3M Thinsulate Insulation | Ram ProMaster Van Build Series | Van Life | Solo Female Traveler
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2024
- In this video I show how I insulated the inside of my van with 3M Thinsulate. This will help with climate control and sound deadening the van.
Tune in to my next video where I'll be building my u-shape convertible bed that also serves as a couch, table and storage.
Until then, be sure to subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications so you don't miss a beat!
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What insulation would you use?
Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for being here :)
LINKS TO PRODUCTS AND TOOLS BELOW!
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Why I Choose 3M Thinsualte for my Insulation
0:47 - Reason 1: Acoustic Sound Barrier
1:22 - Reason 2: Thermal Properties
1:56 - Reason 3: Hydrophobic
2:25 - Reason 4: Doesn't Attract Bugs
2:53 - Reason 5: Non-Toxic
3:30 - Reason 6: Easy to Install
6:05 - Reason 7: Longevity
6:47 - Reason 8: Lightweight
7:33 - Cons of 3M Thinsulate
8:11 - Little Rant About Climate Control in a Van
9:30 - Product and Tools
10:14 - First Look at the 3M Thinsulate
10:33 - Covering Bunk Windows for Protection
10:42 - High Overview of how to Install the 3M Thinsulate
11:48 - Tips for Insulating
12:35 - Insulating the Vertical Ribs
13:09 - Insulating the Horizontal Ribs
14:10 - Insulating the Walls
15:43 - Insulating the Ceiling
16:26 - Insulating the Sliding and Back Doors
19:04 - Insulating the Center Beams
19:20 - Insulating the Wheel Wells
20:12 - Insulating the Rear Door Frame
21:18 - Removing the Black Foam Objects Near the Headliner
22:22 - Insulating the Sliding Door Frame
22:39 - Insulating the Headliner
23:52 - How Much Insulation and Adhesive I Used
24:26 - Recap of Where I Insulated
26:18 - Closing
Affiliate Links for Products and Tools
3M Thinsulate: amzn.to/3EVfnF0
3M 90 Spray Adhesive: amzn.to/3S5zUd2 // hamzn.to/3s5qOlT
Tape Measurer: amzn.to/3RF9Vcn
Painter's Tape - amzn.to/3Sfxdqv
Safety Glasses - amzn.to/3JlflGF
Disclaimer: I am not a professional. This information is what I have gathered from my own research on the topic and is only intended for reference. Further research should be conducted for your specific project based on your needs. Please note, not everything you see online is the correct nor the only way to do something. Contact a professional if in doubt as following an incorrect procedure could lead to a dangerous and ineffective result.
I started using scissors for cutting my thinsulate and hated how my hand got tired. I tried using a standard turkey carving knife and it was a game changer. I zipped through the thinsulate like butter. I know you have finished this activity but maybe another viewer can benefit from my experience.
I love your videos. Your detailed explanations of your processes are so informative. Thank you so much!
Great idea. Thanks for sharing!☺️
How does this only have 5k views? It's easily one of the best vanlife insulation videos on the net. Completely fair, unbiased, and comprehensive. Great job!
Wow, thank you for the comment! I appreciate it a lot❤️
Exactly. I keep thinking the same thing. How has this gem remained hidden for so long. This should be in the 10k view range.
@@whiterabbit2786 I appreciate that🥹
Are you kidding me?? This is one of the worst examples of insulation in existence. This van is not insulated at all. Putting the insulation INSIDE between the metal layers doesn't make sense at all. At the same time there are lot of exposed metal parts which are the direct cold bridge from the outside. Obviously she doesn't understand what she is doing
Paisley’s tail wag sped up is priceless ❤❤❤❤❤😍😍😍
She’s the best ☺️
This is probably the 5th time I've watched this video. You are fantastic at instructions. I'm in the process of purchasing my van and I decided to forego using kilmat and just use Thinsulate. I'm going to use all your videos for my build. Thank you!
