What do you use for the wall panels in a cargo van?

[Giggles]

Ok, really stupid question, here --- what is the stuff called that you use for the wall panels in a cargo van?  The stuff that goes over the insulation, to make the actual wall? 

Is it dry wall? Foam board? Something else?

Thanks.

 

[nature lover]

Many options here. Paneling, Tom and groove boards, carpet and more. There’s info in the band thread on a variety of these.

 

[Uncle Todo]

Yes, many many options, but I wouldn't recommend drywall.
I'm not 100% yet, but I'm thinking I'll do 1/4" plywood with 1/4" cedar over it.
I want to try and make panels that if need be would be somewhat easy to remove, plus the cedar will smell nice.

Are you making plans for your van?

 

[desert_sailing]

you may be thinking of luan.

Of course there are many different finishes that you can go with.

i have luan walls that i decided to cover in a fabric. 

i also have luan on the ceiling... without fabric.
the flexibility  made installation very easy... fits the curves great.

i think I used 1/8"

 

[Sofisintown]

For what is worth, I have automotive carpet on the walls and headliner fabric on the ceiling.
Both are glued with 3m glue directly on the Polyiso insulation and the supports.
I chose them because of their light weight, ease of application and decent looks.

 

[Giggles]

Yes, many many options, but I wouldn't recommend drywall.
I'm not 100% yet, but I'm thinking I'll do 1/4" plywood with 1/4" cedar over it.
I want to try and make panels that if need be would be somewhat easy to remove, plus the cedar will smell nice.

Are you making plans for your van?

Well, the walls are already covered with wall panels with a tiny thin film of gray fabric over each panel. I just don't know what's UNDER the fabric. Plywood...foam board.....I don't know. 

Right now, the van is pitch black inside, because the've covered all the windows. If I can't get the electrical system working, I want to cut the panels in half, so the van windows aren't covered and light comes through. I don't like it pitch black in there. But in case I mess up cutting the panels, and can't re-use the lower portion of the wall, I wanted to know what to buy to replace the wall panel.

I didn't realize there were so many options. [font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]B[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]ut [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I guess I won't know what the walls[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] are made of until I take them off and cut them in half. [/font]

Ok, thanks for you help, everyone.

 

[Giggles]

you may be thinking of luan.

Of course there are many different finishes that you can go with.

i have luan walls that i decided to cover in a fabric. 

i also have luan on the ceiling... without fabric.
the flexibility  made installation very easy... fits the curves great.

i think I used 1/8"

Thank you. I've never heard of luan, but maybe that a is what they used.

 

[Giggles]

For what is worth, I have automotive carpet on the walls and headliner fabric on the ceiling.
Both are glued with 3m glue directly on the Polyiso insulation and the supports.
I chose them because of their light weight, ease of application and decent looks.

Thanks...that's a great idea! Right now there are already panels up on the walls of the van I bought. But, I want to take them down and cut them in half, because the panels are covering the windows, and it's way too dark inside. But if I ruin the panels when I cut them in half to expose the windows, I might replace them with carpet. 

Where dd you buy automotive carpeting?

 

[Uncle Todo]

Sounds like you're in for quite the project with this van! Good luck, you know where to post if you need anything in process

 

[MrNoodly]

Well, the walls are already covered with wall panels with a tiny thin film of gray fabric over each panel.

If the walls were done by a conversion company (and it sounds like it was) then it's probably 1/8" plywood-like stuff called luan (loo-on).

 

[Giggles]

If the walls were done by a conversion company (and it sounds like it was) then it's probably 1/8" plywood-like stuff called luan (loo-on).

Thank you!!

 

[66788]

Many options here. Paneling, Tom and groove boards, carpet and more. There’s info in the band thread on a variety of these.

I think you mean "tongue in groove" and not "Tom and groove".

At least you still have your groove!  

 

[nature lover]

Thank you 66788. I dictate my answers to the machine and it sometimes screws them up. I think it does it on purpose.