[deleted]
How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
21–30 of 351 posts
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#22I did something similar. I wanted a vehicle I could explore the world with, so I turned my Jeep into a house on wheels with fridge, drinking water and filtration, solar and dual batteries, interior cabinets and a custom modified pop-up roof so I can stand up and walk around in the Jeep. I joked about applying for a home owners grant :) The full pictures and story are in this album - http://imgur.com/a/OLK3o I'm drivi…
What a bummer about that engine blowing up, after all that work :(
But great to see you took that as a character building exercise and kept going!
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#23I did something similar. I wanted a vehicle I could explore the world with, so I turned my Jeep into a house on wheels with fridge, drinking water and filtration, solar and dual batteries, interior cabinets and a custom modified pop-up roof so I can stand up and walk around in the Jeep. I joked about applying for a home owners grant :) The full pictures and story are in this album - http://imgur.com/a/OLK3o I'm drivi…
I read your story on reddit a little while ago. Its a really interesting choice and I applaud your sense of adventure. What I don't get was the swap to a Mercedes diesel. Your argument for it made sense, but why not a toyota diesel, for example? :)
At the time I thought it made sense... of course hindsight is great.
If I wanted a Toyota diesel, I would have just bought a Toyota, but I didn't want that.
The reason for the merc is that the engine I chose (the OM606) is the most sophisticated non-computer controlled diesel possible - actually it came from the factory with a computer, but by using the injection pump from the earlier OM603 it can be made fully mechanical. This is a boon for repairs, simplicity, and the ability to burn basically anything like kerosene. It also means it's powerful and efficient, and mileage was my number 1 goal.
Also, that Merc engine happens to come from the factory in many cars with exactly the same gearbox as in my Jeep (the NSG370), so things made sense there. Jeep have also used Merc diesels in the past (not in the Wrangler), so that made sense too.
It was an ambitious plan, and I'm glad that I tried, even though it didn't work out in the end.
That aside, I'm in west Africa now, having the time of my life :)
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#24I love this idea in theory, but my wife would never go for it. Ah well... Maybe get an RV for longer camping trips...
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#25That was pretty awesome, I enjoyed reading all the way to the end. I wonder how long it'll take him to regret the fact that his bed only fits one person in it.
You might surprised how spacious half a queen bed can be, and he looks to be fit and trim overall. I don't think he's likely to have much trouble.
Half a queen is 25% smaller than a twin. It's 30" wide. Your shoulders are probably around 15" wide, wider if you are muscular/fit. Workable, sure, but with a companion it's hard to imagine describing that as spacious.
I shared a 20" wide camping mattress in a pinch. We are both very slender. Spooning was mandatory.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#26I love the idea of doing something like this, but I'm wondering about how to get dependable, high-speed internet access. Anybody have any ideas?
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
This but slightly more organized is pretty much the standard answer for anti-hoarding: put all your stuff away, keep track of what you actually use over the next week/month/year, and get rid of anything that hasn't been touched.
I think it deserves to be slightly more nuanced than that. There is a category of things that are small, used rarely, but very necessary. Medicine & tools always come to mind. For me, if I don't use my screwdrivers for a year that doesn't mean I should get rid of my screwdrivers.
Arguably, it means just that. If you only use a tool once a year, you should just borrow/rent them when you actually do need them. Our lives are cluttered with occasionally used 'just in case' items that we really don't need.
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
You might surprised how spacious half a queen bed can be, and he looks to be fit and trim overall. I don't think he's likely to have much trouble.
Half a queen is 25% smaller than a twin. It's 30" wide. Your shoulders are probably around 15" wide, wider if you are muscular/fit. Workable, sure, but with a companion it's hard to imagine describing that as spacious. I shared a 20" wide camping mattress in a pinch. We are both very slender. Spooning was mandatory.
> Spooning was mandatory.
Oh. Well. Yeah, I can see how that's a real problem.
(Actually, I spent almost a decade married, so, gentle sarcasm aside, I can see how that might be a problem. On the other hand, I get the impression the cases aren't really parallel. I mean, if it were me and I had someone moving in, it'd be a good occasion for a rebuild to meet current needs, I think.)
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#29I love the idea of doing something like this, but I'm wondering about how to get dependable, high-speed internet access. Anybody have any ideas?
Tether to your phone. I'm doing it now in west Africa and it's super fast, 3G is everywhere (especially in the US or Europe)
Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)
#30I love the idea of doing something like this, but I'm wondering about how to get dependable, high-speed internet access. Anybody have any ideas?
It depends on where you go.
On BLM land in the United States, if you are willing to hunt for a while for good dispersed campsites, you can often score the combination of good cell signal + nobody else around.