Vinyl Ceiling

[Danjo]

I’ve been having a lot of trouble deciding what to do with the ceiling in my Thomas Built shorty. I really don’t like the battleship grey steel that’s there, but I’m debating the value in pulling it down to insulate because the cavity is only about an inch deep and at 6’-1” I don’t want to lose ceiling height.

Initially I thought I’d pull the ceiling down and do some thin tongue and groove. I’m still considering this possibility.

I thought about getting strip canoe material and steam bending it to go cross-wise. I think that this would look great. Also a pretty steep learning curve!

I thought about painting the steel a more pleasing color.

Wallpaper?

And then I thought about doing it with foam-backed, diamond-embossed vinyl. I like this option, but I worry that the first really hot day it’s going to drop off.

I’m hoping for some group wisdom!

Thanks,

Danjo

[Yukon Cornelius]

Firstly, if you're worried about hot days ruining your headliner, then you should definitely be insulating the ceiling....IMO

strip covering a ceiling is a relatively lengthy process, especially if you want to run short-wise vice lengthwise. It would look amazing for sure, but you'll need to think about your attaching points, exposed hardware vs hidden, furring strips, etc as the list goes on

The headliner is a neat idea too... I think if I was going to go that route, I would likely put up a thin panel sheet, secure it and then use a full adhesive application between the panelling and the headliner. I would do it this way for a few reasons;
a barrier layer between the insulation and the headliner;
better contact for the headliner, for it to hold in place;
less likely to sag/droop, stretch, shrink in consistently;
etc

but that's just my thoughts and how I would do it if it were me.


sidenote, if you fill in your bus info it'll help us make better recommendations... I hate typing this out but.... its a fact...
Also your hat channel from my experience is a min of 1.5" I have 2" foam in my ceiling... FWIW

[o1marc]

You can get a full 1-1/2" of insulation between the hat channel ribs. It is extremely beneficial to do that. I'm using 1 x 4 x 1/4" cedar T&G just glued to the metal ribs.

[bus-bro]

You could use magnets to assist in holding up the headliner.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

Firstly, if you're worried about hot days ruining your headliner, then you should definitely be insulating the ceiling....IMO

strip covering a ceiling is a relatively lengthy process, especially if you want to run short-wise vice lengthwise. It would look amazing for sure, but you'll need to think about your attaching points, exposed hardware vs hidden, furring strips, etc as the list goes on

The headliner is a neat idea too... I think if I was going to go that route, I would likely put up a thin panel sheet, secure it and then use a full adhesive application between the panelling and the headliner. I would do it this way for a few reasons;
a barrier layer between the insulation and the headliner;
better contact for the headliner, for it to hold in place;
less likely to sag/droop, stretch, shrink in consistently;
etc

but that's just my thoughts and how I would do it if it were me.


sidenote, if you fill in your bus info it'll help us make better recommendations... I hate typing this out but.... its a fact...
Also your hat channel from my experience is a min of 1.5" I have 2" foam in my ceiling... FWIW

having thin paneling to glue the vinyl to popped into my head too - I've been considering using vinyl to finish walls, and perhaps cupboard doors in my bus, should I ever get one

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Danjo

And then I thought about doing it with foam-backed, diamond-embossed vinyl. I like this option, but I worry that the first really hot day it’s going to drop off.

THAT would look pretty cool, if you could keep it from sagging.

I was going to use vinyl soffit, but I couldn't find any that was flat......they all had ridges molded in.

[Yukon Cornelius]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

having thin paneling to glue the vinyl to popped into my head too - I've been considering using vinyl to finish walls, and perhaps cupboard doors in my bus, should I ever get one

Should give it a plush look and double as another layer of sound deadening.
If you put it on the cupboards it may well reduce the noise of the fine china clanging in the cabinet

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

Should give it a plush look and double as another layer of sound deadening.
If you put it on the cupboards it may well reduce the noise of the fine china clanging in the cabinet

the casual listener would never know it was tin cups rattling

[Yukon Cornelius]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

the casual listener would never know it was tin cups rattling

Right.......

