Beware of scammers! Someone's impersonating me, asking for Telegram texts. This is NOT me. Never trust or engage with such messages. Sorry guys! Love you all 💕
Yes, your account is hacked. They said I won A guitar and a Mac pro And wanted me to send them $100 for shipping. I would shut down my telegram account.
Remember folks...Attention to details...they created an account with her name with an asterisk at the end. Which makes it a completely different account...Details matter!! (REACHER)
Just FYI, always watch for corrosion on the battery terminals after the van has been sitting (especially if a jump isn't working).50% of the time that is the problem.
I’m impressed with methodical thought process and attention to details. Must be the RX in you. It’s going to be a great van, home on wheels. Is it ok to complement you on your natural beauty, not only your look but also your character and demeanor. You are a beautiful woman.
For future reference, Autozone, and probably some other parts stores, will test your battery and alternator for free. Also, you can get a volt meter, not expensive, and test your own battery and alternator. There are many videos on RUclips, that walk you through using the volt meter, and doing those tests. If you test it yourself, at least you know for sure the dealer isn't taking advantage of you. Dealers will do anything to make a sale. You should be able to get 5 years or more out of a battery. Also, start your van up once a week, and drive it around for 15 minutes. The alternator will keep the battery charged. Anyway, the build is coming along. Keep up the good work. Kudos to your step dad for helping out.
I’d take the free battery & alternator tests with a grain of salt. I once replaced the alternator 7 times in a row under warranty in 3 weeks time & could do it in 10 min flat. It would test good in store, but wouldn’t charge when in the vehicle. The 8th worked totally fine. Yes, they were all rebuilt that you receive under warranty.
Shocked that the dealer got to you for $675.00. You can buy that battery for well under $200.00...probably about $150.00 at O'Reilly, Advanced Auto, etc. You should take it back to them and make them refund the exorbitant price they hit you with. You are doing the right method on your build...taking your time, doing your research and your stepdad's shop will set you well for all the tools and help for the build. Looking forward to your progress!
One trick for marking your rivnuts. Color the face of the rivnut with black sharpie then hit the board with a soft tip hammer. It will leave an indent and a black mark. Do the two on the ends attach them , then do the same with the other ones.
You are so lovable, brave and adventurous, Elisa! Learning all time and probably thinking about all the places that you want to drive to. We have a lot of beautiful places here in SW Pennsylvania (Falling Water, for example) and I would be honored to offer advice, assistance and any help that I can if you make it to this neck of the woods someday! Que linda!!😊
Just recently discovered your channel and subscribed. Love it. You are talented, beautiful and very modest. I enjoy watching you find solutions to whatever problem you encounter. Your stepdad is a great guy. It shows he is very proud of you. One suggestion that may help with your Rivet Nut tool is sliding a piece of pipe over each handle to give you more leverage. Between one to two feet long should do it. EMT conduit is strong, lightweight and available in different diameters to fit over handles. Keep following your dream!!!!!!!
An auto parts store would have installed a battery for free. It would have been less than $200.They call them Stealerships for a reason. Great video BTW. I was not aware of those types of fasteners.
Hey, for countersinking screws, there is something called a countersink bit that is easier to use than a Forstner bit. It drills a conical hole instead of a cylindrical one, and it matches the taper of the machine screw head. Great work this week!
Good call buying the booster. I have one in every vehicle. Also you should pickup jumper cables. Not cheap ones. Go for the heavy duty gauge cable. You are doing fantastic!
Elisa, as always, you are setting a great example to go for your dreams. Wish you the best, preparing your van (fully customized by you!) and hitting all roads! We will see you there!
My dad taught me that you only go to a dealership one time to purchase a new vehicle and then you never go back. The dealership (aka stealership) overcharged you by $400+ for the battery replacement so this should be the last time you ever go to one of them. I kind of geek out on fastener technology so not too many other people think about this but stainless steel bolts should not be used with yellow-zinc-plated steel nuts like that. Since it is inside the van and will not get wet it will be fine but if this was done outside where it would get wet then the stainless steel and yellow-zinc-plated steel would have galvanic corrosion which would eventually lead to the yellow-zinc-plated steel nuts losing their plating and rusting which years down the road could lead to the van's steel body rusting. Either yellow-zinc-plated steel bolts or zinc-plated steel bolts should be used with yellow-zinc-plated steel nuts. OK, geeking out time is over. Love your channel and planning on buying and converting a van myself one day.
Hi Elisa, newer vehicles have all kinds of electrical gizmos and gadgets that over time (with a vehicle sitting and not running) will eventually drain a battery. If you are going to be having the van sitting for extended periods of time still you can either get a “trickle” battery charger or have a battery “cut off” switch installed. The cut off switch usually mounts close to the battery under the hood that you can easily flip or twist the switch to disconnect the battery to keep it from draining (and believe or not helps deter thief’s from hot wiring and stealing the vehicle too). Just a couple of thoughts / suggestions for you. Good luck with everything, love watching your video’s !
