I live in my van and I'm disabled so I'm always in here with my dog. We just watched an enigmatic nomadic video where a gentleman shows off his homemade swamp cooler.
Likey. Shelf with crates is a great design, with those shelf studs to keep everything in place. You could build a deep pull out drawer with lid to serve as the extension for your feet and lower body, use as a seat, too. And still use it for storage.
Thank you for talking about temperature control with your dog!!! I'm currently saving up for the van life and my dog is coming with me. His safety is my number one concern. I will likely combine the ceiling fan with some kind of other cooling fan.. Preferably have them hooked up to different batteries in case anything fails while I'm at work. Super nervous about it!
Yeah, there were definitely times where the van was just too hot to leave him. That's one of the reassuring things about the solar setup. I'd like to make my van a little better for him for sure.
+Marcos 989 good point! I actually do have nylok nuts holding on the solar panels...I'm not real sure why I didn't put them on the others or say anything about it but great suggestion!
you did an excellent job on your recording this video.....lots of RUclipsrs record so close until it's hard to know what we are looking at.....GOOD JOB ... and great job on the build too.
It might run it for a little while but I wouldn't recommend it. I did try to run a mini electric fridge and it wouldn't even turn on. Wish I could give you a better answer than that.
Small world! Scrolling through some van life videos and saw one pop up in the recommended list with a Mars Hill name that looked familiar. Love the video and the build. (And enjoyed the piece Blue Ridge Outdoors did about you a while back.)
Have express 3500 cutaway with 11' utility box's and walk in interior. All steel. 11' x 4' x 6' high. With shelves inside boxes outside. I cur out interior shelves in front for 7' bed shelf. That stows for day use. Box above tires on slide for stove inside or outside. Same with refer. Awning exterior. Outside gen set and toilet inside or use tent for portable toilet shower. Going to buy litigate for back porch. On your van would make slide out walls roof for bed for boon docking three seasons.
Nice fairly simple build. I just bought a 1998 Express van (cargo) and am trying to figure out how to frame the walls since none of the upright braces are the same distance from the wall.
I think I have that in a prior video. It's all plywood. The panels act as both support and walls for storage. I also have a metal bar to support the long span and prevent sagging. I'll try to do another video at some point.
Nice build . and good layout . i'm interested to know why most van builds are on low roof rigs in the states , most in the UK are built on Hi Top vans, so you can stand up inside
Hello Dwayne...!! Can You Imagine Bolting two " D " Swivel Brackets, One at the Rear Door Frame And the Other, 8' Forward....Then You Could Snap in A Lengthwise Comfortable Hammock to Sleep in Nightly, and un-snap it during the Day.... Just Thought it Might be a Comfortable Suggestion, Cheap Too... Safe Journey...Bill in L.A., 90001. Thanks for the Vid. !!
LOVE the way you built your cabinet! I'm going to do either a van or a cargo trailer conversion. Not sure which yet, but this design seems to make the best use of space in a van for sure. I won't even need a bed because I sleep in a recliner which I love. I've never slept better in my life! So, that will save me some room. Your dog looks almost exactly like my female! Good to know the fan will work to keep my girl cool if I have to leave her in the vehicle at all. Great build man! When you travel, where do you go? I haven't seen any videos from you until now. I sub'd and I will check your channel out. Take care!
Thanks! :) One of the main reasons I love my van is that I never have to get out if I want to get into bed. Say if it were storming out...That was something I didn't particularly like about traveling in a pickup/campershell at least. I've been all over the US. Mostly the Northwest. I love Alaska & Montana!!!
That would definitely be a plus as far a being able to go from the drivers seat to the back. Do you mind me asking what it was about Alaska and Montana in particular? I want to be where the beauty is of course, but I am really tired of hot summers and cold winters. I haven't been enough places to be sure of where I want to start, but it will be somewhere with temperatures in the 70's for sure. I love snow but I'm from the midwest and the winters are long and boring and FRIGID when it's cold. At least if there is snow, there is fun to be had!
It's one of those personal preference things. AK winters can be pretty dark, but then you get the Northern Lights. I haven't been in MT for a winter but I imagine it''s a similar thing. I've got some better documentation on instagram :) @dwayneparton
Very nice build. And OK on the Goal Zero power pack. Is that the Goal Zero 400? With that solar array, recharging should be a snap, even on cloudy days.
