Search results

Where possible, I prefer the simplicity, redundancy and portability of a decentralized battery powered system. My lightning consists of three 7W 3000 mAh battery light bars ($40), mounted on the walls but detachable as needed, I typically charge them twice a month. My water pump is a USB water...

Always disconnect the battery before playing with any wires. It's very easy to trigger a warning light that can only be turned off by going to the dealer. And you might get really upset with yourself for having to fork out $575 for them to reset it because you were too lazy to spend 5 minutes...

Buying a high roof vs low roof gets discussed on the Promaster (and to lessor extent Transit and Sprinter) forums regularly. I've never come across a post where someone contemplated, bought a high roof, and regretted it. There are plenty of remorseful low roof buyers. There are use case...

There are window films that are opaque- blocking all light. For use in a vehicle, black minimizes noticeability. There is zero visibility, it’s like a solid wall. So it obviously cannot be used on the front windshield or front door windows. The legality of which windows and to what degree they...

My online purchases are increasingly from Amazon. They are my first choice even if I can get the item directly from the manufacturer or from eBay. My experience this past Christmas, has firmly driven this point home. I bought 4 clothing items directly from a merchant (probably in China)l. 1 item...

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...

Congratulations on your new rig! Post some pics so we can see your baby… My original post was written a year ago, and my setup has changed a bit. My electrical needs increased. I grew tired of taking my power station out of the vehicle to charge it. So I upgraded to a EcoFlow Delta Pro*. I also...

If you haven't already, check out the Promaster Forum, there is a large database of information created by very knowledgeable afficianodos. One of the first things you may want to use it for is to reality check the delivery times you're hearing from the dealer. https://www.promasterforum.com/

The price of lithium batteries has fallen dramatically, Amazon has Chinese lithium batteries < $275 that might be worth trying if you can afford it. For example, this one even has a 4 year warranty available: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L5XT8HB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A793D3B497JF&psc=1

I spent 10 days in Branson, rotating around my usual nighttime spots- the parking lots of hospitals, apartment complexes, and city parks. Being a touristy place, many attractions there had parking lots I could hang out during the day. The place didn't seem unusually hostile to me. But...

Bullfrog gave some excellent general ideas. Tell us where you are if you want specific suggestions from folks familiar with a given area. My suggestions for Chicago would be different than for Pittsburgh, for example.

Some other factors to consider: insurability and drivability. The ease of obtaining and the cost of insurance are likely to be lower with a van. I used to have a 200x Ford 350 box truck. It was loud, bumpy, and unwieldy to drive. It felt like a truck. I've only a couple of hundred miles under my...

Yep. For the past year, I had been using the simplest plumbing system possible- battery powered USB rechargable faucet with plastic tubing dropped into an AquaTainer. It was cheap, quiet, provided an appropriate amount of water, never leaked, worked at all temperatures (even in an unheated...

I chose a passenger van as the basis for my DIY conversion for multiple reasons, including having windows all around. I appreciate the visibility it allows for while driving and the views from all directions while stationary. My window covers are magnetically attached to the window frame in the...

Back in the 2000s, becoming a landlord allowed me to stop working at a W-2 job a decade after my first job. I was not rich, I had an income stream that was sufficient to live on (~$30k) that wasn't dependent on hours worked. So here's my admittedly biased advice. I think it's wise to retain...

I should have mentioned in my previous post that WeatherTech makes window coverings for the Dodge Caravan (and a lot of other vehicles). They are not of the highest quality (based on my experience using it in my van) but they are reasonably priced and a decent value for the money. They will...

I didn't think in terms of build, tear up, and rebuild. I thought in terms of the simplest solutions that would meet each of my wants. I didn't "want" a specific size fresh water tank, I wanted running water. I didn't "want" propane, I wanted to the ability to cook food and heat the cabin. I...

Most of the things I'm interested in doing are in large cities, small towns, or the surrounding areas. I lived in SF and Oakland for a decade. I can't speak from a camper's prospective, but Lake and Mendocino counties are not densly populated and have a lot of open space. Gorgeous part of the...

It's hard to make specific suggestions without knowing the details of your specific situation. But in general, the lowest risk approach is to treat a van purchase like you would a car purchase. That way, no matter how your circumstances change, you still get utility from the vehicle. I replaced...

If you are going to be in cold climates, keep in mind electronic gadgets and batteries prefer to be kept above freezing 24/7/365. Earlier this winter, a frozen water line broke my faucet. Fortunately, I had removed my power station, so it didn't suffer the same fate. This challenge isn't a...