Campervan insulation: thermal and acoustic comfort | Bunkervan
In a camper van, insulation is one of those features that isn't visible when the vehicle is finished, but whose importance is felt every day. It affects the interior temperature, noise levels, comfort, and also the vehicle's durability.
At Bunkervan, we've spent years testing different insulation solutions, analyzing materials, thicknesses, and installation methods to improve the thermal and acoustic performance of our motorhomes. Our goal has always been the same: to create more comfortable, quieter vehicles that are better equipped for year-round travel.
Because good insulation doesn't just provide comfort. It also provides something very important in a motorhome: tiempo.
What can you really expect from good insulation?
Insulation isn't magic. If a motorhome is left in the sun for many hours in the middle of August, sooner or later the interior temperature will rise. And if it's parked in winter with very low temperatures, the cold will eventually affect the interior as well.
So, what does good insulation really offer?
Contribute tiempo.
Time to delay the arrival of summer heat. Time to delay the arrival of winter cold. Time to maintain a more stable and comfortable indoor temperature for longer.
That's one of the big differences between a well-insulated camper and one that isn't: it's not just about reaching a comfortable temperature, but about maintaining it for longer.
In summer, if you park your motorhome in the shade after driving with the air conditioning on, it will take much longer for the heat to penetrate. In winter, the opposite is true: the cold takes longer to penetrate the vehicle's body, and the heating system operates more consistently, with more regular on/off cycles.
The result is a more constant indoor temperature, fewer sudden changes, and a much more pleasant feeling of comfort.
Sound insulation: less noise, more rest
Insulation also plays a very important acoustic role. A motorhome is designed for traveling, sleeping, and living in very different places: rest areas, campsites, urban areas, natural environments, or spaces where there may be outdoor activity.
Good insulation helps reduce noise from outside. It doesn't completely eliminate all sounds, but it significantly reduces them, allowing you to be inside with a greater sense of calm.
This is especially noticeable at night, when there are people nearby, traffic, wind, rain, or noise outside. The result is a quieter and more pleasant interior for resting.
Furthermore, at Bunkervan we combine body insulation with double-glazed windows with an intermediate air gapwhich also help to improve both the thermal and acoustic insulation of the whole.
What materials do we use
Our insulation system primarily combines closed-cell flexible elastomeric insulation y fireproof rock woolIt's not just about choosing good materials, but about applying them correctly to each area of the bodywork.
Closed-cell flexible elastomeric insulation is a technical material made from synthetic rubber or equivalent formulations, designed to offer good thermal, acoustic, and moisture resistance performance. To put it simply, we're talking about the type of insulation that many people know commercially as... Kaiflexalthough there are different technical brands with equivalent features.
Its closed-cell structure is especially important because it limits water absorption and helps prevent internal condensation on the vehicle's bodywork. This helps protect the bodywork from moisture and corrosion in the long term.
Furthermore, because it's bonded directly to the metal sheeting, this insulation becomes an integral part of the vehicle body. This helps stabilize the van's large metal panels, reducing minor vibrations, ripples, and noises that can be caused by wind, road noise, or temperature changes.
According to our technical insulation report, this type of material stands out for its low thermal conductivity, its high resistance to water vapor diffusion, its resistance to aging, and its ability to contribute to both the thermal and acoustic insulation of the vehicle.
How we applied insulation in Bunkervan
In the main areas of the bodywork, where there are no structural reinforcements, we installed 20 mm closed-cell elastomeric insulationThis thickness allows us to achieve good thermal and acoustic performance on the larger surfaces of the vehicle.
However, a van is not a flat, continuous surface. The body has ribs and structural reinforcements that take up space and can act as thermal bridges. That's why we apply heat treatment to these reinforcements. 3 mm closed-cell elastomeric insulation.
We use 3 mm in those areas because it allows us to maintain the continuity of the insulation without taking up too much interior space. Importantly, this thin insulation is joined with the 20 mm panels, creating a more continuous layer and helping to reduce thermal bridging.
In other words: we don't just insulate large gaps. We also work on joints, ribs, and reinforcements, because these are precisely the points that can transmit the most cold, heat, or condensation to the interior.
Rock wool in structural reinforcements
Within the structural reinforcements of the bodywork, it is not always possible to place continuous elastomeric insulation because these areas are enclosed, irregular, or difficult to access. For these areas, we use fireproof rock wool.
Rock wool is a mineral material with excellent thermal and acoustic properties. It helps fill interior spaces, improves noise absorption, and provides additional reinforcement to the overall insulation.
Furthermore, filling these reinforcements helps prevent large empty spaces through which air can circulate. This is important because air movement within enclosed cavities can lead to temperature differences, cold spots, and potential condensation. Therefore, our system aims to reduce both thermal bridges and untreated interior cavities.
In addition, it boasts excellent fire resistance. Rock wool is classified as A1, non-combustible, according to EN 13501-1, and is notable for its stability, resistance to high temperatures, and sound absorption capacity.
Flame-retardant materials
One of the key criteria in our insulation system is safety. That's why we use materials with good fire resistance and flame retardant properties.
This is not a minor detail. In a motorhome, the insulation is hidden behind paneling, furniture, and fixtures. If, in the future, a sheet metal area needs repair, work needs to be done, or welding is required, it is important that the material does not spread flames inside the vehicle.
In the case of elastomeric insulation, when exposed to a localized heat source, the material may shrink or contract in the affected area, but it must not spread the flame to the rest of the insulation. These types of decisions are part of a design that considers not only comfort, but also safety, repairability, and the vehicle's lifespan.
A system that thinks about many things at the same time
Insulating a camper van isn't simply about "filling gaps." You have to consider temperature, noise, condensation, thermal bridges, fire safety, loss of interior space, the durability of the bodywork, and how the vehicle will perform over time.
That's why our system combines:
20 mm closed-cell elastomeric insulation on the main body panels.
3 mm closed-cell elastomeric insulation Regarding structural reinforcements, to reduce thermal bridges without losing interior space.
Fireproof rock wool within the reinforcements, where it is not possible to correctly apply continuous elastomeric insulation.
Double-glazed windows with an intermediate air gapwhich complement the thermal and acoustic insulation of the vehicle.
The result is a motorhome that is more comfortable, quieter, better protected against humidity, and better prepared for year-round travel.
Quality is also found where it is unseen.
In a camper van, the furniture, finishes, layout, and equipment are often valued. But a significant part of the true quality lies beneath the surface, in how the vehicle is built from the inside out.
Insulation is one of those invisible elements that makes all the difference over time. You notice it when it's cold, when it's hot, when it rains, when there's noise outside, or when you simply want to get a good night's sleep.
At Bunkervan we continue to work on and improve this system year after year, because we believe that a motorhome should not only be beautiful and functional: it should be comfortable, quiet, safe and pleasant to use in real-world conditions.
Good insulation doesn't stop the cold or the heat forever, but it does give you more comfort, more silence, and a much more pleasant way to travel.