Looks great, similar to how I plan to do mine.. keeping it simple like you did. Still need to buy fridge & solar.. what's the wattage on your solar, and maybe you could do a video on your inverter? Don't really know that much about them. Thanks for the video :)
I've been keeping my eye out for someone else that is tall, and you are even taller than I am at 6'2" So its good and encouraging to see you in a van that isn't a high top and being able to sit without hitting your head. If you were buying a van today, would you buy a high top or is what you have fine with you? I hope to buy a van this spring and am gathering as much information as I can now.
Javaman92 I have rarely found it in convenient to not be able to stand...I think it would be worse to almost be able to stand haha....for me this size has been perfect...I just step outside when I need to stretch :) hope that helps some :)
I've been thinking about doing something like this for a long while now, and haven't made a Decision because, I'm wanting to travel the country and visit friends and attractions and all but can't afford an RV or a hotel, what do you think, Pros and Cons!!!!
It's a full size futon mattress, 54 in x 74 in. It's a tight squeeze because the space is only 72 in wide, but the mattress fits quite nicely once you get it in.
Cool camper van and good looking dog. Is he still a puppy? Does he travel w/ you all the time? A man's best friend should always travel w/ his partner in crime. lol
i have a question for you about your Chevy Express conversion, what do you use to build where the walls meet the roof? Looks like in your video it's dark grey? I have the same band and I still see the white metal I'm looking for something to do just like you did but I don't know where to start
I have the same question. Those do not look like they came from standard passenger/conversion van. Are they custom made or came from unique passenger/conversion van?
that was my exact question because I noticed they looked so good how he finished the trim along the roof inside. Anybody else can give me a hand or let me know it would be greatly appreciated as those cargo vans are very hard to make that look good up near the roof inside
I used automotive headliner fabric wrapped around a wood plank I cut to fit. It's pretty expensive, but you can use spay adhesive and wrap pretty easily.
@@DwayneParton first wall is up. Wasn't too hard. After I found the rest of your videos it really helped my decide how to cover those channels and use back lit LED inside. Thanks for the work in all the videos. It was really helpful.
So how did you bolt the cabinet to the frame? Did you just drill a hole into the frame? or did you utilize the holes already cut into the frame and use a bolt with washers to grab the sides and nuts to secure it? P.s. oh man, if you could send me the rough dimensions of the cabinet, I would be eternally grateful but if its gonna be a headache dont worry about it.
52.5 inches wide with 11.5 inch folding table ext 17 inches deep at base 14.5 inches deep at table 10 inches deep at top 48inches tall 30.5 inches tall on table side Let me know if that makes sense
I haven't at all. I actually love the roof and I am really only in the van for sleeping or relaxing. IMO, it makes it easier to drive around too. It can make it through many drive-thrus even with the rack
@@DwayneParton Thats good to know. I'm having a hard time deciding if I really need to go with a high roof to stand in. Especially if i'm not going to be living in it.
Thanks! Yeah it's definitely a lot of 3/4" ply. I didn't really notice much drop in fuel economy but my van is a V8. A smaller engine would noticeably feel it. Would love to see how yours turns out!
Hey man, love the van and that you followed through with your conversion! I'm wondering what kind of gas mileage do you get, and what year is the van? Thanks!
looks great man. I have a express van 3500 that I just started working on. I like your simple layout and It seems pretty cheap for the solar power...thanks for sharing...is there anything you regret doing?
I'm really happy with how it turned out. I wish the vent was over the bed though so I could have more of a breeze when it's hot. But originally I was thinking I might try to put sun roof in. A refrigerator is also one thing I wish I had, the ice box just doesn't keep things super well.
Great video! Could you give a few details on the curtain rod across the back? Covering my windows seems to be the biggest challenge so far! (I just bought black posterboard...)
Hey Dwayne, great set up! I'm looking to make my own aluminum roof rack as well, how has this design held up over the years? Is it pretty sturdy? i.e. can you stand on it without issue? Thanks for sharing your van build
They've been super sturdy... Make sure to use locktight on any nuts just to make sure they dont vibrate look. I haven't had any problems and they've been on my van for a few years now
Dope van! Mad respect. In the conversion process now. About what is your gas mileage? I'm trying to keep as much off my roof as possible, thinking of getting everything behind the van to optimize mpg. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Daniel Turner my van is a V8 so it hardly seems to notice the racks... I get between 15-20 depending on the roads I'm on and have never felt like I was getting much worse gas mileage bc of the racks....I had a little 4 cyclinder Jeta though and its mpg suffered tremendously from a rack, that's why I mentioned the van being a V8. I imagine that makes some sort of difference?
