The “Wall”....For Those Who Camp in the Cold

[memtb]

This is one of those posts to ignore, if you don’t winter camp. For the select few of us that do....this “may” be of interest.
As we all know the van section of the Motorhome offers near zero insulating value. This area of huge heat losses causes your forced air heat to run more using more propane and “drawing-down” the batteries faster!
It’s merely a “bubble” foil insulation “Wall”,placed between the van cab and the Motorhome living quarters. The “Wall” consists of two sections of “bubble” foil insulation cut to width, and velcro’d together for floor to ceiling height.
The three photos show the separate pieces and the third the two velcro’d together. When placed between the van area and the living area, it should help on those “cold” nights. The only drawback is....when rolled-up oil is rather bulky, taking up space where storage is at a premium. The plus....it weighs nearly nothing!

[S1njin]

Yes that doghouse continues to radiate heat for quite some time. Its pretty good though for early spring / late fall camping !!

[pnichols]

Off topic, but when pulling into a camping spot with our Ford V10 Class C, I find a terrific amount of heat of course coming into the cab interior from the large mass of the engine for quite some time.

In warm/hot weather, I sometimes leave the hood up so the bulk of the engine heat can exit out the open hood instead of into the cab's interior. Even with our isolation curtain put up between the cab and the coach, exiting engine heat this way allows us to cool down the coach interior much faster with fans or the air conditioner.

[mgirardo]

When we owned our Class C we used a set of Thermal Curtains on a length of paracord. The curtains kept the cold (in winter) and the heat (in summer) in the cab area and out of the house. Using the curtains allowed us to access stuff stored in the cab without having to go outside or to completely remove the barrier.

-Michael

[wowens79]

I bet they also help a lot in the summer when it is hot. We noticed a huge difference just putting foam in the skylight and vent of out TT

[S1njin]

Slightly off-topic but related, I wonder if the external white windshield covers keeps the heat out better then the inside silver heat shield type reflectors.

The external cover is certainly cheaper !

[pnichols]

What's important is maintaining trapped air between the barrier and the cab's floor, doors, windows, and windshield. This trapped air mass is what is doing the insulating.

The barrier only needs to stop the mixing/flow of air between the coach interior and the cab interior. We only use a lined curtain to block nearly all air exchange between the coach and the cab when camped in cold weather. Our Class C came stock with a curtain that snaps into place to isolate the coach and cab areas.

What also helps is covering the cab windshield on the outside with one of those heavy white covers that many use. This cover, plus only an air isolation curtain is a great way help keep the coach warmer in cold weather.

[Tiger4x4RV]

I have Reflectix covers for all windows in both cab and coach, plus a pleated pull-across curtain between cab and coach. I add a blanket on top of the pleated curtain if it is really cold.

This setup is great for keeping either hot or cold air from the cab out of the living quarters. The Wall idea probably works, too, but it does not meet the RV criteria of every item having at least two uses in order to earn the space it occupies. OK, it is true that my pull-across curtain doesn't meet them either, but it came with the Tiger and it folds into almost no space which perhaps exempts it from the Two Uses rule.

[Photomike]

Cool idea.... or warm as it were. I use the moving blankets but they could use another R20 some nights.

[memtb]

I’m glad to see that it is working for you folks. I hope to test it soon....if it doesn’t warm-up too much! ??

[mikebreeze]

I winter camp and have used Reflectix on all of the windows and roof vents. For the space between the house in the cab I have built a smaller version of what the OP has done. This way, I can roll everything up in a nice, neat bundle when I am ready to leave. Reflectix works well in extreme cold as well as extreme heat.

[gbopp]

I use Reflectix insulation on the windshield & side windows in our Southwind to keep heat and sun damage out.
I'm not a cold weather camper. Around the end of September I've had enough winter. 🙂

[memtb]

OK.....now I’m starting to feel foolish! 😮
Next, someone will tell me about a motorized, remote control, insulated, roll-down( like a window shade).....that you can buy, on sale at CampersWorld! :M

[jcsb]

We use a movers blanket from harbor freight in the summer also. Really cuts down on heat and the A/C does not work as hard.

Installer gromlets on one edge and fastened hooks on base of entertainment ctr.

Blanket is longer than distance to floor and a bit wider than needed but removes and installs very easy and folds up for travel.

[memtb]

And yours is a lot more practical...if you want to wrap-up and watch tv! 😉
I hope this helps on those below zero nights....time will tell! 🙂