When you guys start taking the panel off I was thinking of the Winnebago guys looking each other sweating hoping there was some insulation behind the panels, Winnebago should do it like you guys what they used is not even enough for my tropical country (Costa Rica) up in the mountains
Yes, exactly! I'm sure it would have been "ok" but with our temperatures we figured why not put a little more effort into it and make it even better. Thanks for coming back Mark. Always a pleasure to hear from you.
A few questions arose as I watched this. Has #winnebago caught on to you guys and noticed what a great job you’re doing showing the realities of this van? I like how you stay positive and show how it works for you and I’m sure others feel the same way. Do you still love it as much as the first day you got it? Have you had to work with their service department yet? You both have a great combination of showing how you use it and how you make it better to suit your personal needs while having fun doing it. Looking forward to seeing winter adventures.
Hi Chad, We advent heard anything from Winnebago lol. We absolutely 100% love the van with no regrets. We bought it knowing we would want to make some changes so that part does not disappoint us at all. Just a little work which never killed anyone. We probably didn't need to take on this project but I would rather be doing it now than when it is snowing and below zero lol. We have not gone to the service department yet... waiting till after tourist season is done so it is less busy. Thank you so much for watching!
You are so kind to consider a thin piece of foam “insulation”, if I had paid 100 gran for a van, the least I would expect is good insulation. Revel should donate this van to you and learn to not cheat on clients. Well done you guys!
haha, agreed, but really it's 99% of the fun is upgrading it. We knew we wouldn't have even half of these features if we would have chosen another route. It really is just fine for PNW, Colorado etc. I'm sure they could add more, but as a big corporation, they won't, and I wouldn't expect it. It's business. They did upgrade and relocate the battery system in the new 2021 to lithium. But we have other plans for that. We knew what we were getting going into it. And...I don't look at it as we paid 100k. I look at it as we are borrowing it every month for $700.00. and making it our own along the way. 😂😂. Hope to meet up with you soon! xoxo
Good idea, only concern I could have is that the wool may retain moisture where as the closed cell foam had no ability to do that. Also be careful not to over stuff and compress the wool. The insulating value is maintained by the air that is trapped in it. So you need air pockets in it. Solid wool is not as good as loose wool. So try to pull it back and let it fill the void loosely. Avoid using it where it will collect moisture. Don't want that beautiful van to rust from the inside.
I think you got one of the pieces I was missing from my back doors. If I can find 10 other people to donate the rear door insulation to me I may have enough to insulation about 1/4 of the rear doors. Mine is a 2018 and an I had a piece of insulation in each door that was 1 inch thick by 16 inches by 4 inches....That was it. Unbelievable for a van that cost upward of $140,000......
Agreed. Storyteller came in and fixed that issue didn't they? This made me smile, "Asking for insulation donations!" I can see it as a decal on the side of the van. 😂 Honestly though, either way we would have still added more. Between that and covering the windows, I was telling Jim last night I'm more comfortable in there than a drafty home. We were hoping they'd listen for the 2021....nope. As you know, we enjoy this aspect of it though. It's going to be a whole new van by the time we're done. 😁. Have a wonderful week Andrew!
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska I have spent the last week fixing little things that bug me. It seems like everything Winnebago touches on the outside has some rust on it. Everyting inside squeaks and rattles. I have removed the solar brackets and ladder parts which were so rusted I had to cut off the bolt holding the ladder onto the door. This van was on the east coast for only one winter. Next project is going after the step brackets and the battery cages. I have ordered 2 bags of the wool from Reno which I will pick up and plan to build something similar to the GLSS lounge. I have enjoyed your videos and plan to do some quick repair videos on the REVEL of my Quick fixes. I took an old cheap-ass dog crate bed and turned it into window insulation. I have also perfected the removal and polishing of the acrylic windows. Take care and enjoy life way up there!
I’m really shocked at how crappy the insulation is in the doors for a supposedly 4 season camper. Any you’re saying the 2020 is worse? Damn. I’m in the process of buying a 2020....
We actually talk about this further in our video on Sunday. This was our concern....we Play in VERY cold temperatures. We added the insulation at very little work and around $300,00.... for peace of mind. We hadn't experienced a winter in the Revel when this video was made. When we pulled off the panels on the back doors we were concerned that it might not keep us warm in the winter. We bought this to use all year and not to sit in our driveway in the winter. The Major concern and disappointment was a gap under the drawer in the kitchen and that was an easy fix. Our experience will be covered in another video because we went down to -30 degrees camping and -40 windchill while visiting the arctic circle. From what we have seen since the 2020's have been released, the insulation remains the same. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions. Thanks for watching!
If you're going to pull your entire van apart to add insulation, you should get some sound deadening mat and put small squares of it on the large steel panels to keep them from resonating. You don't need to cover the entire metal panel, just put about 1/3rd the panel size of the deadening mat on the steel inside. Also, get some close foam vinyl sound deadening sheets to put behind all your interior panels before you put them back on, those 3 things will make your van super quite, and super insulated.
