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Old 01-26-2025, 01:15 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Milwaukee-ish
Posts: 46
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: E450
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Spray Foam Isn't Necessary to Stay Warm! Thermal Camera VS Barely Insulated Skoolie

REALITY: You do NOT need to spend thousands on spray foam to survive winter in a bus! I'm going to show you how to use a thermal camera to identify where the most heat loss is, and how to mitigate those losses. I know there are tons of videos on insulating a skoolie out there, but I'm trying to use science and data to show the most effective ways to insulate. Also lots of tips and tricks I've discovered after 3 seasons in the rockies at 8k', hopefully this helps people out! Cheers!


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Old 01-26-2025, 11:57 PM   #2
Almost There
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 82
Neat!

I don't watch youtube (or anything, really), what's the tl;dw? That isn't windows, lol
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Old 01-27-2025, 07:40 AM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 20,042
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
one of my busses is a mobile Office bus.. I have all 7 bus heaters and a 16kw Webasto.. stays warm in there with all factory stuff. its really just a matter of how much energy someone wants to use to stay warm..
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Old 01-27-2025, 12:15 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Milwaukee-ish
Posts: 46
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: E450
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheezewhiz View Post
Neat!

I don't watch youtube (or anything, really), what's the tl;dw? That isn't windows, lol
Basically using the camera to identify what I missed; teh wheel wells for example were under the couch and kitchen cabinets, and since they were basically enclosed I didn't think much about them. Insulating them made a HUGE difference.

We had to insulate AFTER the bus was built, because we bought it half built, and this is showing that even our piecemeal/halfassed job of insulating does pretty well on the walls; the majority of the heat loss is the rear door, emergency hatch, ceiling fan/vent, and cab area. Spray foam doesn't really solve any of those major issues.

To be clear, spray foam is still the best, but if you're on a budget and can't afford $3-5k to do it, you can still have a warm/cozy bus by insulating properly, especially if you're using a camera to identify major heat loss areas outside the bus.
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Old 01-27-2025, 01:01 PM   #5
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Motor City
Posts: 153
So winter at Vail, summer at Road America? Not too bad!
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Old 01-28-2025, 09:00 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Milwaukee-ish
Posts: 46
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: E450
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Quote:
Originally Posted by ennonne View Post
So winter at Vail, summer at Road America? Not too bad!
ha, no Vail would never allow a vehicle that cost less than 6 figures, I just like keeping people guessing. Check my plate at the end fo the video for my feelings on Vail lol
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Old 01-28-2025, 10:23 PM   #7
Almost There
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 82
Ooh, damn yeah. Wheel wells make sense

Thanks!
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Old 01-30-2025, 08:24 AM   #8
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Motor City
Posts: 153
Quote:
Originally Posted by ADDvanced View Post
ha, no Vail would never allow a vehicle that cost less than 6 figures, I just like keeping people guessing. Check my plate at the end of the video for my feelings on Vail lol
I was focused on the Road America plate, didn't read it!

Good video, btw, nothing like data to help solve problems.
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Old 01-30-2025, 12:05 PM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: TX
Posts: 265
Year: 2010
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird (6-window Handy Bus)
Engine: Cummins 6.7l ISB
Rated Cap: 15 + 3WC
Nice plate….

So, appears you’re not a hoity-toity ski bum…don’t blame you…can’t imagine any area is worth $200-$300 per day…just got back from 6 days in SW CO - 5 at Purg and 1 at Wolf Creek….no lines at Purg and average cost per day was < $50 …
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