard Skin are also both non-toxic.
