for that rooftop A/C, I'd go look in the junkyard. There are a ton of crashed RV's in junkyards, and just because they've been in a wreck doesn't mean that their components have gone bad. Plus many of them are late model. Certainly doesn't hurt to look, and you may save a ton of $$$!!!
LOVE the videos! I was nodding my head with all your improvement suggestions. And, as always, I still can't grasp why your channel haven't gone viral! It's so frustrating! I see many people "living the van life" that don't discuss the realties and challenges of van life, don't have the awesome addition of furry friends you have (mad love and hugs and love to Rocky and Archer!!) and , WTF!?, they certainly don't have the Crusty Crusaders! Hey all you #vanlife people out there, you're idiots if you don't subscribe and follow #dogcatmanvan!
Yup. It’s mind blowing. Guess people just want the fantasy. This is all that and so much more. Also I’m commenting to people to help engagement which is a big part of helping channels grow. The algorithm likes it.
Hey DCMV! Check out Florida Van Man’s stealth A/C van build! Check out the slats from IKEA for your bed, Look at Furandfam if you want a 24v solar system that can power that roof top A/C. And I really appreciated your comment about how ladders and solar panels sort of give away the stealth thing!
Okay, @ around 13:00 the life lessons hit hard and you can fire your therapist now because Ben smacked down all you need to know for the rest of your liiiiife.
First time I’ve ever seen anyone acknowledge that these van builds need to consider weight and payload. I liked your video, those dead birds in the shower were random, and your doggy friend is awesome 😎
You should reconsider the batteries. The sokbattery is $1029 for 200 amps. The same usable capacity of your 2 AGM batteries (since you can only go 50% without damage). Get one now and maybe in the future add a second one. Plus the LiFeFO4 battery is only 47 pounds... 2 good AGM batteries would run almost $800, so not too much for for the LiFeFO4
Just one suggestion about adding that side window: if you can afford one, buy a double or triple insulated window. Indiana gets frickin' cold in the winter. I've watched several van lifers who always comment on the lack of insulation of their windows.
look into DIYing your own lithium batteries, the tech is getting cheaper and cheaper and it really isn't all too difficult. Will Prowse is a good youtube source
Awesome advice. We definitely got analysis paralysis at the beginning of our build. The majority of our time was spend on indecision. Even after landing on something we're making plans to change some things. You'll never really know what's right for you until you get in it and start living. Your habits and routines are probably different than everyone else so you just have to make it right for you.
In my experience heat tape is great for water lines that are always charged but not great for drainage lines that don't always have flow, it can damage the pipes because they get too hot. Insulation and short runs are better for keeping drainage not frozen
I've lived in a 28ft travel trailer through two summers and have one Dometic AC ceiling unit. I live in a desert where temps are routinely over 100deg and it has held up wonderfully. I've never had it serviced and have no idea how it works but keeps me and my cat cool :) Archer beautiful as always, can't wait to see what you do next!
Nice vid. From what I've seen in people's "regrets" in van builds, it mostly comes down to simplicity, accessibility, planning, comfort and durability, not to mention consideration to being weather-friendly. But the big one seems to be Accessibility.
We are also 2 years into our first van build. I totally relate. Also I love your comical editing. DIY a battery with a BMS and you will lose so much weight. It’s worth it. I’m happy to advise. I’m redoing parts of my van now to accommodate our baby on the way. Exciting times.
I don’t know about that extra window. A lot of people have mentioned windows in their van life regrets because they can’t be insulated as well. Thank for uploading this!👍🏽 Helps a lot!
Hey man, I've been watching you since you were 1 year into living in the van full time. It's inspiring and I think that you did really good with your build. It's inspiring and you've helped me think and plan out the build were doing on our channel so much. Thank you.
Roof a/c is heavy ! Take that into consideration . Also, your window unit can run for awhile , several hours , on your current battery setup, a roof a/c , maybe 1 hour since the roof A/C uses 3 to 4 times as much energy. You will always have to be plugged in to use the roof A/C or carry a generator (more weight and maintenance ).. I like your other proposed upgrades too. Good video !
It's great that you're sharing your "lessons-learned" for the build. We can all learn from your experience, and I for one, appreciate the honesty. Looking forward to seeing how you lighten your load in the next incarnation :).