Thanks for sharing this! I plan to do mine when I get done with Denali this fall. thinking of using Mineral wool, I know its not as natural but can buy it at home depot.
I read something on the mineral wool that wasn't incredibly positive when we were researching what we wanted to use. Cant remember the article off the top of my head. Just make sure to research it before you make that final decision. We are working on the garage / bedroom right now should have that done this weekend maybe... well for sure because we have Denali the following weekend lol.
Supposed to be four seasons but not for northerners. Since your insulation is wool what about sewing or having sewn a blanket made of surplus wool blanket and your wool. Might be easy,certainly effective and cost effective by using surplus. Re dust are there not second source additional seals that are easy to add. Enjoy!
This is a great idea. I'm considering making my own using some materials we already have and I like the idea of using a surplus blanket over thermal black out curtains. I think I'm going to run with this idea. Thank you so much!
Wayne Greenway one bag was around 120. Which has been plenty to supplement what we’ve done so far. We still have the front half to do before I know if we needed a second bag or not.
brokenglass195 we are trying to find one! Any recommendations? We just haven’t found one we like yet :). We are planning to put one in back and one up front.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska just googled fabric shop then take your van so they can measure go from top to bottom or the size of your rear screen with extra on sides zippers let air threw thinsulate in the middle get them to put a nice pattern on the inside and a heavier none wicking on the exterior so it dose not get mold some ties so you can roll it up
Great idea. I'm handy with a sewing machine but not when it comes to sewing zippers in. I love this thought though. I'm also considering a wool surplus blanket to block off the cab instead of curtains. Easy roll up and down with velcro. We like to re-purpose so I'm also considering using some stuff we already have. If you make one of your own let us know!
Thats a valid concern. The beauty of wool as opposed to fiberglass or foam insulation. It's natural, it breathes and it doesn't retain moisture and is mold resistant. We also kept air gaps in mind when installing it. I think where we live also makes a difference. We will certainly keep our eye on it to see how it does. We will talk more about it in part 2. Thank you so much for watching.
In your two-month review you said you came up with fixes to reduce or eliminate the dust intrusion but it was in another video. Could you either reiterate your dust control tips or point me to the video in which you discuss it. Thanks Looks like I'm going to be adding insulation too
Tom Barrett there are two locations that we found had major dust / dirt entry points that are not obvious. One is the seals around the back door which we did do a video on how to adjust the doors. The second area to look at is under the cabinetry. We found some gaps under there where the piping goes down into the floor. I used some insulation and foam to close that area off. It should be pretty obvious if you look under there and you can see light where the gaps are. So far seems to help but will update if we find more :)
The side windows are duel (if not triple, I forget) paned on the sides but my plan is to make a barrier to hold in the heat. We will be keeping our eye on condensation as well. I will for sure show that in up coming videos as soon as I complete the project and we will share how it goes. I love that Jim is letting his beard grow as well. He looks like a little boy without it. 😂
Do you notice a difference in the way the door sounds when you slam it? Probably unlikely to notice an improvement in road noise until you do more of the body. I bet the cab doors have plenty of room for improvement! You will possibly need to take a different approach with the need for the glass to roll down. Looking forward to more information on the natural wool.
that camera angel at the beginning makes you look like a kid bud lol .Great info on that insulation glad I don't have to do that because we will only be there through summer:)love that new logo at the beginning looking sharp my friend. love the micro towel idea I was thinking to do something silly when we go to tuktoytuk put that cling wrap on my truck the heavy duty one to block mud from going on the paint what you think cuz when we get there we can just pull it off and put another one on lol silly but affective? lol good job on the doors good luck on the inside too take care my friend
Oh my gosh I just watched that and you're right! It looks like his legs were cut off! 😂😂😂. Cling wrap might be a great idea. We have seen a friend put painters tape along all the seals. He's not back from his trip yet so I'm not sure how well it worked for him but we will let you know. Part 2 is coming up where we will explain why wool is good for cold AND Hot climates. Cling wrap is kinda expensive though isn't it? I'm trying to think of a non-plastic alternative but nothings coming to mind. Maybe a good wax job? I'll have to keep thinking about that one.
I think I'd asked about this before but had not seen this video. Did you do the slide door as well? Maybe the passenger doors? Great idea to do this. BTW the mattress looks way better. Think you guys got that from your son right? Honestly the rig just gets better and better.
We haven't done those doors yet but it is on the to do list. We absolutely feel the cold draft there now that we have done the rest. Yes we got the mattress from our son!
You missed an important step. You should of sealed off the doors behind the plastic covers with some vapor barrier to totally stop any air transfer and thus make the insulation work at its best.
tradersato Vapor barrier actually increases the likelihood of rust due to condensation. Air exchange for the interior and exterior walls is essential to keep moisture and condensation in check. The wool allows the van to breath so to speak and assist with moisture control without mold.
