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How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

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Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#181

Post by scarecrowbob »

As cool as this, like a lot of folks here I don't see how a pickup and a gooseneck wouldn't be a better (probably cheaper) option, even if you had to renovate / shop around for the gooseneck.

I know a whole lot of folks who live this way, mostly itinerant musicians.

While this is a much nicer build-- I think it's quite beautiful-- it is a lot closer to a custom conversion van most folks I know have much different, less successful experiences with DIY RVs.

To the folks who cite "stealth" as a rationale here, there are a lot of reasons why you might get kicked off a patch of ground... one persons "hack" is another person's criminal trespass. There are a lot of great places that you can camp out without getting hassled and without relying on other folks footing the bill for your plumbing and pavement.

To the folks citing mobility, I still don't see how that kind of van is more mobile than a pickup.

So while I think that it's really cool-- I gotta say that I think it would have to be cheaper / easier / more reliable to buy a pickup and 5th wheel or similar.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#182

Post by elliotec »

tdobson wrote: post #159
jdpigeon wrote: post #11

This would have appealed to me about two years ago, but not that much anymore, and I'm still close to a decade away from paying off my student debt. I'm more interested in 'settling down' and 'getting to work' these days, realizing that my sense of personal success is mostly dependent on quality relationships, productivity, and a sense of community belonging. Now, I've done my fair share of living life on the road, a…

I live in a van.[1] I started out in the van with a girlfriend, then our relationship came to an end (the van probably helped it last a bit longer) and so I got back into dating. I'd say dating with the van was easier than before I had it. You must lead with it. You have to make sure it's upfront with everyone - you don't bring it up last - it said it all over my OKC profile - and you know - nothing starts conversati…

I'd disagree with your statement that "the van isn't a big deal" in your last sentence.

If you feel that you have to be upfront with everyone about living in a van, it sort of becomes an enormous part of your identity, which I would call a big deal.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#183

Post by asimuvPR »

tdobson wrote: post #159
jdpigeon wrote: post #11

This would have appealed to me about two years ago, but not that much anymore, and I'm still close to a decade away from paying off my student debt. I'm more interested in 'settling down' and 'getting to work' these days, realizing that my sense of personal success is mostly dependent on quality relationships, productivity, and a sense of community belonging. Now, I've done my fair share of living life on the road, a…

I live in a van.[1] I started out in the van with a girlfriend, then our relationship came to an end (the van probably helped it last a bit longer) and so I got back into dating. I'd say dating with the van was easier than before I had it. You must lead with it. You have to make sure it's upfront with everyone - you don't bring it up last - it said it all over my OKC profile - and you know - nothing starts conversati…

Mind posting more pictures of the van? I've always been intrigued by this lifestyle. :)

Congrats on the adventures!

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#184

Post by mchannon »

patcheudor wrote: post #119

A couple comments for your own safety and the safety of the vehicle: 1) Those batteries should be in battery boxes. You can find them at any marine supply store. Note that for boats where batteries are commonly stored like you have them there, it's the law. For RV's it's a good practice and may be required by some insurers and in some states. 2) H2S also known as hydrogen sulfide. It's explosive and it's possible for…

H2S is insidious, but it's not the primary reason for venting lead acid batteries.

H2 gas itself is. Particularly when overcharged, batteries will build up a pressure of H2, which specially designed vents within the battery will let out. H2 actually needs a pretty high concentration to flash, but if your RV is airtight, you can reach those conditions.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#185

Post by jonah »

grecy wrote: post #23
asimuvPR wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 mecha…

Why not just swap in a new motor at that point instead of getting a whole new vehicle? The long block should be pretty plug-and-play since all the adaptations had been done already?

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#186

Post by johngalt »

darzu wrote: post #139
Paul_S wrote: post #131

This is a heart-warming story but he is definitely conflating 2 separate issues. If you want to have a gap year and drive around the country then do that and it's clearly what he wanted. If you want to cut down on expenses there are far better ways of doing it without buying a van. It makes as much sense as saying the only way to cross a river is to build a giant sling (fun - yes, but mundane options are available).

Can you give examples of better ways to cut down your expenses?

Transportation is the big one. The biggest wasters you'll find in most peoples budgets are cars. The author put everything into a van. Go the opposite direction. Pull every dollar you can away from your car. Have no car if you can get away with it. Or only one car instead of two in a family setting. Consider the TCO of any car you buy. A lot of people say 'buy used' but IMHO it's more important to buy less car.

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#187

Post by ken_railey »

got2surf wrote: post #168
grecy wrote: post #6

I 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…

Awesome build - was that a DeLorean in the garage in http://i.imgur.com/wqXRJVp.jpg ? Great taste in cars!

That's no DeLorean, it looks like an old Z28, maybe about ~1980

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#188

Post by senorjazz »

grecy wrote: post #147
irrational wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You drove from Alaska to Argentina? How did you drive through the Darien Gap in Panama?

I shipped the Jeep in a container from Colon, Panama to Cartagena, Colombia. I wrote up the whole process in great detail so others could follow in my footsteps. http://theroadchoseme.com/shipping-across-the-darien-gap-pt-... There was no ferry when I did it, and it's been cancelled again now.

Lol, still rumours of a ferry. Was the same when we crossed in 2012

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#189

Post by SigmundA »

ars wrote: post #99

He needs a diode between the two batteries in parallel. Otherwise slight differences in voltage between them causes them to cyclically charge and discharge each other, wearing them out and wasting energy.

No one uses diodes on their battery banks, lead acid can tolerate some overcharge which is how they are equalized and lithium use a BMS for balancing cells.

The only diodes I have seen are used for Chassis/House bank isolation but usually its a relay system instead.

Remember a 12v lead acid battery is 6 cells in a single package no different than two 6v batteries in series (which is what my RV has).

Re: How I Built a Custom Camper Van (2015)

#190

Post by dougmany »

scarecrowbob wrote: post #181

As cool as this, like a lot of folks here I don't see how a pickup and a gooseneck wouldn't be a better (probably cheaper) option, even if you had to renovate / shop around for the gooseneck. I know a whole lot of folks who live this way, mostly itinerant musicians. While this is a much nicer build-- I think it's quite beautiful-- it is a lot closer to a custom conversion van most folks I know have much different, le…

I am a big fan of the pop-up campers that go in the bed of the truck. I loved mine. I took three months off and traveled around the west coast in it. Had some great adventures.

But calculating it all out, a Miata and motel would have been a lot cheaper. My Diesel F250 with the camper got about 8 miles to the gallon. 300 miles a day was over $100.

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