hi there

[cygvan]

hi all,<br><br>been van dwelling since october 2011.&nbsp; have read/joined/lurked many websites and decided to join this one recently.<br><br>i own a chevy express 2500 HD standard wheelbase with the 6.0 L engine.&nbsp; shes bright red with black trim and looks great.&nbsp; van is in mint condition and i care for her like my life depended on it (it does).<br><br>pardon for the long thread and lack of photos. i will post a few as i go through them. i often forgot to take them as the work progressed <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>about the van<br><br><ul><li>the cab is bone stock. nothing done to it.</li><li>the cargo area is separated by a bulkead constructed behind the seats with an access door. it is thick enough for 3" of insulation and features a deadbolt. its carpeted with cheap home depot grey carpeting and trimmed with aluminum angle. looks professional and more importantly innocuous.</li><li>the cargo area was bare other than the rubber mat when i got it. i removed the mat, the jack and the rear trim piece. i then applied Fatmat Rattle Trap 80 mil (sound deadener like Dynamat) to the floor, walls and roof of the cargo space (i originally did this to deaden sound but an added benefit is temperature and condensation control).</li><li>i extended the floor over the side footwell by the 60/40 doors and made it a storage area for the jack.</li><li>i then applied 3/4" XPS foam from Lowes and 3/4" plywood to the floor using stainless steel screws. the Fatmats butyl rubber layer sealed the screws. care was taken before locating screws</li><li>1/2" XPS foam to the wall and roof, attached to the "studs" (chevy uses studs unlike ford which i believe is monocoque on the walls at least)</li><li>i then covered the walls and roof foam with reflectix. this is sort of frivolous i suspect but the end results i wont argue with. doubt it adds much r-value but im sure it cuts down on temp transfer a little more.</li><li>walls and floor were then covered with 1/4 plywood and in some placed luan.</li><li>the 60/40 doors are tinted with 100% tint. amazing what that does. i also have a panel made from scrap XPS and reflectix that i place in the window for extra sun control as well as interior light containment.</li><li>most of the walls are covered with the same grey carpeting but i have areas i have not finished.</li><li>the rear and side doors are untouched. no insulation or finish of any kind. i need to get on that as it is a source of temperature exchange.</li><li>i installed a CO alarm.</li><li>i have an Iota 45 IQ4 smart charger, a Deka 4d 200ah AGM battery, a Tripp-Lite 1250 watt inverter (havent used it yet lol), Blue Sea 12v fuse/distribution block. cant report on the inverter but this charger and battery combo works flawlessly. i keep a multimeter and check everything regularly.</li><li>i installed a stainless steel Marinco 30amp twist lock power outlet and a small breaker box which currently houses a 15amp breaker. i chose 15amp as a safety and convenience as my source outlet is 20amp (GFCI) so id rather trip my breaker than the outlet in case my host is not home. also, i use a 50' extension cord rated for 30amps at that lenght (i think its 10 or 8 guage, real thick) and i connect that to the Marinco with a adapter dogbone that i made (commercial ones are a ripoff).</li><li>i installed a stainless steel city water supply hookup. never used it.</li><li>i have a Shurflo Revolution 4008 (?) 12v water pump and a 10 gallon fresh water tank.&nbsp; i havent hooked any of the water system up yet.</li><li>on the driver side, attached to the bulkhead wall, is a cabinet that houses all of the electronics and my battery (with room for another 4d).</li><li>next to that, along the driver side wall about the gas filler bump is a desk (about 32"??) with a shallow storage cabinet up top at the roof.</li><li>next to that and attached to the bed platform and around the wheel well framing is a floor to ceiling cabinet with a slide out dry food box on the bottom, fridge on shelf above that, microwave above that and topped by a shallow storage cabinet.</li><li>i have been using an Avanti 12v/120v superconductor 1.7 cubic foot fridge. up until last week, it was totally awesome. no compressor just fans. unfortunately it died, wont work on either voltage. it may be under warranty but these type fridges just dont cut it anyway so i am acquiring a Truckfridge TF130.</li><li>microwave is a small el-cheapo.</li><li>for heating i use a small space heater from Sunbeam. i hardly need it even on the coldest nights.</li><li>for cooling, i have an LG portable, single hose. i vent it through a custom adapter i made for the fantastic fan in the roof.</li><li>speak of the devil, i have a fantastic fan (temp sensor but nothing else) in the roof and i use a maxxair2 rain cover. it is probably the least conspicuous thing about the van but its invaluable. i got a black on so it matches the color and trim of the van and looks great. most people think its an a/c and im delivering flowers or something. of interesting note, the fan was installed in the roof not only with the screws but instead of silicone or butyl tape or any other stuff, my body shop friend installed with the black goop they install windows with. incredible stuff. bonds unbelievably well, doesnt crack or dry out easily if at all, and is water proof.</li></ul><br>theres more to the van and how i dwell in it.&nbsp; ill add to this post or others as time goes i suppose. feel free to ask any questions.<br><br>i am incredibly lucky to have a host that provides overnight parking with my own 20amp outlet, water and even more astonishing, access to a cleanout for their waste stack (i empty the porta potti there). ive known my host for 30 years and their house/property is very private, surrounded by commercial properties.&nbsp; prior to this arrangement, i had to park at work and/or walmart (nice experience) with the van barely set up.<br><br>this luck is part of the reason why i have so many unfinished mini-projects (water system, solar on roof, unused inverter! etc) and live quite comfortably (wish i had more height and hot water).<br><br>so im not sure if i should be considered a veteran van dweller or not, even though ive been out here so long, but i like to think that i could be prepared for most stuff if i had to...although i need to finish things!<br><br>thanks for reading. i look forward to reading more on this site.