I differ from your opinion on that theory as a home inspector. Vapor barriers in the environment you seem to be in should be on the “warm side” to impede the transfer of said warm (moist) air to the cold side.. so it won’t condense or be absorbed by the wool. In warm weather as in Florida, let’s say, the vapor barrier would be on the external side of the cavity, to prevent the moisture coming into the cavity seeking cold, dryer air. On a different issue, see if you can get your hands on a FLIR gun and do an inspection of either before and after or as a good way to determine you didn’t miss any “cold spots” with your insulation. Revels are horrendously insulated and yet they claim 4 season ready... you very well know that they are lacking incredibly in that department. Hope to see more videos of your upgrades. Be well!
tradersato I’ll see if I can get ahold of one. Good idea! I agree the insulation is lacking for what we want to use it for. The problem we have to prep for both temperature types 😂 Thanks so much for your feedback we do appreciate it. I know there are many differing opinions on the optimal build style.
Revel Nation, thermal bridging is a factor that is increased in metal due to its higher conductivity of temperature butte theory still applies. But our point of moisture management or better yet, mitigation, is complex in the tin can that a vehicle is. The heat cycling acts on the doors (in this case) like a below... sucking in air and the carried moisture into the cavity. The trick is either minimizing the cavities capacity or ability to retain the moisture from said air. Since warm air can hold more moisture you need to establish a vapor barrier to impede the process as much as possible. Since the interior of the van is contained and humans excrete vast amounts of moist warm air, the humidity will try to move to balance the dry cold air. A good insulation barrier does wonders to stop most of the cold from condensing the moisture but there needs to be a an air tight seal between the two temps so it works at optimum levels. Thus my advice of a moisture barrier. If you’ve ever removed the door panel on the slider or on any car door, you would see the plastic sheet that is used to seal as I mentioned with a tar like substance. I wish I could post a few pics here to show you what I’m talking about.. but I hope I’ve conveyed what I meant.
Moises Romero we are still in the process of working on the garage / bed area. Should be done with that section soon. Our first test will be in Denali next week.
Wings and Wheels Alaska excellent!.. we have a 2020 Revel and plan to do the same using Denim, another natural fiber. We live at 7000ft in Northern Utah, and our winters get cold as well.
Moises Romero from our research that we did we found that denim actually holds in moisture creating other issues. I would look into that closely. There are a ton of options and a bunch of pros and cons to each and forums of debates. I guess we will know in the spring how the wool holds up :)
For what Winnebago charges for these things, I'm rather disappointed in the lousy job of insulating they did. Maybe I missed you discussing it, or not, but did you consider spray foaming for insulation?
We haven't had the need to carry any extra. Currently we plan out stops. Even during our trip up to Tuktoyaktuk we had plenty of diesel stops along the way. I figure that's because we've been traveling on haul roads as well. In the future we will consider it when we start planning our route out of the U.S.
at 7;22 you say you have seen 2020 revel photos with no insulation. Can you please post where you found those photos? I have looked and looked and could not find any. thanks in advance.
choosehappy hello! We are part of a Winnebago Revel Facebook group and it has been discussed several times. Each model is slightly different with the amount (if any) or location (even in similar years) of insulation between the 2018, 2019, and 2020.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska hello to you. wow what a prompt reply!!! I will check out Facebook. Just in passing sad how dirt got into your drawers by having open air under chassis holes left open. Hope winnebago addresses the insulation and covering holes for dirt free drawers. Best of travels for you and yours and thanks for your superb videos!!!!
Having to be insulating a "4-season" (as Winnebago advertized) Class B? Isn't that somewhat "ironic?" ;-) -- A. Morrisette Disappointed with Winnebago for overlooking PROPERLY insulating the rear doors...makes the Coachmen Beyond, Panoramic and possibly the Regency Class Bs more in the running now (aside from wanting a "B" built on something other than the Sprinter chassis). Happy Travels, -- BR
Now that song is stuck in my head. 😂. Truthfully after pulling off the panels I don't think it's something that had to be done. Especially for those who live in let's say Colorado or Utah. Because we will be traveling further north and spending time in -40 degree temperatures camping we figured it was worth filling in the gaps. This winter will certainly put the "4 seasons" to the test". But hey, we used to winter camp in our car and survived so this is definitely a personal preference and the ultimate test to their claims.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska "It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid Like insulating a 4-season B when it already should be..." ;-) Well, in cold weather or hot, I'd want insulation regardless, and certainly expect it in a "4-season" RV. ;-) Re: insulation, most people think about COLD weather, but here in West TX and AZ/NM, it can get pretty hot. Not so much in CO, but then COLD is their thing. But really, I'd prefer Winnebago finish building their Class Bs...especially at those prices. Personally, I want to spend time using my $$$,$$$ Class B, not building it. ;-) Happy Travels, -- BR
Yup absolutely agree. Although many say it works great as is, we just don't want to risk it. Yes we are doing it for both hot and cold temps :). Cheers!
Well done as usual. There is a TH-camr, Ultramobility, that reviews 4 Season Class B Campervans who shows (19:55 minute mark) that Winnebago offers insulated blackout front windows and windshield shades and a rear door blanket for the Revel. Check out “Best 4 Season Class B Camper Van”. Still think your efforts are worth it however. Thank you.