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

Right.......

l might even get fancy and buy some enamel cups

[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

l might even get fancy and buy some enamel cups

Your dogs eat off of fine China? Oh by the way Sledd, what do they eat when on the road and how much do you have to carry? That might necessitate a bigger bus for sure.


John

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by BlackJohn

Your dogs eat off of fine China? Oh by the way Sledd, what do they eat when on the road and how much do you have to carry? That might necessitate a bigger bus for sure.


John

if we were carrying 20 dogs on a week long trip, we would need 5 large bags of high protein, high fat kibble, about 300 lbs of frozen raw chicken with a 90 litre picnic cooler to thaw the chicken in, 420 liters of water, 2 or 3 bales of wheat straw or oat straw for bedding, 20 X 3 litre stackable dog dishes, shovel, rake, hoe for cleanup, various 5 gal pails, harnesses, gang lines, 3 or 4 dog sleds, paper work to show the dogs are up to date on rabies and core vaccines - a canine first aid kit - the list goes on and on and on - you would see rigs like this at the races - we will have the equivalent inside the 'garage' of the bus - we need a 10 window bus to house that and a camper area to sleep and feed 3 or 4 people

[BlackJohn]

Totally amazed with your sport, the dogs and people like you around it. Some tough hombres!

Sounds like an involved build but doable and just comfortable to your needs.
Also think you better go diesel, just be prepared not to get low on fuel in the middle of nowhere.
Have you got good help to build your bus whenever it appears?


Thanks for that glimpse into your provisions needed.


John

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by BlackJohn

Totally amazed with your sport, the dogs and people like you around it. Some tough hombres!

Sounds like an involved build but doable and just comfortable to your needs.
Also think you better go diesel, just be prepared not to get low on fuel in the middle of nowhere.
Have you got good help to build your bus whenever it appears?


Thanks for that glimpse into your provisions needed.


John

the dogs are addictive, and greatly rewarding - I deal better with cold temperatures than I do with heat - 10 degrees of frost is invigorating to me and the sleddogs
diesel concerns me - I don't have a lot of experience with diesel, but I am aware of the difficulties that can happen in - 40 weather - there will be times I'l be parked where there is no shore power to plug into for block heaters - yes, I do have help for the build when the time comes, some of it being quite skilled - I have the innards from 2 trailers and a motorhome to chose stoves, furnaces, tanks, ovens, most of anything I'll need, so I don't think the build will be scary expensive - I spent 45 +/- years making things look good using paint and wall paper - I can fix, repair, or replace most anything in a house - I built my own house, and restored badly fire damaged houses for insurance companies, with help from certified technicians where needed, but I'm able to duplicate what they provided - my biggest problem now is that age has slowed me a lot, but I'm good at pointing and telling people what to do

[Yukon Cornelius]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

the dogs are addictive, and greatly rewarding - I deal better with cold temperatures than I do with heat - 10 degrees of frost is invigorating to me and the sleddogs
diesel concerns me - I don't have a lot of experience with diesel, but I am aware of the difficulties that can happen in - 40 weather - there will be times I'l be parked where there is no shore power to plug into for block heaters - yes, I do have help for the build when the time comes, some of it being quite skilled - I have the innards from 2 trailers and a motorhome to chose stoves, furnaces, tanks, ovens, most of anything I'll need, so I don't think the build will be scary expensive - I spent 45 +/- years making things look good using paint and wall paper - I can fix, repair, or replace most anything in a house - I built my own house, and restored badly fire damaged houses for insurance companies, with help from certified technicians where needed, but I'm able to duplicate what they provided - my biggest problem now is that age has slowed me a lot, but I'm good at pointing and telling people what to do

When it's cold you can add clothes.....when its hot....you can only get so naked before some calls the cops.......

I'm looking forward to your build, once you find your unicorn

[HazMatt]

Originally Posted by Yukon Cornelius

When it's cold you can add clothes.....when its hot....you can only get so naked before some calls the cops.......

I'm looking forward to your build, once you find your unicorn

Truth!
It really stinks being cited for, "Inadequate Exposure..."

[Yukon Cornelius]

Originally Posted by HazMatt

Truth!
It really stinks being cited for, "Inadequate Exposure..."