Two layers thinsulate?

Just listened to the latest Humble Road video on their latest Transit build and he said they do double-layer thinsulate on all their builds. So I think that’s an accurate representation of the “high end”.


Others in this forum will give you plenty of opinions on the R-value of the two layers and whether you’ll see any value of that added layer when there’s still a ton of thermal bridging to the steel interior.

I’m sticking with a single layer of thinsulate and neoprene on top of the steel panels similar to Nate Costella’s build notes.

As long as there is sufficient room for the insulation to expand, sure. Packing insulation in results in loss of r-value. Where it gets tricky is when there is not quite enough room for full expansion, does the extra insulation help? I think that as long as you aren't compressing it a lot that it probably does. I ended up with more than one layer in a few areas because there was plenty of room.

I went with two layers of foamboard covering all of the steel for a total of R-12, A inch of polyiso and a inch of xps.
It cost me a tiny fraction of what thinsulate costs.

I insulated with one layer of 600 insulate and heat with a Webasto 2000. Last winter I camped in -17F. I woke up at 2am needing to turn down the heat. I'm not sure what the summer will bring, but cooling with a Ecoflow Wave 2. Believe it's 5000btu.

spin-dry said:

I insulated with one layer of 600 insulate and heat with a Webasto 2000. Last winter I camped in -17F. I woke up at 2am needing to turn down the heat. I'm not sure what the summer will bring, but cooling with a Ecoflow Wave 2. Believe it's 5000btu.

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I am finishing up insulating with Thinsulate - plan on doubling it up where I can, without compressing it. Also got a Ecoflow Wave 2 for cooling (5,100 BTU) and heating (6,100 BTU)

What Boondox said, as long as there is enough space. Don’t compress it.
I used 1/2” foam where I could with thinsulate over the to….one layer.
these rigs are heat leakers. Do your best then use your heater.

Once you get to R-7, the incremental value of additional insulation is pretty low. The real bang for your buck at that point comes from improving window coverings, eliminating thermal bridging, and any unintended ventilation. At the same time, where there is space for additional layers of insulation, I'm adding it.

Well as long as you aren't compressing it a lot and there's enough space, you probably can.

I have 2 layers in my van. As mentioned above, none of that means anything if you don't cover every square inch of exposed metal.

Landcruiser said:

Quick question for those who used thinsulate in their van. My out fitter use’s thinsulate that is just under 2 3/4 inches thick. I asked about more insulation and he said could add another layer of thinsulate for$700. Will have a espar heater. Be camping summer fall in Alaska. Winter in Arkansas. What do those of you with thinsulate experience think? My outfitter does not use Havelock wool Thanks for thoughts from those of you with real work experience.

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We installed two layers of thinsulate as we live in Canada and wanted as much insulation as possible. The walls have enough depth for two layers. It made the van a lot quieter and wamer/cooler in summer/winter. We are happy we did it. The thinsulate is expensive but it is designed for use in automobiles.

Michael Ophus said:

I went with two layers of foamboard covering all of the steel for a total of R-12, A inch of polyiso and a inch of xps.
It cost me a tiny fraction of what thinsulate costs.

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I started with foam board, then took the van out for Memorial Day weekend a few years ago. Had lots of rain and hail that weekend. Couldn't believe how loud it was inside van when raining, with foam board.

Previous van had Thinsulate and was super quiet during rain.

Drove home, removed foam board, replaced with Thinsulate. Muchmobetta.

I used two layers in places where it fit without compromising on space. Probably 40% of my build that worked fine.

jkmann said:

Once you get to R-7, the incremental value of additional insulation is pretty low. The real bang for your buck at that point comes from improving window coverings, eliminating thermal bridging, and any unintended ventilation. At the same time, where there is space for additional layers of insulation, I'm adding it.

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I would agree. I saved the money from adding an extra layer of insulation and put it toward a quality set of custom window coverings.

I do not get the Thinsulate obsession. designed to do one thing, and people are insulating entire vans with it. I used it in the ceiling, and removed it 2 years later and replaced with foam board, because it did nothing.

greenvan said:

I do not get the Thinsulate obsession. designed to do one thing, and people are insulating entire vans with it. I used it in the ceiling, and removed it 2 years later and replaced with foam board, because it did nothing.

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Yep its very much overrated and expensive considering its not really that great for insulation,
I used 600 for walls / ceiling one layer…and on warm sunny day here in pacific north west I can feel
some heat coming through , I never expected perfect .. but on a white Van ? Yaa kinda of disappointed
still effective and a lot better than no insulation …yep its a way overrated product……………………..
anyone with darker colors 2 layers on ceiling not a bad Idea….

I used 600 Thinsulate on my van and you could feel the difference right away. That being said it is very hard to insulate a van as all the metal channels and parts that are connected to the outside have a lot of thermal transfer. Filling the channels with insulation does little to nothing as the outside of that channels is going to transfer a lot heat or cold inside the van. My can has Thinsulate then a layer of reflectix on the back side of my wall panels, then 1/4" plastic wall panel and then a fabric material on the outside of the wall panel. It does a good job but not perfect. You could fill the walls with R6 but with all the metal there is no way you are getting an R6 rating for the whole wall. Saw a video the other day and the guy said his van walls had an R30 rating....what ever he was smoking I want some.

mikesee said:

I started with foam board, then took the van out for Memorial Day weekend a few years ago. Had lots of rain and hail that weekend. Couldn't believe how loud it was inside van when raining, with foam board.

Previous van had Thinsulate and was super quiet during rain.

Drove home, removed foam board, replaced with Thinsulate. Muchmobetta.

I used two layers in places where it fit without compromising on space. Probably 40% of my build that worked fine.

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It sounds like you are not interested in insulation, And if you spend your time in the right climate you do not really need it.

Thinsulate… I give it grade A for sound proofing and grade C for thermal