Insulating a Chevy Express | A Different Approach to Van Insulation

[@ethanpickett1248]

Recently my wife and I bought a 95 chevy g20 with 80k miles on it. We plan on building the back out and I didn't really know where to start, but your videos have been so helpful! Thank you both for the inspiration and clever ideas.

[@SlowRoamers]

Amazing! Thanks so much, Ethan. We both really appreciate you watching. I'm so glad that I've helped you both a little bit figure out the direction of your build. Good luck and happy building!

[@sylvainlaforest4393]

Great vid. What lucky guy, full wood shop to work in and gets lunch delivered. I’m starting my bed platform and cabinets this week so keep the content coming. A carpenter I am not. Cheers guys.

[@SlowRoamers]

Hey Sylvain! Thanks for watching! I indeed count myself amongst the lucky. We all stand atop someone else’s shoulders and what we’re able to accomplish is only due to the generosity of family and friends, so we’re both really thankful for that.

[@Monyornothin]

For reflectix to do anything you need an air gap so you won't get thermal transfer. Without that air gap, yeah, useless. Also the vans have weep holes and breather vents to allow for evaporation, condensation and water migration out the holes. Somehow that all still needs to work with a build in my opinion. Making everything air tight may actually cause the problems we try to avoid. With a nice hot air heater and a roof vent and a window or two are key. Future proof yourself from water damage with build approach etc. ✌️

[@SlowRoamers]

Excellent suggestions! Oddly enough, I don’t remember finding any weep holes in the van. The vents are still there, but nothing in the floor.

[@harlanpatterson1959]

you two are definitely a inspiration with this rebuild especially with the new roof. I've had my low top E350 now for nearly 12 years and i think i've done my last winter being bent over. Have a line on a used top off a wrecked camper hoping to get it soon and follow your path. Thanks for great content!

[@SlowRoamers]

Hey Harlan, thanks for watching! Low top life was definitely a struggle for me (Alex) and my back was screaming at me every day. So I can certainly relate. Glad we serve as inspiration. We’ve got a lot coming your way, so stay tuned!🙌🏻

[@jackiegammon2065]

The van looks great, can't wait to see your next project!

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks Jackie! We’re SO stoked to get back into the van and resume traveling. I’m working as fast as I can. 😁

[@CraigG21]

Isn’t the vapor barrier supposed to go on the heated side of the insulation?

[@SlowRoamers]

I’m sure that’s one way that it’s been done. I figured, if we glued the reflectix to the walls that we would get a closer seal. Maybe it’ll work, maybe it won’t. Will we ever know? Probably not. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Thanks for watching!

[@CraigG21]

@@SlowRoamers appreciate the response. Was a serious question, not meant as a criticism. Will be interested to see how it works longer term. 👍

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for asking, it helps me think about it too! I’m sure I’ll have some kind of follow up video at a later date.

[@morganamoncada4230]

I love your series👍 Tell me your thoughts on not insulting the floor or placing relfectix on the wheel wells??? Thank you 🙏

[@SlowRoamers]

Excellent question! This is my reasoning, it’s not for everyone. Insulation is mainly for keeping heat in. It obviously works in both respects, it’ll keep you cool(er) in the summer, but it’s mainly to keep you warm during the cold days. We have no way of heating the floor and our propex heater outlet is above the floor. Heat rises, so all that forced hot air is just going up. The way I see it, the floor is going to get cold with or without insulation, so I there’s no point in eating up precious (in my case, I’m tall and in a short van) vertical space by adding insulation to the floor. I’ll just wear slippers when it’s cold. I had plans of filling the boxed in voids around the wheel wells with insulation or storage but never got around to it, but it’s kind of in the same realm of insulating floors, it’s likely to get cold anyway if it’s not being heated, so I haven’t bothered. The one upside to insulating the wheel wells though would be noise dissipation.

[@Roberta_Esposito]

ty guys

[@SlowRoamers]

You’re welcome!🙌🏻

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Awesome video with many tips that van builders seem to ignore. You have to build with light weight materials, almost like when building a yacht. I always thought that Wainscoting only went half way up the wall like in a a dining room.

[@SlowRoamers]

I think that’s the traditional use of wainscot, but it works great as a full wall covering as well. Thanks for watching, Mitchell!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@SlowRoamers You are welcome my super awesome Canadian friend!

[@SlowRoamers]

😁🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@SlowRoamers 🇨🇦

[@beamusedrev]

Great! Looking forward to the next video!

[@SlowRoamers]

Thanks for watching, Brenda! Next video is Thursday at 4pm 😁

[@FizzzleDizzzle]

Can you post a link or pdf of your “to do list Van build” procedures? Thanks

[@SlowRoamers]

Hey! Unfortunately I don’t have any kind of PDF prepared. The build series that this video is a part of follows the build process that I had set put pretty closely and should provide a good reference for when to go about certain stages in a build. Best of luck!🙌🏻

[@Chubbydippin]

Fantastic segment. The positive energy you 2 have is a huge boost to the whole transfer of experience, knowledge and hands on how to, why to, building techniques. Thankyou for sharing yourselves and your build. Question, how much higher(inches) is that high top from the van's original roof height. Looks like about 16" of extra headroom. I've often thought about 15-16" is plenty of added height compared to some of the higher 20-24" hi tops. Thanks again. Looking forward to more footage of how this build develops.

