Should I Remove Fiberglass to Install Foam?

[7wanders]

I just bought a SnapOn step van for RV conversion. It already has finished walls, floor and ceiling, all insulated with fiberglass by a commercial company called LDV (they build trucks for FBI, CIA etc). 

Question: should I go to the trouble of disassembling to remove the fiberglass in favor of installing pink foam insulation? I had read that the fiberglass fibers might be an issue inside a living space that bounces around on the road when driving, and settle at when you stop (to eat or sleep). 

Note: the step van already has LP heat and an engine run oversized AC for the entire interior. Also, I intend on following the weather, so I'm not going to be in snow or extreme heat.

I'd rather not go to the trouble of the cost and effort, but if it is a serious health risk, then I will do so

 

[MrNoodly]

Don't worry about it bunching and settling. It probably wont. The question is whether it will provide the R-rating you need for where you'll spend your time. If you do decide to take off the interior wall covering, then it would be a great time to run wiring. And you might discover problems hidden behind the walls.

 

[dr_nelson]

I had fiberglass in the walls from my previous owner and I removed it all. I just don't like that stuff. Just writing about it gives me the "goose bumps".
I will replace it with polyiso and closed cell camping mats, depending on how accessible the areas are.

 

[Almost There]

When I gutted the previous owners' rather inadequate interior I removed at least a dozen large green garbage bags stuffed full of pink fiberglass.

I encountered several leaks that I would never have found if I hadn't removed it. But the nastiest of all was the mouse nests... :dodgy: 

I don't know that the pink fiberglass is so much of a health risk in and of itself as long as it's 100 completely covered up in the vehicle but the mouse shit definitely was  a health risk!

 

[VanKitten]

All I know is every bit of pink fiberglass insulation I took out was wet. That stuff just doesn't dry out.

 

[BradKW]

I would sure go to the trouble of getting it all out of there if it were mine for the reasons given above, but I don't believe dry f/g bat insulation is a health concern.

It'd be good to consider how much work would be required to do it later, when your build out is done...

 

[LoupGarou]

Your over thinking things!

Toss in a cot, a cook stove, a crapper and hit the road.

 

[7wanders]

thanks so much everyone for the great feedback.

 

[SoulRaven]

Many RV manufacturers still use fiberglass insulation, that is what is generally under the aluminum sided ones. I would think in this case that there was probably a great job doing the insulation. We always found fiberglass insulated to be more quiet. It is going to come down to a personal preference and how much work and money you want to put in the job.

 

[TrainChaser]

They used fiberglass insulation because it's cheaper than polyiso, not because it was best.
My local HomeDepot prices:
Pink fiberglass: 40 cents per sqft
Polyiso: 1" is 62 cents per sqft, 2" is 96 cents per sqft,

Here's what Bob Vila the builder guy says: "Polystyrene and the other rigid insulation products are primarily used in wet applications such as the inside/outside of basement walls and floors. It won’t draw out moisture, whereas fiberglass acts as a wick, and in turn will grow mold, begin to smell, and eventually pack down and loose its R-value, forcing replacement." https://www.bobvila.com/posts/15727-polystyrene-vs-fiberglass-insulation?page=1#.WOQoMGc2yLg

I suspect that metal vans have more moisture issues than homes (due to the hot/cold extremes), so you will end up replacing it at some point. Might as well do it now, before you have all the other stuff in it.