Camper Van
Freedom.

Adhesives & Coatings · My build kit

Great Stuff 12-Ounce Insulating Foam

My insulating-foam purchase sits alongside the planning for lining the cargo area and closing the interior.

By Steven Smith · Camper Van Freedom

Read my build notes ↓
Great Stuff 12-Ounce Insulating Foam

The item in my kit

I bought Great Stuff 12-Ounce Insulating Foam as part of my camper van equipment.

My insulating-foam purchase sits alongside the planning for lining the cargo area and closing the interior.

Where it fits my build

My Day 87 plan put the body openings ahead of the aluminum framing, flooring and wall panels. I specifically included the shower drain and the openings for three water tanks in that order of work.

I removed cargo tie-down hardware to leave mounting points for the extrusion framing, and removed door trim for the later insulation and paneling. SketchUp helped me plan how those separate jobs would fit together.

The cargo floor during my preparation session before sound deadening.
The cargo floor during my preparation session before sound deadening.
Removing stuck-on residue during the floor cleanup.
Removing stuck-on residue during the floor cleanup.

My build notes

The useful part of this diary entry is the sequence. I wanted to finish the drilling while the interior metal was bare, so later work would not mean opening finished surfaces again.

The photographs show my preceding floor-preparation session. Sweeping, washing and removing residue created the starting point for the interior work I described next.

I planned the openings and mounting access before enclosing the interior.

Alternative products

Two alternatives to compare

The two Loctite products offer other straw-applied insulating foams. Their Big Gaps and Gaps & Cracks formats provide two different options within that product range.

Loctite Tite Foam Big Gaps

Loctite Tite Foam Big Gaps

This polyurethane foam sealant expands after dispensing from its handheld can. A narrow applicator tube directs the foam into gaps.

View on Amazon
Loctite Tite Foam Gaps & Cracks

Loctite Tite Foam Gaps & Cracks

This expanding foam fills gaps and cracks around building materials. The can’s applicator directs the foam into small openings before it cures.

View on Amazon

Questions from my build

What water-system work did I plan early?

My Day 87 notes name the shower drain and the openings for three water tanks.

What do these build photographs show?

They show my cargo-floor preparation before the later interior build-out stages.

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