Standard 12volt lead acid vehicle batteries don’t tolerate being run completely dead very often and can shorten it’s lifespan. Your battery is mostly there to start the vehicle and run accessories (when the vehicle is off). Your alternator is supposed to put out enough volts (usually 13-14 volts) to charge your 12 volt battery, and run all your accessories when the vehicle is running. The little jump starter packs are definitely a life saver when nobody is around to jump start you. Smart investment! Thanks for sharing.
Elisa I look forward to view your videos You’re coming right along and doing great. Keep up the good work and keep the videos coming. Have a great day.
You ARE doing a wonderful job building and creating a travel van. For someone who probably never used tools, let alone power tools you ARE doing a GREAT job. Keep up the good work. WE all learn from are mistake SO do Not get frustrated!! Like watching you RUclips videos and the progress. Learn from others that have done the same as you want to do. It appears you have low miles on your van and when you have low miles the battery may not be getting enough charging time. When you get into solar panels you will need more juice for sure, GOOD LUCK!!
After watching probably a hundred van vids for a couple years now as I am soon to build my own, you have done a terrific job! Craftsmanship is wonderful. You've thought of most everything. You're on top of it with the jumper box for the battery too. As a motorsports guy all my life, I can tell you that if you had a 1965 van, you could park it for weeks and the battery would be fine. All todays vehicles have ECUs and onboard computers that constantly draw power. Park it a few days it may not be a problem, but park it a couple weeks and the battery will be drained, and not because it's a Promaster van. Get a Battery Tender. Hook it up when you're not going to drive it for a while and it will keep the battery charged. Keep up the great work.
You and your stepdad do great 😃👍🏿 work on your van, you 🙏🏿 just looks better and doing great job. I like how you are learning and doing wonderful 😊 at it to!!!! ❤
Can’t wait to see he completed project. I have a 2021 Ram 3500, Travato. The van was converted to an RV by Winnebago. To initial battery died at one year. Getting 3 years out of your battery is not too bad. Stay positive and take your time. It will be beautiful.
It´s going on and on little by little. I hope we can see it finished soon. :) I think you should get one extra battery to work in parallel or serial with the main one, if you want to save energy with your solar panels for independence on the road. Good luck!!!
I like that tool you used to press fit the machine screw rivnuts! Batteries should have a date code sticker on them for their date of manufacture. Three years in So Flo is pretty good life for a lead acid battery, 5 years for an AGM. I'll replace the next one free of charge if you include me in one of your episodes , 😂. I'm enjoying the progress, cant wait to see the next episode!. By the way, it's great that you have your step dad's shop at your disposal! Subs are rising monthly !
I also have a 21 Promaster named Stevie (Gold dust woman) that I’m building out myself… I also did 100% rivnuts and no new holes for the same reasons. When I used the riv nut setter (Astro tool), I didn’t turn the knob the entire way (the more you turn, the harder it is to squeeze).. I turned it three times.. squeezed.. opened it back up but did not remove it from the hole.. turned three more times and squeezed.. usually that was enough to get it fully set without the need to “manhandle” it. Good luck! I love my Promaster.. but I too worry but my worry is about the transmission… Last month, I spent about $3500 on a 7 year unlimited mileage extended warranty - it was really for peace of mind. I don’t regret it but it was a chunk of change for a lot of peace of mind.
The battery issue is likely due to you having the doors open for so long while you are building it. The interior lights stay on and use battery power. Also, having a van sit for weeks without being started will drain the battery as computer modules use power too, clock, stereo, etc.
Yikes! Did I hear that right. The stealership charged you over $600 for changing a battery. I hate to see people taken advantage of or gouged. Could have been done for around $150 or less. Basically the cost of the battery. Not the dealerships battery that is. Sorry you had that happen to you. That money saved would have gotten you much further on your build.
What an amazingly talented lady, I stand in awe. I only discovered your channel yesterday so I'm doing a lot of catching up 😂 I havn't long bought a Merc 310 for conversion and I love watching other peoples approach to the work. You my dear have me riveted. From England I send love and every success to you. Thank you 🙏
What a dedicated , pretty , brave and blaze a vanlife by ownself as a reference for us to follow, never see this in Asia definitely , will continuously to share your wisdom. I will also build my own Promaster with Ikea/Taobao gadgets ( hopefully to complete in 2 days ) on my enrollment in CA this Dec.
I'm a full-time Van Life'r in a Promaster just like yours. Mine is older but, I love traveling and living out of my funky Promaster. You will be happy and proud of your DIY build out too. 👍 Rock on 🙂.
Never doubt yourself on this project! Enjoy the challenge! You really are doing a great job! Little mistakes along the way can always be fixed! Keep up the good work!
Regarding your ProMaster: I've had my head under the hood of a car (truck, etc) since I was 17. I'm a lot older than that now - and, for me (I am 6'2" tall) - the ProMaster is the choice that I will purchase over the other products on the market. So, don't worry - you did not acquire the wrong vehicle. 3 years on a battery that was in very cold and wet weather is not untypical. A lot of cold starts and hard cranks.
Buy a small solar battery charger and you can place it on the dashboard. Plug the solar in the cigarette lighter and it will keep your battery charge. This product costs around $15 at Harbor Freight. I have used this method for over 10 years and never had a problem with batteries.