Try 60m61 aluminum about .032" Light and corrosion resistantYou can attack with rivnuts for easy removal. Try Pex it is more resistant to freezing Than copper and does not add taste to the water. Try using 1/2 inch ply on the bunk bed instead of 3/4" Take a look at wood aircraft construction If you look around on the net and you can find lots of resources to build wood framing that is both light and strong
I would totally get rid of gray water tank. If you're really using green soaps. We have had trailers, motorhomes, and cold VW campers. Didn't want to deal with water lines. Went from Houston, Tx to LA, up the coast , to Canada to Alaska back to Canada to Minnesota, Ohio, back to Texas. 7 months. Cooked real food. We are old 60's. We camped in national parks, off the side of the road,state parks, Canada's parks are very nice. Of course we did Wallyworld, Canadian superstore, street's. It's all what you make of it.
Hi Ben. 😊 All very intelligent fix-ups. Rear door panels, pipes, bath room panels, air con ... big tick ✅. Hope you get your pricey but better lithium batteries 👍 That was actually really informative, if not just "closure" for those of use whose heads spun with projective negative effects as you built. And ... a big THANKS for your wake-up call. Van life is a lifestyle choice with commitments equal to owning a home. God bless you mate. Awesome vid. Trudi. Australia. 🇭🇲🐞
perhaps: - 86 the spare tire, run w/ compressor/foam fix-a-flat kit, puncture repair kit - automatic ball valve for grey tank - FRP bath walls - cut exhaust pipe/ re-route out the side - marine vinyl flooring - pick up 4 scissor jacks from junkyard, bolt or weld to chassis for leveling, grind handle to fit cordless drill - hit up Lithionics, negotiate deal for some Li-Ion batteries enjoying the channel. cheers
1 Rethink using lithium iron phosphate batteries. Check out their operation in cold climate. You mentioned being in 15 degrees. 2 Put grey tank drain valve on tank. There will not be any water to freeze in tank drain pipes. If there is a way to get heat through floor to tank area, enclose tank with small cavity around tank for heat to circulate. 3 Just insulating fresh water tank more will not work. Need to introduce heat to it somehow. If you could heat the rear storage area that would also take care of the problem of cold with your batteties weather they be AGM or LIP. (Batteries work better warm) 4 try to make your grey tank fill tubes as short as possible, even from the top. Even some rvs have that problem. 5 may look into an Espar diesel or gas heater. Some "van dwellers" use these for heat. They sip the fuel such as about .25 gal or less an hr. They can also be ducted. 6 You maybe able to find a shower enclosure that has 3 wall panels and floor pan that you may be able to cut/form to your van sides and ceiling. 7 Get a water proof laminate flooring to replace your bamboo. This will also offer you some floor insulation. 8 RV Parts availability (ANYTHING RV). I dont know where you live but if you can make it to Montpelier, IN (Ickes RV) or White Pegion MI (Bomtragers RV) , Shipshewana, IN (Indiana Refiragation for Refiragation needs and installation) you will save a ton of money. The AC unit that can cool your van can be picked up for around 400.00 at Ickes RV. These places have ANYTHING RV. There have been people building schoolies that take bus there and load up with everything they need. You will save from 1/4 to 1/3 and sometimes 50 percent. In your case, finding a window CHEAP, probably around 10.00. Worth your while to at least check them out. When I go there for parts to "customize" my fifthwheel, it's like a "mad dog in a meat house". Good luck on your changes.
You have a great dog, and lots of good ideas. Appreciate your sharing this experience. And, please do not bang on your dog's head. Try drumming on one of your buddies heads and see how that works. Better yet, have your buddies bang on your head. Thanks for 'listening.' P. S. I use a venting layer under mattress and prefer windows in my rig. I cover with reflectix and it works very well. Ciao.
You should contact Dave from Gone Boondocking RUclips channel. He was doing a bulk buy of lithium batteries, maybe it’s something you could get in on. Happy and safe travels
They say weight is important because after build, it gains later. I'm still learning. And I am adding a potential hooman and a doggo. Full-time for at least a year or two until we find regular housing, unless we find out we like travel the a that much. Also, with water-- think of trucks and the science of air brakes. Things freeze because of where things might have been placed when you built them in the first place. But that's neither here nor there, so even though you insolate them, you be still have to empty the grey water every day in an appropriate dump site.
A good idea for replacing those shower panels is painting it with liquid rubber which is used to seal rooftops, it looks nice, it's waterproof and flexible for when you're driving!
You have a pretty awesome personality haha thanks so much for sharing your information, also great editing work the animations and sounds were great lol.
