Hey! This is my mockup!

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NALLS

Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
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Location
Ottawa
Click here to see

Idk if that link will work but thats the video tour...

My 2 main questions is what is the most power i can possibly buy... wanting to combine solar,thermo,carbattery all together to stockpile energy and store it.. i want more than ill ever use...

Same question about the bathroom, whats the biggest and best solution??

Thanks! Finally some likeminds! ♡
 
Nalls, welcome, and if you have a way to show us that mockup using a normal picture or floorplan, etc, that might help you get more feedback here, because not all of us use Facebook.
 
Couple of important details we need to know are exactly how much power is “is more than you will ever need” and if you want to be completely self contained. You will almost always be limited by the amount of space and weight you can tow or carry compared to a sticks and bricks house or apartment. There are lots of recently introduced power solutions that might be enough to get you by depending on whether or not you can afford them and if you will supplement with propane or a generator but the grid is the still the cheapest and best source for “unlimited” power and water.
 
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Couple of important details we need to know are exactly how much power is “is more than you will ever need” and if you want to be completely self contained. You will almost always be limited by the amount of space and weight you can tow or carry compared to a sticks and bricks house or apartment. There are lots of recently introduced power solutions that might be enough to get you by depending on whether or not you can afford them and if you will supplement with propane or a generator but the grid is the still the cheapest and best source for “unlimited” power and water.
I have yet to calculate the power needed as i am still putting the setup together.. but i was hoping to basically see the craziest settup out there and dial it back to match my final setup.. if you can show me the best of the best that can use all three input sources.
Ive opted for the box truck because its built to haul lots of weight and has ample storage area underneath and inside the raised floor ill install so ill have to just size everything accordingly
 
Thanks! I actually changed it recently to be at the back right so i could reach it from bed and potently exhaust it from the same area as the trucks exhaust to be extra steathy .. if i can swing it
 
There again a lot depends on which box truck and size of the box and underneath storage you “need” as every build is custom and modified for the individual. Otherwise just rent a Uhaul truck or Class C motorhome so you can get an idea of the space you need to “live” then calculate your needed utilities and realize the amount of space it will take to meet your needs to see if it is possible for it to work for you. There is no one size fits all solution. Builds usually go through several modifications over time because personal preferences change. For example I personally wouldn’t have a wood stove because where I travel there are too many burn bans and wood source regulations. Vented propane could be better in my case but because I have AC run off a propane generator a cheap ceramic heater works for my limited needs. There are just too many variables for me to advise you or for you guess without knowing what you need.
 
A 16ft refer box truck.. i drive one for work everyday it has tons of space below... i guess i could just keep adding batteries and panels but i was curious if there was any crazy ones out there if like money wasnt an option... super settups lol
 
I was recently camped with a man who was using a propane fueled heater that resembled a small wood burning stove. It came from the Ice fishing shack suppliers. The advantages of that unit over a wood stove is no tell tail smoke from a chimney. Also no issues with burn bans and no need to haul around firewood. As it is a vented stove there is no issue with interior condensation and fumes. His was vented with a flue stack inside leading up to a fitting on the roof. So it was very stealthy. But a fresh air supply is needed, one that can be left open when it is raining. You will have room for an exterior propane tank underneath a box truck.
 
As to the desk you show. I started out with one in my design but changed to having a full extension slide out desk drawer with a removable board for the desk surface. That allows me to have more storage space and counter space without sacrificing having desk function as needed. A folding swivel chair is my desk chair. The type used in hunting blinds. It stores away but it can also function as an outdoor chair. Multiple uses and maximizing storage are both critically important criteria for designing a nomadic dwelling space.
 
Click here to see

Idk if that link will work but thats the video tour...

My 2 main questions is what is the most power i can possibly buy... wanting to combine solar,thermo,carbattery all together to stockpile energy and store it.. i want more than ill ever use...

Same question about the bathroom, whats the biggest and best solution??

Thanks! Finally some likeminds! ♡
Link worked fine. My DIY camper is 72 sqft, I couldn't dedicate 28 sqft to the bed so I went with my on murphy design. I couldn't dedicate 9 sqft to a shower so I screwed 10' of the flexible shower track to the ceiling, sewed two sheer curtains together to make the shower curtain circle. The curtain slides into a corner for storage. For the shower pan I use a folding doggie bath and then empty out the gallon of water into a bucket. The toilet is a custom made 5-gallon bucket with contoured board on back to hinge a padded toilet ring/seat. It is screwed to a carpeted piece of plywood that is 14x14, feels much more stable. IT slides/stores under the frig that is on a shelf. The loo is also my ottoman. I also sliced another 5-gallon bucket in half just below the stiffening rings and it slides into the main loo (no screw holes), in case there is ever a bag leak/failure. Waste is then stored in a bucket with an o-ring gamma lid on it.
 