Your promaster will be fine. We use them as work vans and well over 100k miles on em. Great video, can't wait to keep watching your progress. Keep staying beautiful
Hello, I follow your channel and I'm amazed at what projects you "fearlessly attack" and you finish in such a professional manner...you really impress me!!...so, I've been an ASE Master Tech for over 47 years now retired...I have to say that without me actually checking the battery, I cant say for certain, but i know that if you just let the battery sit there, there will always be a small draw that overtime, will drain said battery...what I would do first and foremost is buy a good quality Battery Tender or "trickle charger" and once you jump start your vehicle and let it run for a bit to return some life into that battery, then shut it off and connect your "trickle charger" to your battery and connect the charger to a wall plug and as long as the van is parked keep it connected ...it'll slowly (recommended) charge the battery to full capacity and then it'll "maintain" that charge whether you start it or not...just my 2 cents!..😉👋👍✌️🇨🇺
Sometimes the battery may go down for no reason, this does not mean that the battery is defective. Electric devices such as lamps, alarms or radio remote controls can reduce the voltage of the battery. This happened to me once, for no reason, the battery dropped below 11 volts, therefore the vehicle does not start, the brain does not start the vehicle. It happens mostly in winter or spring seasons when nights are cold. In general terms, of course, it is most likely due to the old battery of the vehicle. I think that your new battery will not leave you stranded for a long time, even if it malfunctions. I am trying to make one too. Good luck. You are very knowledgeable and skillful. I congratulate you.
If the van will be sitting for several days or more, get a battery minder/maintainer. It will check the battery and trickle charge it as needed. Plus the minder is very inexpensive at around 30.00. Your battery will live a long life! Good luck!
You can't let the van set for long periods without starting it and let the alternator charge the battery. You have what is called parasitic drain on the battery. Caused from alarm,and other electronics installed that require the battery to power them. If going to let it sit longer than a week without starting it, you should invest in a battery maintainer/float charger. That will automatically trickle charge the battery when sitting for long periods of time. A nice solar powered maintainer will work nicely for you.
One tip in using the rivnut tool is you don't need to screw the nut all the way down as you did on the tool You only need to screw the rivnut until the thread of the tool screw protrudes out the end, that way the handles on the tool will be closer together and you have better leverage on the handles, good job on the progress you've made👍🏻
Riv-nuts are game changer for rv/van builds, i used them for my roof mounts for solar panels and it worked like a charm. I also used them in the roof cross members to mount the ceiling wood. so glad you are using them, in the end you'll see how nice they are and easy to remove panels and such should it be necessary. I would recommend a battery isolator from your electrical system. I would also recommend when putting those riv-nuts in, try and make sure they are always straight while squeezing them in place, if they are crooked it will force the screw to be slightly crooked during threading, so that you don't cross thread them. Fatastic job Elisa, you are doing a wonderful build, you will have so much experience and knowledge after this you will be so proud of yourself and when you want to change something or fix it, you will know exactly what you need to do and how to do it!! You are amazing, keep it up.
Looking good Elisa and the van is too. I just got seat covers leather for my van and they are beautiful, I wish I could help you with the van build. I have been having a lot of fun with my van. I put a 9 inch touch screen stereo and now I have RUclips, yahoo and everything I can ask for it really changed the van. Keep it rolling!
hello Elisa, a good tool to have and keep in the van is called a multimeter. learning to use it is no problem as you have many skills working on your van this can read the voltage on your battery and the output of your alternator. it can find out if there is a electrical drain when the vehicle is parked and motor is not running. it can find out if there are live wires damaged and draining your battery. it can tell you if your battery voltage is getting low and you may have to find the source of the trouble . there are lots of educational sources on how to use it and of course you tube has lots of videos on ,how to use it. love your Videos and look forward to seeing the new ones😊
Yep, always have a jumpstarter with you. And don't forget to charge it once a month to keep it in shape. I had to use mine twice to help out my mother and someone else.
You’re doing such a thoughtful job on your build! Just something to be aware of-the new phone holder on your vent-turn that vent off. My wife uses her car vent and when the heater is on the phone will get too hot and start to shutdown! I certainly enjoy watching your build! Thank you 😁👍
I feel so bad for the amount of money you spent at the dealership, Batteries last about 4 years but you can go to a auto parts store and they’ll usually test them for free and they don’t over charge you for a new one , or Costco has batteries. I recently put a battery in my truck . For the fun of it I asked AAA how much for theirs and they wanted over $349 then I called my Toyota dealer and they wanted $138 for the battery and install both was $300. I went to Costco and picked it up and installed it myself and I spent $109 and ten minutes of my time . Keep up the great work on the van , your awesome 🤗
I have the same fears as you with my Promaster - but we must keep the faith!! And your stepdad did a GORGEOUS JOB on that accent wood panel - WOW, I LOVE IT!!
I like your video it’s interesting because you have knowledge to build your own instead of hiring someone to do it good inspiration techniques from Honolulu hi awesome 😎
Greetings Elisa. Another very nice video. As a traveler of over 10 years now, it may help to remember that as you drive the van on roadways, it is like a mini-earthquake inside. Things shake, bounce, and break over time. I used to use the word "never" too; but not anymore.
