insulating sprinter headliner insulating sprinter headliner

Interior Color: MODERN FARMHOUSE: Hitch Weight: 395 lbs: GVWR: 4500 lbs: Dry Weight: 3460 lbs: Cargo Capacity: 1040 lbs: Fresh Water Capacity: 20 gals: Grey Water Capacity: . Some of the top choices used to insulate vans include fiberglass batts, spray foam insulation, and Reflectix. If the Lizard Skin breaks away, you now have an unprotected area that could rust. Its possible that its worse than if it werent there at all, but we will digress at this point. Putting spray foam to seal the celotex to the panels. Mercedes sprays the inner wall panels below these clips with wax to help speed the waters escape. There are many ways to insulate a van, some ways are better than others. Here are our observations: Morning Hours in Full Sun: The steel ceiling with no solar panel coverage gets hot very quickly. Heres where more controversy and opinions come into-play. I dunno, Im not one to want to experiment too heavily with something as important as insulation. Not necessarily, I just looked around at Home Depot until I found a polyurethane-based one in a caulk tube. The walls of the Sprinter have metal ribs running along them and up and down them, creating these three different levels of "pockets." The segments on the top and bottom are deep but . My name is Pete. I elevated my floor about 5/8 to bring it up to the height of my sliding seat rails. No. We offer all of our write-ups and instructional videos for free. 2) I also read that you already have your floor finished before the Lizard Skin decision. Thinsulate is hydrophobic, which means it resists the absorption of water. Thank you I really appreciate the feedback! Van type: Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Freightliner Sprinter High Roof Crew, Cargo, and Passenger models, 144 & 170 wheelbases. Every little bit does count in a metal box. Pro Tip: If you are working in a cold environment, the mass loaded vinyl will be rock hard and impossible to work with. Ford vs Chevy, PC vs Mac, Transit vs Sprinter, van insulation can be just as controversial. This is where I share our adventures, van build details, tips, ride reports and more. Any Product for Transit EVs (Electric-Vehicle) Must Be Professionally Installed by a Trained Technician. Why tear out the interior in your new Sprinter van? Do you think lizard skin would have similar heat transfer results if applied on the outside of the van (van roof)? We have an 18 month old and just bought a 144 high roof Sprinter to convert, so your conversion is very helpful to see! Verified Purchase. Having some additional thermal insulation is appreciated. Thank you and kind regards, Easy to Install: All you need is a pair of decent scissors and some 3M90 spray adhesive for larger panels. one of the other and if so which first, or as you did insulation on roof and wall above windows and perhaps sound proofing on the lower and floor. Fiberglass and rock wool: Great R-value and sound reducer, but irritates skin, eyes, and lungs if not properly sealed off. Prolonged, reoccurring condensation causes mold and rust, as youve mentioned. You want to prevent that? Your insulation is essentially bypassed in these locations. But it will help keep it cooler for longer. SPONSORED. The first and most important factor to consider, , is to consider how well the insulation resists moisture. Wondering if it makes sense to spray Lizard skin over the Noico? The window insulation kits work great to reduce condensation build up, slow thermal transfer, and add privacy. If youre doing the everything we described here, the Lizard Skin gets applied against the bare metal of the van. Mercedes Sprinter Van Noise Reducing Mat Insulation 250 Sq. Woohoo. 3/16" Plastic 5/16" Insulated Plastic Door Wall Other Sort By: Legend Fleet Insulated Duratherm 5/16" Ceiling/Roof Liner, ProMaster $728.10 - $1,212.30 Legend Fleet Insulated Duratherm 5/16" Door Panels, ProMaster $388.80 - $489.60 Legend Fleet Insulated Duratherm 5/16" Wall Liners, ProMaster $794.70 - $1,302.30 Sorry! Grafton4x4. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. We discovered that when we had Reflectix spanning these support ribs, rather than just the ribs radiating heat, the Reflectix was very effectively absorbing and conductingthat very same heat from a small support rib to the entire surface of the Reflectix. Good insulation will keep you warm in cold weather and cool and comfortable in hot weather. The panel dampener works best near the middle of large panels to absorb panel vibration. This is because, again, our van had a completed floor and lower cabinetry in the way. It is flame resistant and meets. It is definitely more comfortable. Based on insulating the entirety of the walls, ceiling and structural cavities but not the floor. 