When you mention NY, many people immediately think of NY City. My name is Jeff, and I was born & raised in the Adirondacks of upstate NY. The Adirondack (ADK) Mountains are 4 hours north of Manhattan and 2 hours south of Montreal Canada & comprise an area of 18,702 miles featuring 100 peaks! Join me on my adventures as I transform my 2021 Chevy Express 2500 into a camper van and with my Jeep JK, explore, camp & overland in my home - the Adirondacks & beyond!
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They ran out of red but had lots of black and white so it is what it is, lol. It's the amperage (current) that kills you, not the voltage. If possible it's best to disconnect the battery before doing any electrical work but sometimes to run tests you have no choice but to have the system powered up. When I worked for GM I was hit many times by HEI Ignition systems that put out 35-45K volts when testing defective plug wires while the engine was running, am still alive. You must also be well grounded to complete the circuit through your heart. When not sure and working on an (automotive system) keep one hand behind your back and pinch the wire between your finger and thumb, this way you have less of a chance of completing the circuit through your heart. Stay away from the main battery and alternator system and only use test lights or meters for these systems. I don't know of any technicians killed by automotive electrical systems but am sure someone has managed to do it. EVs have killed people and special training is needed for EVs so stay away from them. Good luck and have fun with the van. Mike, ASE Master Technician 44 years retired.
Thanks for the info Mike! My Renogy MPPT charge controller has a DC-DC charging capability. I'm running a 4 gauge wire the length of the interior to the front. Is there a firewall grommet on the passenger side? I found a large plug on the driver's side but would save a lot by going through the passenger firewall.
@@ADKOverlandNY Jeff I think I use that same plug hole to run a heavy duty 10 gauge wire from the battery compartment to under my carpets to run to a little fridge that I had. My take on it is if there’s a hole with a plug in it then use it, but I would also probably use one of those protective wraps to protect it. They may be called cable sleeves? I don’t recall what they were called.
@@Go4Corvette I don’t doubt that Mr. Corvette has worked out a lot of cool stuff and he knows what he’s talking about especially with the high volt spark plug system. However, the only danger I see with what you’re running is high current through the lines. I don’t think that kills you but it would burn you because if that shorts, it will heat up like a welder, I guess the thing is just make sure things have breakers and be careful. I think you have enough experience to do it right and safely
@@ADKOverlandNY Not that I know about. Most of the factory holes are taken up by the heater and air conditioning system on that side. You could pull the floor mat back and look? On my Chevy truck, I ran an inverter in the bed so I cut holes and installed rubber grommets sized to the wire then ran the cable along the frame to the battery striping it along the side of the frame to the engine compartment battery with a fuse and master switch. If you cut at the floorboard or firewall make sure what is on the other side before you drill. Use silicone to seal the grommets and cable. Depending on the amp draw make sure the power cable is the right size for the job. This can be calculated online for the length and gauge of wire needed for your amp draw. Be careful about using body ground only and not running a ground lead to the battery some systems will burn up due to high resistance if you only run a positive lead. Good luck.
Good job Jeff. It looks like someone had a Dewalt Christmas. lol and it’s good to see someone uses good tools and is well prepared. You are a lot braver than I am. I’d have a lot of trouble trying to make that first cut on steel body. And as per the guy that told you you were wiring the led lights wrong : Keep in mind there’s “a troll under every bridge”and usually they’re idiots. Ignore him Jeff. Looking for the next video keep up the good work.
Thanks Mike! My last job provided us with DeWalt tools (18v) and we really put them to the test. I was so impressed that I decided to buy myself a large set of the 20v and I just keep adding new tools. I gave my son my former Ryobi set and they're still going strong too. I figured that a troll was hiding out there somewhere and look who showed up lol! I keep mentioning about our weather and now we are under a tornado watch until 9pm today.
Hi Jeff, I didn’t realize that those cargo racks offer so much versatility like you got all kinds of stuff going on with it. My issue with the cargo racks is I didn’t install a ladder on the back but that’s a pretty fore reach the vans pretty high so getting up there would be a tour for me, I’m a big guy so I figured I’d pull the ladder off stepping on it lol
Maybe I’ll just send my tiny wife up there. I call her a little fella.
Been married to the same woman for 43 years
Mike - you better watch it or you'll be in the doghouse lol! I liked those cargo racks because the ladder racks had those large towers & I wanted a slightly sleeker look. I have the one "empty" rack up front and that gives me the option of adding another solar panel, but mainly I have it there because I want to add an awning and that will hold 1 of the 2 support brackets! I've been looking at ladders too! Always good to hear from you!
that's awesome - a rarity this day in age! Congratulations!