We've watched that channel and I'll have to check it out. I'm considering making my own to cut down on costs and re-use some materials we already have. But if all else fails......:). I'll look into the cost and we will let you know how it goes. That cab area Absolutely needs partitioned off in the winter
That's a good job you did there guys but i'm a little disappointed for a 100K$ ''true 4 seasons'' camper to have so little insulation ... I mean theses little foam block are basically pointless ... Thank you for sharing
Wool is not the correct automotive insulation for two reasons. First, it adds too much weight to the cargo capacity of the RV. Second, it’s going to get wet and since wool is an organic material, mildew and bacterial growth can be expected. I recently retired from an auto sales, service and Bodyshop business and have seen my share of disastrous DIY insulation jobs in vans just like the one you performed in your video clip. There’s a reason why Winnebago uses foam insulation. Now, if you want to replace your original foam insulation with a thicker one or just double up, that’s OK. Don’t worry, I gave you a thumbs up 👍 anyway.
Goldwing Pilot there are so many differing views on this that can be read for days. We will do a review in the spring and see how it ends up. One perspective should absolutely be proven true :). Thank you so much for your feedback! We will absolutely let you know our findings.
yes, we've heard different views on how well it works in the winter with its current insulation. Most say it's fine, we didn't want to take any chances since our winters are a little more fierce. However, if this summer we had is any indication of our winter I'm wondering if we will even get snow. 😂
@@terryburns8917 Im not sure. Today was 63 degrees and the average this time of year is in the 50's. It's possible that it's cooler than average up North towards Fairbanks.
This is supposedly a four season van for well over 100k and you still have to do the insulation yourself ? For that kind of money , the manufacturer should have insulated this van a lot better .
The stock insulation is not terrible but we wanted to be prepared for the conditions in Alaska. We would rather be safe than regret not doing it later :)
Over time our opinion on this changes as the seasons change. Our goal was to provide honest real life feedback. Our current opinion on the stock insulation is "they tried". They put some in and it's "adequate" for temperatures in lets say the Pacific North West. Most Revel owners buy this rig knowing they are going to tinker with it and make it our own. The Class B industry has a long way to go in finding the perfect rig for consumers and keeping the price and production manageable. For us? We haven't had one regret with the Revel. Making it our own is only half the fun in ownership, no shame involved. Pure Joy. We stayed warm in -40 degree temps and that's all that really matters. 😁. It's held up nicely for us, and we really appreciate you watching!!
Prices used to be a lot lower than they are now. On average they were anywhere from 105-120k depending where you found them and then they have steadily increased.
Today, here in CO, I paid 149 for a 2022 which included upgrades in tires, A/C, and removal of decals, but it is an investment for my well being and I am so excited! Killer job on that price! Used market right now is more expensive than NEW, it is crazy!
![โอ้เธอช่าง... - บี้เดอะสกา ft. ต๋อง เทวัญ (Prod. by ป๋าเพชร) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zbWhiLFmVL0/mqdefault.jpg)
When you guys start taking the panel off I was thinking of the Winnebago guys looking each other sweating hoping there was some insulation behind the panels, Winnebago should do it like you guys what they used is not even enough for my tropical country (Costa Rica) up in the mountains
We have heard of some having nothing back there so absolutely get your point. A worthy upgrade for insulation for sure no matter the weather type.
Impressive! I love how you guys take something good and make it even better.
Yes, exactly! I'm sure it would have been "ok" but with our temperatures we figured why not put a little more effort into it and make it even better. Thanks for coming back Mark. Always a pleasure to hear from you.
Cant wait to see how this van handles the snow and ice!❤love you guys!
Winter will be p[retty interesting I think :). Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
A few questions arose as I watched this.
Has #winnebago caught on to you guys and noticed what a great job you’re doing showing the realities of this van? I like how you stay positive and show how it works for you and I’m sure others feel the same way. Do you still love it as much as the first day you got it? Have you had to work with their service department yet? You both have a great combination of showing how you use it and how you make it better to suit your personal needs while having fun doing it. Looking forward to seeing winter adventures.
Hi Chad, We advent heard anything from Winnebago lol. We absolutely 100% love the van with no regrets. We bought it knowing we would want to make some changes so that part does not disappoint us at all. Just a little work which never killed anyone. We probably didn't need to take on this project but I would rather be doing it now than when it is snowing and below zero lol. We have not gone to the service department yet... waiting till after tourist season is done so it is less busy. Thank you so much for watching!
Nice job on insulating the back doors... Can't wait to see you tackle the rest... Thanks for sharing 👍
it is torn apart right now ;p . pretty fun trying to figure things out.
I could not imagine the lower temperatures that you have there. Very smart to add more insulation!
Thank you! I honestly prefer the cold over heat. This will be a test to see how well it does in our frigid temps.
Those small holes (weep holes) you see are for water drainage and ventilation to allow the area toi dry. You will find them all over the vehicle.
Yes. She was just pointing out the lack of insulation I think :) . Thank you for watching!
Very informative video so others can prepare for cold temps thank y’all . Also loving the organic insulation
Thanks girl! It helped people understand what they were getting themselves into for sure. Its stock insulation is a joke.
