Hello Everyone,
Shels here! I’m about to start building out my 2000 GMC Safari cargo van. She’s small, but she’s pretty cool. I need help finding the best installation options for her, as well as the best flooring and wall materials for the build. Since she’s a tiny cargo van, it shouldn’t take long to convert her into a home for myself and my two cats.
thanks,
Shels
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XPS is best then EPS foam and both are cheap compaired to thinsulate. Also it depends onwhere you plan to go, southwest is dry compaired to the northwest so you have to concider condensation overnight.
I am planning on doing a lot of traveling different places hot and cold. I will Google what you recommended.
I got EPS foam from home depot for $10 a sheet, I live in the southwest so not much worries about condensation in my van and I will have a roof fan as well. Good luck on your build
I did look it up and it’s toxic installation. I can’t use it, I need something non-toxic. I will be traveling with my cats.
Wow, I gGoogled it and now I’m sorry I put it in my van, it is toxic. Have a look at thinsulate and sheeps wool, it seems to be non toxic and sorry for the bad advice on the foam board.
It’s ok. Did you say you placed in your van? You might want to change it out. I will see about getting the whool. My budget it $2,000 I got most of the stuff already. I have been collecting it here and there for the past few years.
$2000 well then go with thinsulate and then say wood paneling, I did more reading on EPS foam and low-VOC chemicals are used when manufacturing polyurethane foam. This helps to reduce allergic reactions, off-gassing exposure, and other potential health risks. Now exposed to high (over 195 F) heat is when you have issues.
If money is not an issue I personally would only use wool. I had something with new RV type bubble wrap insulation but I fully sealed the surface with sheet aluminum and had sealed the seems with caulking so nothing could off-gas.
Most people use EPS, XPS, Polyiso, or foamular.
The only complaints I’ve heard were regarding polyiso. Not dangerous, just the least effective in temperature extremes.
This video is funny, but this is my van. A 2000, GMC Safari small cargo van. Here is a photo of my van.
I am considering getting the wood, but is will be at lease $300 to get it. I just came from Home depot and someone said I should use the purple insulation?
Hey! Are you planning on installing a solar/battery system in your Van?
One of the best moves I’ve ever made was ditching solar!!! I want to park in the shade during summer, and it is pitiful in the winter.
Now individual solar powered things can be good, lanterns, bug zapper, aa/aaa type solar battery charger, etc.
I have a $20 junkyard 100ah deep cycle battery for a house battery with ciggy outlets attached. I charge it via alternator, generator, or shore power. 10,000% more reliable than solar for a fraction of the price.
Going mostly non electric has been very helpful to me. Most other nomads I’ve met have ditched solar as well, and showed me the way to making life simpler & more reliable.