Mike, Great information on your video however, you have not posted anything in at least a year. I am curious as to your method of locating dump stations on your trips in the winter and how do you wash out your black tank on your winter trips? What is the story on Bertha 2.0?
Good question. I use the adapter on the end that plugs into the house/generator/shore power. I haven’t seen adapters for the van end of the plug but even if those are out there I try to take as little as possible that is bulky, especially if it is for a single purpose. Keeping the 30amp cord with a small 20Amp (and also a 50amp) adapter takes up the least amount of space in the van and I try to replicate the routine for home plug in too.
Good video, informative. Unfortunately, there is no electricity available in my storage garage, so this won't be an option for me. And what with Wisconsin winters, winterizing is a must..
Oh man! Well that stinks. Looks like you'll be blowing water out of lines and draining furnaces and water pumps. Not a total fun killer but it's definitely nice to be able to get around it.
I don’t blow out anything. Takes me about an hour to winterize my 32 ft. Class C, I just pump antifreeze through all the lines, takes less than an hour and about 2.5 gals of antifreeze. Furnace does not contain water and the water heater is simply drained and bypassed. When we camp in the winter we dry camp. Antifreeze to flush, Cary a few jugs of water. Works fine.
Blowing the lines out with air does not guarantee all the water is out of the system, for example, the water pump. Antifreeze is completely reliable, and faster, especially if you have to disconnect the pump.
Thanks for sharing this info. This is super useful and practical. I don’t think other RUclipsr in van life ever shared this tip. I am looking into owning a classB van this year and Beyond and Nova are my top two. I really prefer the RB layout but it doesn’t have extra seatbelt in the back so I guess I have to go with 22c or 20c. I am concerned with not having a vent in those bathroom. Also what do you think about lithium battery package, Li3? I know it’s about 20k more.
The lithium is a good option but you have to remember that you need to drive to charge it. While there are no seatbelts in the back of my van, the ones that do are only lap belts and some don’t face forward which is somewhat dangerous. I know some people modify theirs to have shoulder belts in the back.
When the truma is using E1 or E2 it’s using 110v (shore) right? Truma can’t use inverted 110v for heat… can it? Wouldn’t make sense with AGM.. but with lithium it could work… maybe on 750w setting… If my math is correct.. 600amp/ hrs lithium @ 12v =7200 watt/hrs / 750w = 9.6hrs… for just heat… but if the lithionics system starts the coach to recharge the batteries then, in theory, you could do this… ? Or am I missing something here?
Ugh. So sorry I have missed your questions. Not sure why I’m not seeing them. You can run the Truma on the AGM through the inverter but it is quite the power draw and that’s only on 750W. Lithium will always be a better option for that stuff but will still just drain the battery unlike anything else on the van.
I opted to wait on the lithium since it was so new a thing and it totally leaves you without a generator. With the electrical system I have I can swap out my AGM battery for a 330ah lithium one and will have both a good lithium battery and a generator. I did look at the Travato. I really like them but the Ford Transit base on the Beyond really sold me.
Thank you for your videos. Wonder how hard it would be to add a leaf between the two beds to turn it into a large bed. I own a travato 59k but would like to trade it for the ford but definitely need the larger bed for my wife and me. Thanks
That is actually a project I am going to undertake when I have some more time. Thinking of either doing the leaf method or having a panel the length of the bed for the middle and then other flat panels with hinges to form the support for the middle. Hopefully I can get that figured out.
Pretty much with a few exceptions. In the mountains it can be above freezing and you might think you are ok, but at altitude and in continuous shade your valves can still freeze. Another exception is that the beauty of vanlife is being able to just pick up and go at a moment's notice, but if your route takes you through changing elevations across hundreds/thousands of miles you can end up starting out in a warm place but spend several hours in freezing temps before getting back to warm. Depending on where you live in can hard to wrap one's head around that, but out here in the west it can happen a lot. This time of year I would recommend always keeping 1-2 gallons in the van just in case.
@@TeamLynchSpiritofAdventure I was just curious. I don’t own a van, but I own a truck camper. Don’t have any water or should I say tanks, in my Kimbo Camper. I do like the open feel of your van though, compared to others.
@@TeamLynchSpiritofAdventure That's the trade-off for having the (BETTER!) RB floorpan, rather than the C or D. AND the RB has the Maxxfan venting above, whereas the C and D unfortunately do not.
I had a 30A circuit and outlet installed in my garage and don't have to fool with the 15A paraphernalia.
I would love to have that set up at my house!
Mike,
Great information on your video however, you have not posted anything in at least a year. I am curious as to your method of locating dump stations on your trips in the winter and how do you wash out your black tank on your winter trips? What is the story on Bertha 2.0?