4660 N River Rd #95, Oceanside, CA 92057. As Amazon Associates we will make earnings from qualifying purchases, however it costs you nothing to use them. It Read More, Over the years of camping out in our Sprinter van, weve often faced the challenge Read More, One of the first (and most important) things we did to our van was to Read More, This is one of the most exciting steps in the van build process. Keep in mind, you don't need to cover the whole surface to be effective. I dont know about you, but we want to avoid health concerns for ourselves and our van as much as possible. Good luck with your build and let me know if you have any questions. Our van walls and ceilingwere covered almost 100% in Reflectix by the previous owner. We live in the southeast and Ive been really concerned about the roof getting super hot and trapping heat with all the insulation a lot of people show for their colder-climate vans. Rather than just feeding you links, we are taking some time in an attempt to share why we made the choices we did. And thank you once again Ken for all your help and replies on IG (Im the one iming from @big_s_racing). Although mostly cosmetic and meant to finish off the appearance of the van, the walls also help with insulating noise and temperatures. Sure love ours. Sprinterstore.com offers the best selection of Sprintek USA parts and reasonable shipping for tricking out your Sprinter Van, Need a specific delivery timeframe? As for the vapor barrier concept, we cant see it doing its job there either. We ordered the 40 roll off Amazon and it was enough for the most part, but I would have liked to have a little extra for overage. Many metal sprinter vans do not come with insulation, so the interiors can quickly become uncomfortable and filled with rattles and road noise. Then Foam/Foil insulation is attached to the back of the panels, Side-panel protection from dents and scarring on the inside, Insulation material provides noise reduction and thermal barrier, Custom fit for your Mercedes Sprinter van, Precut and predrilled sections are lightweight and install easily. Thank you for your fantastic posts and videos! Wed say stick with those two and enjoy your van! Lizard Skin is water based and can be cleaned up with relative ease before it dries. We also threw down thick Minicell foam rubber on the floor to reduce radiant heat from the highway, thus reducing warming of the vehicle from the underside. UPDATE: Were now taking reservations for complete custom van conversionsthrough our new site, ModularVan. I just want to say thank you!!! Questions? We will cut to the chaseof the four products that make up our insulation package, we can easily recommend two of them that will work great for 95% of you. Cost: Rmax is $1.00/sq. Keep in mind, this helps slow the inevitable transfer of heat, but it doesnt necessarily mean your van will stay cool as a cucumber. It is equally effective at radiating the warm heat from inside your van to the outside when it's cold. We sincerely appreciate your visit as well as your support. Regarding spray pressure, I believe LS recommends 50-70 psi. Easy! Kudos and thanks. Layer 1: Sound Deadening FatMat Rattle Trap The first part of insulating the van was to sound deaden it. Propane Firebowl: We May Never Go Back to Using Firewood! I now have the confidence maybe lacking skills but have the confidence that I can do this because of folks like you. Holman RV is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. As a building contractor for 50+ years, it was so refreshing to read your opinion concerning the use of a vapor barrier in a van. Includes all mounting hardware. 3) I did bought the Lizard Skin sprayer that you recommended but you mentioned that a good compressor is recommended. At 162,000 miles this van still has a long life to live. Camper van conversions are time consuming and can cost a lot of money so it's important to get this right. We also did not spray insulation on the floor or the lower walls below window level. The factory butyl is very effective, so I left it. One gallon can cover 23-25 square feet at 0.040" (40 mils) thickness. When the temperature does down and hits the dew point, the moisture condenses out of the air, giving us that condensation. If you are cooking or heating your van with propane you are now introducing a second source of moisture. Most of the heat from the sun comes from higher up the van walls, so it still served a great benefit in our van. 1501 Anza Ave #36, Vista, CA 92084. That means an impermeable, non-breathing barrier. Call (570) 401-7697 Duratherm Interior Liners Insulated interior protection for walls, ceilings, and doors. In our opinion, we would skip Reflectix entirely. Thinsulate probably insulates your ski gloves, your jacket, boots and some high-end yachts and automobiles. Of course its all anonymous so I have no idea whos buying what. Appreciate your work very much @ourkaravan! What do you think? Categories I purchased longer bolts from the hardware store so the factory floor could be bolted-down just as it was from the factory. Thank you for the update! I cant imagine the Lizard Skin would be as effective as a good insulation like Thinsulate. Most high roof vans