I was recently camped with a man who was using a propane fueled heater that resembled a small wood burning stove. It came from the Ice fishing shack suppliers. The advantages of that unit over a wood stove is no tell tail smoke from a chimney. Also no issues with burn bans and no need to haul around firewood. As it is a vented stove there is no issue with interior condensation and fumes. His was vented with a flue stack inside leading up to a fitting on the roof. So it was very stealthy. But a fresh air supply is needed, one that can be left open when it is raining. You will have room for an exterior propane tank underneath a box truck.
Ya i was also looking at diesel heaters... havent fully decided which way i want to go yet... and still have to do more research on the thermo battery charging settup just incase it requires a special heat source.. but if i could have a tiny wood burning setup i would loveee it.. ill decide in time after ive done all my research
 
Link worked fine. My DIY camper is 72 sqft, I couldn't dedicate 28 sqft to the bed so I went with my on murphy design. I couldn't dedicate 9 sqft to a shower so I screwed 10' of the flexible shower track to the ceiling, sewed two sheer curtains together to make the shower curtain circle. The curtain slides into a corner for storage. For the shower pan I use a folding doggie bath and then empty out the gallon of water into a bucket. The toilet is a custom made 5-gallon bucket with contoured board on back to hinge a padded toilet ring/seat. It is screwed to a carpeted piece of plywood that is 14x14, feels much more stable. IT slides/stores under the frig that is on a shelf. The loo is also my ottoman. I also sliced another 5-gallon bucket in half just below the stiffening rings and it slides into the main loo (no screw holes), in case there is ever a bag leak/failure. Waste is then stored in a bucket with an o-ring gamma lid on it.
Macgyver
 
Havent any yet.. just learned it was possible to charge batteries with heat and was thinking it would be cool to utilize that if i can... i want to stock power from solar,fire,carbattery and anything else i can... wind lol idk
 
I think a Lemon and a few wires yield more power than a THERMO/campfire/generator...........and WIND is notoriously difficult to harness for Nomads

Stick with the proven SOLAR and DC-DC Charger ........and look to the Future !
 
My 2 main questions is what is the most power i can possibly buy... wanting to combine solar,thermo,carbattery all together to stockpile energy and store it.. i want more than ill ever use...

i guess i could just keep adding batteries and panels but i was curious if there was any crazy ones out there if like money wasnt an option... super settups lol

The power capabilities of an RV are limited even if you throw a “crazy” amount of money at it. The closest thing to unlimited power production is a generator. Period. Its not sexy, but nothing else comes close. That’s why all the big Class A diesel pushers (with their washer, dryer, French door refrigerator, multiple AC units) have them. When connected to the vehicle's fuel tank, boondocking for days with all the comforts of home is possible. In my RV I have an Onan 8000, it can run everything if I don’t mind the noise, maintenance, size, and pollution. It retails for about $12k. If you’re willing to spend more to get less there are other options.

Generators create power for as long as there is a fuel source, in systems lacking a generator, that task falls on the batteries. But the utility of a battery bank is also a function of fuel- how quickly they can be recharged. The rates of solar and DC to DC charging aren't practical for large battery banks (like 8kWh in this comparison with my Onan). The only viable way to recharge super size battery banks is via a dedicated high output alternator that can throw 125+ amps into the batteries. After market dual alternators plus the cost of batteries exceed the cost of a generator. The Volta system in Storyteller Overland’s $200k rigs is a top notch, lithium based power system, but cannot be reproduced inexpensively, even as a DIY project.

If you’re serious about spending big coin, Bluetti and EcoFlow have large capacity home backup power systems that can be adapted to vehicle use. EcoFlow recently released a plug and play power distribution system specifically designed for RVs. It starts at $5000 and can be sized up to 15kWh for a five figure sum. They’ve been giving them out to influencers, so there are several YT videos on the product.

I am a big fan of power stations and have an EcoFlow Delta Pro in my van. Its 3600W inverter and 3600Wh battery (expandable to 25kWh) is sufficient for my needs. I have multiple high draw appliances- induction cooktop, microwave, hot water heater, Nutribullet. I have sufficient power to use them as desired, along with longer use appliances like diesel heater, fridge, fan. The only thing that I cannot run is a rooftop AC, which I haven’t bought because I’m not sure its worth the five figures it would cost for the unit and requisite batteries. I suggest you figure out how much power it takes to run what you want and buy accordingly. Gross excess is a waste of money.

How long it takes to replenish the power consumed is also crucial to sizing. A system that takes 2 hours to replenish what’s been used over 3 days can be sized smaller than a system that takes 12 hours to accomplish that task. The Pro can be charged via multiple inputs simultaneously. Mine is continuously on trickle charge (~85W/hr) whenever the vehicle accessory port is active. It's connected to the starter battery via inverter (400-800W/hr) on an ad hoc basis. It is plugged into shore power (1800W/hr) when convenient. It can be charged at an EV station (3000W/hr) when I’m in a hurry/desperate. I've never used solar.