You are so kind to consider a thin piece of foam “insulation”, if I had paid 100 gran for a van, the least I would expect is good insulation.
Revel should donate this van to you and learn to not cheat on clients. Well done you guys!
haha, agreed, but really it's 99% of the fun is upgrading it. We knew we wouldn't have even half of these features if we would have chosen another route. It really is just fine for PNW, Colorado etc. I'm sure they could add more, but as a big corporation, they won't, and I wouldn't expect it. It's business. They did upgrade and relocate the battery system in the new 2021 to lithium. But we have other plans for that. We knew what we were getting going into it. And...I don't look at it as we paid 100k. I look at it as we are borrowing it every month for $700.00. and making it our own along the way. 😂😂. Hope to meet up with you soon! xoxo
Thanks cindy for the updated video, enjoyed it alot, and yes winter's coming to Alaska, beitiful.
Thank you Aaron!
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska welcome
I thought the big selling point of the Revel was it is the only true 4-season RV on the market??? 👍🧡 👍🧡 👍
For some people it would be perfect... I guess you could consider 40 below a 5th season lol. We would just rather be safe than sorry with those temps.
4 seasons...in Bali maybe
Stopping by to show ya some support and love 💕 and left a big thumbs up 👍🏻 good job my dear!!! I need to get me one of these!!!!
Thank you for watching! it is a ton of fun :)
Good idea, only concern I could have is that the wool may retain moisture where as the closed cell foam had no ability to do that. Also be careful not to over stuff and compress the wool. The insulating value is maintained by the air that is trapped in it. So you need air pockets in it. Solid wool is not as good as loose wool. So try to pull it back and let it fill the void loosely. Avoid using it where it will collect moisture. Don't want that beautiful van to rust from the inside.
I think you got one of the pieces I was missing from my back doors. If I can find 10 other people to donate the rear door insulation to me I may have enough to insulation about 1/4 of the rear doors. Mine is a 2018 and an I had a piece of insulation in each door that was 1 inch thick by 16 inches by 4 inches....That was it. Unbelievable for a van that cost upward of $140,000......
Agreed. Storyteller came in and fixed that issue didn't they?
This made me smile, "Asking for insulation donations!" I can see it as a decal on the side of the van. 😂 Honestly though, either way we would have still added more. Between that and covering the windows, I was telling Jim last night I'm more comfortable in there than a drafty home. We were hoping they'd listen for the 2021....nope. As you know, we enjoy this aspect of it though. It's going to be a whole new van by the time we're done. 😁. Have a wonderful week Andrew!
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska I have spent the last week fixing little things that bug me. It seems like everything Winnebago touches on the outside has some rust on it. Everyting inside squeaks and rattles. I have removed the solar brackets and ladder parts which were so rusted I had to cut off the bolt holding the ladder onto the door. This van was on the east coast for only one winter. Next project is going after the step brackets and the battery cages. I have ordered 2 bags of the wool from Reno which I will pick up and plan to build something similar to the GLSS lounge. I have enjoyed your videos and plan to do some quick repair videos on the REVEL of my Quick fixes. I took an old cheap-ass dog crate bed and turned it into window insulation. I have also perfected the removal and polishing of the acrylic windows. Take care and enjoy life way up there!
I’m really shocked at how crappy the insulation is in the doors for a supposedly 4 season camper. Any you’re saying the 2020 is worse? Damn. I’m in the process of buying a 2020....
We actually talk about this further in our video on Sunday. This was our concern....we Play in VERY cold temperatures. We added the insulation at very little work and around $300,00.... for peace of mind. We hadn't experienced a winter in the Revel when this video was made. When we pulled off the panels on the back doors we were concerned that it might not keep us warm in the winter. We bought this to use all year and not to sit in our driveway in the winter. The Major concern and disappointment was a gap under the drawer in the kitchen and that was an easy fix. Our experience will be covered in another video because we went down to -30 degrees camping and -40 windchill while visiting the arctic circle. From what we have seen since the 2020's have been released, the insulation remains the same. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions. Thanks for watching!
If you're going to pull your entire van apart to add insulation, you should get some sound deadening mat and put small squares of it on the large steel panels to keep them from resonating. You don't need to cover the entire metal panel, just put about 1/3rd the panel size of the deadening mat on the steel inside. Also, get some close foam vinyl sound deadening sheets to put behind all your interior panels before you put them back on, those 3 things will make your van super quite, and super insulated.
Great Idea! Thank you for the recommendation. We will look into some!
Great job!
Thank you for the feedback!
Thanks for sharing this! I plan to do mine when I get done with Denali this fall. thinking of using Mineral wool, I know its not as natural but can buy it at home depot.
I read something on the mineral wool that wasn't incredibly positive when we were researching what we wanted to use. Cant remember the article off the top of my head. Just make sure to research it before you make that final decision. We are working on the garage / bedroom right now should have that done this weekend maybe... well for sure because we have Denali the following weekend lol.