[@SlowRoamers]

You got it! Yes, it’s 16”! The height is a nice compromise for height gained and vehicle height. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!😁

[@luisramirez2263]

Cooking was unexpected and lovely

[@SlowRoamers]

Glad you liked it!! We’re trying to break up the building with a little bit of good production. Thanks for watching, Luis!

[@mslucy7230]

Thank you 😍💙🩵💙

[@SlowRoamers]

You’re welcome, thank YOU for watching!

[@mslucy7230]

@@SlowRoamers 😊

[@locomotivebreth1910]

Great video -- I will be ordering a van soon. How did you get the 2" pink foam to conform and stick to the walls? Did you score the back so that it would bend?

[@SlowRoamers]

I just cut a lot of pieces then taped it in. Good luck with the build!

[@RuthAnn-f4j]

I didn’t see the link of the wood for the walls you recommended.?

[@SlowRoamers]

Ah shoot, I recently took the link down. You’ll find it on the Home Depot website when you look up “Wainscot”

[@zepperhead89]

Another stellar video! The coffee and cooking montage were a pleasant surprise. Keep up the great work!

[@SlowRoamers]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching, Corey!

[@dogsbyfire]

New subscriber here! Fantastic video. You are one of the best van-build teachers I have found. Really appreciate the clear explanations, showing what tools to use, and your recommendation of materials. Would you mind explaining why you chose the fasteners that you did? I’m considering riveting the first layer of wood to the inner metal skin of the van to ensure long-term durability. Maybe this is overkill and screws and glue are enough. You have helped me immensely. Thank you so much! P.S.- the lunch looked awesome and really added to the quality of the video production.

[@SlowRoamers]

Hey, thanks for watching! So glad you’ve found our video useful! I used self tapping screws for the ribs of the van, it’s just easier and faster than predrilling and riveting, they can also be removed easily if needed. I use glue when applicable to help to cut down creaking and make sure that nothing pulls away with vibration. I hope this helped, all the best!

[@dogsbyfire]

@@SlowRoamers Nice to know. Thanks!🙂

[@SlowRoamers]

@@dogsbyfire no problem!

[@matthewgember3151]

Y’all are awesome. I’m new to the build world and learning a lot. I particularly like the food/build combo. Will definitely be trying out that recipe.

[@SlowRoamers]

Nice! Welcome to the build world. Seems a lot of ppl enjoyed the build/food aspect of this video. Unfortunately it just got too hectic and then Meg went back to work. There’s food and travel coming now though, so stay tuned.😁 Thanks for watching!

[@jameswulzen590]

I live in Hawaii on the Big Island so no need insulation

[@SlowRoamers]

👍🏼

[@adamseth6]

Hi where did you purchase your 2” closed cell insulation and vapor barrier ?

[@SlowRoamers]

You can purchase both at Home Depot

[@paulstephens9274]

No. Ya didn’t do reflectix on metal did ya

[@karneymac]

What is the height of the midline interior?

[@SlowRoamers]

With the ceiling in about 5’5”, without approximately 5’9”

[@BigFoot-158]

But do really really really like it 😂😂😂

[@SlowRoamers]

😁😁🙌🏻

[@luismichelduardo9234]

Greetings friends, what size do you dye the wheels of your camper?

[@SlowRoamers]

Currently we have 265/75/16 BFG k02’s on the van, but we’ll be upgrading to a 285/75/16 mid terrain. We’re able to accomplish this with a 3” Weldtec spindle lift. Thanks to watching!

[@luismichelduardo9234]

Thank you very much, I am your fan, and I really like your videos

[@SlowRoamers]

@@luismichelduardo9234 Glad to have you along for the ride! 😁

[@luismichelduardo9234]

If one day you pass through Pensacola, Florida USA, here is a place to share with a friend

[@SlowRoamers]

I’ll try to keep that in mind!😁

[@ZEUS-xt3dt]

Check cheap RV living he’s very good explaining the situation

[@SlowRoamers]

Yep, him and I chatted about it the other day. 😊

[@morganamoncada4230]

Oops, insulating the floor?

[@SlowRoamers]

Nope!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Alex, I made up a story about the Darién Gap and now I can’t find it. Someone asked you why you didn’t get a taller roof and you said that it has to fit in a container. I felt guilty and wanted to delete it just in case you might’ve believed it, please forgive me because I wanted to delete it before you saw it.

[@SlowRoamers]

All good, Mitchell!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@SlowRoamers Alex, I appreciate that very much!

[@paulstephens9274]

NO! Don’t say you used reflectix up against the metal -TOTAL WASTE!

[@k-mac5511]

Why so?

[@12vLife]

11:13 Does home depot still carry that Alexandria 5/16 moulding? I'm not finding it.

[@SlowRoamers]

I’m not sure, I haven’t looked for quite some time.