Very simple van builds don’t need anything more than a power station and the appropriate cords for plugging in devices and appliances. In more sophisticated builds, the number of ports needed (eg. roof fan, water pump, lighting, diesel heater) may be more than a power station has. So permanent installation of wiring is required. Rather than assembling all the components from scratch, it's easier (cheaper, more efficient, portable, warrantied, uses less space) to use a power station with a 25 or 30A DC port* and connect it to a busbar that has wires running to where needed. The process for AC power is also simple. Connect a decapitated female end of an extension cord to an outlet box and plug the male end into an outlet in the power supply. Although some power stations have 30A RV ports, combining DC and AC on the same busbar would require that the inverter be active even when only running DC loads.

*Power stations with high output ports include: Goal Zero Yeti 1500 and above, Bluetti AC200 and above, EcoFlow Delta Pro and above.
 
Ya i was also looking at diesel heaters... havent fully decided which way i want to go yet... and still have to do more research on the thermo battery charging settup just incase it requires a special heat source.. but if i could have a tiny wood burning setup i would loveee it.. ill decide in time after ive done all my research
If wood stoves were effective generators of electricity then a lot of houses and cabins in Alaska and Canada would be doing that for their electrical power setup. Start your research in those areas as well as in the Nordic countries.
 
The power capabilities of an RV are limited even if you throw a “crazy” amount of money at it. The closest thing to unlimited power production is a generator. Period. Its not sexy, but nothing else comes close. That’s why all the big Class A diesel pushers (with their washer, dryer, French door refrigerator, multiple AC units) have them. When connected to the vehicle's fuel tank, boondocking for days with all the comforts of home is possible. In my RV I have an Onan 8000, it can run everything if I don’t mind the noise, maintenance, size, and pollution. It retails for about $12k. If you’re willing to spend more to get less there are other options.

Generators create power for as long as there is a fuel source, in systems lacking a generator, that task falls on the batteries. But the utility of a battery bank is also a function of fuel- how quickly they can be recharged. The rates of solar and DC to DC charging aren't practical for large battery banks (like 8kWh in this comparison with my Onan). The only viable way to recharge super size battery banks is via a dedicated high output alternator that can throw 125+ amps into the batteries. After market dual alternators plus the cost of batteries exceed the cost of a generator. The Volta system in Storyteller Overland’s $200k rigs is a top notch, lithium based power system, but cannot be reproduced inexpensively, even as a DIY project.

If you’re serious about spending big coin, Bluetti and EcoFlow have large capacity home backup power systems that can be adapted to vehicle use. EcoFlow recently released a plug and play power distribution system specifically designed for RVs. It starts at $5000 and can be sized up to 15kWh for a five figure sum. They’ve been giving them out to influencers, so there are several YT videos on the product.

I am a big fan of power stations and have an EcoFlow Delta Pro in my van. Its 3600W inverter and 3600Wh battery (expandable to 25kWh) is sufficient for my needs. I have multiple high draw appliances- induction cooktop, microwave, hot water heater, Nutribullet. I have sufficient power to use them as desired, along with longer use appliances like diesel heater, fridge, fan. The only thing that I cannot run is a rooftop AC, which I haven’t bought because I’m not sure its worth the five figures it would cost for the unit and requisite batteries. I suggest you figure out how much power it takes to run what you want and buy accordingly. Gross excess is a waste of money.

How long it takes to replenish the power consumed is also crucial to sizing. A system that takes 2 hours to replenish what’s been used over 3 days can be sized smaller than a system that takes 12 hours to accomplish that task. The Pro can be charged via multiple inputs simultaneously. Mine is continuously on trickle charge (~85W/hr) whenever the vehicle accessory port is active. It's connected to the starter battery via inverter (400-800W/hr) on an ad hoc basis. It is plugged into shore power (1800W/hr) when convenient. It can be charged at an EV station (3000W/hr) when I’m in a hurry/desperate. I've never used solar.

Very simple van builds don’t need anything more than a power station and the appropriate cords for plugging in devices and appliances. In more sophisticated builds, the number of ports needed (eg. roof fan, water pump, lighting, diesel heater) may be more than a power station has. So permanent installation of wiring is required. Rather than assembling all the components from scratch, it's easier (cheaper, more efficient, portable, warrantied, uses less space) to use a power station with a 25 or 30A DC port* and connect it to a busbar that has wires running to where needed. The process for AC power is also simple. Connect a decapitated female end of an extension cord to an outlet box and plug the male end into an outlet in the power supply. Although some power stations have 30A RV ports, combining DC and AC on the same busbar would require that the inverter be active even when only running DC loads.

*Power stations with high output ports include: Goal Zero Yeti 1500 and above, Bluetti AC200 and above, EcoFlow Delta Pro and above.
Thank you very informative!
I suppose i should have also explained my boondocking hopes...
I basically was hoping to only have to stay at an rv site once every 2 weeks or longer if possible... for dumping waste,charging,water..... i wont be driving it alot just mainly to and from a park every couple weeks.. then back to a hidden spot
Does that sound realistic? Its all theory so far..
Best case: minifridge,stove,minidishwasher,ac,heater,microwave,waterheater,computer,lights
Doable:lights,minifridge,hotplate,waterheater,computer
 
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