I don't have personal experience (yet), so am going from research only; although lithium batteries cost about 3 times as much as AGM it seems like they almost balance out if you calculate in the life span (400 vs. 3000 cycles) and the fact that you can only use approximately 50% of the AGM batteries. I know you also do plenty of research and was wondering if you'd thought about starting with 1/2 the amount of lithium batteries, then adding more (possibly) later on; that's my plan, but am still a ways off from being able to get started. I'm also to see how my cat and bird will get along in a van - could be interesting!
@@missusjasus I know! Other than the cost of the vehicle, the electric will probably be the most expensive thing in the beginning. I'm probably gonna go really cheap & simple on the plumbing to start. My goal is an ambulance, so I won't have to worry about storage or too much wiring.
This is amazing!!! I love watching a bunch of different Van channels to see what they do, I definitely like your design the most and I am interested to see how the new stuff turns out!!!
I've been in my van for about a year and a half now. I think I did a great build in my 99 Astro. I really like watching your videos, your editing and your personality. Because of that, I'm giving you all the watchtime with this engagement. That's what it takes and, I hope you have tons of success! Cheers!
Great advice on just getting after it. I am finishing my build this week after 7 months....finally! I definitely got stuck and over thought a lot of things which slowed me down for sure. Thanks for all of your great videos, they were a great resource for me.
I could watch you drum on Rocky for an entire episode. Rocky looked so darn cute and happy. It’s my Christmas wish. (Or okay maybe the drumming could act as segways?). So glad to see the channel growing. I think all of your ideas make great sense and I’ll be so happy once you get that AC! It must of been so stressful worrying about Rocky & Archer in the heat. Plus just for your own comfort! Great advice about van life not being the “cure” to fixing your life. You’re a true gem Ben.
You can purchase corner balance scales, to weigh how much the van is, it will help progression in seeing how much everything weighs while shaving weight. Instead of framing certain pieces with wood use Aluminum weighs a lot less.
Wow I can't believe it's been 2 years already! I started watching your videos early on and moved into my own van last April. It'll feel great getting these modifications taken care of. Good luck!
Honestly your van is my favorite sprinter van build out of the dozens I’ve seen. I wish my van looked like your interior, but my model is very old and very different. Can’t wait to see the upcoming changes! :)
Hey bro..bummer on the batteries. Have you considered a couple of Alibaba Lithium batteries? It's what I have in my van. I've got (2) 200Ah 12v batteries I bought from Alibaba. Long story short they were about $1,200 Total..a quarter of the cost I was quoted for purchasing the exact same batteries from an American distributor. Thats including overnight shipping from Hong Kong to Chicago during the Covid epidemic that drove up shipping costs. I understand the fear there with Chinese batteries but check em out...this company is called EWT..supposedly they're the same batteries that Renogy uses (they rebrand them as their own). Been using them to power everything in my van with 800Watts solar for the last year. No issues, still holding good voltage.
If you go the build-it-yourself lithium route, make sure you add a battery management system (BMS). Will Prowse demonstrates how to do this on his channel.
Have you thought about one of those Chinese diesel heaters? Just installed one and they're great. Like $150, install is like a few hours, and they're good on fuel. Can leave it running for hours on end with proper ventilation Edit - Also doesn't use much battery. I can run mine all night without any noticeable drain!
Thanks for all the ideas, Ben. Good to learn from what u hav learned. Thanks for the reminder to not be afraid to make mistakes. I recently bought a 2006 Roadtrek which is an RV in a sprinter van. I have gutted a lot of it to remodel. One thing to check out before you get the ceiling AC is that they can be REALLY loud. Mine is so loud that my partner who is hearing impaired has trouble sleeping even without his hearing aids. And they take up a lot of roof space. Will your batteries run the AC? If you want it for ur pets, they might need it when u cant plug in. Check out Snow and Curt video on the 12volt one they installed under the van. Expensive but quiet and their batteries will run it. One of the reasons I bought a van already converted into an RV is it had a generator that can run the AC for our pets. But, in hindisght, I would have gone with their AC and wudnt hav needed a generator. I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming!
I haven't even started my FT van life, and am already to make changes lol 🤣🙃 Your van is pretty awesome, but the changes you're planning make a lot of sense! I'm looking forward to seeing the window in there. Can you comment how much battery and solar you will have to run that AC? I have two fantastic fans and two tiny windows for ventilation for my dogs, but in the serious heat it really isn't enough for them. BTW Rocky is hysterical with the drummer scene - he thought he was getting a head massage 🐶💆♂️ And Archer 🐱 acts like Jus gitter done! Lol Look forward to the new look!!
