Suggestions on insulation

[mpruet]

So I paid some big bucks for my class-B and had some issues with the water heater which is located under my wife's bed.  While working on that, I noticed that there is little insulation, and none around the wheel well.  While I have the bed apart, I'd like to put in some insulation to cut down on the cold on my wife's bed.  Any suggestions on how to tackle that?  Glue, type of insulation, etc. 

I'm posting in this group because my class-B is built in a Ram Promaster, so a lot of the folks in this forum will have dealt with conversions and insulation in similar vans.

Thanks

 

[Almost There]

You might want to think about boxing in the wheel well with 1/2" plywood and before putting the 'lid' on it, cutting polyiso pieces to fit inside of it.

The box will hold the pieces in place, particularly if you cut them slightly oversize so that they are wedged in there.

Boxing it in also gives you the benefit of having squared off storage space...

 

[mpruet]

You might want to think about boxing in the wheel well with 1/2" plywood and before putting the 'lid' on it, cutting polyiso pieces to fit inside of it.

The box will hold the pieces in place, particularly if you cut them slightly oversize so that they are wedged in there.

Boxing it in also gives you the benefit of having squared off storage space...

Thanks.  The bed area is already a box which is used to house a bunch of stuff - hot water heater, water pump, propane/electric heater, plumbing and wiring. I can't add any more construction stuff because of the setup.  All I can do is to put in insulation which would glue to the frame - mainly around the wheel well.    Wish I could put in a picture but that would exceed the posting limits.

 

[Almost There]

All you have to do is size down the pic.

I think I save my pics here at somewhere around 840 pixels x whatever Paint wants to size it at. When you upload and post it here it comes out small on the post but clicking on it gives you a decent sized pic.

I use the instructions in #2 option:

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=13285

Bob even did a thread on resizing pics which might be  is probably be a better explanation than mine...

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=15791

 

[mpruet]

Area needing the insulation

 

[Almost There]

I see what you  mean...damn they've got things crammed in there!

As much as I hate to suggest it, pink fiberglass may be the only way for you to get anything in there.

Start with a piece of paper backed insulation as long as the wheel well and as high as the measurement from the floor to the wall (up and over the widest part of the wheel well) Then start fitting in in at the bottom lengthwise and then trim out triangular notches (looks like pizza pie slices) to somewhat accommodate the curves of the wheel well.

 

[Trebor English]

You could cover the stuff with trashbag and use spray foam.  You will end up with a trashbag full of a block of foam set up hard that perfectly fits in the space.

 

[John61CT]

This is good stuff, poured rather than spray use the 2# density

http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

Make a temporary box mold with taped plastic sheeting like coroplast, can be done in staged layers so you don't overfill.

Can be very messy, temperature is critical, read up first.

 

[Minivanmotoman]

Oh my! Cram jam city.

Three aspects to consider.

1. Air tight would be the first step. Seal the lid and box/bed openings with gasket, foam, etc... So cold air won't easily pass onto the RV. Line the bottom or top of lid with insulation - foam, or even heavy moving blankets. Slow down the cold.

2. Insulation. Couple goods ideas from AT &TE.
Fiberglass bat be quickest, simplest and easiest.
If insulation too tight, might heat up pumps or whatever requiring air cooling for proper operation and durability. Reflectix? Bubble wrap?
Best would be to put insulation on the floor below all that "stuff". Felt, sticky sound deadener sheets, etc...
What a job though, and why the manu didn't. Lol.

3. Sealing the outer metal with layers of rubberized undercoat might be easy to spray and seal forming an initial insulative barrier. But messy and limited value probably.

Couple ideas to help you brain storm the situation and come up with the best solution for you. Good luck.

 

[SoulRaven]

You could cover the stuff with trashbag and use spray foam.  You will end up with a trashbag full of a block of foam set up hard that perfectly fits in the space.

Good grief that is a good idea  :idea: Now I'm thinking of a spin off from that, for an area in van which has been hard to insulate, until now. 
Kudos !! for that is a grand idea !

 

[SVan]

I'd suggest you check other places where they may have skimped on insulation (like behind lower door panels and above front seat/cab). If you find no insulation there, order 3m Thinsulate and get it done. Not cheap, but very effective and easy to stuff in doors, wrap around wheel wells, etc. and no nasty fiberglass to breathe. I just used leftover scraps taped together with duct tape on my wheel wells. It not only insulates but reduces noise significantly. You might also want to check out promasterforum.com and do a search. Plenty of good advice there.