Yet another home brewed van...

[SWbySWesty]

Very cool. I'm watching for ideas. I already like the two storage full length cabinets. I might steal that.

[robert]

I guess I should have explained further. Certainty condensation will still form- breathing produces a ton of moisture, much more than most folks realize. Cooking produces even more. Obviously you want to reduce the number of gaps in the insulation as much as possible but it's practically impossible to get them all. With that in mind, you really need to seal any and every bit of metal that you can. For example, when I pulled the panels in my VW I had some rust issues (as most VWs and campers in general do). I cleaned the rust where I could then painted the area with POR15. I made sure all panel seams were in tact. I then sprayed a light coating of rubberized truck bed liner over all the surfaces that weren't gong to be visible. In theory, this should help seal out moisture and prevent rust as well as reduce road noise. Anything you can do to help prevent holding moisture can only help.

[plutonic]

The big day has come, at last. Yesterday I dropped off my van @ Ujointoffroad.
What can I say that wasn't said before me? Everything is true about Chris and Ujoint. He's a great, fun guy, makes some awesome stuff,
he's genuinely passionate about his work and he knows the best BBQ places in town where all the beautiful people go...

Chris, Justin, thanks for everything! I think you guys converted Robert. He's looking for a used ambulance van...

Next time I'll bring my MTB and we can hit the local trails you were talkin' about!

I snapped some photos while I was there:

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My van, before the transformation:

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[ujoint]

Glad to finally meet you!!! And that you enjoyed my favorite restaurant! I order a whole bunch of goodies for your van today

[Betarocker]

I want to add to the insulation topic. Whenever you have an loose-fill (batt, blown-in, etc.) insulated cavity, you need a vapor barrier on the side that you have climate control over. The other side needs to be somewhat air permeable, so that any moisture that makes it's way in can eventually escape. The body makes a tight air impermeable barrier. If loosefill insulation is to be used, then there can't be an interior barrier, with high permeability being desired.

The best solution is to use a 2pound spray foam against the outer metal skin. It would be important to have a very dry surface to spray the foam to, as 2pound has an air permeablity rating to classify it as a vapor barrier. The thicker the insulation, the higher the impermeability. Foam has an insulation rating of R5/inch.

[1sweetvan]

Re: spray foam insulation.

Is what you are suggesting, the type that is sprayed on the inside of reefer trailers and the like? If so, that stuff makes an awful lot of heat as it is mixed and it cures so much that it will warp body panels. There are also many threads on the www that report severe rust issues using it.

[plutonic]

...was waiting for me in the parking lot @ Ujoint:

[mtnbike28]

Congrats, it looks great!

[ericvs]

Need a van based name for your beast. Looking good so far!

[plutonic]

Need a van based name for your beast. Looking good so far!

I call it Traktor.