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I cut my Dometic DC cord to hard wire it to my 12v bus.  I thought I was being careful, but now I'm wondering if switched the wires and got the polarity wrong.  The attached photo shows the voltage I have at the fridge plug.  When I plug it in, I get no DC power to the fridge.  It works fine on...

The roof rack on my build is pretty much finished.  Here are some pix.  A youtube video explains the construction. front view rack frame rack with tubes top view other top view

Has anyone tried to connect a classic two burner Coleman to an already regulated line?  I think the regulator that comes with the stove drops the pressure from a 20 lb propane tank (or 1 lb bottle) pressure down to stove pressure,  but if there is already a regulator connected to the tank for...

At the Subaru dealer this morning. Pretty cool roof tent. See the image. And only $4000!

Can anyone recommend somewhere near South Lake Tahoe for dispersed camping in August? I'm sure it's going to be crowded, but I need to meet up with some folks there.   Thanks!

I don't think I see many people doing this, but I'm wondering if it might be a good idea. I put some 1/2 inch foam board under it, and I intend to put down some sheet vinyl flooring over it, but I'm wondering what others' experience has been.  Has anyone not done it, then wished they had?  What...

I know that winches have been a topic of interest in the forums.  I ran across a Youtube video that I thought was really cool.  For those who don't access Youtube, the idea is that using a few 8-10 foot 3" diameter branches or logs and a rope, you can fashion a winch to pull your vehicle out of...

Currently, I have some pretty ambitious plans for my van roof.  See the photos below.  The first is the ultimate goal, with fan, removable solar panel, tilting panel, water tubes, and not-weather-proof storage under the panel - all wrapped with an enclosure to keep the wind from lifting...

Here's a typical scenario:  You come up with a great idea for adding some neat feature to your cabinet/bed/table/roof rack/(you choose). You make the change, and then you find out you need to rip something else out entirely.  Wasted time. Wasted money. Or just live with it. Instead, you make...

Just posted a video about all this for my Promaster City build.  Note: I do Youtube videos to gather advice,  not to attract tons of clicks. I have few subscribers, no affiliate links, no income from Youtube. What I really want is for you to offer advice in the Youtube comments (or here). Here...

I've seen a few guides and diagrams, but none have given me a lot of confidence with respect to specific details such as: - order of placement of disconnect and fuse in the circuit  (which one first in the circuit and why) - recognition that fuses/breakers protect the cables, but what is a...

I'm noticing some folks having end of year or new year sales.  I need to buy a 300-400 watt panel, but I don't need it for a few months.  I'm wondering if those of you who watch these sales notice a trend.  When are the best times to buy or does it really not matter that much?  Should I buy now...

Does anyone know where or how to get repair manual/ parts catalogs for RAM vans? I'm thinking of something like a Haynes or Chilton's for a ProMaster City. It sure would help in visualizing what I'm getting into. My immediate need is to figure out what's underneath the side panel posts behind...

I'm in the process of designing/building my van, and the other day, I talked with Sean Nichols, Co-founder of Battle Born Batteries for about an hour.  I recorded the conversation at:  Talking with Sean Nichols, Co-founder, Battle Born Batteries Please note I have no affiliation whatsoever with...

So I was riding in the back of my sister's Sprinter the other day, with no windows open.  Even with the front windows open, I was surprised how dead the air was back there. In my impending Promaster City build, I decided to look for an operable window to install in the back door.  The closest I...

I'm thinking about whether to roof-mount or pole-mount an antenna, and I'm wondering about the effect of antenna height on reception. How high should you go?  Is it more important for a directional antenna than an omni antenna? Also, do they work better the more distant they are from the metal...

Hey Long-time Van Dwellers, This is a question meant to draw out your intuition about where you feel the most heat loss or gain.  When you answer, try to take on the mindset of someone (like me) building a small cargo van, where every cubic inch is a big deal. Choose either 1 or 2.  Then say...

I just looked at Home Depot and didn't see anything like this, but I see 1/4" alleys on my van floor and would like to fill them in with strips.  I'm not crazy about the idea of slicing 1/2" foam in half. What would you recommend? Thanks, Jim

This may have been asked before, but it's too hard to search for. I thought I heard somewhere that USB ports draw power even when nothing is plugged in.  Is that true?  Is it noticeable or worth putting on a separate circuit?  Is there any other DC device that draws power when it's not being...

My target vehicle is a mini-cargo van (Promaster City, most likely). Reason: fit in my garage, which means keep height low (no more than 7 additional inches up top) and every bit of possible storage space used down below.  So, I've been considering a water storage system that resides on the...