Cabin Insulation

[stever1000]

What is the lightest option as far as thermal insulation goes, and also inexpensive?
peal and seal sounds heavy, what about reflectix?
didn't see a weight/square foot anywhere.

Any comments?

[dansvans]

refectix weighs almost nothing, but it isnt inexpensive. if you want inexpensive, then fiberglas is what you are looking for.

peel and seal is cheap but is a sound deadener, not a thermal insulator

[mywifesghia]

I think reflectix is going to be your best price/weight combo. I think it is resonable for the amount you can buy in a roll and what it will cover.
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'70 Ghia Coupe-My Wife's
'69 Squareback/'83 GTi-My Son's
'72 Bus-Mine
'06 Beetle-My Daughter's

[Bryan67]

So... what is the best way to use reflectix? Its supposed to have a gap between it and the wall so i`m thinking either just cut out sections of the stuff and put it behind the door panels or foil tape it around the edges to seal it off but still leaving space between it and the sheetmetal.
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If you`re going to do something, do it right.

[RatCamper]

Bringing this thread back up.

A while back I coated one of the side panels and the tailgate with yoga mat foam, logic being that it's a thermal insulator and a closed cell foam. Plus it's really cheap. Is it all in my head or is this stuff working?

You can see it in this photo. This photo also includes a part of my next question. Read on, please.



You can see where I blocked off the skylight because it was leaky and broken. What you can't see there is the roof profile. It's kind of visible in this shot:



Notice how the roof has a decent curve? See how it has a flat bit where the skylight goes? Now look back up and see how the vinyl just cuts straight across?
There is a huge gap above that vinyl. All that is up there is the fibreglass top. Now I can't help but notice that it is thin enough that light goes through it during the day. What i was thinking is no minor undertaking. Removing the vinyl and gluing matting to the inside of the roof. in theory it should cut down on heat in the summer and stop as much heat escaping in the cooler months. Plus if I can cover the foam mat somehow I'll regain a bit of space.

Is this silly, or not a totally terrible idea?
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Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based pop-top camper (LCA / Sunliner). Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

[mywifesghia]

What about some sort of reflective blanket material. Or am I overthinking that it needs to be really flexible?
_________________
'70 Ghia Coupe-My Wife's
'69 Squareback/'83 GTi-My Son's
'72 Bus-Mine
'06 Beetle-My Daughter's

[RatCamper]

[mywifesghia]

Try a photography store or if there is a place that sells films and video supplies, professionally. Many times they sell it as a rain cover and it blue on one side, reflective on the other. It's been a few years since I had to buy one.
_________________
'70 Ghia Coupe-My Wife's
'69 Squareback/'83 GTi-My Son's
'72 Bus-Mine
'06 Beetle-My Daughter's

[RatCamper]

[mywifesghia]

I have also seen it sold as a "thermal blanket" at hunting/outdoors stores.
_________________
'70 Ghia Coupe-My Wife's
'69 Squareback/'83 GTi-My Son's
'72 Bus-Mine
'06 Beetle-My Daughter's

[RatCamper]

Serious question. Isn't that stuff more or less a foil sort of stuff with some magic addition to make it not rip?
If so the problem lies with an air gap. When it's wrapped around a freezing person for example, there is an air gap between the person and the blanket, allowing reflection of heat.
this would be the same if adhered to the roof of the bay. but there would be no air gap between the roof and the foil which would cause heat to conduct through it and radiate into the cabin, which is extremely unacceptable. It can get brutally hot here for a fair part of the year and having a one way heat exchange of sorts would be terrible.

Because we are on vast plains only about 100m above sea level and pretty far south we don't get snow in the colder weather, but do get nasty winds and a lot of sub zero time in winter, so I'm looking for a decent compromise.
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Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based pop-top camper (LCA / Sunliner). Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

[Tom Powell]

bubble foil insulation and 12V fused outlet for electric blanket
tire chains and buddy heater in ice box

Aloha
tp

[RatCamper]

That foil insulation just seems to be straight not available here under Reflectix or any other brand. About the only incarnation I have seen it in in a very long time is windshield sun shades. Nice 12V plug. I have one under the seat too but it's not as good looking.

Tom, I love how cozy and liveable that is.

Got a couple of photos of the gap between the vinyl and the roof. As an added bonus I realised I could spot some leaks that have been driving me nuts!




I'd like to state that I didn't use a flash. The illumination is from the sun shining through the fiberglass.
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Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based pop-top camper (LCA / Sunliner). Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

[Chubber]

[Tuna Tim]

[Chubber]

For both reflectance and some insulation, if you have the fiberglass roof off you could always paint the inside with silver mobile home roof paint. It has a ton of aluminum in it, plus it goes on thick and adds insulation via some small air bubbles that develop in the paint, at a microscopic level. Not a ton of insulation, but a good bit. But it won't stick upside down, the body of the paint is too heavy, so you would have to have the fiberglass off and upside down.
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Chubber
'71 Deluxe 7 Passenger Bus
'72 Fastback
'74 Super Beetle Convertible (Sold)

[RatCamper]