@@dogcatmanvan There was one gal who put it in all on solar. I'll look for it. She had about 600-800 watts solar and I don't remember battery bank. It was a rooftop ac. Don't know how this really could work, but she told me it does??
Good luck with the remodel. Look forward to updates. I guess the shower is worth keeping. Good to know. I have awhile before I can do a build but ill keep that in mind.
You can buy 4 3.2v 100 amp lithium iron phosphate cells and build your own 12v 100amph lithium battery for $500-600 and its surprisingly easy and beginner friendly if you just do a bit of research. Then when you have the money you can add on to the system. You can also build it as a 24v system if you prefer that. There are tons of videos available of people doing it on RUclips. Not only will you have a much larger energy capacity they are a lot harder to hurt. The only thing is you absolutely need a cold temp disconnect and a basic affordable bms and then you're set and will have a great system for the next 10 or so years. Money spent on agm is usually money going down the toilet as they are so problematic and easy to kill plus have such a short cycle life. Oh and the price i mentioned is for everything, the cells, the bms and the cold temp disconnect (better to get a bms with cold temp disconnect built in though). Good luck, please look into this you won't regret it. :)
I was thinking about putting a window ac in my van. I had not thought about how the condensation might leak when I am not level. You saved me from making a costly and time consuming mistake. Thanks!
A lot of ppl in vans warn against roof ac units, not sure exactly why. Personally, I like round shapes so would say yes to portholes lol... Whaa? Non-galvanised sheet metal in the shower??? Yeh thats gotta go 😆
Check out the 12v Fresair for your cooling. Also, for Lithium, consider SOK Batteries - half the cost of Battleborn. I'm sure youve done most of this stuff by now though - best of luck!
@@dogcatmanvan If you have a larger budget, Dometic came out with a new, 12v Air Conditioner - RTX2000. Pricey but sounds amazing. And it would be awesome to see a DIY Lithium set up - as long as you can track down quality cells and a decent BMS, it should be excellent! Best of luck
“I broked some stuff” hahaha let’s do a segment on what the pets have broken.
Haha, I second this
Random gray water tank tip, I've heard of people using salt pellets in them to keep the freeze from occurring. Maybe this will help someone ✌
Haven't watched the video yet - but wouldn't you winterize it like a rv
@@doodoodoodle if you winterize you cant use it simultaneously.. This is a trick for loving full time in the winter
@@5thgendj yeah nvm I finished the video to get the context good to know though
for that rooftop A/C, I'd go look in the junkyard.
There are a ton of crashed RV's in junkyards, and just because they've been in a wreck doesn't mean that their components have gone bad. Plus many of them are late model.
Certainly doesn't hurt to look, and you may save a ton of $$$!!!
“Maybe you need to figure you’re self out” damn yeah you right lmaoooo
LOVE the videos! I was nodding my head with all your improvement suggestions. And, as always, I still can't grasp why your channel haven't gone viral! It's so frustrating! I see many people "living the van life" that don't discuss the realties and challenges of van life, don't have the awesome addition of furry friends you have (mad love and hugs and love to Rocky and Archer!!) and , WTF!?, they certainly don't have the Crusty Crusaders! Hey all you #vanlife people out there, you're idiots if you don't subscribe and follow #dogcatmanvan!
Yup. It’s mind blowing. Guess people just want the fantasy. This is all that and so much more. Also I’m commenting to people to help engagement which is a big part of helping channels grow. The algorithm likes it.
LOL yayyyyy great channel
I’m a new Sub and so appreciative of his honesty. Plus I have a kitty.
Your furry four legged family are adorable!
My takeaway.............Rocky is one cool dog. Woof!
Hey DCMV! Check out Florida Van Man’s stealth A/C van build! Check out the slats from IKEA for your bed, Look at Furandfam if you want a 24v solar system that can power that roof top A/C. And I really appreciated your comment about how ladders and solar panels sort of give away the stealth thing!
Okay, @ around 13:00 the life lessons hit hard and you can fire your therapist now because Ben smacked down all you need to know for the rest of your liiiiife.