will require 50+ feet, so we recommend, selecting the appropriate length, whether you choose to purchase on, To install, cut the Thinsulate to fit in the wall cavities. Im sure it will come as no surprise that there are varying opinions regarding insulating a Sprinter van. Im not recommending that you go against the manufacturers instructions at all. Its sound deadening liners, mats, and materials reduce interior engine and road noise, eliminate vibration, and reflect heat. EASY & FAST INSTALL Protect Interior Panels & Cargo Sound Deadening Lightweight Thermal Insulation Barrier Precision Cut Scratch-Resistant Increases Resale Value Very Durable and Strong Available in White and Gray Temperature Control Test Gray Insulated Duratherm Wall, Ceiling and Door Liners come backed with foam and foil insulation for increased noise-deadening and temperature control. Then I used the insulation from window level-ish up. Lizard Skin is one piece of the insulation puzzle but not the end-all. Your site is a fantastic resource. Once that's out, you can completely remove the headliner. If you just want to get started without reading further, get some Thinsulateand some Noicoand youve got a great insulation package for most people in most climates. We bought a 50 linear-foot roll and had leftover in our 144 wheelbase Sprinter. Their purpose is to alleviate the issue of overpressure (of air) when you close a door. Heavy mass vinyl would reduce sound too but its extremely heavy stuff. Insulation is another controversial topic and I won't get into it what is "best" but from my experience I would at least say to stay away from anything that holds water - especially fiberglass home insulation. Steps 1 Remove the old headliner. Hi Erik, I appreciate the kind words. I think Id go ahead and do the Lizard Skin first to prevent the Noico from absorbing the heat (just a thought). I hadnt heard of Lizard Skin, but it sounds like really interesting stuff. Traveling and seeing new places is always at the top of our to-do list. If you just want to get started without reading further, get, 50-feet for 144 wheelbase Sprinter, 148 wb Transit & 158 Promaster, (Approximate amounts needed to insulate the walls, ceiling, doors and cab area per the vendor), Yard stick for measuring and cutting insulation, Air compressor and drop cloths if spraying ceramic insulation. Ill definitely be experiencing colder weather more often than hot so am curious if ceramic could also be as inefficient at conducting cold? So I think thats proof-positive it does work! Im working hard on adding additional content. Heres a copy of my receipt for the closed cell foam: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48798996188_8e8c08c08f_z.jpg Take care! Next add Noico (if you didnt already add it), then the Thinsulate, then your wall panels. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4 319 Cdi Exclusive. You are subscribed! You might not want to spray if youre planning to bolt down L-track or other things where it may be desirable to have metal-to-metal contact with the floor. I tested several panels in direct sunlight and it was over 30 degrees cooler to touch where Refelctix was installed versus not. Below the solar panel, it is cool to the touch, for a while. We believe it reduces heat loading in our hot climate, but due to the effort and special tools required, we cant recommend it quite as easily as just a basic butyl mat + Thinsulate package. Matthias, Hi Matthias, Next you'll remove the trim pad panels that run along the sides of the headliner. It seems to work well for both sound dampening as well as thermal insulation. We experimented with Reflectix and tore most of it out of the van. My wife, Anna, and I recently bought and built out a Sprinter van to do more of the things we love. As such, it is now removed from these locations and only used where a proper airgap exists. For my needs, which is repelling the high heat in my area, its most effective up high where the sun is hitting the van. It is manufactured with 100% of backside surface adhesive not strips, for ease of installation without the mess and fuss of spray adhesives. Some people also use a piece of spare foam insulation board either. Removing the entire interior was actually pretty easy. Tim, Im not sure of my answer, but I suspect it wont be effective on the exterior for the reason you statedheat gain from the dark color would likely be an issue. After removing the foam blocks (the two large side chunks had to be ripped broken; the center pieces were taped into place so much easier to remove), I loosen the 4 retaining clips at the top rear edge of the headliner. Ease of use: Medium. Install all/most of your major penetrations before insulation and interior. After being in the van both hot/cold before and after the spray, Im glad that we took the loooonnng effort to prep and spray. Our seat removal and subsequent sale offset this cost nicely. Ive seen one user devote 2 exhaustive days on scuff sanding, another just buffing with scotch brite. When we pulled the domed cab headliner, we glued Thinsulate to the ceiling of the van. We sealed the roll in a plastic bag and threw it in the hot tub to warm it up. A single human will lose 800mL of water per day through a combination of perspiration and respiration. Second, Conduction is the transfer of hot or cold through a solid. