You just got yourself a panel van. Proud as can be, you spend your first night at a peaceful VanSite pitch in your empty vehicle, thinking about how to best set it up. Then it gets pretty cold, and a few fat drops drip from the roof rail onto your face.

Sound familiar?

Then it's time to insulate your camper!

Here at VanSite you'll find out:

• why insulating your van makes sense

• which materials besides Armaflex are suitable for insulation

• how to apply the insulation correctly

Have fun!

Why should I insulate my camper?

If you travel regularly in your van or even live in it full time, a lot of moisture will build up in your vehicle, especially if you don't have a parking heater or an alternative camping heater.

Water vapour from cooking and showering, plus your own breath, can quickly lead to rust inside your van.

And when it's biting cold outside, you'll definitely want to stay warm inside. Good camper insulation protects you from extreme cold and heat and keeps the temperature comfortable. Sensitive camping equipment (such as battery packs) is then protected from major temperature swings.

Insulation also extends the lifespan of your camper and reduces driving and exterior noise.

Van insulation: Armaflex, cork and other materials

Before you start insulating your camper, it's worth taking a look at the many different materials available.

Here's a brief overview:

• Armaflex: This synthetic rubber material is very popular, barely flammable, soundproofing and heat-insulating, and easy to work with (self-adhesive). There are several types of Armaflex (e.g. XG, AF) and thicknesses.

• PU construction foam: Construction foam is sprayed onto the relevant surfaces and then hardens. You can buy it in spray cans and seal even the smallest holes and cracks in your camper.

• Cork: This sustainable, natural material is available as boards or rolls in various thicknesses and sizes.

• Sheep wool and hemp wool: These materials are sustainable and natural in any case. If you use them, you should also add a vapour barrier to prevent the material from absorbing moisture.

As you can see, there are plenty of alternatives to the well-known Armaflex that are also suitable for insulating your camper.

Note: With natural materials, pay attention from the start to making sure no mould can form later on.

Image from Unsplash by Charles Deluvio |

Insulating your camper: which insulation material and what thickness?

Have you already decided on a material?

If you need some help, take a look at these questions!

• In what temperature range do I want to use the van?

• What matters to me when working with the insulation (e.g. ease of handling)?

• Where exactly do I want to apply the insulation?

• Do I already know whether I'll need additional materials (e.g. vapour barrier, adhesive)?

• What matters to me regarding sustainability, disposal and natural materials?

• How do I want to clad the insulated surfaces afterwards?

Now it'll be easier for you to choose the right material in the right thickness.

Quick tip: if you're still unsure, ask other campers about their experiences to get a better picture.

Preparing the van for insulation

Before you can insulate the camper, there are a few small things to take care of.

All surfaces you want to insulate must be free of dirt and grease. Otherwise, your carefully applied insulation may not stick for long.

You could also cover wheel arches, side panels and ceiling areas with alubutyl for extra sound insulation. One piece of alubutyl is applied per surface, covering about 40% of that surface.

Of course, for insulating your van you'll also need:

• Cardboard/paper templates

• Box cutter/scissors/ceramic knife

• Marker/pen

• possibly additional adhesive and insulation tape

• Gloves

Note: If you want to insulate the entire camper, start with the floor. A good method is to glue wooden battens to the floor and apply insulation between them.

On the battens you can later attach the floor panel and then comfortably insulate the rest of the van.

Image by VanSite

Cladding the insulation: making it feel like home

After you've insulated your camper properly, it probably won't look particularly pretty. With some natural materials like hemp wool, your entire van will be covered in vapour barrier film.

Once you've sealed the last gaps with insulation or tape, you'll be wondering how to hide all the insulation mess.

These ideas will help you clad the interior of your van:

• Screw profile wood (e.g. spruce/fir) over the insulated surfaces

• Stick felt/fabric over the insulation

• Clad walls and ceiling with plywood panels

Note: Profile wood cladding needs a wooden substructure and takes up more space than felt and thin wood panels.

Conclusion: insulating your camper made easy

Good insulation really is half the battle!

It not only protects against cold, moisture and heat, but also also prevents rust formation.

To choose the right insulation material, it helps to think about your travel destinations, sustainability and installation.

Once the insulation is done, you can upgrade the interior of your van with attractive cladding made of wood, felt or fabric and let your imagination run wild.

More blog posts on the topic of camper conversion can also be found here.