A good cheap way to help keep the cold or heat out of your C/Van or Motorhome is to use bubble wrap on your windows .Use Blu Tack or even Velcro to keep it on. It will cut the temp down or up depending how hot or cold it is. Can buy it in rolls at post office or even those office supply shops or maybe via the net.
I have been meaning to post this idea re the use of bubble wrap for some time,but just remembered it today for some reason.Why I mention it to be a effective cheap way to help keep your van warmer/cooler is that I had to go to one of those dreaded energy saving seminars through work and some you beaut professor on climate change was giving a talk and demo regarding the bubble wrap and was saying it is used a lot now over in the colder underdeveloped parts of the world.So I asked him re the use for RVs and he said it sure would help a lot. One of the blokes I work with has put it on his Hi Ace camper and is wrapped with it.he also uses the silver window shield thingo's as well. I know also of a solo coaster owner who has sown the bubble wrap between block out pieces of curtains , kind of like a sandwich curtain/bubble wrap/ curtains. Must ask her how it has worked.
How about using two sheets of foil with bubble wrap in between, like a sandwich? Use spray on adhesive on one side of the foil, stick the bubble wrap to it, then stick the second piece of foil on top.
Or you can buy silver foil bubble insulation see link . I have heard that some people insulate the canvas/vinyl area of the poptop caravans with a strip of this type of foil.
I used foam insulation they use on floating floors .. Its $32 a roll at Bunnings.. Have used it between lining and vinyl covering inside.. When re-covering inside bus/ motorhome..I think its better than fibre glass as it holds moisture which promotes rust.. It could be used on windows if required ?? We already have the reflective panels that go up at night for front window etc.. We don't need any more accidents on the road now do we ?? Aha..
We have purchased the sun block shades for car windscreens. I have placed a channel strip above each window. Mrs Dee then cut the shade to the size of windows then she sewed a piece of material to the shade and then rope to the material so it would run through the channel. It is kept in place with strong elastic around each window.
Bubble wrap also attached to inside of each window.
For the roof ? Solar ? I have seen fibreglass made from existing roof as template . Then mounted 80mm or so higher from roof . Can be made strong engought to carry cargo . Nothing insulates better than a cavity or airspace .
Totally off-topic but reading down this thread I came upon GaryKellys input to this thread - what a great bloke he was, heaps more GNs that have passed away too. It was great to have known them however remotely.
Totally off-topic but reading down this thread I came upon GaryKellys input to this thread - what a great bloke he was, heaps more GNs that have passed away too. It was great to have known them however remotely.
Good Luck.
How right you are, had some good input with Gary, he made me feel very lucky. Rip Gary.