Dwayne Parton yeah I have had a similar experience in a 6 cylinder Infiniti g35. My mileage went from around 23-24 down to 15-16 with the addition of a roof rack loaded down. I also read some stuff online about studies with 18-wheelers where they could make it weigh 3x as much with better aerodynamics and get better mileage than a truck with normal weight but worse aerodynamics. Thanks for the reply!
Dude, this vid is ancient and your build is still better than the one I did just last year. Bravo!
I live in my van and I'm disabled so I'm always in here with my dog. We just watched an enigmatic nomadic video where a gentleman shows off his homemade swamp cooler.
Nice, simple and functional ! Thanks
Converting a chevy express right now, thanks for the ideas.
I just got my Express on Tuesday. The fun begins
Nice van. And you still have a crap ton of room in there. Awesome.
Love the shelving unit. Thanks for tour & info.
You could make the passenger seat a swivel seat. And then put a table up there. It would really open up the van.
This layout is super helping me. Thank you! I can visualize what I need in a simplified way.
I followed all your series of videos. Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge, this had been inspirational to me
Angle or shelve brackets with alloy aluminum square tubing is PERFECT man...NICE
This setup is like my dorm. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for sharing! I'm 6'2'' and your solution makes sense.
ha! The Freedom of the Hills (had that book at one point too) - great build - really simple and functional seeming
Oh yeah. That's a must book!
Great build Dwayne. Thank you for sharing. Gave me many good ideas.
basic and very functional, love it
Great Setup On Your Van, Thank You
I love your shelving unit! Great build!
Love it! So simple and covers everything you need. Great video
Looks like a well designed van. I also like those paper towels.
Likey. Shelf with crates is a great design, with those shelf studs to keep everything in place. You could build a deep pull out drawer with lid to serve as the extension for your feet and lower body, use as a seat, too. And still use it for storage.
Storage cabinet looks great! Nice to see you and the pooch again :-) ~ Mindy
The crash pad bed extension is a great idea. Nice, clean build!
Like it, so simple yet functional!
Great van build!! Very practical. Just how we designed our van.
Great idea for the solar panels, I’ve been looking for Rhino Racks, but yours will work too
Thank you for talking about temperature control with your dog!!! I'm currently saving up for the van life and my dog is coming with me. His safety is my number one concern. I will likely combine the ceiling fan with some kind of other cooling fan.. Preferably have them hooked up to different batteries in case anything fails while I'm at work. Super nervous about it!
Yeah, there were definitely times where the van was just too hot to leave him. That's one of the reassuring things about the solar setup. I'd like to make my van a little better for him for sure.
Looks good! Beautiful dog too 💓🐾
Thanks :)
Love this.......practical, functional, and comfortable. Good job!
Nice simple build. Great job!
Awesome vid! Your van is very nice! I'm still working on saving up to buy mine, I can't wait to "see ya on the road"
I like it it's not over built room to move around in
Thanks! As simple as it may be, I put a ton of thought into it.
Simple and functional. 👍🏼
Clever solution 4 the dtawers 😀
That's good looking unit for the van,
Skilfully put together
Thanks! :)
Those are Shop Vac paper towels. The bomb!!!
Those roof racks are excellent. Thanks!
+Marcos 989 good point! I actually do have nylok nuts holding on the solar panels...I'm not real sure why I didn't put them on the others or say anything about it but great suggestion!
Looks great!!!! Happy traveling
👍🏾 nicely built
you did an excellent job on your recording this video.....lots of RUclipsrs record so close until it's hard to know what we are looking at.....GOOD JOB ... and great job on the build too.
Thanks :)
I love it!!!! Awwww, and lil' Bobbo!
Nice and light build! Simple and all you need! Gotta leave you a follow ehh
I want to add a Wi-Fi camera to my RV so I can keep,an eye on my dog when I leave. I worry. about him when I can't see him
That's a good idea
You could also install a thermometer which the wi-fi camera would be pointed at, or just have another method to check the temperature in the van...
What kind of camera did you get?
like the van and the dog
Wow, looks great. The solar panels and fan are awesome!
+Indeedandtruth1 thanks! Yeah they make so much difference! Nice not having to lug a battery into coffee shops anymore haha
Dwayne Parton does the Goal Zero give you enough juice to run a 12V DC Fridge?