Supposed to be four seasons but not for northerners. Since your insulation is wool what about sewing or having sewn a blanket made of surplus wool blanket and your wool. Might be easy,certainly effective and cost effective by using surplus. Re dust are there not second source additional seals that are easy to add. Enjoy!
This is a great idea. I'm considering making my own using some materials we already have and I like the idea of using a surplus blanket over thermal black out curtains. I think I'm going to run with this idea. Thank you so much!
Good Job !!! Thanks for the wool info.
You're welcome! We have more information on the wool in part 2 of this video. I think wool is going to become a very important part of our lives. :)
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska Just how much did the bag of wool batting cost? Thanks! Enjoying your adventure in DYI
Wayne Greenway one bag was around 120. Which has been plenty to supplement what we’ve done so far. We still have the front half to do before I know if we needed a second bag or not.
You could also try a roll down insulated curtain i have heard from some that it works well
brokenglass195 we are trying to find one! Any recommendations? We just haven’t found one we like yet :). We are planning to put one in back and one up front.
Hey Jim. I'm also considering making one of my own.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska just googled fabric shop then take your van so they can measure go from top to bottom or the size of your rear screen with extra on sides zippers let air threw thinsulate in the middle get them to put a nice pattern on the inside and a heavier none wicking on the exterior so it dose not get mold some ties so you can roll it up
Great idea. I'm handy with a sewing machine but not when it comes to sewing zippers in. I love this thought though. I'm also considering a wool surplus blanket to block off the cab instead of curtains. Easy roll up and down with velcro. We like to re-purpose so I'm also considering using some stuff we already have. If you make one of your own let us know!
What about it being able to breathe for moisture and drainage of the dew to keep your body from rusting
Thats a valid concern. The beauty of wool as opposed to fiberglass or foam insulation. It's natural, it breathes and it doesn't retain moisture and is mold resistant. We also kept air gaps in mind when installing it. I think where we live also makes a difference. We will certainly keep our eye on it to see how it does. We will talk more about it in part 2. Thank you so much for watching.
In your two-month review you said you came up with fixes to reduce or eliminate the dust intrusion but it was in another video. Could you either reiterate your dust control tips or point me to the video in which you discuss it. Thanks Looks like I'm going to be adding insulation too
Tom Barrett there are two locations that we found had major dust / dirt entry points that are not obvious. One is the seals around the back door which we did do a video on how to adjust the doors. The second area to look at is under the cabinetry. We found some gaps under there where the piping goes down into the floor. I used some insulation and foam to close that area off. It should be pretty obvious if you look under there and you can see light where the gaps are. So far seems to help but will update if we find more :)
Nice job. New look jim. can you add a velcro attached woolen blanket on the back. Since those are not dual pane windows it will get cold.
The side windows are duel (if not triple, I forget) paned on the sides but my plan is to make a barrier to hold in the heat. We will be keeping our eye on condensation as well. I will for sure show that in up coming videos as soon as I complete the project and we will share how it goes. I love that Jim is letting his beard grow as well. He looks like a little boy without it. 😂
Enjoyed the video.my concern is whereever the dust is getting into the van will allow cold weather to get in.
Hows that rear door seal?👍
Seems better but we are still checking it! We also have a lot more insulation to do :)
Do you notice a difference in the way the door sounds when you slam it? Probably unlikely to notice an improvement in road noise until you do more of the body. I bet the cab doors have plenty of room for improvement! You will possibly need to take a different approach with the need for the glass to roll down. Looking forward to more information on the natural wool.
We are working on the body now. Have the garage / bed area torn apart and working on it. Slowly working forward lol.
that camera angel at the beginning makes you look like a kid bud lol .Great info on that insulation glad I don't have to do that because we will only be there through summer:)love that new logo at the beginning looking sharp my friend. love the micro towel idea I was thinking to do something silly when we go to tuktoytuk put that cling wrap on my truck the heavy duty one to block mud from going on the paint what you think cuz when we get there we can just pull it off and put another one on lol silly but affective? lol good job on the doors good luck on the inside too take care my friend
Oh my gosh I just watched that and you're right! It looks like his legs were cut off! 😂😂😂. Cling wrap might be a great idea. We have seen a friend put painters tape along all the seals. He's not back from his trip yet so I'm not sure how well it worked for him but we will let you know. Part 2 is coming up where we will explain why wool is good for cold AND Hot climates. Cling wrap is kinda expensive though isn't it? I'm trying to think of a non-plastic alternative but nothings coming to mind. Maybe a good wax job? I'll have to keep thinking about that one.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska hmm painters tape hmmm idea lol yeah lol its cute :)
I think I'd asked about this before but had not seen this video. Did you do the slide door as well? Maybe the passenger doors? Great idea to do this. BTW the mattress looks way better. Think you guys got that from your son right? Honestly the rig just gets better and better.
We haven't done those doors yet but it is on the to do list. We absolutely feel the cold draft there now that we have done the rest. Yes we got the mattress from our son!
You missed an important step. You should of sealed off the doors behind the plastic covers with some vapor barrier to totally stop any air transfer and thus make the insulation work at its best.
tradersato Vapor barrier actually increases the likelihood of rust due to condensation. Air exchange for the interior and exterior walls is essential to keep moisture and condensation in check. The wool allows the van to breath so to speak and assist with moisture control without mold.