Real good info! Why are you using the 30A cord rather than just the HD 110 extension cord and the 110v/30A adapter? Thanks for the info
Good question. I use the adapter on the end that plugs into the house/generator/shore power. I haven’t seen adapters for the van end of the plug but even if those are out there I try to take as little as possible that is bulky, especially if it is for a single purpose. Keeping the 30amp cord with a small 20Amp (and also a 50amp) adapter takes up the least amount of space in the van and I try to replicate the routine for home plug in too.
Very informative
Thank you very much--very informative!
You're very welcome!
Excellent!
Thank you!
Good video, informative. Unfortunately, there is no electricity available in my storage garage, so this won't be an option for me. And what with Wisconsin winters, winterizing is a must..
Oh man! Well that stinks. Looks like you'll be blowing water out of lines and draining furnaces and water pumps. Not a total fun killer but it's definitely nice to be able to get around it.
I don’t blow out anything. Takes me about an hour to winterize my 32 ft. Class C, I just pump antifreeze through all the lines, takes less than an hour and about 2.5 gals of antifreeze. Furnace does not contain water and the water heater is simply drained and bypassed. When we camp in the winter we dry camp. Antifreeze to flush, Cary a few jugs of water. Works fine.
@@frito_bandito_ Now that sounds like a good video! I know some people are all about blowing air into the lines versus antifreeze.
Blowing the lines out with air does not guarantee all the water is out of the system, for example, the water pump. Antifreeze is completely reliable, and faster, especially if you have to disconnect the pump.
Great video, thank you!
My pleasure!
Thanks for sharing this info. This is super useful and practical. I don’t think other RUclipsr in van life ever shared this tip. I am looking into owning a classB van this year and Beyond and Nova are my top two. I really prefer the RB layout but it doesn’t have extra seatbelt in the back so I guess I have to go with 22c or 20c. I am concerned with not having a vent in those bathroom. Also what do you think about lithium battery package, Li3? I know it’s about 20k more.
The lithium is a good option but you have to remember that you need to drive to charge it. While there are no seatbelts in the back of my van, the ones that do are only lap belts and some don’t face forward which is somewhat dangerous. I know some people modify theirs to have shoulder belts in the back.
Very good info
Glad it was helpful!
When the truma is using E1 or E2 it’s using 110v (shore) right? Truma can’t use inverted 110v for heat… can it? Wouldn’t make sense with AGM.. but with lithium it could work… maybe on 750w setting…
If my math is correct.. 600amp/ hrs lithium @ 12v =7200 watt/hrs / 750w = 9.6hrs… for just heat… but if the lithionics system starts the coach to recharge the batteries then, in theory, you could do this… ? Or am I missing something here?
Ugh. So sorry I have missed your questions. Not sure why I’m not seeing them. You can run the Truma on the AGM through the inverter but it is quite the power draw and that’s only on 750W. Lithium will always be a better option for that stuff but will still just drain the battery unlike anything else on the van.
Another great video can’t wait to learn move about you ex military I’m thinking
Thanks! And you are correct, served 10 years active duty.
Dude why didn’t you get the Li3 option? Did you look at the Travato also before buying the beyond, i have to decide between the two!
I opted to wait on the lithium since it was so new a thing and it totally leaves you without a generator. With the electrical system I have I can swap out my AGM battery for a 330ah lithium one and will have both a good lithium battery and a generator. I did look at the Travato. I really like them but the Ford Transit base on the Beyond really sold me.
Thank you for your videos. Wonder how hard it would be to add a leaf between the two beds to turn it into a large bed. I own a travato 59k but would like to trade it for the ford but definitely need the larger bed for my wife and me. Thanks
That is actually a project I am going to undertake when I have some more time. Thinking of either doing the leaf method or having a panel the length of the bed for the middle and then other flat panels with hinges to form the support for the middle. Hopefully I can get that figured out.
Actually...........
So I’m taking it that you only need the RV antifreeze when it’s cold out? So the rest of the year is fine without anything.
Pretty much with a few exceptions. In the mountains it can be above freezing and you might think you are ok, but at altitude and in continuous shade your valves can still freeze. Another exception is that the beauty of vanlife is being able to just pick up and go at a moment's notice, but if your route takes you through changing elevations across hundreds/thousands of miles you can end up starting out in a warm place but spend several hours in freezing temps before getting back to warm. Depending on where you live in can hard to wrap one's head around that, but out here in the west it can happen a lot. This time of year I would recommend always keeping 1-2 gallons in the van just in case.
@@TeamLynchSpiritofAdventure
I was just curious. I don’t own a van, but I own a truck camper. Don’t have any water or should I say tanks, in my Kimbo Camper.
I do like the open feel of your van though, compared to others.
Luckly all
My tanks are on the inside and only one outlet for grey and black
I have to admit that's the one thing that I wish was different on Bertha. Having just one valve to empty both tanks would be awesome.
@@TeamLynchSpiritofAdventure That's the trade-off for having the (BETTER!) RB floorpan, rather than the C or D. AND the RB has the Maxxfan venting above, whereas the C and D unfortunately do not.
@@RockAndGrohlMe I agree. I do love my RB floorplan!