Відео

Thank you!

First, let me just say - thank you for such a detailed and level-headed response. You posted what I consider to be _constructive_ criticism, which is 100% welcome and appreciated. About the thermal bridging: it definitely was taken into consideration and I think my biggest mistake there was in not explaining my reasoning behind why I felt it wasn't a major concern _for the floor._ You can be sure that I'd never have done it like this in the walls and, especially, not the ceiling. But I'm happy to share the reasoning here. A handful of people have commented on the XPS method that you mentioned - and I did consider that method before I got started. Here's why I didn't go that route. My goal behind the framework was to provide structure underneath the plywood that could be screwed into. This was primarily a safety thing. Let's consider what would happen if the vehicle were in an accident. If I went with the XPS method, and things were only screwed into a sheet of plywood, they'd stand a very high chance of being torn loose and becoming projectiles if I were in an accident. This can turn a minor accident into a much bigger deal. By having that extra "meat" of the framework to screw into, the likelihood of anything becoming detached and airborne is much less. To me, this concern was a viable reason to go the route I went. One thing I've learned is that van floors (even the best-insulated ones) are always going to be chilly, unless they're actually heated, so cold spots aren't much of a concern. And, because heat rises, the amount of heat lost through thermal bridging of a floor (insulated or not) will be minimal. While I 100% agree that the XPS method would minimize potential cold(er) spots, it wouldn't address the primary concern that I had. In my mind, safety is more important than comfort every time. For the walls and ceiling - the places where thermal bridging will present most prominently - I plan to use furring strips in a configuration that severely minimizes the contact between wood and metal. I should also note that I'm not planning on traveling in extreme conditions, so heat loss through the floor due to thermal bridging will be marginal. Nonetheless, because there have been a handful of comments talking about the XPS method (many not nearly as tactful as your own) being better than how I did it, I will likely revisit this topic when the van is on the road full-time and provide an update on how it turns out. Again, I'm very grateful for your detailed feedback and judicious way of sharing it - and I greatly appreciate your subscribing, as well! Thank you!

I didn't add the framework to spread the load. That's not even a concern given that I've used 3/4" ply. The framework gives me extra places to _secure_ things to the floor. Securing things to just a sheet of plywood (especially in a moving vehicle) is a bad idea and just asking for trouble.

@@NomadicPride Okay, that makes more sense, but I honestly think it's overkill. I was a boatbuilder for over 25 years and attached plenty of things right to 3/4" ply decks. If an offshore boat can handle it, I'm sure a van can. That being said, it's best to do what you are comfortable with, or you end up rethinking everything and doubting your decisions. As the old saying goes - there's more than one way to skin a cat.

@@rogermccaslin5963 It could well be overkill, but since it's my first build and the van's brand new, I'm erring on the side of _over-built_ rather than _under-built_ for some aspects - mostly because if it's in an accident, I want to have the best chance of things staying in place, rather than turning me into mince-meat. 😆 The extra weight is very little, it just took a bit of extra effort. Appreciate the feedback, thanks!

Just to see... I did this again. This time with no dehumidifier. I ended up with a ton of moisture, to the point that some even dripped. I'll definitely be taking the dehumidifier on the road with me. Thanks for watching!

That's a great idea! I'm on it.

...and thank _you_ for watching! Appreciate the clover - you're awesome!

Yes, he's definitely been a great help - never short on ideas and not afraid to get his hands dirty. About the rack... While I wasn't satisfied with the lack of post-sales support, the rack is good quality and sturdy. I did consider naming the company but, in the end, felt it was enough to not promote them rather than to name-and-shame for not returning my call.

You're welcome...and thanks for watching through!

Really appreciate that you watched through...thanks!

Thanks so much for watching to the end!

As I've mentioned several times, thermal bridging is not an issue here. And there are insufficient anchor points for what I want to do. This video shows how I built the subfloor - it's not a tutorial. Thanks for watching.

This was my first video to crack 1,000 views...and it's still going!😊Thanks so much for watching and dropping a comment! 💙

Soooo cozy! ...and that jug is definitely coming with me on the road! Because coffee jugs!!🤩 Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks!

I'm with you. This was really just a moisture demonstration ...well, and an excuse to camp out overnight. 👍

That is a good point and I appreciate it. For anyone who happens on to this thread later, other alternatives to steel wool would be wools made of brass, copper, or bronze.

Here's a link to the _Escape Drivable_ kit... On that page, scroll down for a link to the User Guide and search that PDF for "alternator". goalzero.com/products/escape-drivable-kit-off-grid-power

That stuff was really sticky, too! 😆Good times!

Tim, thanks! I'll definitely miss the tools when I get on the road...but it will be nice to downsize.

Appreciate you!

Love me some flavored creamers!! Your sleep setup sounds cozy! I'm sooooo ready to trade my sleeping bag for regular blankets. One morning last summer, I had to pee super bad and when I went to unzip my sleeping bag, it completely snagged up in the zipper and I was trapped for 10 minutes. I made it outta there in the nick of time. Phew!!

No two builds are the same. 👍Thanks for the feedback. About the extra weight...it's virtually nothing. Since I cut the 2x2s down to 1.5 x 1", that saved 1/3 of the weight. Each of those 8-foot lengths weighed 5.75# and I ended up using 11 of them for the framework. In other words, all that lumber weighs in at less than 65#. I don't know the exact weight of the 3/4" ply after the cuts, but I'm guessing under 150#. I think a couple hundred pounds of weight is worth having a rock-solid floor with lots of extra connection points. 👍

I was wondering why everyone uses such thick plywood in these builds and was wondering if 5mm/1/4" ply would be just fine. Have you seen any videos showing this approach?

​@@GreganDunn ​ There's too much flex with 1/4" ply because of the ribs of the van floor. If you step into a (depressed) rib area, you sink in...like how it feels to walk on a forest floor. To make the 1/4" work, you have to fill all those gaps/spaces (between the ribs) with _something_ solid - and if it's not perfectly level with the ribs, you're still going to feel some sponginess when you walk on it, not to mention the problems you'll have with laying any type of floor covering if the surface isn't perfectly level. The 3/4" ply gives you a solid, level surface (a little sanding might be required) and you can walk anywhere on it without having to compensate for the ribs underneath. My buddy "Jellybean" went with 1/4" ply for his rig and it was just one day until he realized it wasn't going to be thick enough. The next day he added 1/2" ply on top of the 1/4" ply, ending up with 3/4" - and a nice sturdy floor. Here's a link to his video if you want to hear his thoughts on it. ua-cam.com/video/LCHJfiRYxdQ/v-deo.html

@@NomadicPride thanks for the answer @NomadicPride. Where every half inch counts I wonder if something like a fiberglass layer or something would be worth a bit of effort? Maybe I'm being crazy...

​@@GreganDunn I'm not sure about using fiberglass. I did search it and found at least a few people have done it, but I haven't watched any videos on it. Here's a link. ua-cam.com/users/results?search_query=fiberflass+van+floor With virtually every aspect of a van build, there's going to be disagreement. The only thing I can think of that everyone agrees on is that every 1/2" counts, so you're definitely thinking about it right.

Yeah, that's news to me, too... I'm in Oregon. 😄

@ oh OK I'm new to the channel I wasn't sure…

@@ty70359 No worries - welcome! I'm just getting started with the channel, so everyone's still pretty new. 👍

I don't yet have the grey tank, but most likely I'll end up installing a warmer along with it. I don't plan on being in freezing temps, but you never know.