Oh my, that Playdoh trick is awesome! 😲 I wish I had known about that when doing my last build! I really struggled on a lining up a couple of mine. It's good to have a new battery since you'll be traveling, unfortunately with the Promaster even a new battery dying is a normal occurrence when it's left sitting for a few weeks. There's some type of weak parasitic draw on them. To prevent it from happening on the new one you can get a small maintenance charger, or just start and run it once a week or so. It won't happen when you're using the van on a regular basis. For your upper cabinet area I'd HIGHLY recommend skipping the back framing. Not only is it difficult to work with that angle (As you noticed), but you don't need or want to frame or cover the insides of your cabinets. You'll not only lose a ton of space, but you'll lose easy access to any wires you run behind there.
Good job Elisa, keep following your dream and things will definitely turn out well! And why reinvent the wheel, RUclips offers so much knowledge that you can use. The only thing I would use myself is a threadlocker from Loctite or another brand to prevent the M8 bolts from vibrating loose. Vibrations can cause to loosen bolts, which can cause annoying squeaks or creaks in your van. Good luck with building your van. Greetings from the Netherlands
Install a battery disconnect switch. If you are parking any length of time. And if you don't turn off your interior lights with your doors open, it will drain your battery. Go with good fasteners. Self tapping screws are ok for small lightweight jobs. But things with weight and the shifting as your driving will pull screws out. Vacuum and go over the area with a good magnet after and you should be fine. Keep up the great job!
To keep the wood from chipping out use painters tape it's amazing how it prevents that from happening when drilling and or cutting. love following your journey
Looking good👍progress. I do the same thing modding my cargo trailer, I watch videos from several and get ideas then combine into my own. If a lead acid starter battery is ever drained below a certain percentage that the platelets can have permanent damage therefore decreasing the overall life of the battery. So I hear it’s important to keep hotel load separate from the starter battery. Like adding an isolator or something so current can only flow one way to charge starter battery. I learned that from the RVers but did that on my sailboat too with solar. Awesome work you are doing there. Happy Trails✌️
The dealership should be your last resort for anything. I know, I've worked at a dealership before. May be a good idea to learn as much as you can about maintenance on your van. Back in the day I would buy a Haynes repair manual on every car I've owned. A wealth of information and may even help prevent dealership rip offs.
Nice go on the clay route , another way is using painters tape lay on and mark on tape then tape on wood to transfer holes spots , just another way. Looking good on van . Thank you for the videos.
Just a little trick in marking where those rib nuts are located. Use magic marker,paint or nail polish . Put some on each nut. Place the wood where you want it. Press the wood against the nuts and you will have marks on the backside of your wood where you need to drill. You can also do it with no paint,etc.. by placing the wood and hitting it to cause small dents where you need to drill. Just a thought. Great job.
![NLE Choppa - Or What ft. 41 (Orchestra Mix) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/biOFASEgSOM/mqdefault.jpg)
Beware of scammers! Someone's impersonating me, asking for Telegram texts. This is NOT me. Never trust or engage with such messages. Sorry guys! Love you all 💕
Yes, your account is hacked. They said I won A guitar and a Mac pro And wanted me to send them $100 for shipping. I would shut down my telegram account.
Darn....
🤣@@HurleyDeanSandpointIdaho
Remember folks...Attention to details...they created an account with her name with an asterisk at the end. Which makes it a completely different account...Details matter!! (REACHER)
Just FYI, always watch for corrosion on the battery terminals after the van has been sitting (especially if a jump isn't working).50% of the time that is the problem.
your simplicity is just too attractive.
I’m impressed with methodical thought process and attention to details. Must be the RX in you. It’s going to be a great van, home on wheels. Is it ok to complement you on your natural beauty, not only your look but also your character and demeanor. You are a beautiful woman.
For future reference, Autozone, and probably some other parts stores, will test your battery and alternator for free. Also, you can get a volt meter, not expensive, and test your own battery and alternator. There are many videos on RUclips, that walk you through using the volt meter, and doing those tests. If you test it yourself, at least you know for sure the dealer isn't taking advantage of you. Dealers will do anything to make a sale. You should be able to get 5 years or more out of a battery. Also, start your van up once a week, and drive it around for 15 minutes. The alternator will keep the battery charged. Anyway, the build is coming along. Keep up the good work. Kudos to your step dad for helping out.
As others have mentioned, a trickle charger is also a great idea.
$$$645??? For a battery??
Dealerships are a rip off.
@@r8edrv4fun65 $645 for a cheap battery from a DODGE dealer…..I don’t even know her and I’m pissed they ripped her off…
I’d take the free battery & alternator tests with a grain of salt. I once replaced the alternator 7 times in a row under warranty in 3 weeks time & could do it in 10 min flat. It would test good in store, but wouldn’t charge when in the vehicle. The 8th worked totally fine. Yes, they were all rebuilt that you receive under warranty.
