Why DIDN'T I Insulate my Van?? Ventilation vs. Condensation + 4 Season Tips

Рет қаралды 9,403

Жыл бұрын

Throwing in my 2 cents on the great insulation debate!
Seat Swivel: ironcloudmetalworks.com/
Thanks for checking out the channel and consider joining while we turn a 2005 AWD Chevy Astro family minivan into a capable adventure rig - PLUS! a comfortable living space, to get closer to nature and deeper in the woods! 🏞
Second round of #vanlife here, I got my feet wet in a '01 Pontiac Montana in 2015 and here I am back in 2022 building out my second van!
I predict van/rv dwelling and nomadic living is going to be a large part of the future and I'm here for it.
Expect mostly van and adventuring content, but occasionally other topics and interests and always open to requests!
Contact: alwaysgoodinthewoods@gmail.com
All music used with permission from and courtesy of maxkomusic.com/
Disclaimer:
This video is for entertainment purposes only and contains edited and modified content and as such is not a depiction of reality or any historical happenings. Due to factors beyond the control of Always Good In The Woods, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Always Good In The Woods assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Always Good In The Woods recommends safe practices when working with any tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Always Good In The Woods, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result.

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@herbmanning8348 Ай бұрын

Insulating a metal box that you're going to be living in is a no-brainer.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Ай бұрын

Agreed! But in this case It's hardly a metal box, or a sea can, or a shed, or a bus... its a minivan that is 50% windows and has at least 3 kinds of insulation from factory. Been living in this van full time, happily and comfortably for 6 months and counting, snug as a bug in a rug, with 0 mold issues... Thanks for watching!

@kcg7861 Күн бұрын

I get. What he's saying, but there's wool.You can use and then there's special sound ambience./installation that is fully sealed and it doesn't make any pops.Or nasty noises.

@KA9DSL Жыл бұрын

I used R-13 fiberglass insulation, for the doors and ceiling. After using my Thermal imaging camera, and finding cold spots, I put Owens foamular R-3 cut for the side windows, and a heat shielding curtain for the front. A thick rug on the floor. And a small 5KW diesel heater. Full size Chevy Express, even have a king size bed in it. Updating your van will never end. Always something more.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Good Idea! I was thinking about using the thermal imager or one of the apps to see just how bad the windows and door seals are for heat loss but the 5kw keeps up with all the potential leaks in the Astro I'm finding. That sounds like an all around good set up. Making foam inserts to put in the glass windows would definitely help out huge, just need a good spot to store them when not in use, getting tight in the Astro as it is lol Definitely agree on the never ending upgrades, people always ask me when will it be done? and I say NEVER! until me or the van is taken off this earth the build will never be officially "done" haha thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

@JohnDrivesAnything Жыл бұрын

A car enthusiast talking in depth about van builds. This is my life now too. I just like the look of factory panels. I did not want a cargo van. I made the mistake on my first van pulling all the panels out. The car guy in me still wants a good looking interior. No to sinks!

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Agreed! Save as many panels as possible, in a passenger van the walls fill up quick and the windows get curtains or coverings. I forgot to mention for the offroaders its nice to be able to get to the other side of your walls to pop out minor trail dents by hand haha! I had to edit a large rant talking about materials and how a van is already built for 4 season use around the globe right from the factory, the OEM chooses the materials and how to place them for a reason and are held to flammability and chemical standards in anything half modern. Yes its got a heater but so does your house! turn off the gas or stop putting wood in the stove and your insulation wont save you! unless its 10 feet thick and your house is 50 feet underground lol I flip flopped on the sink but its handy for contact lenses, teeth brushing, and washing hands/veggies but there is always ways around it. Gray water is a drag for sure. Same here on the cargo/passenger for me, all the awd cargos are all ex contractor/plumber/electrician vans that are beat up and rusty, yeah they always changed the oil, but they never got washed properly. Only the beloved awd passenger family vans made it without dying of rust here in canada.

@k.pacificnw02134 11 ай бұрын

I basically agree with everything you say. And since most van build videos are super into insulation and borderline obsessed about it, it is nice to hear someone with my point of view. I have a 2023 ProMaster. I'm "supposed to" insulate it, right? Well I don't want to! And peer pressure from other ProMaster owners is not going to make me! I'm a middle-aged woman and even back in college I wasn't susceptible to peer pressure. : ). What I'm doing is going to have a lot of fabrics on the walls and ceilings. Because I want moisture from respiration to go into those fabrics during the night, and then evaporate during the day. Essentially I want the interior to breathe. To respirate in and out. If you had a terry cloth towel that absorbed the condensation on the windows from breathing in your van at night, you just effectively trapped all the moisture. Trapping it is good. Then during the day with ventilation and maybe driving around, the terry cloth towel would "give up" its moisture through evaporation. Like you said unless you are 50 feet underground, You are going to have condensation and evaporation. I am just leaning into the idea and saying let's call condensation and evaporation a cycle, and go with the cycle.

