Cheapest way to insulate?

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Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby eddie6775 » Sat Jan 19, 2013 9:42 am

Hi all, It's been a while since I've posted, or even had the chance to continue on my little trailer but I'm poised and ready for spring time and am at the point where I need to start spending....................money. It seems like the insulation is the single most expensive thing on the trailer! Now, hind site being 20/20 I thing i should have used 3/4" thick boards for the walls instead of 1 1/2" as it would have cut the cost to stay warm and cool in half. I do realize you get what you pay for as far as r value and I chose the thickness I did because I live in the north east and plan on using my rig as far into winter as possible (I travel for work).

That being said, I was looking at different types of insulation and it seems fibreglass is by far the cheapest in cost; if you can find the rite thickness for my walls and the foam stuff is even pricey when it's been ripped out of something and sold as salvage. This is SO frustrating! Is there a poor man's solution to insulating your rig?
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby DriverOne » Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:00 am

Eddie, someone else on here mentioned a mix-in insulation that goes in paint. You might check that out.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby eddie6775 » Sat Jan 19, 2013 12:30 pm

Bags of insulation aren't a heck of allot, I think under 20 bucks, but from what I understand the foam board is 'the way to go' as it won't hold moisture or sag with time. At over 40 dollars for a 4x8 sheet I'm thinking I don't mind saggy walls! lol. I just wonder if I'd be doing myself an injustice by not using foam board. Some one a while back gave me a bunch of styra foam blocks that could be cut to fit but it's EXTREMELY flammable, so I ended up using it for a different project that I won't be sleeping in. Did you use fibre glass? Is it good enough to get me camping you think? At this point, :? I just want my camper to be camp-able!
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby bdosborn » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:00 pm

eddie6775 wrote:At over 40 dollars for a 4x8 sheet I'm thinking I don't mind saggy walls!


Wow, a sheet of 1-1/2" rigid insulation is only $15 at Home Depot. Where are you getting your insulation price from, I think you need to find another store?

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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby Vedette » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:19 pm

Think of it long term. Spend the money.....you won't be sorry!
The diffence is not that much if you compare it to money you are willing to spend on other things over the next 10 years.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby bdosborn » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:38 pm

Granted, this from a guy who obviously prefers rigid foam but it's worth considering:



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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby Lgboro » Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:09 pm

Go by a store that sells trailers like Tractor Supply, Lowes, etc. and ask the manager if they have Styrofoam blocks they use to separate the trailers during hauling. Usually they will give them to you and its easy to cut them to size. I posted the same a year or so ago and the builder said the first store gave him more than he need for his build for free.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby mezmo » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:45 am

You'd be much happier with the foam, it'd have by far
the best performance for you and easier to install. If
it's not structural [as in a sandwich construction] it doesn't
have to be glued, either friction fit in the spaces [it has to
have no gaps to perform], or minor tab gluing to keep it in
place. If there are gaps you can infill with the spray foam
in cans used for filling gaps for weatherizing. Just do your
best and it'll work out fine.

With fiberglass you'll get less performance and alot of
aggravation and itching when installing it. I wouldn't feel
it a good choice, as with increase in humidity it loses 'R'
value as/if it gets saturated and allows condensation in
the cavity in the correct conditions. A space fully filled
with foam doesn't.

I've never seen the Roxall, but from what I've read and
heard about it, that also seems to be a good alternative.
But it is probably not as readily available as foam is.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby eddie6775 » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:54 am

I e-mailed this company today with an inquiry. Interesting... :thinking:

http://www.greeninsulationgroup.com/terms.php
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby eddie6775 » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:57 am

Oh, and I looked at the Home depot web site, and the foam isn't as much as I originally thought. still pricey as compared to the fibreglass though.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby absolutsnwbrdr » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:54 am

Fiberglass insulation is virtually worthless if you compress it into a cavity that it is not designed for. Its insulation value is directly related the amount of "air space" that is trapped inside of the fiberglass batts. And eventually it will settle over time due to the vibration of travel.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby Martiangod » Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:38 pm

2" SM in the roof and 1 1/2 foil coated foamboard and 3" foundation board for the floor.
Slept in it at -20 Fah on a very windy hilltop.
Was one of the biggest outlays in my build but well worth it . Cozy warm

Foam also adds to the ridgidity of your build, where as fiberglass wont
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is

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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby NathanL » Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:04 pm

I used blue dow foam on the sides and top. 3/4" in the sides and 2 layers of 3/4 in the top for 1-1/2". That's a R-value of 8" in the roof with 2 layers plus the R-value of your headlinger and exterior covering. I paid around $75 for all the foam I used in a 5' wide by 9'-6" long trailer.
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby atahoekid » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:49 pm

I used 2 inches of the pink sheet foam in the walls and roof and I can't believe how warm the trailer is. In fact, on our last trip, it got a bit too warm and we had to figure out how to vent the trailer without opening the top vent in the cold rain. Thank goodness I put windows in on both sides. I feel confident about staying warm in any type of weather. I do have a small catalytic heater inside to warm things up but I've never run it for more than 20 minutes before shutting it down and staying warm for the rest of the night.

It sounds like you may be a bit too far along now to change wall thickeness but if you can, I'd recommend putting in the foam sheets. I think I paid 17.00 for a 2" thick 4x8 sheet
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Re: Cheapest way to insulate?

Postby DriverOne » Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:45 am

eddie6775 wrote:I e-mailed this company today with an inquiry. Interesting... :thinking:

http://www.greeninsulationgroup.com/terms.php

That is now saved to my favorites, thank you!
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