I can’t believe how tough Thinsulate is. To do my roof ribs I fed a wire through the rib and zip tied it to the Thinsulate. Pulling it through was kinda tough in some spots but the Thinsulate did not tear.
It’s a durable material for sure 🤩
This is the best DIY Van Build instructional video I have ever watched. Clear, concise, simple, step by step with some important little bits of info you don’t see in other videos covering this same topic. I have wanted to do a van for so long, and when I do Lauren will be my go to for ideas & instructions. Thank you Lauren‼️
Thank you for the kind words; I really appreciate it❤️🥰
About to start my own build and started down the rabbit hole of DIY building. I've been trying to figure out my gameplan on insulation and thinsulate seems to be what I'll go with. I was trying to figure out the best ways to work with it and stumbled on this video. I found this VERY informative. THANK YOU!
Good job, Lauren! I’ve watched countless van build product videos and you have definitely given the van community a top tier information video to learn from.
Thank you so much! That means a lot🥰
This girl is a very good teacher! Scientific mind very intelligent
Thank you so much🫶🏻
As far as the windshield goes you can get a clear tint put on to where it blocks the heat and uv rays from entering your vehicle and helps keep your dash 33° cooler. You can also use them on any other windows in you want 👍
Thanks for sharing! I’m hoping window covers will do for me but if I need something extra I’ll be sure to look into this😁
You have a link to that product? Thank you!
I have linked the insulation in the video description for all the check out🤩
Great build so far! Keep up the great work.
Your OCD is very much appreciated. Thank for you for the very detailed videos. Can't wait to see the next one.
I absolutely love your videos. They’re incredibly helpful even more so than you think and the little tips and tricks are an ENORMOUS help. Thank you so much for posting these and I have to say it’s SO better than most professional do it yourself videos that I’ve seen absolutely love your contact again thank you thank you thank you.😊
Glad you like the videos! I appreciate your kind words and reassurance that the small things are helpful. Welcome to the channel😄
If I may: 3M 90 is a "contact" glue type, so it has to be spreayed on both components you want to join, so even if you specified it at the very end of the process, it is important that viewers be aware of that.
Correct and I do mention that, as well as show that throughout the video.
1:01 I think you are still getting benefit of the Kilmat! ..(forgive if I sound 'instructional' here :) I'm sure you know this but for everyone reading along ... The two products work very differently than each other and complement perfectly! :)
The Kilmats word by making the metal heavier, sounds is moving air, to get sound INSIDE the air moves the metal andthe meta moves the air inside, then to your ears. The heavy weight of the Kilmat reduces the vibration of themetal. Like an Harmonic Balancer.
Wile yihe Thinsulate has tine fibers that each individually absorb the sound waves, causing them to dissipate within the material itself.
So I fell still money well spent.
For ME? Personally, I am not working about to much sound getting in the van, I am hard of hearing and nothing awakens me while sleeping! :)
Thanks for sharing! Def up to personal preference and I see pros and cons either way 😁
did the van life in 2017, designed and build of my van including insulation and water proofing and you are the 1st person that did not ignore the realities of insulation and what it brings to the game, the only thing you did not mention but I found to be a significant addition is a Flettner fan, that is the one thing I did not do and wish I did because of it being self powered, one thing you might add down the road I found after a lot of experimenting is making your own AC/Heat devices based of Peltier ... the cost is so low and 100% can be solar powered is insane, that most van build people totally gloss over and ignore insulation is beyond ....... I did rigid foam board but the cracks and spaces it would not fit I used spray foam , as you say and explain quite well, there is not 1 perfect solution , my van did good (but knowing now what I know I would have been in heaven) was a life saver at Burning Man
You no longer “van “? Did you find you were not using it ?
@@jetv1471 life changed as did my goals and desires so sold it off, I go all in when I do something then after i'm happy with the experience I find new things, I have dozens of hobbies and very fortunate I can pursue them all
@@jetv1471 forgot, my IG which has a lot of the van stuff is same as my YT handle, I did my build 100% with no help as a challenge, I even built a 20x12 gazebo by myself which requires technically 3 people, i'm a bit nuts but it's Fun !
