I just bought a 1990 GMC Rally STX 2500 van that has had the headliner removed. There are still bits and pieces of the original left that need removed. I want to set this van up so I can camp in it eventually. My concern with the new headliner is moisture and condensation. It doesn't help anything that I live north of Seattle Washington (i.e., lot of rain). Does anyone have any suggestions for mitigating the moisture/condensation that will inevitably form on the inside?
Last edited by KaijuHunter; April 27th 2018 11:05 am.
I live south of you in Tacoma, so I know what you are talking about with rain and condensation. What you want is passive (or even active) airflow. If you have pop out windows on the side or rear doors, I recommend getting a set of those vent visor rain guards that go above the front windows. That way you can leave the front windows sightly open and pop open one or more windows in back and get a nice crossflow of air. But then you have to deal with screens to keep bugs out.
I leave my rigs parked outsie for weeks at a time in the winter without moving them but i have the vent visors and if I leave the front window open a bit I never have any issues with condensation or musty smells.
Thanks Reed! I do have the pop out windows on the sides and the rear...I'll be sure to give that a try.
Would you have any suggestions for the type of insulation to install/use? My plan is to install insulation and then cover it with treated wood or paneling. Instead of using fir strips on the frame ribs of the ceiling to attach the wood to I plan on using composite decking (the plastic wood) and then attach the wood paneling to them.
There have been numerous discussions over the years about styrofoam vs. fiberglass vs. reflectix and the pros and cons of each. Further, there have been discussions about the proper installation methods for each product. The important thing to remember is to use the right product for the application.
These days, I actually want to try the paint on ceramic loaded coatigs like Al's Noise and Heat reducer or Lizard Skin that block noise and heat and paint right onto the inner metal of the van. I think that would be the best from a condensation standpoint since it won't get waterlogged like fiberglass.
Search this site for the discussion threads. I think they were in "Generic How To."
I found 4x8' sheets of fiber reinforced plastic shower paneling at Menards. That's what I'm planning on using when I get around to my headliner. It's textured on one side, but the other side is smooth and would be perfect to glue material to. It's also thin and pretty flexible.
A friend of mine suggested that I use composite decking to attach to the frame ribs and attach 1/4"X6"X4' cedar paneling to those. He said to install each piece of paneling one at a time and use spray in expanding foam insulation to fill the voids with. Sounds good but it also sounds very permanent. I'm fairly certain it'd work but if I ever had to take it down I might as well take out a hammer and chisel.
I guess I could always put a piece of vapor barrier plastic between the paneling and the and the foam insulation... Just a thought.
Spray foam insulation can absorb water can cause rust out. This is what I want to do the next time I build a van interior. Paint lizard skin or a comparable product on the metal. Fil the void between the metal skin of the van and the interior panels with styrofoam insulation. On the ceiling, install furring strips perpendicular with the roof ribs so I have a good substructure to attach the ceiling panelling to.