convertion or cargo

[joshuafarmer]

hello I have been looking at conversion vans with high tops as an alternative to a cargo van that would need lots of mods. is the insulation efficient enough in these and I also like that they have a lot of storage built in already I would jiust take out seats and build from there any thoughts or opinions ?

 

[Almost There]

The insulation is rarely sufficient if you want good insulation. In most cases, the old fashioned pink fiberglass insulation was used because it's easy to stuff in to the openings rather than having to cut polyiso to fit.

A lot of people who start off with the conversion vans end up ripping the entire interior out, partly because it's space consuming - you lose as much as 6" on each side wall as compared to, say mine, where I lost less than a half inch each side with the finished wall surfaces I used.

IMO, there is no point in paying for a finished interior if you're going to remove most of it anyways. The fold down beds in the rear are notoriously uncomfortable to sleep on and ruin any storage beneath it because of the mechanics of the bench seat.

Also, keep in mind that most of the conversions are what's called a TV top. It does not give even a 5' tall person standing room. I have a 24" high top and have a 6'2" standing height in mine.

 

[joshuafarmer]

I COULD SEE TEARING OUT SOME OF THE MATERIAL but i was intrigued by the the quality workmanship in the high top portion of this van its a 2001 e250 eclipse signature select series with 120.000 miles on it

 

[Joseph_Grey]

The insulation will be fine. ...As long as you are far enough south. But I am up here in the cold and even the 1-1/2" on the floors and the 1" I put on the walls isn't perfect. It is enough to be heatable but that is about it. I go through a 20lb propane in about seven days keeping the van at 50 degrees.

--jg

 

[joshuafarmer]

thanks for the info my heat source would be the wave 3 for emergencies but the snowbird option would suit me just as well

 

[joshuafarmer]

oh yeah and I thought 4 grand might be a bargain

 

[tx2sturgis]

A passenger van is also a LOT easier to insure, they don't bat an eye. It's just a car. 

With a Wave 3 heater and maybe some reflectix in the windows, plus choosing milder climates, you will be fine with that van.

 

[MrNoodly]

I went with a cargo van for several reasons (one being that I think they're all ugly). When you're insulating a cargo van, the walls can be done uniformly, to your specs. With a conversion van, you need a different strategy for the windows.

 

[frater secessus]

But I am up here in the cold and even the 1-1/2" on the floors and the 1" I put on the walls isn't perfect.

Anything on the roof ceiling?  I appreciate your numbers on this.

 

[Joseph_Grey]

Anything on the roof ceiling?  I appreciate your numbers on this.

One inch poly-iso foil lined with a quarter inch airgap between the insulation and inner plywood. I cover it in the blog somewhere but can only find it mentioned in passing at the bottom of this post.

https://livingonthestealth.blogspot.com/2017/11/complex-things-built-wrong.html

I think I wish I would have run poly under the finished ceiling.

--jg