@k.pacificnw02134 11 ай бұрын

I didn't want a sink, either. I have no problems with pee and poop.... But it's gray water that grosses me right out. The idea of carrying around three or five gallons of your spit or various effluvia just rankles me to no end. But I need to have some ultra rudimentary way to have water and then collect the wastewater for the bare minimum of things such as getting something on my hands that I need to get off immediately, or the other one that I just can't figure a workaround: teeth brushing. I know people say just have a cup of water and brush your teeth outside but I'm doing urban stealth and I can't be brushing my teeth outside all the time where everyone can see me spitting into the bushes.

@JohnDrivesAnything 11 ай бұрын

@@k.pacificnw02134 How is the Promaster community overall. I talk to mostly Econoline drivers. Started a lifted Van meet. We are more about going out on adventures and of roading!

@juliebutler8241 Ай бұрын

@k.pacificnw02134 I live in my truck topper. I ha e a little utility compartment in the bed of my truck. The door unhinged and there are three slots. I got 3 feet of clear plastic tubing. Stuck it about an inch into one of those holes. The other end I fitted a funnel. That is my sink. I can brush my teeth and rinse and it goes to the ground. I can also pee into it and empties onto ground. I am stealth. Problem solved.

@JohnDrivesAnything Жыл бұрын

KZfaq has been pushing my last crop of non shorts videos. Small push but it's something. Prior to that they gave one of my non shorts Tracker videos a 1000 views in a day push unfortunately it was one of my low effort videos.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Yeah I wish I knew exactly what makes youtube push certain videos and not others, if only analytics would tell you whats holding a video back lol it use to be all title and thumb nail to get the click, and then views/watch time but now there is so many other factors at play, the video checker analyzes every word you say and most of whats on screen before you even it publish. I know of a few auto youtube channels that the only reason they don't have a million views must be because they swear like sailors or did something else to hurt there rep with a algorithm. I miss the old youtube, I remember when the adsense money got cut back in 2017ish is when everyone cleaned up there image or started censoring things and click bait took over...

@placestosea Жыл бұрын

thanks for posting, the question for vans in warmer climates, when its hot outside , we find the van windows and doors are open. so the inside temp soon gets the same as outside.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Very good point! its hard to build a 4 season van, what is best in summer isn't always best in winter and vice versa. I agree in the summer ventilation is the absolute name of the game, some of my worst nights in the van have been in the summer humid nights when the bugs were bad in the days before a roof vent and screens. Even in winter you should technically have a window or roof vent cracked to expel moisture and allow oxygen to circulate which lends itself well to overheating with minimal insulation I have found. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

@BT-dl8kq 6 ай бұрын

I put XPS one inch on ceiling. Going to add Kilmat for added noise / heat. High quality ceramic window tint for privacy and heat but drug addicts think your the cops. Too many windows bad idea lets in heat / cold. Ideal is one side pop out window or two in back to help w/ roof vent fan flow. Test different ceiling insulations on hot days, results will be obvious to the touch. Also on hot day touch body, then windows, windows get much hotter. Windows vents a must too. I Put marine grade carpet on 1/2" ply. Primed w/ Kilz primer, 3M 77 adhesive w/ stainless steel staples without going through floor. 5 panels total and cover most w/ cheaper carpet at home depot with rubber back which I replace maybe yearly. Replaced front carpet w/ vinyl which was tough because it was SO heavy and thick and hard to wrap around dog house. I have front passenger seat out for space, especially going to back snd vice versa. Took out back AC, took up space and leaked. Put a black privacy curtain, to a light test before and put a bit of water to test for absorption. People are nosey and will look anywhere they can. Helps with heat / cold. Took off front light console for more space and use rechargeable usb lights with color for night (REI). It never ends...

@alwaysgoodinthewoods 5 ай бұрын

Very good points, I wanted a AWD cargo originally but they are very rare here, missed out on one, it was completely beat up, back was trashed, used as a contractor van like most are, the windows are definitely a problem for insulations and security, I have been in the back in a parking lot and side of the road and had random people come right up and look in, not even to steal just out of curiosity I assume, so I can only imagine what goes on when in a bad area and no one is looking. I sometimes day dream about removing my front seat, might consider it if I hadnt already installed the swivel. A van build is never truly done that for sure, always something to add or improve, re work etc. Thanks for the comment!