I’m thinking the front cross bar on the roof rack is about useless now?
Well, my thought is I'd be using it for the front awning support when I buy it.
Hey, looks nice
Thanks Mike - a little at a time. Working between extreme heat & humidity to torrential rainfall.
Hi Jeff, the cedar planks on the roof look really nice and I just love the smell of cedar too. It’s a good choice. I think it’ll also add a rustic look and I think I see your fan in there too.
It was scorching hot today with high humidity - just like we've had for weeks. That slows my progress a little but today I'm down to about 4 planks left to finish the ceiling; I cut the holes, ran the wires and installed 6 LED puck lights AND I managed to cut and install the trim for my fan. I'll email you some pics. Every time I open a door, the cedar aroma hits you and smells so good. I painted my vent fan trim black to give some contrast against the natural wood.
Yeah like working in a big black oven. Lol Jeff, you should paint some numbers on the side that make it look like a DOD official van and you’ll look like an official “men in black “ van
Been real hot here too but we had the tail end of that tropical storm roll through the Midwest. Lots of rain, but it’s now 65°.
Beautiful van.
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Looks great! I cant wait to see it all finished!
Thank you! A little bit at a time, but it's getting there! Thanks for watching!
Seniors need to stop thinking about age, instead exercise and stay active, also eat heathy foods. Walk, ride your bike, go kayaking, jog, play golf, etc. basically stay active. I do sit ups and wall push ups everyday to build strength. It feels good to feel your body tightening up. Dwelling on age is depressing.
I agree! I hate sitting around. I kayak, take hikes and try to eat less junk and more healthy foods. Thanks for watching!
I had a 1981 ford van just like yours except mine was red inside and silver and red outside man I miss it
I bet your van looked sharp! When I ran across the photos of my old build it brought back many good memories which inspired me to do this build! Take care - thanks for watching!
Very, very well done good job
Thank you very much!
Looking good. I remember CB radios, my 78 Trans Am had a factory AM-FM, Cassette, with CB built in. I didn't know they still sold them and haven't seen one for decades. I think cell phones took over for most people but with the CB no cell tower is needed. Have fun building the van.
Yeah, I even had a mobile cb and a portable to talk to friends. Then came the cell bag phones and little whip antenna's lol. Amazing everything that's packed inside these cell phones today.
The dream life for me, too. Godspeed!
Thank you and thanks for watching! I hope one day the opportunity to fulfill your dream arrives! Take care!
Just installed one on my 2009 Ford Edge..
I love the one in my jeep & I'm considering installing one in the van I just got! You cannot beat the image quality plus being able to record on a micro-SD card is even better!
Hello 👋, I have a 2013 E350 passenger van that I am gradually getting ready for the road . I saw the rooftop racks you had in a previous video .
I just bought them recently on Amazon. They included all of the extra pieces, and I've found them to be very strong and perfect for what I need. They are $170 - here's the link: www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4NMVWNX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
People are definitely getting back into the Van craze. I picked up a 1991 Dodge B300 for a fun camper van project. Quite a few Van rallies all over the country . Thanks 4 the video
@@todstrucks2919 Back in the day, you could get a ton of stuff in the JC Penney & JC Whitney catalogs, now all you see is stuff primarily for sprinters, promasters, etc. I've seen advertisements for the van rallies across the country and it looks like a good mix of old and new. It's amazing what some people have done to customize their older style vans. It's nice to stand up I'm sure, but the commercially available cabinets and accessorfies just aren't there for low roof style, so we have to custom build! Thanks for watching - glad you enjoyed the video!
Installed the swivel on both drivers and passenger seats.. I modified a padlock install on the drivers seat swivel.. Face the seat the other way.. padlock it in place and no worries about anyone stealing the van ...
Oh that's a cool mod to the swivel! On my first van I installed swivels on both seats, but I'm only doing the passenger side on this one. I love it though - what a big difference!
The good thing about having my old cheap $3500 Econoline van I don't mind poking holes in the roof by using self-tapping screws with sealant and small L brackets to mount things as flat as possible for a little better aerodynamics. I paint the frames of my solar panels to match the van so they are hardly noticeable. Parts for mounting everything maybe $30 bucks being I had some screws from other projects. Good luck with your projects and have fun building. Mike, Klamath Falls, OR.