I differ from your opinion on that theory as a home inspector. Vapor barriers in the environment you seem to be in should be on the “warm side” to impede the transfer of said warm (moist) air to the cold side.. so it won’t condense or be absorbed by the wool. In warm weather as in Florida, let’s say, the vapor barrier would be on the external side of the cavity, to prevent the moisture coming into the cavity seeking cold, dryer air.
On a different issue, see if you can get your hands on a FLIR gun and do an inspection of either before and after or as a good way to determine you didn’t miss any “cold spots” with your insulation. Revels are horrendously insulated and yet they claim 4 season ready... you very well know that they are lacking incredibly in that department. Hope to see more videos of your upgrades. Be well!
tradersato I’ll see if I can get ahold of one. Good idea! I agree the insulation is lacking for what we want to use it for.
The problem we have to prep for both temperature types 😂
Thanks so much for your feedback we do appreciate it. I know there are many differing opinions on the optimal build style.
Curious about this discussion. Does the difference occur because you’re insulating metal vs. wood in a home?
Revel Nation, thermal bridging is a factor that is increased in metal due to its higher conductivity of temperature butte theory still applies. But our point of moisture management or better yet, mitigation, is complex in the tin can that a vehicle is. The heat cycling acts on the doors (in this case) like a below... sucking in air and the carried moisture into the cavity. The trick is either minimizing the cavities capacity or ability to retain the moisture from said air. Since warm air can hold more moisture you need to establish a vapor barrier to impede the process as much as possible. Since the interior of the van is contained and humans excrete vast amounts of moist warm air, the humidity will try to move to balance the dry cold air. A good insulation barrier does wonders to stop most of the cold from condensing the moisture but there needs to be a an air tight seal between the two temps so it works at optimum levels. Thus my advice of a moisture barrier. If you’ve ever removed the door panel on the slider or on any car door, you would see the plastic sheet that is used to seal as I mentioned with a tar like substance. I wish I could post a few pics here to show you what I’m talking about.. but I hope I’ve conveyed what I meant.
Thanks for posting!. Have you noticed any anecdotal reduction in noise while driving etc?, warmer already?
Moises Romero we are still in the process of working on the garage / bed area. Should be done with that section soon. Our first test will be in Denali next week.
Wings and Wheels Alaska excellent!.. we have a 2020 Revel and plan to do the same using Denim, another natural fiber.
We live at 7000ft in Northern Utah, and our winters get cold as well.
Moises Romero from our research that we did we found that denim actually holds in moisture creating other issues. I would look into that closely. There are a ton of options and a bunch of pros and cons to each and forums of debates. I guess we will know in the spring how the wool holds up :)
For what Winnebago charges for these things, I'm rather disappointed in the lousy job of insulating they did. Maybe I missed you discussing it, or not, but did you consider spray foaming for insulation?
We did consider it. We decided to stay natural since we were just filling in things around what is already insulated.
Considering what you found in the back door of your Revel, are you thinking about tearing everything apart and re-insulating the entire RV?
David I’m working on that as we speak... that’s why this is part 1 :)
Good job bro.....do you guys haul extra diesel on long trips?
We haven't had the need to carry any extra. Currently we plan out stops. Even during our trip up to Tuktoyaktuk we had plenty of diesel stops along the way. I figure that's because we've been traveling on haul roads as well. In the future we will consider it when we start planning our route out of the U.S.
at 7;22 you say you have seen 2020 revel photos with no insulation. Can you please post where you found those photos? I have looked and looked and could not find any. thanks in advance.
choosehappy hello! We are part of a Winnebago Revel Facebook group and it has been discussed several times. Each model is slightly different with the amount (if any) or location (even in similar years) of insulation between the 2018, 2019, and 2020.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska hello to you. wow what a prompt reply!!! I will check out Facebook. Just in passing sad how dirt got into your drawers by having open air under chassis holes left open. Hope winnebago addresses the insulation and covering holes for dirt free drawers. Best of travels for you and yours and thanks for your superb videos!!!!
Nice job insulating your van.
Thanks! We have more of it to come as Jim goes nuts and starts taking ALL the panels down to see what can be improved. 😂
Having to be insulating a "4-season" (as Winnebago advertized) Class B? Isn't that somewhat "ironic?" ;-)
-- A. Morrisette
Disappointed with Winnebago for overlooking PROPERLY insulating the rear doors...makes the Coachmen Beyond, Panoramic and possibly the Regency Class Bs more in the running now (aside from wanting a "B" built on something other than the Sprinter chassis).
Happy Travels,
-- BR
Now that song is stuck in my head. 😂. Truthfully after pulling off the panels I don't think it's something that had to be done. Especially for those who live in let's say Colorado or Utah. Because we will be traveling further north and spending time in -40 degree temperatures camping we figured it was worth filling in the gaps. This winter will certainly put the "4 seasons" to the test". But hey, we used to winter camp in our car and survived so this is definitely a personal preference and the ultimate test to their claims.