@peakycap4255 2 ай бұрын

If u don't make proper insolation, carpet bare matal panels etc then when u put heater on will get alot moisture on bare metal panels and if don't dry up properly will couse mold during the time.

@alallen2767 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for that. Stay safe.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and the well wishes! likewise!

@tntvans 6 ай бұрын

Good video. I think it would be great if you expounded on all the different scenarios of when someone would want insulation and when it doesn’t matter. I see a lot of weekend campers copying full time van lifers and not realizing that they will probably never use their van in extreme cold or hot temps. You mentioned it but i am surprised by how many people think that insulation is a heat source. They don’t understand what insulation actually does. So they read the interweb and get all hyper focused on it and many of them just use it to camp in on the weekends a few times a year.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods 5 ай бұрын

That's a really good point, I'm sure the majority of people don't use the van in freezing temps, and then during the heat of the day in summer you are typically not hanging out in the van. If you are, the doors/windows are wide open even at night so insulation does very little. Folks definitely get hung up on trying to fill every crevice and stick spray foam in every place it shouldn't be when in reality you are going to crack a roof vent window anyway or suffer the consequences from condensation, been there done that in my first van, the ventilation is 100% needed just from the moisture expelled while breathing during sleep. I know for me getting the doors to seal up half decent and a heater that works reliably were far more important than insulation. Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment!

@bearlycamping Жыл бұрын

Hey man, just subbed. Seems like you give honest solutions from experience 👌

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks I appreciate the kind words! I have been vehicle dwelling on and off for a long time and have been around since the genesis of vanlife on youtube. Back when people genuinely felt sorry for you and it wasnt at all trendy lol No jackerys, no diesel heaters, no amazon to buy endless gadgets from, it was simpler times! 😅 I checked out your channel and subbed back, good content!👍 Thanks for watching!!

@glengarbera7367 Жыл бұрын

You don't need furing strips under floor when insulating floor. Check out Chuck Cassidy insulate schoolies

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

I like Chuck, straight forward guy, but in a school bus the floor is mostly flat sheet metal, besides the wheel wells which lends itself to using a large chunk of floating foam. In an Astro there is structural ribbing and many other abnormalities. Using the firring strips in vans with ribs brings everything to a uniform height so your plywood lies flat. Check out my flooring video the entire back foot or so of the Astro has a .5 inch drop from how the bodies are welded at the factory. Using a large chunk of foam board will not work and if you do get it to flex without breaking you will have a wonky unlevel floor. Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment!

@gb4939 7 ай бұрын

Whatever the position you have, at least you talk about it. I am very surprised to see how little this subject is discussed, compared to the number of videos on vanlife. I don't like insulation neither because I am not skillfull with building stuff and I don't enjoy that kind of work. So maybe I will just buy a big classic car and try to live in it with fan, heat (electric) and a lot of cleaning. Thanks for the video, that kind of feedback is helpful because this topic is discussed enough.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods 5 ай бұрын

You are right, its a tough subject because everyone's situation and needs are different, no one way of insulating can cover all situations, and what insulates best isnt the best for air flow/condensation prevention. I've been watching the van build stuff on youtube since the beginning, watched people build out the same van 3 times and every time they claimed this time they are getting it right 😁 I like the classic car Idea, I started my vehicle dwelling/sleeping in high school in a older caddy, why sleep on the floor when you have a leather couch with you?😁 Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment!

@jayceewedmak9524 Жыл бұрын

Hi - would putting a 'survival' tarp on the headliner be useful for insulation - silver side showing? I have a big one for winter camping (Arcturus 5x8) hunter orange on one side, silver reflector on other side. Thanks

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Hi Jaycee! A survival tarp does make for a good heat barrier and nice and thin! Though it would have to be relatively well sealed along the edges as of the headliner as any moisture filled air that gets up past the tarp close to that cold bare roof will cause condensation to form. Thanks for the comment!

@jayceewedmak9524 Жыл бұрын

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods Hi - thanks for the info. Sorry I'm late getting back to you. Hope things are going good with you. 😊

@glengarbera7367 Жыл бұрын

Won't work

@andrewmillerphotography Жыл бұрын

Just nuilt a van (in the UK). The same heated discussion exists on this side of the pond as well. Your point about having ventilation is really good - most people don't bother with anything like that; and that will cause condensation. I've insulated the van and put a vapour barrier in...but not to the extent that it's totally 110%.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Good points! I think one of the reasons it is so highly debated is because there is no one size fits all approach, as there are so many climates, temps, and different situations depending where the van will travel too. Our European friends across the pond have been doing the van thing for a long time and deal with a lot of rainy weather! Especially the UK! Condensation is no joke you can ruin a van build and possibly get very sick with mold. I knew I was cutting a hole in the roof of my next van after a stuffy night far up north in my first van, dying with windows up taking refuge from the mosquitos and black flies, that was the moment a roof vent showed me its value lol thanks for watching and appreciate the comment!