SAME. It’s a balance everyday.
How fun!
Excellent production value, super instructional. I think what I like the most is that you did your research and, importantly, EXPLAINED the results of that research in the vid - saved me some time & trouble. Thanks for that! Subbed!
Awh, thank you and welcome to my journey :)
First of all. 10/10 with the matching tops and shoes. 😂❤
I love blue 😆
Awesome job, very helpful. Starting my van soon.
Good luck on your build !
You are amazing the time you put into research and how you exacute each task is flawless you should start a school i know i would be there you make it all look easy and im on my third van this one is just for work but still need it insulated so stuff dont freeze in winter time but i am framing right now as you instructed with the cross nuts and pocket holes and i love it . Its very strong
Thanks again. Will keep watching.
Wow! This comment means so much. Thank you for watching and commenting such kind words. I am glad you find my videos helpful and am wishing you the best of luck on your current work van build. The plus/cross nuts are the best!!!! Thanks again🥰
It is already looking great
Thank you! I am very proud of it🥰
Great Job! thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge with us.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video😊
One word: Flawless great information now I know what I need!!
Thank you😊💖
I like your videos because they are full of good information.Thanks for posting them.
Glad you like them!
Very high quality , thorough info. GREAT JOB...
YOU GO GIRL
Thank you for watching and commenting!
You are a pro at this. Good choice on 3M. Nicely done.
Thank you!
Nice info and work. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for the kind words!
I really enjoyed watching your videos, you work professionally, I can't wait to see the van when it's complete 🚌 .
Thank you!
Nice work and well planned.
Appreciate it!
Nice work Lauren! This is exactly how I would like to insulate my van. Thanks! :)
Best of luck with your build!
Thermal curtains to separate the cabin from cargo. Ha! I had the same idea.
It’s a great solution!
Another great video. 😊
Appreciate it🥰
Fantastic video!
Glad you liked it!
really nice ! congrats !
Thank you so much!
Great job as usual. Making some window shades from Reflectix or something similar on the front windows will really cut down the greenhouse effect in the front. An insulated curtain would help as well if you didn't want to use the other items. Plenty of 18 wheelers and motorhomes have a rail that runs around the front ceiling and has a runner assembly that holds a curtain that will cover the entire front window area. You should be able to find something like that online. You just slide the entire curtain to one side when you need it open and it tucks back behind the seat on that side, sort of like how a shower curtain operates.
Thanks! Yes, I highly recommend reflectix for window covers and I look forward to installing my thermal curtain when the time comes. Both will help a lot😊
What about adding “Low E” as the final layer over the thinsulate? Many say to do this
Looks like you're doing great work wish you for the best☕ hope all your endeavors be what you want them be😇🎃🤗
From a old guy in Minnesota 😊
Thank you!!
Excellent, EXCELLENT video! I'm buying my first van tomorrow to convert and have started to wonder about insulation, which is the best etc. You have just ticked that box, you clearly have done your research and I will follow suit. Gonna save this vid when it get round to insulating my van so I can refer to all your very useful tips. Will now be watching your other vids as I'm sure I'll learn something. Thanks!
Glad I could help! Best of luck with your van build, have fun :)
@glendahill - did you pick up your van? How was your build going?
Hi Lauren. You are great at doing your homework on the projects. Also you must have OCD and are annul because I am and I appreciate your detail and how you want things done. ❤😊
Haha yes, a little OCD. Thank you!
If you make this your HOME then i want to make everything to the best i could. im a fim believer YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!!! Great home work young lady!!!!
Absolutely! Thank you😁
I love ❤️ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ great information 🎉
Appreciate it!
Hi Lauren, amazing video, Thanks so much , you convinced me to do it your way, my long van insulation quest in over ;-), I am looking forward to look at your other videos.actually . I have one question, you said in the beginning that you would have skipped the killmatt install since 3M Thinsulate is already an acoustic insulator. Do you think killmatt and Thinsulate are redundant ? in other words thinsulate will give me the same acoustic insulation with or without killmatt ? I would not mind to skip the killmatt step. What do you think ?
