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[Frank]

For my van build I don't want or need a side door. However it appears that no one builds panel vans without a side door. Is it possible to return a sliding door back to solid panel side?

My build hinges on its insulation properties and it all goes out the window (literally) if I have a sliding door which I have zero hope of being able to adequately insulate.

[Camper_Dan]

Greetings and Welcome!

In many places it is illegal to block off a door...

With that being said, your thinking is flawed.  We are in need of constant, active ventilation to prevent condensation, and moisture/mold build up.  Ventilation defeats insulation.

Insulation does not produce heating or cooling, it only slightly slows the equalization of the temperature between the inside and the outside of a ~SEALED~ container. 

Reefer trucks typically have between 12"-18" of insulation, combined with their own refrigeration/freezer system.  Yet if the system goes down for an hour, the whole load is considered spoiled.

An ice house typically has 6 feet plus of insulation.

To make a long story shorter, we don't have enough interior space for enough insulation, even it if worked the way we would hope for, which it doesn't.  Insulation only hides condensation & moisture/mold build up, it doesn't prevent it, nothing totally prevents it, because our own breathing creates it, cooking creates it, the use of water creates it, propane heating/cooking creates it, etc. etc.

Since we can't prevent it, our only choice is in how we deal with it.  Ventilation combined with constant air movement is the most effective, combined with dry heat, and dry cooling power.  That is the formula for actual success, not insulation.

To be comfortable, we need enough heating/cooling power to compensate and overcome the needed ventilation.  At -40°F outside, it will be in the 70's inside my rig with 4 windows open, and no added insulation.  It's a window van, and I do not insulate the windows either, because the windows are the first indicator of insufficient air flow.  Year round, I keep my rig in the 70's inside when I'm in it, because I'm both living & working from inside my rig.

It's not especially difficult, we just have to change our way of thinking and doing things away from houses, and into vehicles.  There's a world of difference between the two.   The volume of air inside is tiny compared to a even a single room in a house, yet we have 4 exposed walls, plus an exposed roof, and exposed floor.  It's closer to a metal tent than to a house.

Good Luck!

 

[Frank]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I should have mentioned I will have a humidity sensing roof vent. I wasn't intending to live in an airtight foam box lol

I take your point, I'm a truck driver and have done those jobs with a temp unit, and you are right, give it a few hours no power to the unit and the temp starts to drop. However, keep those doors closed and it doesn't take a great deal to keep it at temp.

That's been my experiences with anything heating or cooling. Maintaining a stable temp takes less energy than bringing it back up or down.

Wherever I lived I have a thermostat set to a comfortable temp and never touch it again.

The idea was to recreate as closely as I can the conditions I am used to. That means keeping the van at a stable temp 24/7 365

To keep a stable temp I can't have gaping holes in my insulation (except for the roof fan) hence insulated bulkhead and wanting to do something about the side door.

Yes the insulation will never be perfect in a van, and insulation in a van is not a solution to moisture, only ventilation will solve that, but it terms of heat or temperature, the better insulated the less energy required to maintain a temp, less energy equals more chance of that being handled by my off grid supply.

[Camper_Dan]

Greetings!

What is your off grid supply and heating source going to be?

I'm having difficulty understanding how keeping the indoor temps comfortable 24/7 would be safe or practical.

Even if it's possible, wouldn't the extra cost in fuel & energy outweigh any benefits?

Cheers!

[Frank]

Hi there, the system will be 1200w solar with 5kWh battery capacity, ECOFLOW power kit.

I have 300w continuous power assigned for heating, I plan to have a 60w ceramic heater and 2 x 120w convection heaters.

So the system will be 48v with a distribution box, and all heaters will have a thermometer switch on and off

I will also have a diesel heater installed as a back up source of heating

I also have no idea if it'll work, never done this before

[Frank]

I guess if it was practical and safe, then why wouldn't you do it? Maybe a vehicle isn't designed to be like that 24/7, the exterior of the van would be a different temperature then I don't know if that would cause more condensation on the exterior?

Also what fan/vent do you use?

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