No insulation in new adria van!

[Jim12]

Hi I've just bought a Adria active duo and at motorway speeds it is deafening.
Their brochure mentions that it is insulated but on checking the side and rear doors there is no insulation or sound deadening.
I sent a message on their website but no reply and have mentioned it to the dealer again no help so far. Is this normal for their small vans. Does anyone have a similar experience?

 

[Guigsy]

I filled the roof and side wall ribs with fire retardant gun grade foam

My point is, the thin metal ribs are a bloody good heat conductor to the external skin. So you can fill between as much as you like. But you'll still be letting a lot of heat escape through the ribs. For this reason, a coachbuild will always offer insulation advantages over a PVC, just because it doesn't have all those thermal bridges.

You've also got to be careful with spray foam. The heat it generates when it cures can leave ripples in the van's panels.

 

[Guigsy]

There's a youtube video I watched a few days ago. Bloke with a new Adria, showed condensation on certain parts of the body exterior which I guess means lack of insulation ?

From 4:08 onwards

I think it's the other way around if it's outside. Areas that aren't receiving heat that's leaked from inside the vehicle have got cold enough to have condensation form on them. Early morning condensation on the outside is a good sign.

 

[yorkiebar]

I think it's the other way around if it's outside. Areas that aren't receiving heat that's leaked from inside the vehicle have got cold enough to have condensation form on them. Early morning condensation on the outside is a good sign.

Wondered if that was the case! Anyway, there are areas shown which have no condensation

 

[The Wino]

There's a youtube video I watched a few days ago. Bloke with a new Adria, showed condensation on certain parts of the body exterior which I guess means lack of insulation ?

From 4:08 onwards

It could well indicate lack of insulation on the bits that don't have condensation! Where there is no insulation if the inside is warm the outside panel will be warmer and less prone to condensation. At least that's what I think!

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[Mikeco]

My point is, the thin metal ribs are a bloody good heat conductor to the external skin. So you can fill between as much as you like. But you'll still be letting a lot of heat escape through the ribs. For this reason, a coachbuild will always offer insulation advantages over a PVC, just because it doesn't have all those thermal bridges.

You've also got to be careful with spray foam. The heat it generates when it cures can leave ripples in the van's panels.

We may have to agree to disagree on this one, I have 50 mm Kingspan insulation over the ribs and also aluminium faced bubble wrap against the external van skin and over all the insulation. It took me 4 weeks working 8 hours a day just to do the insulation. Coachbuilt vans have very little insulation compared to my pvc and I have had 6 coachbuilt vans over the years.

 

[Pausim]

It could well indicate lack of insulation on the bits that don't have condensation! Where there is no insulation if the inside is warm the outside panel will be warmer and less prone to condensation. At least that's what I think!

I think you are right but either way it suggests that the insulation is very inconsistent.

My point is, the thin metal ribs are a bloody good heat conductor to the external skin. So you can fill between as much as you like. But you'll still be letting a lot of heat escape through the ribs. For this reason, a coachbuild will always offer insulation advantages over a PVC, just because it doesn't have all those thermal bridges.

You've also got to be careful with spray foam. The heat it generates when it cures can leave ripples in the van's panels.

I agree that metal vans probably start off disadvantaged in insulation terms. All the more important to make a proper effort to insulate them as much as possible at the construction stage.

 

[PaulW2]

I think you are right but either way it suggests that the insulation is very inconsistent.
I agree that metal vans probably start off disadvantaged in insulation terms. All the more important to make a proper effort to insulate them as much as possible at the construction stage.

Or just to have a good heater with strategically placed outlets? It would be interesting to see some calculations of heat loss and relative energy cost for well-insulated versus poorly insulated PVCs.

 

[ontheroadagain]

Adrias appear to be well insulated if you believe everything on their website.

 

[PaulW2]

Adrias appear to be well insulated if you believe everything on their website.

View attachment 960614

But pretty spartan, aren't they

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[Pausim]

Or just to have a good heater with strategically placed outlets? It would be interesting to see some calculations of heat loss and relative energy cost for well-insulated versus poorly insulated PVCs.

It is not just about heat loss and energy costs. Comfort depends on not sitting next to cold surfaces. I know because I live in a listed building with very large areas of single glazed windows, as soon as the temperature drops outside it is time to shut the curtains. It immediately makes a big difference, not because the room temperature suddenly rises, it doesn’t, but because you are no longer radiating body heat to the cold surface of the windows. The same applies to cold walls and doors in motorhomes.

 

[Jim12]

Is that the one based on the Renault Trafic? Incidently, a VW California has no insulation either. VW says the best insulation is air

Yes the renault trafic, that'll be why they take it out of vacuum flasks then

 

[Spriddler]

Yes the renault trafic, that'll be why they take it out of vacuum flasks then

and replace it with hot soup for the journey.

 

[Jon Stewart]

But pretty spartan, aren't they

I thought it was an Autotrail by the standard of finish!

 

[3crispies]

Bear in mind 4mm silent coat probably adds 6/8kg per m2. Did our works van but weight wasn't an issue but 80kg to a motorhome may be. Our pvc had no insulation in roof sides so added that and speaker deadening when did ice upgrade. Will add silent coat on cab floor in pvc soon..

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[beachwomble]

There's a youtube video I watched a few days ago. Bloke with a new Adria, showed condensation on certain parts of the body exterior which I guess means lack of insulation ?

From 4:08 onwards

Pilote, not Adria!

 

[Minxy]

Another reason you need good insulation in a PVC is because they can get hotter than a coachbuilt, more insulation equals more comfort when it's scorching.

From a safety point of view one thing you have to be careful of are the door uprights and top frame, and doors too, which can get extremely hot and you can easily burn yourself as I once found when slobbing on the rear bed one day when I accidentally touched the door frame. I'm not just talking about a bit of heat, it was hot enough to cook on.