Van Build Guides

Van Insulation Compared: Thinsulate vs. Everything Else
Van Insulation Compared: Thinsulate vs. Everything Else The short answer: in a steel van, the material that wins is the one that tolerates moisture, survives flex, and can be pulled back out in five years to chase a rust spot. That is 3M Thinsulate for walls, ceiling and doors — hydrophobic, vapour-open, R-5.45 per inch, and about 36 lb for a whole 144. Use rigid foam board on the floor, where you have flat surfaces and a thickness budget. Use wool if you strongly prefer a natural fibre and accept... Read more...
How to Size a Campervan Electrical System
How to Size a Campervan Electrical System The short answer: add up what you use in a day in watt-hours, multiply by two so you can survive a cloudy day without driving, and buy that much usable battery. For most builds the number lands between 1 and 3 kWh per day, which means a 5 kWh bank for a weekender, 10 kWh for a full-timer with Starlink and an induction cooktop, and 15 kWh the moment you add air conditioning. Solar is the smallest of your three charging sources —... Read more...
Diesel vs. Gas Air Heaters for Vans
Diesel vs. Gas Air Heaters for Vans The short answer: buy the heater that burns what is already in your van's tank. A diesel air heater and a gasoline air heater are the same machine — same sealed combustion chamber, same 12 V blower, same 4–27 W running draw, same thermostat — differing mainly in the burner and the fuel it is calibrated for. Carrying a second fuel type so you can run the "better" heater is a bad trade in a vehicle where every litre of storage is contested.... Read more...