Thanks for watching and commenting! As far as using both kilmat AND thinsulate… I personally think it may be redundant. However, this is the only build I’ve done so I haven’t tested it with just thinsulate but I have a feeling the difference in sound is marginal. Therefore if I redid my build I’d probably just use thinsulate which saves you money, time and weight in the van for essentially the same outcome. Others may disagree but this is my opinion on the subject. Hope this helps☺️
Thanks for showing! How did you remove the headliner to insulate above the cab? That's the 1st place to want to insulate...
Great question! I do cover this in the video - should be time stamped for you to jump to it. I used pliers to wedge under the headliner, grab the clip and release it from the opening. I recommend watching that section of the video again though because there are other details that will help!
Lauren, thanks SO MUCH for the videos! We are tracking a step or two behind you with our van build so its SUPER HELPFUL!
2 questions: 1) we're trying to decide if we should use low-e/ez-cool on the exposed metal not covered by thinsulate (where furring strips will go), so curious what your thought process was on using vs not using low-e/ez-cool? 2) we just watched your furring strip video 👍👍... I know this is totally random but if you're done with the astro 1450, would you like to sell it to us? Really! Thanks soooooo much!!
Hi Milena! Thanks for the comment.
Yes! If I had the chance to do my insulation over again knowing what I know now, I would have added a thermal break of some sort on the exposed metal not covered by the thinsulate to reduce the thermal bridges.
In regards to the Astro 1450 tool, I have decided to hold onto it incase I need it for anything else during this build - and I have high hopes I’ll be building out another van in the future.
Best of luck with the rest of your build. Feel free to reach out with any other questions🥰
@@LaurenLawliss thanks for reply! Again, the work you're doing on UA-cam has been invaluable to us!! Good luck with your build and THANK YOU!!!
@@milenas3797 Comments like this are what keeps me going, so thank you!
Great video series. Although this video is about insulation. I wonder if cork would have a good option for your subfloor. It's thin, an insulator and deadens sound. It's used quite a bit in condos, to prevent sound transfer.
Cork is something I did not look into so I am unfamiliar with its pros and cons. Thanks for the comment!
I'm not sure how far along you are on your build. Or, what you're using for flooring. I think, you mentioned LVP. Some of those products do have a cork of rubber on the bottom. You could also add a product called Quite-walk or something similar. It's thin, 1/8" and antimicrobial.
@@dougleclair5080 Thanks for sharing! I am happy with the way I did my insulation and don’t feel the need to make changes, but maybe others can look into this option.
@@LaurenLawliss I have no doubt that what you did was well planned out and executed. And yes. Maybe it will help someone else out. My build will be fairly basic. Sound deadening. Build a partition wall and shelving for my tools. It's a work van. 😊
@@dougleclair5080 Oh nice! Best of luck with the build☺️
Hey Lauren, On your wooden framing top section on the very top did you bolt that or not? It looks like the bottom is bolted and the top just points upward with no bolts.
Hey! I screwed the bottom half to the horizontal furring strip but the top sits freely in the openings built into the van.
Thank you for your videos - You are thorough and detailed - I like that. Regarding Thinsulate-Is there any way to attach it to the walls without the toxic spray on glue? I would like to use it, but am too chemically sensitive to use a spray glue. You seem like the one who would know if there is any other way to attach it. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment and good question. I fortunate, I think spray adhesive is the best option. Maybe some double sided tape and/or string, but I fear over time it will fall down and create gaps. If I think of anything else I’ll let you know. Best of luck with the rest of your build!
@@LaurenLawliss I did find some non- toxic glue on Amazon - not white glue, I ordered it, so we will see - I had thought of the string too - I will use both - right now I am just doing the ceiling. People like me with MCS cannot use spray glues, etc. It can cause life threatening reactions.😀 Keep up the good work.