It might run it for a little while but I wouldn't recommend it. I did try to run a mini electric fridge and it wouldn't even turn on. Wish I could give you a better answer than that.
Very cool. Most inspirational. Thanks for posting.
Great vid, thanks!
Nice and simple.....like it
Small world! Scrolling through some van life videos and saw one pop up in the recommended list with a Mars Hill name that looked familiar. Love the video and the build. (And enjoyed the piece Blue Ridge Outdoors did about you a while back.)
Have express 3500 cutaway with 11' utility box's and walk in interior. All steel. 11' x 4' x 6' high. With shelves inside boxes outside. I cur out interior shelves in front for 7' bed shelf.
That stows for day use. Box above tires on slide for stove inside or outside. Same with refer. Awning exterior.
Outside gen set and toilet inside or use tent for portable toilet shower. Going to buy litigate for back porch.
On your van would make slide out walls roof for bed for boon docking three seasons.
Nice job with the shelving unit. The van looks good.
Great set up. Maybe add a front curtain for privacy, like the one in the back. Looks comfortable. PS, beautiful do dog. 👍
Vinny
I actually do have one, but never use it. Did a little video on how I made it a while back. Thanks for the comment!
Nice fairly simple build. I just bought a 1998 Express van (cargo) and am trying to figure out how to frame the walls since none of the upright braces are the same distance from the wall.
Have you tried something like this? ruclips.net/video/JIiHIEtVnIA/видео.html
Nice open set up.
very very nice.
I like how simple this shit is.
Thanks. I spent way too much time thinking about it. :)
completely understand, I'll wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas and want to start adding to my van right away
Great job!! We are just finishing up our build and will be hitting the road soon with our black lab.
Well done I like it
Looks real nice
Great job ... I would like to see the actual build of your bed frame and how you constructed it.
I think I have that in a prior video. It's all plywood. The panels act as both support and walls for storage. I also have a metal bar to support the long span and prevent sagging. I'll try to do another video at some point.
I love it... I am new to all this... I have watched over 100 video's whom are living in Vans. I like your soler...
Looks great!
Enjoyed. ..best part is Bubba😊🐶
very cool. looks great
Hi there! Is your cargo van extended or regular cab? Thanks!
Nice cabinets!
Finally I been worried u disappeared or something lol. Van turned out great. Hope to see more videos
+BlazeTomBay thanks! Haven't disappeared, did bout run out of gas on the Alaskan Highway though...haha...just haven't had much time for creating :)
Glad to hear ur doing great and enjoying the great outdoors adventures.
Nice build . and good layout . i'm interested to know why most van builds are on low roof rigs in the states , most in the UK are built on Hi Top vans, so you can stand up inside
+justin linnane I would think it is the price point...at least that was the case for me...they also seem to be a little harder to find
how tall are you with the bed place this way in the vehicle?
I'm 6'4...I actually use the bed length wise. It works way better for me!
Very cool 😀
Hello Dwayne...!! Can You Imagine Bolting two " D " Swivel Brackets, One at the Rear Door Frame And the Other, 8' Forward....Then You Could Snap in A Lengthwise Comfortable Hammock to Sleep in Nightly, and un-snap it during the Day.... Just Thought it Might be a Comfortable Suggestion, Cheap Too... Safe Journey...Bill in L.A., 90001. Thanks for the Vid. !!
Thanks for the comment Bill! I have some D Brackets mounted up and under the trim. I could totally tie into them! Thanks for the suggestion. :)
would a person 5'5 be able to sleep the width of the bed vs the way you showed?Your four legged baby is adorable.
+Saucy Chica yeah, should be able to with room to spare
well done
LOVE the way you built your cabinet! I'm going to do either a van or a cargo trailer conversion. Not sure which yet, but this design seems to make the best use of space in a van for sure. I won't even need a bed because I sleep in a recliner which I love. I've never slept better in my life! So, that will save me some room. Your dog looks almost exactly like my female! Good to know the fan will work to keep my girl cool if I have to leave her in the vehicle at all. Great build man! When you travel, where do you go? I haven't seen any videos from you until now. I sub'd and I will check your channel out. Take care!
Thanks! :) One of the main reasons I love my van is that I never have to get out if I want to get into bed. Say if it were storming out...That was something I didn't particularly like about traveling in a pickup/campershell at least. I've been all over the US. Mostly the Northwest. I love Alaska & Montana!!!