@myturbinesdurtee8661 Жыл бұрын

Where did you buy the screens that go on the windows ??

@alwaysgoodinthewoods 11 ай бұрын

Amazon, make sure you get the "large" suv, truck ones if going on an astro/safari some of the smaller ones don't fit and leave a few inch gap at the bottom. Thanks for watching!

@ChaplainMike777 Жыл бұрын

Great discussion on wether to use insulation or not. I have an 04 Cargo I chose not to insulate. I figured it was a lot of trouble for little gain. For ventilation I count on the windows and that big side pop-out window. Good point on the use of an CO2 sensor. The fact that a scenario you described is very possible, one can get gassed from someone elses exhaust, is enough reason to put one in. Nicely done. I will check your other videos. Thanks!

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks! There are so many different situations it is hard to insulate to cover them all and I think a lot of people do stress over it when what they should be focusing on is ventilation and mold prevention. A good sleeping bag and a heater is a must anyway in any cold weather, your insulation is not going to do you any good at all without either of those. Did you leave the walls bare metal? or put a covering on with an air gap? that alone is good insulation. Agree on the CO detector I am planning on getting a second, I mounted my original by the heater and wan to get one with a digital read out to mount on my counter. Thanks for watching and the good points!!

@ChaplainMike777 Жыл бұрын

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods I used pine tongue and groove on the sides and a thin plywood on the ceiling. For the floor 3/8 plywood left bare. It has a rustic look. I appreciate your comments above. Mold is a real concern. I didn't think so until I found some leakage from the rear doors at the top into the roof. That was a surprise. Cleaned all that up and I believe I fixed the leak.

@ChaplainMike777 Жыл бұрын

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods I covered the inside walls with pine tongue and groove. The ceiling I used a thin plywood. I am happy with the appearance on the inside. Mold is a genuine concern. I had a very small problem due to water leakage in the back doors into my ceiling. the ceiling in the rear had some some mold because of that. That's all cleaned up and fixed now.

@SandVan Жыл бұрын

Nice video ❤we have extra insulation on our roof purely to keep the heat out ❤it can be brutal in Australia some days 🥵

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Thanks! and very good point! That is another big reason I agree with insulating the roof, I was even contemplating painting the top of the van white to reflect a bit of the suns rays. I have heard that the heat in Aus is no joke! I had some friends living there a few years back when you were breaking temp records! Canadians aren't built for that kind of climate! 😋Appreciate the comment and sub!! ❤❤❤

@raybruneau4726 Жыл бұрын

I move to nice weather. N & S and up and down the mountains for nice temperatures. I ware tees shorts year round NO HEATER !!!!!

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

That's truly the best advice of all. Turn the key and take er toward the nice weather! If not tied down by a job/family its a no brainer. I wish I was on the west coast, good reason there is so many van dwellers out there! Thanks for watching and for the comment!

@JohnDrivesAnything Жыл бұрын

Top 3 van life essentials short is my request. I saw one recommended to me and it has 3 million views. Of course its a girl lets see if youtube hooks us up with a nice shorts push. I'll do one tomorrow

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Good idea! everyone is talking about shorts these days to reach a broader audience and youtube recently added it to count towards the monetization requirements, trying to steal some of the pie from tik tok lol. I will have to do a bit of research all I know so far is I have to film it in portrait mode or use a converter on my footage.

@JohnDrivesAnything Жыл бұрын

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods I copied some girl who did top 3 van life essentials. Look up that title I'm sure you will see the girl with 1 million views. I used that title for my short last night and got the free 1000 view YT push for shorts and +20 subscribers.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

@@JohnDrivesAnythingThat is a good experiment, not bad and still going up! Found hers lol Not flopping around the goods as much as some, as foresty forest would say lol, but the thumbnail has no vans or essentials in it.. That table/bed set up is neat but the poo shovel? come on lol must be an inside joke with her subs, I think I'd rather your AC unit lol

@JohnDrivesAnything Жыл бұрын

@@alwaysgoodinthewoods Supposedly 2-4pm is peak shorts viewing hours and I stll got the free 1k views push even though I uploaded this around 5:30. I think youtube only gives you a few free 1k views push a month. My last short was uploaded at 3 and has 10 views. The shovel was lame! I have my awning and if I need to emergency #2 I can build a temp room with tarp walls and I have a bucket, Trash Bags and cat liter and privacy. She wasted 1 choice lol. My female shower upload is another experiment lol

@alanfoix9911 Жыл бұрын

Insulation is very important to control the amount of condensation. Heat and cold travel through metal. Take a cold beer out of the fridge, you will have condensation. I been living in van's and rvs for over 25+ years in Wisconsin. Where heat is a most.