First time I’ve ever seen anyone acknowledge that these van builds need to consider weight and payload. I liked your video, those dead birds in the shower were random, and your doggy friend is awesome 😎
You should reconsider the batteries. The sokbattery is $1029 for 200 amps. The same usable capacity of your 2 AGM batteries (since you can only go 50% without damage). Get one now and maybe in the future add a second one. Plus the LiFeFO4 battery is only 47 pounds... 2 good AGM batteries would run almost $800, so not too much for for the LiFeFO4
Just one suggestion about adding that side window: if you can afford one, buy a double or triple insulated window. Indiana gets frickin' cold in the winter. I've watched several van lifers who always comment on the lack of insulation of their windows.
Tern Overland windows are dual pane, and they're awning style, which is great. They're acrylic, so they're lighter than regular windows.
The personality of your dog is amazing, for me, it makes your videos. 😆
look into DIYing your own lithium batteries, the tech is getting cheaper and cheaper and it really isn't all too difficult. Will Prowse is a good youtube source
Nice pro tip 🔥
This was my thought as I watched the video. Will Prowse and all.
Awesome advice. We definitely got analysis paralysis at the beginning of our build. The majority of our time was spend on indecision. Even after landing on something we're making plans to change some things. You'll never really know what's right for you until you get in it and start living. Your habits and routines are probably different than everyone else so you just have to make it right for you.
FRP board or PVC sheet for bathroom. Insulation if you add a window. IKEA slats for bed.
In my experience heat tape is great for water lines that are always charged but not great for drainage lines that don't always have flow, it can damage the pipes because they get too hot. Insulation and short runs are better for keeping drainage not frozen
just started my van build, all very helpful!
I've lived in a 28ft travel trailer through two summers and have one Dometic AC ceiling unit. I live in a desert where temps are routinely over 100deg and it has held up wonderfully. I've never had it serviced and have no idea how it works but keeps me and my cat cool :) Archer beautiful as always, can't wait to see what you do next!
Learn how to clean it yourself. Pronto.
Nice vid. From what I've seen in people's "regrets" in van builds, it mostly comes down to simplicity, accessibility, planning, comfort and durability, not to mention consideration to being weather-friendly. But the big one seems to be Accessibility.
Rocky and Archer are just ❤️
I'm ridiculously happy about all the things you plan on changing. They are all logical improvements and load lighteners.
We are also 2 years into our first van build. I totally relate. Also I love your comical editing.
DIY a battery with a BMS and you will lose so much weight. It’s worth it. I’m happy to advise.
I’m redoing parts of my van now to accommodate our baby on the way. Exciting times.
I might pick your brain on that
@@dogcatmanvan if you come out to Oregon, we should meet up.
Ben, make sure you think about the insulation issues with more windows installed.
You are making sense to me. Vinegar can help stop freezing and cleans holding tanks.
I don’t know about that extra window. A lot of people have mentioned windows in their van life regrets because they can’t be insulated as well. Thank for uploading this!👍🏽 Helps a lot!
Also, I love dad and fronds but ultimately dude knows himself and that is what this channel is about. And ROCKY+ARCHER of course.
Agreed!
Hey man, I've been watching you since you were 1 year into living in the van full time. It's inspiring and I think that you did really good with your build. It's inspiring and you've helped me think and plan out the build were doing on our channel so much. Thank you.
Roof a/c is heavy ! Take that into consideration . Also, your window unit can run for awhile , several hours , on your current battery setup, a roof a/c , maybe 1 hour since the roof A/C uses 3 to 4 times as much energy. You will always have to be plugged in to use the roof A/C or carry a generator (more weight and maintenance ).. I like your other proposed upgrades too. Good video !
I'm always plugged in when using the AC regardless of battery.
@@dogcatmanvan then roof a/c will work for you and the kids..
It's great that you're sharing your "lessons-learned" for the build. We can all learn from your experience, and I for one, appreciate the honesty. Looking forward to seeing how you lighten your load in the next incarnation :).
Try 60m61 aluminum about .032" Light and corrosion resistantYou can attack with rivnuts for easy removal. Try Pex it is more resistant to freezing Than copper and does not add taste to the water. Try using 1/2 inch ply on the bunk bed instead of 3/4" Take a look at wood aircraft construction If you look around on the net and you can find lots of resources to build wood framing that is both light and strong
I would totally get rid of gray water tank. If you're really using green soaps. We have had trailers, motorhomes, and cold VW campers. Didn't want to deal with water lines. Went from Houston, Tx to LA, up the coast , to Canada to Alaska back to Canada to Minnesota, Ohio, back to Texas. 7 months. Cooked real food. We are old 60's. We camped in national parks, off the side of the road,state parks, Canada's parks are very nice. Of course we did Wallyworld, Canadian superstore, street's. It's all what you make of it.