Love how you build out this van. You viewpoint, perspective and personality is incredible
Shocked that the dealer got to you for $675.00. You can buy that battery for well under $200.00...probably about $150.00 at O'Reilly, Advanced Auto, etc. You should take it back to them and make them refund the exorbitant price they hit you with. You are doing the right method on your build...taking your time, doing your research and your stepdad's shop will set you well for all the tools and help for the build. Looking forward to your progress!
I agree with a refund. Walmart will install and it will be a lot less expensive.
One trick for marking your rivnuts. Color the face of the rivnut with black sharpie then hit the board with a soft tip hammer. It will leave an indent and a black mark. Do the two on the ends attach them , then do the same with the other ones.
You are doing a good job. Enjoy watching you learn by doing as we all learn with you. Keep up the good work!
You are so lovable, brave and adventurous, Elisa! Learning all time and probably thinking about all the places that you want to drive to.
We have a lot of beautiful places here in SW Pennsylvania (Falling Water, for example) and I would be honored to offer advice, assistance and any help that I can if you make it to this neck of the woods someday! Que linda!!😊
'Learning all the time', rather,
Good morning Elisa.
We are waiting for your next video.
You are a very nice and smart person.
Just recently discovered your channel and subscribed. Love it. You are talented, beautiful and very modest. I enjoy watching you find solutions to whatever problem you encounter. Your stepdad is a great guy. It shows he is very proud of you. One suggestion that may help with your Rivet Nut tool is sliding a piece of pipe over each handle to give you more leverage. Between one to two feet long should do it. EMT conduit is strong, lightweight and available in different diameters to fit over handles. Keep following your dream!!!!!!!
I would recommend using blue loctite on the screws. The Loctite will prevent the screws from backing out due to road vibrations.
An auto parts store would have installed a battery for free. It would have been less than $200.They call them Stealerships for a reason. Great video BTW. I was not aware of those types of fasteners.
Hey, for countersinking screws, there is something called a countersink bit that is easier to use than a Forstner bit. It drills a conical hole instead of a cylindrical one, and it matches the taper of the machine screw head. Great work this week!
NEVER go to a dealership if you can help it! If you can go elsewhere than a dealership do so! God's speed to you Elisa! :)
Good call buying the booster. I have one in every vehicle. Also you should pickup jumper cables. Not cheap ones. Go for the heavy duty gauge cable. You are doing fantastic!
Elisa, as always, you are setting a great example to go for your dreams. Wish you the best, preparing your van (fully customized by you!) and hitting all roads! We will see you there!
My dad taught me that you only go to a dealership one time to purchase a new vehicle and then you never go back. The dealership (aka stealership) overcharged you by $400+ for the battery replacement so this should be the last time you ever go to one of them.
I kind of geek out on fastener technology so not too many other people think about this but stainless steel bolts should not be used with yellow-zinc-plated steel nuts like that. Since it is inside the van and will not get wet it will be fine but if this was done outside where it would get wet then the stainless steel and yellow-zinc-plated steel would have galvanic corrosion which would eventually lead to the yellow-zinc-plated steel nuts losing their plating and rusting which years down the road could lead to the van's steel body rusting. Either yellow-zinc-plated steel bolts or zinc-plated steel bolts should be used with yellow-zinc-plated steel nuts. OK, geeking out time is over.
Love your channel and planning on buying and converting a van myself one day.
Your Stepfather is totally 💯 Prime👊🏽
I love your step dad!
Lookin good! And the van too
Hi Elisa, newer vehicles have all kinds of electrical gizmos and gadgets that over time (with a vehicle sitting and not running) will eventually drain a battery. If you are going to be having the van sitting for extended periods of time still you can either get a “trickle” battery charger or have a battery “cut off” switch installed. The cut off switch usually mounts close to the battery under the hood that you can easily flip or twist the switch to disconnect the battery to keep it from draining (and believe or not helps deter thief’s from hot wiring and stealing the vehicle too). Just a couple of thoughts / suggestions for you. Good luck with everything, love watching your video’s !
Don't give up! You are doing great! Please continue to work on your dream van. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Standard 12volt lead acid vehicle batteries don’t tolerate being run completely dead very often and can shorten it’s lifespan. Your battery is mostly there to start the vehicle and run accessories (when the vehicle is off). Your alternator is supposed to put out enough volts (usually 13-14 volts) to charge your 12 volt battery, and run all your accessories when the vehicle is running. The little jump starter packs are definitely a life saver when nobody is around to jump start you. Smart investment! Thanks for sharing.
Elisa I look forward to view your videos You’re coming right along and doing great. Keep up the good work and keep the videos coming. Have a great day.
You ARE doing a wonderful job building and creating a travel van. For someone who probably never used tools, let alone power tools you ARE doing a GREAT job. Keep up the good work. WE all learn from are mistake SO do Not get frustrated!! Like watching you RUclips videos and the progress. Learn from others that have done the same as you want to do. It appears you have low miles on your van and when you have low miles the battery may not be getting enough charging time. When you get into solar panels you will need more juice for sure, GOOD LUCK!!