@@cherylstewart8633 Fingers crossed the glue works! Have fun installing your ceiling😆
After just watching you install the thinsulate I would just closed cell spray foam in everything.. so easy I've done it for attics and basements a $500
Set of cans at menards would easily cover the entire van.
Also even though you didn't want to lose height all that work will be made useless if you don't have insulation for the floor. Xps with floating advantec subfloor. I've seen done before worth the inch or two you'd be losing in height.
What was the cost of the thinsulate and the other sound deadining
Sheets you used?
If you’d prefer doing spray form then by all means do spray foam! There are many ways to skin a cat. This is just how I personally wanted to insulate my van and like I shared in the video, spray foam was not ideal for my wants and needs.
As far as insulation on the floor goes, from the expertise of professional van builders and people who have lived in a van for years, many will agree that they did not find floor insulation to have much impact on their climate control. The floor will always be a little chilly since hot air rises. It won’t be hard to combat it. I have been in my van in the winter months and was comfortable. I have a floor heat pad, heater, and if I need to, I can wear socks or lay a rug. And honestly, I don’t have an inch to lose in order for me to stand up in the van so it’s worth not having to walk at an angle in my van.
The insulation and sound deadening I used are linked in the videos for you to check out for pricing. I also share how much I used in both videos🫶🏻
@@LaurenLawlissHi, that link for insulation is not working , not sure if it's just me
@adamkwiatkowski4107 nope the don't work but based off what she used the proce for evethting is about $1,000 I had no idea I'd pay so much money for insulation lol😢😅
Would Self stick insulation pins be used instead of glue to adhere thinsulate?
I’ve never heard of these before. But after a quick google search, it seems the adhesive would be the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to adhere the insulate. It has held up well for me😄
Sorry to bring up another controversial topic, but why no vapor barrier. You mention the 3M insulation will dry out and the drain holes in the van, but why not prevent the moisture from getting to the insulation with a vapor barrier on the walls and ceiling?
Great question! In a van, there no way to avoid moisture build up - it’s inevitable. Even the smallest gap will counteract all the work you do to try and avoid it. So I personally didn’t feel the need to include a vapor barrier ☺️
Did the adhesive spray get all over your floor? I’m wondering how to clean it up.
Great question! No, I had nothing on the floor when I finished😁
What is the difference between the 3M 90 and the 3M 90ca spray?
To my understanding, CA stands for contact adhesive. I assume they do the same thing, maybe just a change in bottle design or marketing… not 100% certain.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍….🤘
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did you just do one layer of insulation? it looks like you may have done 2 in some places... Thanks!
Yup, just one layer😊
@@LaurenLawliss Thank you!!
What was the size of the 3M insulation you bought?
Hey there! As I shared in the video I used SM600L. I purchased two rolls, a 40’ by 60” and a 10’ by 60”. Hope this helps!
@@LaurenLawlissohhh this clearly things up, I thought you said you purchasd two 40 60s and the other as well 😂
How long does it take you to put all this insulation up?
Good question! I did it over a course of maybe a week: evenings after work and on the weekend. Not a quick process if you fill all the openings like I did - which you want to do. But don’t let that scare you. Still easy, just time consuming.
@@LaurenLawliss - ok ordered it from your link 😊
Appreciate it! Enjoy the install😄
$900 worth of instulate holy molly....😅
Something like that haha
That’s tedious work.
For sure, but it’s worth it in the end 😊
I would definately not use a Chrysler vehicle as the base of a van build. Chrysler has terrible reliability with their engines and transmissions and their paint quailty is poor and very prone to rust.
Get a Ford Transit, MB Sprinter instead if you can afford it.
Each make and model has there own pros and cons. For me, the pros of the Ram ProMaster out weighed the pros of the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit for my wants and needs. To each their own.
You should put in floor heating. I have it in my boat, and cargo van. And live in cold Sweden.. it works very well.
I am installing a 12v floor heat pad when I lay my final floor🤗 So excited!!!😁😁😁