Warmth is kind of a big deal. Since the dawn of time, humans have needed to stay warm. Thanks to a hearty sense of self-preservation, we’ve had to come up with some creative ways to do so. Early nomads had to depend on fire and basically never staying still. Once we started settling into homes, we utilized animal hides and mud. Modern houses, luckily, have more effective insulators, like polyurethane spray foam.
We don’t always have to sleep in a house, though. Car camping and the “van life” movement have made off-grid lifestyles popular. Vehicles are not insulated like homes. This makes sense because the manufacturers didn’t actually intend for drivers to have to keep their cars warm overnight.
Whether it is your bed for one night or you’re living in your car in the winter, you’re going to want to learn how to insulate your car. Winter nights can see temperatures dip far below zero. You won’t be getting much sleep if you can’t stop the chatter of your teeth. Fortunately, insulating your car doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, there are plenty of ways to DIY the entire process.
Before you begin purchasing any materials, you have a decision to make. The insulating process can be as involved as you like. If you prefer simple and quick, do it. If you prefer going all in, that’s okay too. Read over all these tips and make the right decision for you.
The Bare Minimum
We’ll start small. If you’re parking in an area for one night and the temperature is going to be mild, you won’t need a lot of insulation. You can get away with the bare minimum of how to insulate your car in the winter. The minimum, in this case, would be blankets fashioned into curtains.
Depending on the car, you can use a tension rod for your makeshift curtains. A blanket can be thrown over the rod or even clipped to it. Try binder clips or clothespins. Hang your curtains in front of all your windows, including the back one. Again, this method is the bare minimum. Thick heavy blankets can trap some heat in the car for you, but it won’t help you in freezing temperatures. It also affords you a sense of privacy from the outside world.
DIY Insulation
Curtains sound nice enough, but you’ve checked the weather conditions for the area. Some blankets tossed over a rod aren’t going to cut it. In this case, you’ll need to prepare your vehicle ahead of time. At the very least, begin preparing 24 hours before the overnight. Some methods will even need longer than that.
There are many different ways to insulate a car. It all depends on how much time you have and your skill level.
The fan-favorite is Reflectix. Off-grid enthusiasts and campers swear by it. Reflectix is a bubble pack insulator that can be used just about anywhere. The material is made of aluminum foil and polyethylene. Since it comes in a roll, it’s so easy to fit any car window.
When you’re ready, hop into the back of your vehicle and roll out some Reflectix. Armed with a Sharpie, you’ll want to measure out the right size of material for every window, including the windshield. Use your Sharpie marks to cut out your pieces. Remember to measure twice, cut once. Measure three or four times – just get it correct. If you’d like clean edges, you can place tape around your window-sized pieces.
Reflectix material has one reflective side and one plain black side. If you wanted to keep your car cool, you’d have the reflective side facing the outside world so it repels heat. You need warmth though, so you will be turning the reflective side inwards. This way, the material insulates the heat and keeps it inside where it’s needed. Double sided tape is an easy way to adhere your insulation pieces to the windows.
Taking DIY Insulation a Step Further
If you know your way around an automobile, you can go deeper. Liners can be applied behind the panels of a car for insulation. This isn’t for novices. This involves removing the panels in the car and applying an adhesive liner below them. If you can’t confidently remove the panels, do not attempt to.
Noico RED is a closed-cell polyethylene self-adhesive foam. You purchase it in sheets and it’s easy to install. Before installing, decide where you’d like to insulate your car. For heating purposes, you’ll want to insulate the interior floor, doors, and possibly the roof.
Choose the area you want to start with and remove the paneling. If the factory-installed insulation is in rough shape, you will have to carefully remove it as well. You will need a removal kit. If you don’t already have one, you can purchase the Manfiter 38 piece kit here. It contains everything you need to pry the paneling off without damaging your car. If you plan on removing your interior panels just once or multiple times, this kit is a must have.
Once the area is clear, you need to clean it. Most household degreasers will work just fine. For lighter buildup, you can use rubbing alcohol or something similar. Whatever cleanser you choose, the area will need to be completely dry before you try to apply the Noico liner. Patience is key. Don’t rush it or the dampness could affect the liner.
Like with the Reflectix, you will need to measure and cut the appropriate size. Measure a few times for safety! Once you have cut your pieces, peel off the release paper from the back of the Noico liner. Now you’ll want to apply the piece to your vehicle. Press it down tightly to ensure adhesion. You will want to make sure you don’t have any bubbles in the liner.
Once you replace the paneling of your car, you will have covert insulation keeping your car warm! After all that work, you probably assume you are ready to sleep in your car. You have learned how to insulate your car for winter, right? Mostly. You just have a couple more steps.
Insulating Your Seat
You may not know this, but your car seats are not insulated. In fact, they’re pretty much the opposite. Since humans sit in car seats for long periods of time, car manufacturers have done their best to make them breathable and comfortable. Breathable isn’t ideal for insulating.
Unless you have a truck bed, you’ll probably be spending the night sleeping on a car seat. A lightweight camping pad or mattress is all you need to insulate the seat. If you are reclining in a front seat without any sort of air mattress, stick with something you can adjust to the shape of the seat like this Therm-a Rest Z Lite mattress. When not in use, it folds up like an accordion.
Another choice from Therm-a Rest is the RidgeRest SOLite camping pad. It’s made with the same reflective foam found in insulators like Reflectix. It reflects your body heat right back to you. All camping pads can be placed under an air mattress if you choose to go that route.
Insulate Your Body, Too
Before heading to dreamland, you’ll need to insulate your own body as best you can. After all, your DIY car insulation can only do so much.
You should dress in layers. The extra clothing will keep you warm, but also lets you lose a layer should your insulation work too well and you get too toasty. A t-shirt over a long-sleeve top followed by a sweatshirt works if you want to be simple. If you want more, consider investing in some fleece-lined long johns.
You’ll also want to wear a hat. I know hat hair is a very real problem, but so is heat loss. It’s common knowledge that humans lose a large percentage of body heat from the head. Keep the heat to yourself (and your head) with a hat. You can even check out this battery-powered heated hat. This is a must have for those super cold nights where a regular beanie or stocking cap just wont cut it.
If you don’t already have one, now is the time to invest in a high-quality sleeping bag. The Norsens 0 Degree cold weather sleeping bag is just what you need for a cold car campout. Plus, it’s super affordable.
The very last step is to crack a window. It sounds counterintuitive – why let in the freezing air? While you sleep and breathe deeply, moisture will gather inside the car. You know that scene in every movie where the teenage lovers are in a car with fogged up windows? Don’t let that be you. The dampness will chill your bones. Crack at least one window to let the moisture escape. A tiny opening is all that’s needed.
There you have it – you have learned how to insulate a car against the cold! You are now ready to spend the night in your car and stay warm. Be smart and be safe, but make sure you enjoy it!