Add springs and suspension and make it a 3500 ! Also change your tires size .
Hi Ben. 😊 All very intelligent fix-ups. Rear door panels, pipes, bath room panels, air con ... big tick ✅. Hope you get your pricey but better lithium batteries 👍 That was actually really informative, if not just "closure" for those of use whose heads spun with projective negative effects as you built. And ... a big THANKS for your wake-up call. Van life is a lifestyle choice with commitments equal to owning a home. God bless you mate. Awesome vid. Trudi. Australia. 🇭🇲🐞
Love this guy
Thank's dude. Great tips and encouragement
perhaps:
- 86 the spare tire, run w/ compressor/foam fix-a-flat kit, puncture repair kit
- automatic ball valve for grey tank
- FRP bath walls
- cut exhaust pipe/ re-route out the side
- marine vinyl flooring
- pick up 4 scissor jacks from junkyard, bolt or weld to chassis for leveling, grind handle to fit cordless drill
- hit up Lithionics, negotiate deal for some Li-Ion batteries
enjoying the channel. cheers
1 Rethink using lithium iron phosphate batteries. Check out their operation in cold climate. You mentioned being in 15 degrees.
2 Put grey tank drain valve on tank. There will not be any water to freeze in tank drain pipes. If there is a way to get heat through floor to tank area, enclose tank with small cavity around tank for heat to circulate.
3 Just insulating fresh water tank more will not work. Need to introduce heat to it somehow. If you could heat the rear storage area that would also take care of the problem of cold with your batteties weather they be AGM or LIP. (Batteries work better warm)
4 try to make your grey tank fill tubes as short as possible, even from the top. Even some rvs have that problem.
5 may look into an Espar diesel or gas heater. Some "van dwellers" use these for heat. They sip the fuel such as about .25 gal or less an hr. They can also be ducted.
6 You maybe able to find a shower enclosure that has 3 wall panels and floor pan that you may be able to cut/form to your van sides and ceiling.
7 Get a water proof laminate flooring to replace your bamboo. This will also offer you some floor insulation.
8 RV Parts availability (ANYTHING RV). I dont know where you live but if you can make it to Montpelier, IN (Ickes RV) or White Pegion MI (Bomtragers RV) , Shipshewana, IN (Indiana Refiragation for Refiragation needs and installation) you will save a ton of money. The AC unit that can cool your van can be picked up for around 400.00 at Ickes RV. These places have ANYTHING RV. There have been people building schoolies that take bus there and load up with everything they need. You will save from 1/4 to 1/3 and sometimes 50 percent. In your case, finding a window CHEAP, probably around 10.00.
Worth your while to at least check them out.
When I go there for parts to "customize" my fifthwheel, it's like a "mad dog in a meat house".
Good luck on your changes.
Thanks for taking the time to give all the great advice and suggestions!
You have a great dog, and lots of good ideas. Appreciate your sharing this experience. And, please do not bang on your dog's head. Try drumming on one of your buddies heads and see how that works. Better yet, have your buddies bang on your head. Thanks for 'listening.' P. S. I use a venting layer under mattress and prefer windows in my rig. I cover with reflectix and it works very well. Ciao.
You need a thing, that disconnectes your batterys, when they are getting low ‼️
BMS
Love your vids, always make me smile
The Rockster didn’t break stuff, he stress tested it, it’s public service at its best
You should contact Dave from Gone Boondocking RUclips channel. He was doing a bulk buy of lithium batteries, maybe it’s something you could get in on. Happy and safe travels
They say weight is important because after build, it gains later. I'm still learning. And I am adding a potential hooman and a doggo. Full-time for at least a year or two until we find regular housing, unless we find out we like travel the a that much. Also, with water-- think of trucks and the science of air brakes. Things freeze because of where things might have been placed when you built them in the first place. But that's neither here nor there, so even though you insolate them, you be still have to empty the grey water every day in an appropriate dump site.
Ending message 👌on point
A good idea for replacing those shower panels is painting it with liquid rubber which is used to seal rooftops, it looks nice, it's waterproof and flexible for when you're driving!
Humbled man, love your personality mate
You have a pretty awesome personality haha thanks so much for sharing your information, also great editing work the animations and sounds were great lol.
COLD AIR SINKS...HEAT RISES...MAYBE MOUNT THE A/C UP HIGH FOR BETTER COOLING..LIKE INSIDE THAT TALL CABINET???