@@WingsandWheelsAlaska
"It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
Like insulating a 4-season B
when it already should be..."
;-)
Well, in cold weather or hot, I'd want insulation regardless, and certainly expect it in a "4-season" RV. ;-)
Re: insulation, most people think about COLD weather, but here in West TX and AZ/NM, it can get pretty hot. Not so much in CO, but then COLD is their thing.
But really, I'd prefer Winnebago finish building their Class Bs...especially at those prices. Personally, I want to spend time using my $$$,$$$ Class B, not building it. ;-)
Happy Travels,
-- BR
Yup absolutely agree. Although many say it works great as is, we just don't want to risk it. Yes we are doing it for both hot and cold temps :). Cheers!
Would you share a link to the wool insulation?
Absolutely. www.havelockwool.com
Well done as usual. There is a TH-camr, Ultramobility, that reviews 4 Season Class B Campervans who shows (19:55 minute mark) that Winnebago offers insulated blackout front windows and windshield shades and a rear door blanket for the Revel. Check out “Best 4 Season Class B Camper Van”. Still think your efforts are worth it however. Thank you.
We've watched that channel and I'll have to check it out. I'm considering making my own to cut down on costs and re-use some materials we already have. But if all else fails......:). I'll look into the cost and we will let you know how it goes. That cab area Absolutely needs partitioned off in the winter
Drive south? Why stay in those temperatures
Maybe someday. I love it here. South doesn't always mean "better". :) Each has it's own drawbacks.
That's a good job you did there guys but i'm a little disappointed for a 100K$ ''true 4 seasons'' camper to have so little insulation ... I mean theses little foam block are basically pointless ... Thank you for sharing
Yup. Glad we opened her up to check. Thank you so much for watching!
No wonder you want to get away from home. I couldn’t live with all that traffic noise and neighbors so close!
Exactly. We spend as little time there as possible.
After viewing this th-cam.com/video/-_5P9F8ZsUY/w-d-xo.html from Ultramobility. I'm looking forward to Part 2.
Coming soon!
Wool is not the correct automotive insulation for two reasons. First, it adds too much weight to the cargo capacity of the RV. Second, it’s going to get wet and since wool is an organic material, mildew and bacterial growth can be expected. I recently retired from an auto sales, service and Bodyshop business and have seen my share of disastrous DIY insulation jobs in vans just like the one you performed in your video clip. There’s a reason why Winnebago uses foam insulation. Now, if you want to replace your original foam insulation with a thicker one or just double up, that’s OK. Don’t worry, I gave you a thumbs up 👍 anyway.
Goldwing Pilot there are so many differing views on this that can be read for days. We will do a review in the spring and see how it ends up. One perspective should absolutely be proven true :). Thank you so much for your feedback! We will absolutely let you know our findings.
Looks like they barely put some foam in there. Justso they could say ,yes it's insulated.
yes, we've heard different views on how well it works in the winter with its current insulation. Most say it's fine, we didn't want to take any chances since our winters are a little more fierce. However, if this summer we had is any indication of our winter I'm wondering if we will even get snow. 😂
I heard you were having some cooler than normal weather for this time of year. Do you see this?
@@terryburns8917 Im not sure. Today was 63 degrees and the average this time of year is in the 50's. It's possible that it's cooler than average up North towards Fairbanks.
Fairbanks area was where someone was talking about.
This is supposedly a four season van for well over 100k and you still have to do the insulation yourself ? For that kind of money , the manufacturer should have insulated this van a lot better .
The stock insulation is not terrible but we wanted to be prepared for the conditions in Alaska. We would rather be safe than regret not doing it later :)
That's a shame you spend that much money on the vehicle and they say it's Four Season and they don't even put insulation throughout.
Over time our opinion on this changes as the seasons change. Our goal was to provide honest real life feedback. Our current opinion on the stock insulation is "they tried". They put some in and it's "adequate" for temperatures in lets say the Pacific North West. Most Revel owners buy this rig knowing they are going to tinker with it and make it our own. The Class B industry has a long way to go in finding the perfect rig for consumers and keeping the price and production manageable. For us? We haven't had one regret with the Revel. Making it our own is only half the fun in ownership, no shame involved. Pure Joy. We stayed warm in -40 degree temps and that's all that really matters. 😁. It's held up nicely for us, and we really appreciate you watching!!
100k? that cheap?
Prices used to be a lot lower than they are now. On average they were anywhere from 105-120k depending where you found them and then they have steadily increased.
Today, here in CO, I paid 149 for a 2022 which included upgrades in tires, A/C, and removal of decals, but it is an investment for my well being and I am so excited! Killer job on that price! Used market right now is more expensive than NEW, it is crazy!
The 2022 is out!?!? We’re so outta the loop! :)
Empty? No insulation?
This is disgusting.
Agreed. The new 2021 hasn’t changed and costs even more. I don’t get it 🤷♂️
Just curious. The caps you remove (that cover the screws); where can one find replacements? - Deborah
You can order them from Winnebago. Not sure on the cost but they do have them in the catalog.