Must-have equipment for a van build?
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Soon I'll be building out my van. It will be similar to many--solar, a mini kitchen, fold-up bed, storage for my gear, ect, ect. What I am wondering is if there are any accessories I might be forgetting about that would really make things easier. So far this is what I am planning to buy: |
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Still working on our Sprinter conversion, but a lot is done and the main systems have all been tested during our shakedown camping trip last year. A couple more weeks work now, then we'll be on the road again for the rest of winter/spring. |
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What kind of van? I am also in the market but am having trouble finding something in AWD/4x4. Anyone have experience driving a newer RWD van in the snow? Knobby tires and Stabilitrak do the trick? |
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NickO wrote:I would check out Camp Chef and Primus stoves over Coleman.Because.....? |
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Personal preference I suppose. To each their own. |
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NickO asked: Anyone have experience driving a newer RWD van in the snow? Knobby tires and Stabilitrak do the trick? |
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Agreed with Mountainhick: A propane box ventilated to the exterior of the van. My partner bought a propane tank and we custom built a airtight box ventilated to the exterior of the van. We drilled the hole at the bottom of the box because propane is heavier than air thus will sink and pool in case of a leak. |
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Aux cord! |
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We used glass wool insulation (akin to fiberglass) and a plastic vapor barrier (controversial) in part for vapor/condensation issues but also to contain glass fiber so it doesn't go airborne in the van interior. |
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If you are gonna be building out the electrical for serious use looks at an inverter like this Tripplite amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Power… It will also charge your battery bank if plugged in. I've used my van for smaller video/photo productions and needed reliable power. Also good advice to try and get 12VDC adapters for your laptop, cell phone and any other accessories you might be using. |
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Mikey Schaefer wrote:Do you really need a tank for grey water if it is just going to be dish water? I drain mine straight out to the ground.That's not allowed and/or illegal in many camping areas. Edit to add: If you're in remote desert areas with no water available, you will want to capture that grey water for reuse (assuming it's not too gross). |
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Some cheap clear plastic hanging shoe organizers. Hang them on the backs of the seats for keeping crap from bouncing around. They hold all kinds of things. |
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Jojo Protheroe wrote: Will you be using those small green Coleman canisters?Yes I will, which makes me wonder if I need a separate ventilated compartment that vents to the rear. I havent really found the full-size propane cylinders to be necessary. I only use the propane for cooking and one of the small green cylinders lasts me nearly a month. I dont camp in the winter so a heater is not needed. If I did add some form of compartment for the cylinders, it would need a door to open and close easily to place them in when I am done using them, and that might be a bit tricky to build in a manner that allows the door to open easily and without tools. I do like the general idea of having a separate container though as it would mean I could save on buying a propane detector (although I would kind of half-want it anyway just in case). Any photos of the container? Peter Howes wrote: What type of insulation are you using?Honestly, I am not exactly an insulation master, but I was going to cut up sections of this stuff to make it fit: homedepot.com/p/FOAMULAR-1-… From what others have said on here, apparently Refletix does not work when it is attached directly to panels. That stuff seems to work better to prevent heat through a window (radiant heat vs conductive). The foam seems to be effective for conductive heat. |
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Jojo Protheroe wrote:Photo : Cat box. We asked a carpet supplier if they had any scrap carpet and they gladly supplied us with this cat-tower like material. This held one big propane tank and 3 coleman tanks. I'll be honest and say that the green canisters didn't always stay tucked away in the box, but our detector never went off. Excuse my partner for the vulgar sign language. He had a rough day.How did you design the door so you had access to the tanks while keeping an airtight seal? So you went with the sealed box and a propane detector? |
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The door opened on the top of the box. A hinge mechanism was used on one side. A silicone sealing agent (bought in any hardware store) provided the flexible lining around the rims of the door and box. We also sealed the interior edges of the box with the silicone sealing agent. It took a bit of force to close the lid because of the silicone seal, so we needed a strong latch like this guy: |
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Ah yes, seat swivels. have them too... indispensable. |
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Go with an LP refrigerator instead of 12V. Much more efficient. |
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I have seen a few setups that don't have a tank for catching gray water. They just routed the pipe outside the van and anything you pour into the sink goes on the ground. |
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highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:I have seen a few setups that don't have a tank for catching gray water. They just routed the pipe outside the van and anything you pour into the sink goes on the ground. If you're even a little bit efficient about washing dishes, this usually just means a trickle, not a puddle. You don't have to carry around an extra tank. If it freezes, just run some hot water down it. To the guy who said Camp-Chef or Primus stoves. Don't do it. I've had both. The Camp-Chef has a poorly built regulator that will blow in about a year or two of use and they are hard to find and cost as much as a new stove. The knobs are weird and they rebound, meaning that if you turn it down to a simmer it will bounce to a higher heat once you let go of the knob. This is really tricky at very low flames. The Primus look really nice and cost a lot, I found the flame to suck. It was uneven and big and yellow at any heat. No amount of adjusting could fix it. It was basically worthless. Pretty to look at and easy to clean. The Coleman on the other hand, has parts available anywhere, is super reliable, has a perfect sized blue flame, and is easy to adjust the temp. Get the one with the steel covering the inside, it makes cleanup just a matter of wiping. If you want it to look as cool as a Primus, red spray paint is pretty inexpensive.Re camp chef, I think it depends on what model. We have a Ranger 2 that is friggin burly. It's problem is the burners are huge, too big and high output for cooking for two. I also tried a "sportsman" single burner... not recommended. The metal case is way too thin sheet metal, it doesn't light well and tends to put itself out. I just bought a smaller used 2 burner at a street market in Mexico. No idea what brand, it's not marked. Seems to be the best compromise for our small counter space in the sprinter. YMMV |
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Eric Carlos wrote:Go with an LP refrigerator instead of 12V. Much more efficient.Not really that simple. Are you running electric from a solar/aux battery system or plugging in to AC? If you have aux batteries, especially if accompanied by solar anyway, running an efficient fridge is no extra cost whereas you need to keep buying propane for the LPG fridge. sunfrost.com/blog/off-grid-… |