Van Walls

[howardsells2000]

<p>I have a 1977 extended&nbsp;Dodge Tradesman 200 cargo van.&nbsp; Of course the walls were unfinished.&nbsp; Just the steel shell.&nbsp; I don't have much money or skills for carpentry.&nbsp; I used layers of cardboard for insulation.&nbsp; I bought something that looks similar to paneling but it's white and not really wood.&nbsp; I can't think of what it's called but it was cheaper than wood paneling.&nbsp; I had a heck of a time trying to cut it in the right shape for the walls.&nbsp; I'm not real happy with it but the walls are covered.&nbsp; I still have bare spots with no walls around the back corners.&nbsp; The van walls are not flat or square the corners are round.&nbsp; How do I cover the walls and make it look good when you don't have good skills, money&nbsp;or patience.&nbsp; I also still have the roof to do.&nbsp; Does anyone have any thoughts.&nbsp; </p>

 

[silverstreak]

<p>Hi howard go to home depot in the bathroom shower area . they sell 4x8 sheets of plastic shower wall paneling pretty cheap. The plastic is thin and should bent enough to conform to the cuvature of the van.Also would work good for a ceiling. I bought a sheet a few years back and i think it was around $15.00 a sheet. Or try a pease of cardboard to get the shape and use fiberglass resin and a brush and coat the cardboard with it (several coats). Then unscrew it and lay a layer of fiberglass cloth on . You can cover it in fabric or vinyl, and screw it back in place.<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif"></p>

 

[Wild_E]

Personally I would go to Home Depot and buy DuroFoam<div>it is Foam, shiny one side, dense middle and plastic on other side</div><div><br></div><div>Now measure and cut with utility knife,&nbsp;</div><div>put shiny side towards you.</div><div><br></div><div>It cut the heat down from 145 deg Far to 95 deg Far last summer for me.</div><div>PS I like the shiny look as well, takes less light to light it up in the night time, or the long Winter Dark hours.</div><div><br></div>

 

[karl]

I'm with WR on the foam board- easy to cut, bendable, and you can caulk or spray foam bad seams......that is what i did in my step van, then glued old&nbsp; cotton sheets over it and painted for the walls, on the ceiling I duct taped the joints and put up textured wallpaper ( Walmt, H D, Lowes....)<br>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">I like those ideas.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[Gravediggerjason]

Pick and pull auto wrecking. They usually let interior panels go cheap In fact when I was manager I used to make great package deals on trim. Most vans American made will have panels easily modified to fit your van. They'll already be formed fr the contours and bends of your walls an even if you don't find anything usable it should be a great way to get some hands on insight to how the panels are formed and hung. Check out the wrecking yard. Hope it helps, J

 

[howardsells2000]

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.

 

[howardsells2000]

I sold the van and bought a motor home.