After watching probably a hundred van vids for a couple years now as I am soon to build my own, you have done a terrific job! Craftsmanship is wonderful. You've thought of most everything. You're on top of it with the jumper box for the battery too. As a motorsports guy all my life, I can tell you that if you had a 1965 van, you could park it for weeks and the battery would be fine. All todays vehicles have ECUs and onboard computers that constantly draw power. Park it a few days it may not be a problem, but park it a couple weeks and the battery will be drained, and not because it's a Promaster van. Get a Battery Tender. Hook it up when you're not going to drive it for a while and it will keep the battery charged. Keep up the great work.
You and your stepdad do great 😃👍🏿 work on your van, you 🙏🏿 just looks better and doing great job. I like how you are learning and doing wonderful 😊 at it to!!!! ❤
I like the way you are framing your van. Very solid and no new holes in the metal. I enjoy watching you transform your van.
Learned something - never thought of the playdough idea. Thanks!
Can’t wait to see he completed project. I have a 2021 Ram 3500, Travato. The van was converted to an RV by Winnebago. To initial battery died at one year. Getting 3 years out of your battery is not too bad. Stay positive and take your time. It will be beautiful.
As always Elise, great job and keep going! Love how your step dad has been super helpful!
It´s going on and on little by little. I hope we can see it finished soon. :) I think you should get one extra battery to work in parallel or serial with the main one, if you want to save energy with your solar panels for independence on the road. Good luck!!!
Great Videos, you should be very proud of your self, great work
I like that tool you used to press fit the machine screw rivnuts! Batteries should have a date code sticker on them for their date of manufacture. Three years in So Flo is pretty good life for a lead acid battery, 5 years for an AGM. I'll replace the next one free of charge if you include me in one of your episodes , 😂. I'm enjoying the progress, cant wait to see the next episode!. By the way, it's great that you have your step dad's shop at your disposal! Subs are rising monthly !
I also have a 21 Promaster named Stevie (Gold dust woman) that I’m building out myself… I also did 100% rivnuts and no new holes for the same reasons. When I used the riv nut setter (Astro tool), I didn’t turn the knob the entire way (the more you turn, the harder it is to squeeze).. I turned it three times.. squeezed.. opened it back up but did not remove it from the hole.. turned three more times and squeezed.. usually that was enough to get it fully set without the need to “manhandle” it. Good luck! I love my Promaster.. but I too worry but my worry is about the transmission… Last month, I spent about $3500 on a 7 year unlimited mileage extended warranty - it was really for peace of mind. I don’t regret it but it was a chunk of change for a lot of peace of mind.
The battery issue is likely due to you having the doors open for so long while you are building it. The interior lights stay on and use battery power. Also, having a van sit for weeks without being started will drain the battery as computer modules use power too, clock, stereo, etc.
So much fun watching the conversion of your van over time. Very proud of you.❤😊 ...from 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦
Loving watching your vids Elisa. You take it all in your stride in a lovely calm, positive way. Such a beautiful woman 💚
Great job, the van is coming along well! I love your smile and positive energy!!! Have a wonderful week and look forward to your next video!!!
Yikes! Did I hear that right. The stealership charged you over $600 for changing a battery. I hate to see people taken advantage of or gouged. Could have been done for around $150 or less. Basically the cost of the battery. Not the dealerships battery that is. Sorry you had that happen to you. That money saved would have gotten you much further on your build.
What an amazingly talented lady, I stand in awe. I only discovered your channel yesterday so I'm doing a lot of catching up 😂 I havn't long bought a Merc 310 for conversion and I love watching other peoples approach to the work. You my dear have me riveted. From England I send love and every success to you. Thank you 🙏
What a dedicated , pretty , brave and blaze a vanlife by ownself as a reference for us to follow, never see this in Asia definitely , will continuously to share your wisdom. I will also build my own Promaster with Ikea/Taobao gadgets ( hopefully to complete in 2 days ) on my enrollment in CA this Dec.
You are getting more skilled!
I wish I had a garage like that full of tools!!! I would live in it!! 😂 The van is looking great!
You are right about the many, many ways to frame the van. You look at them all and make your choice, it’s what works for you.
I'm a full-time Van Life'r in a Promaster just like yours. Mine is older but, I love traveling and living out of my funky Promaster. You will be happy and proud of your DIY build out too. 👍 Rock on 🙂.
Yes! Thank you! 😘
Keep up the good work your van is coming along well slow is best to avoid costly mistakes, I enjoy your enthusiasm...take care.
Hello Elisa, I live in Quebec Canada and I am following your van conversion. You are so pretty and I wish that I lived in Florida 😊
Hi again, I'm semi retired now maybe if I buy a van you could convert it for me. 😂
@@Kevin-q1o6nDude I’m a straight male and even I’m grossed out by this level of desperation. Do you really think females will like it?
I love your drive and positive spirit. 😊 I’m sure your build will turn out awesome. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. 🙏🏾 You got this!!!💪🏾❤
Very interesting Elisa thanks for sharing stay well always ❤
Never doubt yourself on this project! Enjoy the challenge! You really are doing a great job! Little mistakes along the way can always be fixed!
Keep up the good work!
marking those holes was so informative... love it!
Can’t wait to see the van finished I’ve been waiting patiently since your 1st video. So inspirational.