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. A friend and I both wanted to do our vans, so we split the cost of the required spray-gun and each purchased 2 gallons of Lizard Skin. That acid can etch paint on a vehicle and eventually cause rust. If you like what I share, join my Patreon and get access to even more. -Ken. Pull the door panel of any vehicle and what do you see? Overall thickness is 3/8" +/- consisting of 2 closed cell sections laminated to an aluminum center foil to maintain shape and van skin contour. The body trim clips are the very first project I did on the van. Having a big solar panel covering much of the roof helps a bit too. Just ordered the Noico and 3M based on your recommendation for my 170 xtend Moto Van build, which brings me to a quick question. Premium Headliner Shelf - Sprinter 2019+ - COMING SOON $699.00 Front Trim Silver L-Track Black L-Track Bamboo Tassie Oak We used 50-feet in our 144 wheelbase Sprinter, which has the crew windows (in the second position) and rear door windows. Regarding the floor, it depends on what your plans are. Im almost wondering if a vehicle wrap on the roof would be a better route? takes two people roughly four hours for a 170 MB Sprinter and made an enormous difference to the panel noise on the road as . The surfaces in our van that have been sprayed with Lizard Skin are noticeably cooler than the ones that were not. So your conclusions are correct, its a difficult issue to solve completely, but sometimes, good enough is good enough. Welcome to my adventure blog. that was going to be my question on how much you scuffed paint before application. So far the ceiling and ceramic have been good. Thanks again and hope to see you around. What color is your van? . A link please? Bought used in 2020 and built out in late 2022. In most places we placed it over the Thinsulate, toward the inside of the van, but in the cab area under the headliner it made more sense to glue the Low-E on first. Midlite brands a "rustic miners" theme interior but remains as stealthy as any cargo van with limited windows and concealed solar . With our smaller or raised headliner shelf ( #63009-49-01) you are able to keep your stock sun visor and storage above the driver and passenger areas. Thermal Package Insulation (insulated and enclosed underbelly and foil insulation in roof) Keyed-Alike entry and baggage doors; Outside shower; To install, clean the surface of the van with mineral spirits. I was surprised at how loud it is while driving (almost 80 decibels). We barely had enough and there are a couple areas that could probably still use more. Sprinterstore.com offers the best selection of Insulation parts and reasonable shipping for tricking out your Sprinter Van. We discovered that when we had Reflectix spanning these support ribs, rather than just the ribs radiating heat, the Reflectix was very effectively, Morning Hours in Full Sun: The steel ceiling. Thanks! 1) Your article section seems to suggest that if you had thought of Lizard Skin first, you would have sprayed the Lizard skin first before applying the Noico dampener. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter W906 High Roof Headlining Interior Roof Cover Grey. People have done in-floor radiant heating before. Learn more. What you'll need: Screwdriver with Flat head, Philips, T-25 & T-30 Torx bits. We contacted Hein van Swaay at Impact 3D out of Hood River, OR for guidance. This insulation material mounts directly to metal surfaces. Here's a good starter idea. Seal the van up and your HVAC will no longer function properly. Every penetration, from door handles to windows to hinges to sliding door rails to latch hardware are all leaking right now, as we speak. Detach and remove all of the seatbelt covers, lights, speakers, visors and clothes hangers. Do what you want, but we would pass on this. Thats how certain they are that water will penetrate. That said, wewould say a simple installation of a pack of Noico and a roll of Thinsulate will work excellent for 95% of you. The Thinsulate takes care of the rest. If you find the information on this website helpful, you may use our various links when you are ready to make purchases. No off-gassing issues with spray foam. You are definitely an inspiration and one of the reasons why I finally took the leap to get our sprinter van knowing that its doable to attempt DIY conversion in stages while still being able to spend time with my kid. Most headliner replacement fabrics are prelaminated with foam backing and are wrinkle-proof and sound-absorbent. Ford vs Chevy, PC vs Mac, Transit vs Sprinter, van insulation can be just as controversial.