I don't have personal experience (yet), so am going from research only; although lithium batteries cost about 3 times as much as AGM it seems like they almost balance out if you calculate in the life span (400 vs. 3000 cycles) and the fact that you can only use approximately 50% of the AGM batteries. I know you also do plenty of research and was wondering if you'd thought about starting with 1/2 the amount of lithium batteries, then adding more (possibly) later on; that's my plan, but am still a ways off from being able to get started. I'm also to see how my cat and bird will get along in a van - could be interesting!
Better start really saving for those batteries..;)
@@missusjasus I know! Other than the cost of the vehicle, the electric will probably be the most expensive thing in the beginning. I'm probably gonna go really cheap & simple on the plumbing to start. My goal is an ambulance, so I won't have to worry about storage or too much wiring.
This is amazing!!! I love watching a bunch of different Van channels to see what they do, I definitely like your design the most and I am interested to see how the new stuff turns out!!!
The last part of this video, so right on. Just do it. You seem like a good dude. Cheers.
you should put some air bags on and some bigger wheel!
Portholes! YES
I've been in my van for about a year and a half now. I think I did a great build in my 99 Astro. I really like watching your videos, your editing and your personality. Because of that, I'm giving you all the watchtime with this engagement. That's what it takes and, I hope you have tons of success! Cheers!
Great advice on just getting after it. I am finishing my build this week after 7 months....finally! I definitely got stuck and over thought a lot of things which slowed me down for sure. Thanks for all of your great videos, they were a great resource for me.
Bro, I definitely just kinda made like eyeliner and started wingin it! Haha it was awesome.
H i Ben Ty for responding to me ...You are such a great guy Blessings Good to see you This Video was funny Ben
I could watch you drum on Rocky for an entire episode. Rocky looked so darn cute and happy. It’s my Christmas wish. (Or okay maybe the drumming could act as segways?). So glad to see the channel growing. I think all of your ideas make great sense and I’ll be so happy once you get that AC! It must of been so stressful worrying about Rocky & Archer in the heat. Plus just for your own comfort! Great advice about van life not being the “cure” to fixing your life. You’re a true gem Ben.
You can purchase corner balance scales, to weigh how much the van is, it will help progression in seeing how much everything weighs while shaving weight. Instead of framing certain pieces with wood use Aluminum weighs a lot less.
You should try next summer to make your changes
Good vid.... Thanks for the tips.
Great Vid. Love your insights. Just go forward with life
Like your speech in the end and good luck with everything
Love your videos, the edits are even better.
Wow I can't believe it's been 2 years already! I started watching your videos early on and moved into my own van last April. It'll feel great getting these modifications taken care of. Good luck!
Thanks for another great vid !
Honestly your van is my favorite sprinter van build out of the dozens I’ve seen. I wish my van looked like your interior, but my model is very old and very different. Can’t wait to see the upcoming changes! :)
dont be afraid to make mistakes!! love that
"I need to put this van on a diet." 🤣
Totally i love my van but there r at least 2 things i would change already after 7 months living in my van. It happens!
battleborn, hook this guy up!
Rocky is adorable. Looking forward to the remodel videos.
Very cool outlook on things not to do. Good luck & continue having fun with your friends, incl. great pets...
Maybe use the exhaust pipe to heat up the grey water pipe.
I'm so excited to see all the fixes!!!!
IKEA slat bed look on you tube very simple very easy to install
Love your videos! Hope you will post your remodel!
Hey bro..bummer on the batteries. Have you considered a couple of Alibaba Lithium batteries? It's what I have in my van. I've got (2) 200Ah 12v batteries I bought from Alibaba. Long story short they were about $1,200 Total..a quarter of the cost I was quoted for purchasing the exact same batteries from an American distributor. Thats including overnight shipping from Hong Kong to Chicago during the Covid epidemic that drove up shipping costs. I understand the fear there with Chinese batteries but check em out...this company is called EWT..supposedly they're the same batteries that Renogy uses (they rebrand them as their own). Been using them to power everything in my van with 800Watts solar for the last year. No issues, still holding good voltage.
If you go the build-it-yourself lithium route, make sure you add a battery management system (BMS). Will Prowse demonstrates how to do this on his channel.
Thanks. I've been waiting.
Have you thought about one of those Chinese diesel heaters? Just installed one and they're great. Like $150, install is like a few hours, and they're good on fuel. Can leave it running for hours on end with proper ventilation
Edit - Also doesn't use much battery. I can run mine all night without any noticeable drain!