That would definitely be a plus as far a being able to go from the drivers seat to the back. Do you mind me asking what it was about Alaska and Montana in particular? I want to be where the beauty is of course, but I am really tired of hot summers and cold winters. I haven't been enough places to be sure of where I want to start, but it will be somewhere with temperatures in the 70's for sure. I love snow but I'm from the midwest and the winters are long and boring and FRIGID when it's cold. At least if there is snow, there is fun to be had!
It's one of those personal preference things. AK winters can be pretty dark, but then you get the Northern Lights. I haven't been in MT for a winter but I imagine it''s a similar thing. I've got some better documentation on instagram :) @dwayneparton
Thanks Dwayne! Yes, I would love to see the Northern lights at least once in my lifetime. I will definitely check out your instagram.
I’m working on mine .
Very nice build. And OK on the Goal Zero power pack. Is that the Goal Zero 400? With that solar array, recharging should be a snap, even on cloudy days.
It is a GZ400. It stays charged pretty much all times.
Looks great, similar to how I plan to do mine.. keeping it simple like you did. Still need to buy fridge & solar.. what's the wattage on your solar, and maybe you could do a video on your inverter? Don't really know that much about them. Thanks for the video :)
Jennifer Stewart the goal zero handles all the solar intake....pretty sure I've got 2 100 watt panels running in parallel
I've been keeping my eye out for someone else that is tall, and you are even taller than I am at 6'2" So its good and encouraging to see you in a van that isn't a high top and being able to sit without hitting your head.
If you were buying a van today, would you buy a high top or is what you have fine with you? I hope to buy a van this spring and am gathering as much information as I can now.
Javaman92 I have rarely found it in convenient to not be able to stand...I think it would be worse to almost be able to stand haha....for me this size has been perfect...I just step outside when I need to stretch :) hope that helps some :)
That helps a lot! Thank you for responding. :-)
looks good
Sweet
I've been thinking about doing something like this for a long while now, and haven't made a Decision because, I'm wanting to travel the country and visit friends and attractions and all but can't afford an RV or a hotel, what do you think, Pros and Cons!!!!
You look like a young Bruce Springsteen.
Awesome build brother! If you don't mind me asking...Whats the length of your mattress? I really like your setup! Simple and sweet.
It's a full size futon mattress, 54 in x 74 in. It's a tight squeeze because the space is only 72 in wide, but the mattress fits quite nicely once you get it in.
Cool camper van and good looking dog. Is he still a puppy? Does he travel w/ you all the time? A man's best friend should always travel w/ his partner in crime. lol
+Okie Rider he's 10! Had him since he was a puppy though...he's done lots and lots of traveling :)
May I ask: Is this the 135" or 155" wheelbase?
It's the 135" wheelbase.
@@DwayneParton Wow. You have a great amount of space between your bed and the front seats. Almost made me think you had the extended version.
i have a question for you about your Chevy Express conversion, what do you use to build where the walls meet the roof? Looks like in your video it's dark grey? I have the same band and I still see the white metal I'm looking for something to do just like you did but I don't know where to start
I have the same question. Those do not look like they came from standard passenger/conversion van. Are they custom made or came from unique passenger/conversion van?
that was my exact question because I noticed they looked so good how he finished the trim along the roof inside. Anybody else can give me a hand or let me know it would be greatly appreciated as those cargo vans are very hard to make that look good up near the roof inside
I used automotive headliner fabric wrapped around a wood plank I cut to fit. It's pretty expensive, but you can use spay adhesive and wrap pretty easily.
Custom boards. You can kind of get an idea for what i did in videos 27, 28 & 29. They aren't real good though.
I like the birch wood. Have you thought of putting on a high top? For a tall guy it looks uncomfortable.
I have, but honestly I don't mind it at all. :)
Nice setup, will you add a sink, a water tank for fresh and grey water, a toilet and a shower?
Nice!
Do you think two people less than 5'9" would be able to sleep comfortably sideways on that bed for a couple of months travel?
cattalkbmx yeah I think so....it's about 72" wide if I remember correctly.
Thanks for the help. Nice looking van by the way, fun and safe travels to ya.
Any tips on the electrical channels you covered with grey material? That seems to be my biggest issue right now.
It's really nice if you can keep the electrical kinda accessible. I ran into a short and was glad the panels were pretty easy to take off.
