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Hmm... I can't give you any advice on that. My sink plans were basically: I read a guys conversion blog, ordered the pump he recommended, read somewhere else about a pressure accumulator and it sounded like a good idea, ordered a regular sink, and hooked it all up! This is very much a learn as...

Hearing your account is hilarious for me! I have a few "internet friends" that went, and all I heard about the event was how cool it was. Nothing about single-digit temps, ice, getting stuck in soft terrain, etc. It seems like everybody wanted to perpetuate the image of happiness and enjoyment...

Is electrical power already on your to-do list? Or are you starting from a completely blank slate? If you're looking for an immediate temporary solution while working on your electrical system, I started with some AAA battery lights like these before I was ready for my conversion. They...

well... let's say I don't care if it's against the law, or maybe I live in a state where it is okay... where are the good, inconspicuous locations?

Thinking back to the alternator charging suggestion, it would probably be more efficient to mount the house battery closer to your starting battery, then run your wires for your small electrical loads back to the trailer. That would also allow you to keep your battery charged up when you're not...

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, I owe some updates. I've been slow getting my pictures over. Also, some of my work on the sink install was a bit... rough. So I haven't been in a rush to share details on that! lol I'll post more on that later, but the basic setup is a 15 gallon RV tank, 12v pump...

Your power draw is really low... how long will you be in one place? If you're going to be in place for maybe a week at a time, you might be able to get away with alternator charging alone. It's a lot cheaper than the other two options, and this site could get you through the install. It all...

If you are only running LEDs and a fan, and only for three-day weekends, you don't need solar at all. I would get a cheap AGM (for simplicity/peace of mind) and connect it to a Blue Sea fuse block as mentioned above (I prefer the blocks with grounds, and definitely get one with a cover). I'm...

Along with Bob's line of thinking regarding litigation, the Buddy does say that it is safe for indoor use. When I use it overnight, I crack two windows and run my roof fan... that gives me my comfort level for risk mitigation. That won't work for everybody, and I get that. Of course, since the...

SUCCESS!!! My big objective since starting this build Labor Day weekend was to have the van ready for a trip to Yosemite on October 6th. Well, I just got back and the van worked great. We still have a lot to do for storage and cosmetics, but the electrical, fridge, ventilation, and sink all...

I'm going to have to give that a try. It looked about equivalent to a match flame, but maybe it will surprise me. Another question... how many run the roof fan in the cold? On one hand, I don't want to vent my warm air out (once I get my temps under control), but on the other hand venting...

Well, I guess my gut feeling was right that it was just too much heat. Somewhere along the line I had heard a recommendation for the Buddy but it is just not the right fit. Apparently Wave is the way to go! Off to do my research!

This is closely related to the other thread, but I didn't want to hijack. I have the "Mr. Heater Buddy" model. The control has Off, Pilot, Low, and High. In my van, on a night when the forecast was 29F at 9,000', it felt like the heater was just too hot even on Low. Also, the green propane...

For comparison I bought a 2004 Ford E350 extended cargo van with 75k miles for $9,000... I think I paid on the high end, but I was being pretty picky and this van seemed to be in really good shape, was from AZ (no rust), and had low mileage. $5k for the same age range with maybe a little more...

This is my advice, rely on EN ratings only. Any other references to temperature are just whatever the manufacturer wants to say for marketing purposes. Find a bag with an EN comfort rating 10 degrees below the weather you'll be in, and you should be good.

My photography skills are a bit lacking, but I finally have all 8 LEDs in the ceiling and we're ready for a two night test run this weekend. Next week we leave for 5 days in Yosemite! Who needs cabinet doors anyway?  :D (after this picture was taken, we installed the trim piece around the fan)

I've definitely felt the consequences of my decision to NOT install any wood studs behind my paneling. However, since I'm 73" tall trying to sleep sideways in a 70" wide van, I constantly remind myself what an extra inch or two would have cost me!

Slightly different topic, but there's a vanlife gathering on Fiesta Island the first Saturday of November where you can check out other vans and talk with other people doing the same thing, or who have done the same thing.

Progress has been slow, and I've been getting frustrated. It's very hard for me to try to make significant progress working a couple hours at a time after work. However, I need to remind myself what we've achieved in the month of September: installed roof fan, hooked up battery to alternator and...

I'm scheduled to visit the last weekend of October, and again over Thanksgiving. I'll check to see if you guys are there when I am to say hi!