Cheap but effective insulation/soundproofing ideas please!

[snowjoe]

Just bought a crew cab which is unlined panel van in rear and no bulkhead. Would like to make it a bit cosier and quieter if possible for the family this winter. We have very little cash so I think the proper sticky back sound proofing options are out. Wondering about old carpet, polystyrene, loft insulation type ideas. I am boarding it so seems silly not to add some sort of insulation while I am at it, but needs to be as cheap as poss.
Interested in any brainwaves from the eggspurts here!
thanks

[metalworker0]

laminate flooring insulation

all the best.mark

[dumper]

What I’ve done with the camper vans I’ve built is waxoil the panels then use the plastic bottle recycled loft insulation then on the boarding out I’ve stuck carpet on and rolled the carpet over all the edges, glued and stapled them at the back about 25 mil overlap and then screwed them onto the van steel work this way if you need to remove them it’s very easy my last van I’ve used the proper carpet but on earlier vans I used the cheap thin foam backed carpet.This came in handy as on the previous van I had changed the side marker lights for l e d,s and one needed replacing so the board had to come off this was 10 years after I built it and the steel panels had no sign of rust. and the insulation was as in good condition as when I first put it in.

[snowjoe]

laminate flooring insulation

all the best.mark

Thanks Mark, that's a new idea on me! Is this the sort of thing you mean?https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175280289770

It says it does a bit of both (sound and heat insulation). If so, that could be a decent option!

[snowjoe]

What I’ve done with the camper vans I’ve built is waxoil the panels then use the plastic bottle recycled loft insulation then on the boarding out I’ve stuck carpet on and rolled the carpet over all the edges, glued and stapled them at the back about 25 mil overlap and then screwed them onto the van steel work this way if you need to remove them it’s very easy my last van I’ve used the proper carpet but on earlier vans I used the cheap thin foam backed carpet.This came in handy as on the previous van I had changed the side marker lights for l e d,s and one needed replacing so the board had to come off this was 10 years after I built it and the steel panels had no sign of rust. and the insulation was as in good condition as when I first put it in.

Thanks. Wasn't 100% clear on what you mean, what is the "proper carpet"? When you say "cheap thin foam backed" - I take it you mean just household cheap carpet?
I was thinking of getting some of that grey stuff you glue onto speaker boxes, but whatever is cheapest is best for me!
I also haven't heard of plastic bottle recycled insulation.

Question for you - what do you use for boarding it? I know ply is probably the usual option by ply seems no better than MDF these days (wasted a fortune on "marine ply" for my trailer which didn't even last a year, utter shite!). I noticed the floor in my wife's old minibus was actually MDF (couldn't believe it, but still in good nick) with a black rubber layer on top. I'd like to do the same sort of thing, not sure where to get the rubber floor matting though. Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks

[dumper]

The proper carpet is the 4 way stretchable from suppliers like Magnum motorhomes .Yes the cheap foam backed.
The board was thin ply board it bends well round the shape of the body used both marine and standard cheap ply I’ve never used mfd
The glue even the spray carpet glue soon adds up as you tend to use a lot .
Just another thought on one van I used a textured cheap ply a friend who was also building a camper found load of it ,
It looked like the board had wallpaper applied to it.
If you google glass bottle insulation, it should come up somewhere, I’ve got mine from one of the local DIY is chains

[metalworker0]

laminate flooring insulation

all the best.mark

Thanks Mark, that's a new idea on me! Is this the sort of thing you mean?https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175280289770

It says it does a bit of both (sound and heat insulation). If so, that could be a decent option!

Yes that's the one - but be careful of that listing you can be mislead by the terminology and the way its set out. you are buying ...by clicking the pictures on the left...and then drop down menu that you have in the boxes - per meter squared...you could easily end up with the tape and not the foam if you bought from that listing!
The underlay is closed cell foam ..meaning that that it will not absorb water or moisture ..its impermeable,, you can also use spray contact adhesive to double it up...build it up layer by layer.

I use it all the time to enhance stuff i sell on ebay ..make it more likely to sell, than a bunch of loose bits rolling around in a box.

The stuff i have, does not have the shiny metallic surface ..so i can vouch for the way that one glues with spray contact adhesive

all the best.mark

[snowjoe]

Thanks both again

Dumper - Am I right in thinking you made a mistake when you said "glass bottle insulation", did you mean plastic bottle insulation? I googled that and found this : https://www.diy.com/departments/diall-i ... 812_BQ.prd - is that the stuff?

I like both ideas to be honest. The roll of soft stuff seems cheaper, but no idea which will be more effective both at reducing noise and at insulating the van. I suspect the roll will be better at insulation, but would be nice to get the van quieter on the road. Hard to knnow which to try. If anyone else reads this and has any idea which is best for soundproofing out of the two, I'd love to hear any experiences.
thanks again, good stuff to think about

Also, when it comes to doing the floor, someone suggested Stokboard, anyone tried that inside a van? Price of bloody MDF or ply these days is awful, and doesn't last 5 minutes!

[dumper]

Yes that’s it made out of recycled plastic bottles just work out how much you need and check the overhaul price
I have used the standard glass fibre insulation and it as been ok in the life of the van when I sold it and no sign of rust but the glass bottle stuff seemed to be as good as new after 10 years

[Keef]

I've seen a few people recommend the recycled plastic bottle insulation for camper conversions but is it really a good idea to line your van with something flammable that might give of harmful gases when burnt?
You only need a wiring short or overloaded wiring behind your wall and you've lost your camper, assuming you get out in time!
Just a thought.

[snowjoe]

Thanks and good thinking. I checked and the stuff I'd buy says it's fire retardant etc, and safe for campers. I am not actually doing a camper though. This is a fairly tatty 2009 crew van which wife and kids will use for getting changed in and sat at beaches, so a bit of insulation will be handy (as much for keeping heat out as in!) but mostly as she loved her old bus so much, I'd like to make this quieter inside. temperature insulation is a bonus but the main focus is soundproofing, nothing fancy but if i can reduce some of the 'transit rattle' that would be nice!

[dumper]

I googled plastic bottle recycled insulation and it says it melts rather then burns and is class e fire retardant.

[snowjoe]

I'll find a link to what I saw.

[snowjoe]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155819441807

[twin wheel camper]

I googled plastic bottle recycled insulation and it says it melts rather then burns and is class e fire retardant.

Try to burn it and you’ll see
I had some outside in the shed that I wanted to get rid of and when I was burning a heap of old wood and everything I tried to burn it and it almost wouldn’t burn at all even on a huge bonfire
It did eventually burn up and disappear but it’s super fire resistant no doubt about it and that was bought 12/15 years ago and no doubt they have improved it since most likely.