Regarding your ProMaster: I've had my head under the hood of a car (truck, etc) since I was 17. I'm a lot older than that now - and, for me (I am 6'2" tall) - the ProMaster is the choice that I will purchase over the other products on the market. So, don't worry - you did not acquire the wrong vehicle. 3 years on a battery that was in very cold and wet weather is not untypical. A lot of cold starts and hard cranks.
I am so happy for you I watch people in Norway an Sweden that has ram promaster an they are very happy
Hi ,
The build looks great and bright as well as clean. lol .
Great smile.😊
Thanks for sharing.
Just started watching your videos! I really love them!
Buy a small solar battery charger and you can place it on the dashboard. Plug the solar in the cigarette lighter and it will keep your battery charge. This product costs around $15 at Harbor Freight. I have used this method for over 10 years and never had a problem with batteries.
Your promaster will be fine. We use them as work vans and well over 100k miles on em. Great video, can't wait to keep watching your progress. Keep staying beautiful
Thank you! I like hearing that :)
Beautiful lady and beautiful job as well!
Hello, I follow your channel and I'm amazed at what projects you "fearlessly attack" and you finish in such a professional manner...you really impress me!!...so, I've been an ASE Master Tech for over 47 years now retired...I have to say that without me actually checking the battery, I cant say for certain, but i know that if you just let the battery sit there, there will always be a small draw that overtime, will drain said battery...what I would do first and foremost is buy a good quality Battery Tender or "trickle charger" and once you jump start your vehicle and let it run for a bit to return some life into that battery, then shut it off and connect your "trickle charger" to your battery and connect the charger to a wall plug and as long as the van is parked keep it connected ...it'll slowly (recommended) charge the battery to full capacity and then it'll "maintain" that charge whether you start it or not...just my 2 cents!..😉👋👍✌️🇨🇺
Get you a trickle charger to keep the battery charged up. To let a battery drain down and charge up several times will destroy a battery.
Sometimes the battery may go down for no reason, this does not mean that the battery is defective.
Electric devices such as lamps, alarms or radio remote controls can reduce the voltage of the battery. This happened to me once, for no reason, the battery dropped below 11 volts, therefore the vehicle does not start, the brain does not start the vehicle. It happens mostly in winter or spring seasons when nights are cold.
In general terms, of course, it is most likely due to the old battery of the vehicle. I think that your new battery will not leave you stranded for a long time, even if it malfunctions. I am trying to make one too. Good luck. You are very knowledgeable and skillful. I congratulate you.
If the van will be sitting for several days or more, get a battery minder/maintainer.
It will check the battery and trickle charge it as needed.
Plus the minder is very inexpensive at around 30.00.
Your battery will live a long life!
Good luck!
You can't let the van set for long periods without starting it and let the alternator charge the battery. You have what is called parasitic drain on the battery. Caused from alarm,and other electronics installed that require the battery to power them. If going to let it sit longer than a week without starting it, you should invest in a battery maintainer/float charger. That will automatically trickle charge the battery when sitting for long periods of time. A nice solar powered maintainer will work nicely for you.
One tip in using the rivnut tool is you don't need to screw the nut all the way down as you did on the tool You only need to screw the rivnut until the thread of the tool screw protrudes out the end, that way the handles on the tool will be closer together and you have better leverage on the handles, good job on the progress you've made👍🏻
Cheater pipes.
Good on you for being humble but take credit for your dedication and passion for what you want.
Riv-nuts are game changer for rv/van builds, i used them for my roof mounts for solar panels and it worked like a charm. I also used them in the roof cross members to mount the ceiling wood. so glad you are using them, in the end you'll see how nice they are and easy to remove panels and such should it be necessary. I would recommend a battery isolator from your electrical system. I would also recommend when putting those riv-nuts in, try and make sure they are always straight while squeezing them in place, if they are crooked it will force the screw to be slightly crooked during threading, so that you don't cross thread them. Fatastic job Elisa, you are doing a wonderful build, you will have so much experience and knowledge after this you will be so proud of yourself and when you want to change something or fix it, you will know exactly what you need to do and how to do it!! You are amazing, keep it up.
Looking good Elisa and the van is too. I just got seat covers leather for my van and they are beautiful, I wish I could help you with the van build. I have been having a lot of fun with my van. I put a 9 inch touch screen stereo and now I have RUclips, yahoo and everything I can ask for it really changed the van. Keep it rolling!
hello Elisa, a good tool to have and keep in the van is called a multimeter. learning to use it is no problem as you have many skills working on your van this can read the voltage on your battery and the output of your alternator. it can find out if there is a electrical drain when the vehicle is parked and motor is not running. it can find out if there are live wires damaged and draining your battery. it can tell you if your battery voltage is getting low and you may have to find the source of the trouble . there are lots of educational sources on how to use it and of course you tube has lots of videos on ,how to use it. love your Videos and look forward to seeing the new ones😊
Yep, always have a jumpstarter with you. And don't forget to charge it once a month to keep it in shape.
I had to use mine twice to help out my mother and someone else.