@@DwayneParton first wall is up. Wasn't too hard. After I found the rest of your videos it really helped my decide how to cover those channels and use back lit LED inside. Thanks for the work in all the videos. It was really helpful.
That's awesome! Good luck with the build would live to see if when you're finished
So how did you bolt the cabinet to the frame? Did you just drill a hole into the frame? or did you utilize the holes already cut into the frame and use a bolt with washers to grab the sides and nuts to secure it?
P.s. oh man, if you could send me the rough dimensions of the cabinet, I would be eternally grateful but if its gonna be a headache dont worry about it.
I drilled into the frame and added 2 bolts in the top boxes of the cabinet. I'll see about getting you those demensions as soon as I get home
52.5 inches wide with 11.5 inch folding table ext
17 inches deep at base
14.5 inches deep at table
10 inches deep at top
48inches tall
30.5 inches tall on table side
Let me know if that makes sense
@@DwayneParton makes perfect sense, thanks a ton!
@@DwayneParton safe travels
Looks good! What did you use for insulation and flooring??
I used Self-Stick Foam/Foil Duct Insulation and 3/4 Plywood. Plywood was more for sound dampening.
Have you had any regrets with the low roof van? Is it bearable for extended periods of time?
I haven't at all. I actually love the roof and I am really only in the van for sleeping or relaxing. IMO, it makes it easier to drive around too. It can make it through many drive-thrus even with the rack
@@DwayneParton Thats good to know. I'm having a hard time deciding if I really need to go with a high roof to stand in. Especially if i'm not going to be living in it.
rad. Simple as fμ€k. nice vid. direct and to the point. dig the set up, except too much 3/4" ply? gonna try plastic,(sucks), for fuel economy.
Thanks! Yeah it's definitely a lot of 3/4" ply. I didn't really notice much drop in fuel economy but my van is a V8. A smaller engine would noticeably feel it. Would love to see how yours turns out!
Hey man, love the van and that you followed through with your conversion! I'm wondering what kind of gas mileage do you get, and what year is the van? Thanks!
I get between 17-20mpg which I think is pretty good. It's a 2007 AWD :)
looks great man. I have a express van 3500 that I just started working on. I like your simple layout and It seems pretty cheap for the solar power...thanks for sharing...is there anything you regret doing?
I'm really happy with how it turned out. I wish the vent was over the bed though so I could have more of a breeze when it's hot. But originally I was thinking I might try to put sun roof in. A refrigerator is also one thing I wish I had, the ice box just doesn't keep things super well.
Great video! Could you give a few details on the curtain rod across the back? Covering my windows seems to be the biggest challenge so far! (I just bought black posterboard...)
I used electric wire conduit from Lowes and some clip on curtain rings. I'll try to make a little video about that for you, if it will help?
That would be great. I don't want to drill into the van, though...so I might not be ready to do what you've done. Love your cabinet/cubbies, btw!
how do you connect the fan to the goal zero?
+Matthew Corbett I connected the fan to the 12 v port with an adapter
Hey Dwayne, great set up! I'm looking to make my own aluminum roof rack as well, how has this design held up over the years? Is it pretty sturdy? i.e. can you stand on it without issue? Thanks for sharing your van build
They've been super sturdy... Make sure to use locktight on any nuts just to make sure they dont vibrate look. I haven't had any problems and they've been on my van for a few years now
@@DwayneParton that's awesome, definitely cheaper than buying a roof rack/mounts. Thanks for the advice!
Dope van! Mad respect. In the conversion process now. About what is your gas mileage? I'm trying to keep as much off my roof as possible, thinking of getting everything behind the van to optimize mpg. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Daniel Turner my van is a V8 so it hardly seems to notice the racks... I get between 15-20 depending on the roads I'm on and have never felt like I was getting much worse gas mileage bc of the racks....I had a little 4 cyclinder Jeta though and its mpg suffered tremendously from a rack, that's why I mentioned the van being a V8. I imagine that makes some sort of difference?
Dwayne Parton yeah I have had a similar experience in a 6 cylinder Infiniti g35. My mileage went from around 23-24 down to 15-16 with the addition of a roof rack loaded down. I also read some stuff online about studies with 18-wheelers where they could make it weigh 3x as much with better aerodynamics and get better mileage than a truck with normal weight but worse aerodynamics. Thanks for the reply!
Hey man what's that you have the solar hooked up to?
It's a Goal Zero Yeti 400