Thanks for all the ideas, Ben. Good to learn from what u hav learned. Thanks for the reminder to not be afraid to make mistakes. I recently bought a 2006 Roadtrek which is an RV in a sprinter van. I have gutted a lot of it to remodel. One thing to check out before you get the ceiling AC is that they can be REALLY loud. Mine is so loud that my partner who is hearing impaired has trouble sleeping even without his hearing aids. And they take up a lot of roof space. Will your batteries run the AC? If you want it for ur pets, they might need it when u cant plug in. Check out Snow and Curt video on the 12volt one they installed under the van. Expensive but quiet and their batteries will run it. One of the reasons I bought a van already converted into an RV is it had a generator that can run the AC for our pets. But, in hindisght, I would have gone with their AC and wudnt hav needed a generator. I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming!
It’s great! And I can’t wait to see the redone van.
I haven't even started my FT van life, and am already to make changes lol 🤣🙃 Your van is pretty awesome, but the changes you're planning make a lot of sense! I'm looking forward to seeing the window in there. Can you comment how much battery and solar you will have to run that AC? I have two fantastic fans and two tiny windows for ventilation for my dogs, but in the serious heat it really isn't enough for them. BTW Rocky is hysterical with the drummer scene - he thought he was getting a head massage 🐶💆♂️ And Archer 🐱 acts like Jus gitter done! Lol Look forward to the new look!!
I will have to be plugged into shore power if I want to run a roof AC unit.
@@dogcatmanvan There was one gal who put it in all on solar. I'll look for it. She had about 600-800 watts solar and I don't remember battery bank. It was a rooftop ac. Don't know how this really could work, but she told me it does??
Good luck with the remodel. Look forward to updates. I guess the shower is worth keeping. Good to know. I have awhile before I can do a build but ill keep that in mind.
Ya. No matter what you create - there will be fixes
Cute dog. Turnip build.
Rocky was very entertaining in this episode! 🤣
As we say where I live you have an "old head on a young body"! (It means you're a wise young man)
Realistically speaking He could sell the van and start over. But that would put him out of a home for awhile.
I bought a factory refurbished straight from Coleman thru Ebay last year. Rooftop A/C
😎👍
You can buy 4 3.2v 100 amp lithium iron phosphate cells and build your own 12v 100amph lithium battery for $500-600 and its surprisingly easy and beginner friendly if you just do a bit of research. Then when you have the money you can add on to the system. You can also build it as a 24v system if you prefer that. There are tons of videos available of people doing it on RUclips. Not only will you have a much larger energy capacity they are a lot harder to hurt. The only thing is you absolutely need a cold temp disconnect and a basic affordable bms and then you're set and will have a great system for the next 10 or so years. Money spent on agm is usually money going down the toilet as they are so problematic and easy to kill plus have such a short cycle life. Oh and the price i mentioned is for everything, the cells, the bms and the cold temp disconnect (better to get a bms with cold temp disconnect built in though). Good luck, please look into this you won't regret it. :)
I will, thank you!
@@dogcatmanvan awesome, I'm happy to hear it. Will prowse's website has the info and links to everything, it's an amazing resource. Best wishes
I was thinking about putting a window ac in my van. I had not thought about how the condensation might leak when I am not level. You saved me from making a costly and time consuming mistake. Thanks!
New sub. You 3 are cuties. Our dogs are identical...including spots....aren’t they smart!
A lot of ppl in vans warn against roof ac units, not sure exactly why. Personally, I like round shapes so would say yes to portholes lol... Whaa? Non-galvanised sheet metal in the shower??? Yeh thats gotta go 😆
Mate so good..
Love your new @anmly_footwear IG post. Bought a pair of sneaker because of your new Head of Orders. Keep up the incredible work!
Thank you!
Check out the 12v Fresair for your cooling. Also, for Lithium, consider SOK Batteries - half the cost of Battleborn. I'm sure youve done most of this stuff by now though - best of luck!
I'll check at the Fresair and I'm currently putting together my own little lithium battery so we shall see how that goes.
@@dogcatmanvan If you have a larger budget, Dometic came out with a new, 12v Air Conditioner - RTX2000. Pricey but sounds amazing. And it would be awesome to see a DIY Lithium set up - as long as you can track down quality cells and a decent BMS, it should be excellent! Best of luck
You are a beautiful man
Hope you get everything done that you want to get done! Go to dads he’ll help!! Say it’s your Christmas present! Lol 😂