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Good points, but if you take that cold beer and pop it in an insulated coozie cover, the inside of your coozie will be wet with condenstation despite being "insulated". Some say better yet, and I agree, is an air gap similar to how a double wall vacuum insulated mug works, but then you have to be careful not to trap moisture... thats where good ventilation comes into play. Even everyones Van Grandpa Bob Wells from @CheapRVliving, says not to insulate your van at all if in hot weather lol there is a wide range of opinions. Wisconsin would definitely see a big temp swing you are probably farther north than I am being in southern ontario. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

@k.pacificnw02134 11 ай бұрын

I learn a lot just from the comments here!

@phase2services 4 ай бұрын

OH MY GOD PEOPLE! You need insulation. It's no different than a house for hot or cold. If you use closed cell spray foam insulation in the walls and spray it pas the metal by only 1/2" you remove all thermal bridging. Also closed cell foam will not condensate. We use this in all the time in building homes (I've built over 100 custom homes). On the floor just put 2"-4" of XPS Rigid Foam board (seal the metal floor first). Done! You now have the best insulation and it will stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Spray foam Insulation solves all your problems going forward. Link to a pro bus builder doing it for years: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eNSUZ9Vkxru4h2Q.html

@alwaysgoodinthewoods 4 ай бұрын

Respectfully this is a minivan, not a empty bus, or a house. It has minimal insulation already from the factory which is adequate for the majority of people camping/short term dwelling in a van. Giving up 2" to foam on my floor would mean my head scraping the ceiling. As I said, everyones situation is different. Below 0° you WILL need some type of dry heat or you will get condensation and ultimately mold (without proper ventilation). We breathe out about 500 ml of condensate as we sleep, WE are condensation, its already in the van, now add cooking, sweat, pets, wet sports clothing etc. etc. I get you know houses, but people building out a minivan need to focus on dry heat and ventilation, not ruining a minivan with spray foam. Regardless, I know exactly what video you are talking about without even clicking the link. Chuck is a great dude, was just chatting it up with him about diesel heaters actually, and I agree with many of the points he makes in his video that cooborate my own.

@leomoonify Жыл бұрын

Florida... the creme de la creme of heat!

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

This is true 😁 too much heat perhaps for vehicle dwelling, without a/c thst for sure! Thanks for watching!

@officialpoa3171 Жыл бұрын

*My air intake for the heater, I have running INSIDE the van and not outside. The exhaust runs outside, this actually get of issues of in taking toxic air + it actually heats up faster in dead of winter. To do this I purchased and ALL IN ONE heater, instead a non assembled version.*

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

The intake pipe for the combustion? That small intake pipe is completely separate the the hot air that comes out of the heater into your space, it supplies the burner with air for combustion, thats it. I have always abided by big pipes inside, small pipes outside. Under certain faults the heater can smoke out of the intake pipe. I think those all in one units specify for outdoor well ventilated use only. Would definitely heat up faster though! Thanks for watching!

@brianshaw2914 3 ай бұрын

van interior space is so small, heating or cooling w/ no insulation is simple....

@vanessahenry7238 Жыл бұрын

The fiberglass people use, I see this and I am cringing. I worked with it with my father and it isn't worth it! You can mess yourself and your van up! Keep it for something on the OUTSIDE!

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Yessss! I get itchy as soon as that stuff comes into frame lol If you need a respirator and a cold shower after working with it I don't want it in my van! I seen a tour video, 6 years or so years ago, where someone had there whole roof covered in that stuff but still completely wide open! They even made a remark about how they intended to finish it and it cant be good for the lungs to be breathing and sleeping under that, I couldn't believe it, still sticks with me to this day lol Thanks for the comment!

@officialpoa3171 Жыл бұрын

*What I am doing is adding a LIFT to my Safari and adding a 4 gallon flat fuel tank to the bottom of the gas tank. I am just extending the gas shield to hold both behind it, then adding a second input for valve for the diesel fuel next to the gas.*

@alwaysgoodinthewoods Жыл бұрын

Neat! That is a unique idea definitely first I've heard of it. I like the idea of putting a tank where the spare goes and then mounting the spare on a carrier or on a roof rack. Thanks for watching!