You’re doing such a thoughtful job on your build! Just something to be aware of-the new phone holder on your vent-turn that vent off. My wife uses her car vent and when the heater is on the phone will get too hot and start to shutdown! I certainly enjoy watching your build! Thank you 😁👍
Yes sometimes get help, don't have to be shy.
Great video series. Can't wait to see it finished!
Pretty van with a pretty owner. Love your enthusiasm. Been watching from the beginning. Stay positive as you are, keep the videos coming.
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your videos, and I'm looking forward to see how the van turns out.
I feel so bad for the amount of money you spent at the dealership, Batteries last about 4 years but you can go to a auto parts store and they’ll usually test them for free and they don’t over charge you for a new one , or Costco has batteries. I recently put a battery in my truck . For the fun of it I asked AAA how much for theirs and they wanted over $349 then I called my Toyota dealer and they wanted $138 for the battery and install both was $300. I went to Costco and picked it up and installed it myself and I spent $109 and ten minutes of my time . Keep up the great work on the van , your awesome 🤗
I have the same fears as you with my Promaster - but we must keep the faith!! And your stepdad did a GORGEOUS JOB on that accent wood panel - WOW, I LOVE IT!!
Nice work! You’re fortunate to have such a great woodworking shop to cut and drill. ❤️
I'm sorry to hear that, I hope everything going well soon ❤❤❤
I'm in love 😍🥰😘
With your sweet van build.
I like your video it’s interesting because you have knowledge to build your own instead of hiring someone to do it good inspiration techniques from Honolulu hi awesome 😎
Bonjour Elisa ! Ça avance bien, bientôt une étape de franchi ( habillage intérieur ). Et tu le fais avec soin, bravo !! Merci, à bientôt..
Elisa, you're doing a great job. I'm glad you solved the battery issue. Thanks for sharing. Love your ootd on you...🎥😃👍👌👊🙏🛠❤❤❤
Greetings Elisa. Another very nice video. As a traveler of over 10 years now, it may help to remember that as you drive the van on roadways, it is like a mini-earthquake inside. Things shake, bounce, and break over time. I used to use the word "never" too; but not anymore.
she's a doll
Oh my, that Playdoh trick is awesome! 😲 I wish I had known about that when doing my last build! I really struggled on a lining up a couple of mine.
It's good to have a new battery since you'll be traveling, unfortunately with the Promaster even a new battery dying is a normal occurrence when it's left sitting for a few weeks. There's some type of weak parasitic draw on them. To prevent it from happening on the new one you can get a small maintenance charger, or just start and run it once a week or so. It won't happen when you're using the van on a regular basis.
For your upper cabinet area I'd HIGHLY recommend skipping the back framing. Not only is it difficult to work with that angle (As you noticed), but you don't need or want to frame or cover the insides of your cabinets. You'll not only lose a ton of space, but you'll lose easy access to any wires you run behind there.
Good job Elisa, keep following your dream and things will definitely turn out well!
And why reinvent the wheel, RUclips offers so much knowledge that you can use.
The only thing I would use myself is a threadlocker from Loctite or another brand to prevent the M8 bolts from vibrating loose.
Vibrations can cause to loosen bolts, which can cause annoying squeaks or creaks in your van.
Good luck with building your van.
Greetings from the Netherlands
It’s getting there. Good thing you went to the show to get ideas and some motivation 👍🏽
Install a battery disconnect switch. If you are parking any length of time. And if you don't turn off your interior lights with your doors open, it will drain your battery. Go with good fasteners. Self tapping screws are ok for small lightweight jobs. But things with weight and the shifting as your driving will pull screws out. Vacuum and go over the area with a good magnet after and you should be fine. Keep up the great job!
To keep the wood from chipping out use painters tape it's amazing how it prevents that from happening when drilling and or cutting. love following your journey
Looking good👍progress. I do the same thing modding my cargo trailer, I watch videos from several and get ideas then combine into my own. If a lead acid starter battery is ever drained below a certain percentage that the platelets can have permanent damage therefore decreasing the overall life of the battery. So I hear it’s important to keep hotel load separate from the starter battery. Like adding an isolator or something so current can only flow one way to charge starter battery. I learned that from the RVers but did that on my sailboat too with solar. Awesome work you are doing there. Happy Trails✌️
Please keep up the great work stay positive and be happy
Sure enjoying following along with your build! Great to see you learn as you go and love your positive attitude!
The dealership should be your last resort for anything. I know, I've worked at a dealership before. May be a good idea to learn as much as you can about maintenance on your van. Back in the day I would buy a Haynes repair manual on every car I've owned. A wealth of information and may even help prevent dealership rip offs.
Nice go on the clay route , another way is using painters tape lay on and mark on tape then tape on wood to transfer holes spots , just another way.
Looking good on van . Thank you for the videos.
You are making a great job of your van . Well done. It is looking great
Just a little trick in marking where those rib nuts are located. Use magic marker,paint or nail polish . Put some on each nut. Place the wood where you want it. Press the wood against the nuts and you will have marks on the backside of your wood where you need to drill.
You can also do it with no paint,etc.. by placing the wood and hitting it to cause small dents where you need to drill.
Just a thought.
Great job.
Step by step good job girl. Keep moving forward