 

[my_vantasy]

Greetings from central Ohio! It sounds like you have a really nice set up and great parking arrangements. I can't wait to see pictures. Welcome!

 

[stude53]

<span id="post_message_1278403038"><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><strong><span id="post_message_1278401204" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Welcome cygvan! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"><br><br>There are many here who will try to help with any questions you have. Sounds like you are off to a great start. <br><br>We would love to see your layout and eventual build-out of your van.<br><br>Goodluck and GodSpeed,<br><br>Bob<br></span></strong></span></span>

 

[cygvan]

thanks! going through the pics as i type.

 

[blkjak]

<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>welcome from s.w. florida .... blkjak</strong> </span>

 

[Pikachu711]

Welcome to the group cygvabn.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>Welcome!&nbsp; It sounds like your system is very well equipped!&nbsp; I'm also using an Iota charger... I'm on my fourth but this one works pretty well... I haven't pushed it too hard because the solar keeps things above 80% all the time.<br><br>You've got your van very well thought out.&nbsp; At the moment I'm wrestling with where to vent the portable A/C... (through the dog house, the floor, or cut another hole in the roof?)<br><br>Like you, I've got long term parking... Dad's in the nursing home and I'm slowly... restoring his property.&nbsp; The state cannot take it till he's departed and he's cool with me staying there.<br><br>Again, welcome!&nbsp; I'd say you are a veteran with lots of experience so far.</p>

 

[cygvan]

the iota charger is working well...was recommended by arizona wind &amp; sun...<br><br>i havent put in solar yet. i was looking at 240-315 watts...either solarworld or that new giant kyocera...<br><br>ive looked at tons of charge controllers, all mppt..ive settled on the rogue but i keep abreast of latest offerings in case i change my minds before buying.<br><br>as for the portable a/c...i took the fantastic fan screen, fastened a "donut" to it with some spare XPS insulation from Lowes....and i simply connect the 6" exhaust hose to it...it works perfectly for the airflow, however, most of the efficacy is killed by the fact that the hose itself is not insulated and it radiates an amazing amount of heat back into the van.<br><br>i placed a temp probe in the airstream of the exhaust hose and it registered over 120f. at least the a/c collects and pumps heat lol.<br><br>so...im using sketchup to design a way to vent the hot air through the bulkhead wall on the passenger side and with some pvc pipe, bring it to the window where i already have ventvisor things.&nbsp; i would have to adapt the 6" exit to 3 or 4" pvc..then through the bulkhead...then run it up to the roofline behind the seat....then forward to the cracked window...id have to finish it off with something that would look like a crevice wand for a vacuum.&nbsp; not sure what that will do to airflow to be honest but the pvc is cheap and easy to temporarily mock up...<br><br>i never thought of bringing it through the doghouse or the floor...have to ponder that....<br><br>the roof would be simple and easy and logical but im hesitant to cut a hole in the roof...be it 3" or 6"...the 14" hole for the fantastic fan was anxiety inducing. lol.<br><br>