Just bought my Van last week!

[SusieSlim]

hello! My Name is Susan i just bought my Van a week ago and dont know where to go from here. i know i need to insulate but it just seems terrifying lol
just wanted to say hello to everyone!

 

[Tam O'Bedlam]

I am nearing the end of my van build (moving in December 1) and from one overwhelmed woman to another, YOU CAN DO THIS!

Try not to think about how many things you have yet to do, but instead focus on the task in front of you. You will get there! Good luck!

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Susan! Don't be afraid to ask questions. Read through all of the posts that pertain to each project and if you don't find the answers just start a new thread and ask away!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[SusieSlim]

Thank you Tam O’Bedlam! Yes it is overwhelming! I think once the insulation, walls and floor are done I’ll be ok. It’s just these first few steps.

 

[SusieSlim]

Thank you rvwandeing! I will definitely be looking around the site for help.

 

[Almost There]

Welcome to the forum! You'll find all kinds of information on how to do things here, some of it wise, some not so wise... . Take the good stuff and leave the rest.

Like a lot of things in life, one size of insulation does not fit all!

Where you are planning on staying or travelling has ALL to do with what insulation you need.

I, for example, choose to live year round in the most moderate climate zones I can. Therefore my need for insulation was negligible so I didn't insulate at all - I used a radiant heat barrier to help keep the inside of the van cool when it gets hot and sunny. In the event that I'm stuck in cooler weather (like right now... ) , the heater just works a little harder and I wear an extra layer when needed.

 

[SusieSlim]

Thanks Almost there!! Yes I’m planning on being in warmer weather. Gots to be near the beach! So I wouldn’t meet to insulate as much?? Interesting!

 

[travelaround]

Hi Susie, welcome to the forum. What kind of van did you get? I am still waiting to be able to buy one.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

^
I bought mine last week to. I have already built a platform bed, put in a chest of drawers and hung a rod to hang clothes on. I live in Central California, so don't need a new to insulate. Next is adding solar power, which I am nervous about.

 

[travelaround]

I bought mine last week

Congratulations! I wonder what part of Central CA as I lived there for a long time in Merced, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties... well, also on the coast in Santa Cruz and SF, and for a while in the foothills, Tuolumne County. Anyhow, will you be staying in that area in your van, or will you be traveling with the seasons, winter south and summer north? I'm wondering why you're not concerned about insulation. I'm pretty impressed that you plan to install the solar... I really don't think that's something I want to do myself - I'll probably hire someone to do it...

 

[SusieSlim]

I am nearing the end of my van build (moving in December 1) and from one overwhelmed woman to another, YOU CAN DO THIS!

Try not to think about how many things you have yet to do, but instead focus on the task in front of you. You will get there! Good luck!

Thank you Tam O’Bedlam! Yes it is overwhelming! I think once the insulation, walls and floor are done I’ll be ok. It’s just these first few steps.

 

[SusieSlim]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Susan! Don't be afraid to ask questions. Read through all of the posts that pertain to each project and if you don't find the answers just start a new thread and ask away!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started.   We look forward to hearing more from you.

Thank you rvwandeing! I will definitely be looking around the site for help. ️

 

[SusieSlim]

Welcome to the forum! You'll find all kinds of information on how to do things here, some of it wise, some not so wise... . Take the good stuff and leave the rest.

Like a lot of things in life, one size of insulation does not fit all!

Where you are planning on staying or travelling has ALL to do with what insulation you need.

I, for example, choose to live year round in the most moderate climate zones I can. Therefore my need for insulation was negligible so I didn't insulate at all  - I used a radiant heat barrier to help keep the inside of the van cool when it gets hot and sunny. In the event that I'm stuck in cooler weather (like right now... ) , the heater just works a little harder and I wear an extra layer when needed.

Thanks Almost there!! Yes I’m planning on being in warmer weather. Gots to be near the beach! ️ So I wouldn’t need to insulate as much?? Interesting!

 

[SusieSlim]

Hi Susie, welcome to the forum. What kind of van did you get? I am still waiting to be able to buy one.

I got a ford transit, an empty shell, like a blank canvas ready to be transformed into something I hope I can call a nice home! Do you have ideas on what kind of van you are wanting??

 

[SusieSlim]

I bought mine last week to. I have already built a platform bed, put in a chest of drawers and hung a rod to hang clothes on. I live in Central California, so don't need a new to insulate. Next is adding solar power, which I am nervous about.

Congratulations Georgie! The solar scares me too! Lol but this is all a good kind of scared a fun adventurous one!

 

[travelaround]

I got a ford transit, an empty shell, like a blank canvas ready to be transformed into something I hope I can call a nice home! Do you have ideas on what kind of van you are wanting??

I'm planning to get a Ford Transit too . . . I've looked at all the options from school bus to RV, and decided the Transit is best for me. I expect to get it sometime within the next six months but not before the RTR in January, so I'll be going there in my car with a tent.

 

[DKNZ]

Welcome and enjoy your new campervan.

 

[SusieSlim]

I'm planning to get a Ford Transit too . . . I've looked at all the options from school bus to RV, and decided the Transit is best for me. I expect to get it sometime within the next six months but not before the RTR in January, so I'll be going there in my car with a tent.

awesomeness!! what exactly is the RTR and should i be going to it??

 

[travelaround]

The RTR is the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous which is a meet-up in the desert around Quartzsite, AZ in January... started by the owner of this forum, Bob Wells... this year there will be a women's RTR separately starting Jan 4 probably, in a nearby location. I hope you can make it. I've never been there before... but as I understand it there are workshops we can attend to learn more about travel safety and van life, and it is a great place to meet other van dwellers. If you watch Bob's YouTube channel he'll keep us all up to date about when and where exactly.

 

[Smitty716]

Congratulations, And welcome to the forums . We have a lot of people on here doing van builds so shouldn’t be hard to get help . Also Bob has done a number of videos on other people’s van builds and he did one on his own build . I’m sure you’ll get all the help you need or ask for . These people are awesome.