Mike I thought about the aerodynamics too but I figured there would be 8 screw holes, plus a couple more for an entry gland and right now I really didn't want to do that. I also read or saw where you should have good air flow to help keep the solar panel cooler because it will perform better. I was going to paint the aluminum frame to match my van but haven't because of the same reason - a black frame absorbs the heat. So who knows lol. Thanks again for watching & your comments!
@@ADKOverlandNY Your van is nicer and newer so I can see that for retail sale down the road, you might not want to put holes in the body. Me being a full-time van lifer and nomad the van will outlive me so am not worried about resale. You do what works best for you that's all the matters. My van is silver but I did have a trailer before this and painted them black and mounted them to the roof with only the gap of the L-brackets and they worked fine so I don't think the heat is that big of a deal. You see them installed on tile roofs with a lot of reflective heat and in the Mojave desert at 120+. A friend of mine is a residential solar installer and has hundreds installed on his off-grid property plus on top of old semi-trailers that he uses for lighting in his greenhouses. He says they can operate as high as 149 degrees but above that lose 10-25% of their efficiency but it doesn't damage the panel. After all, they are made for the sun. Good luck with your van.
I think you mean J.C. Whitney catalog. I remember spending hours looking at it. They had anything you might need. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
Lol - nope - I was correct. I ordered the bulk of my van accessories from the J. C. Penney catalog. I did, however, also get some things from J. C. Whitney. Even back then I could get a solid-state battery isolator that worked great. You're talking over 40 years ago and I was running a starting battery & house battery! Thanks for the comments and thanks for watching! Take care!
JC Whitney catalogs had a lot of interesting stuff- but never actually bought anything from there. As a teenager my friend redid a 64 Jeep with a lot of their parts. There was a section in the catalog for Jeep and one for VW’s too.
I stand corrected.
I had more JC Whitney catalogs than JC Penney, but with a Penny's credit card in my pocket back then, the choice was easy lol.
Jeesh - do they even put out JC Whitney catalogs anymore? I've checked them out online but didn't see where you could get a catalog mailed.
Deals like that are hard to pass up. I had to look up what Kilmat is; think I'd use Astrofoil instead.
Honestly - I never heard of it until I watched some videos on van builds. I was on the fence because of the cost, but like you said - it was hard to pass up. The automotive industry uses it for sound deadening in luxury cars, I guess. But I can say it makes a large difference in noise reduction! Thanks for watching!
My Econoline van was a conversion van and had 3 large windows. I wanted to do things on the cheap side so I installed 5mm Reflective Foam Thermal Insulation all the way around and I was told by a friend who used it in his cabin that rodents don't like the stuff so that's a plus. I think the wood interior is helping with the noise in my van but the noise wasn't a big deal to me. Have fun with your projects.
It was quite a bit noisy with the parts cabinets installed and even more so once I removed them. It's understandable with nothing in the back to absorb the sound. I installed the Kilmat only because I got that awesome deal but otherwise, I probably would've just used the insulation and wall covering. Several projects are out of the way - one step at a time! Thanks for watching!
Black is a terrible color for vehicles. It shows dirt.
oh don't I know it - scratches show, every dirt particle and boy is it hot lol. But - I still love my black vehicles! Thanks for watching!
Beautiful van ! Looking forward to seeing how you upfit it.
Thanks! Things have changed so much from my first van build 41 years ago lol. We didn't have solar then, but I did use a solid-state battery isolator and had a 2nd battery for the stereo, lights, etc. Luckily my van came equipped with metal cabinets and ladder racks that I was able to sell and use that cash towards my purchases! Thanks for watching!
It will be so nice to just swivel it around. I agree that is a must for a van built.
I haven't even gone anywhere and have used it several times already lol!
@@ADKOverlandNYexactly what I need...where did you get this from please????? Ty
@@ADKOverlandNY In the navy they call that a “fast cruise.” Where you fire it all up, check it all out and don’t leave the dock
@@mjrootz LOL - loved my "fast cruise". At least it works and I couldn't make too many mistakes!
@@jeffanon1772 I bought it on eBay. I searched and searched for anything that had a better price but this is what I bought and I'm not unhappy with it. It's very solid and very easy to install. Hopefully the link I'll provide here works - www.ebay.com/itm/225607595736
Good luck, you’re gonna need it…
It has been a fun process. I've planned this for a bit and pretty much had a lot of the stuff for my jeep wrangler such as the 100-watt solar suitcase, solar generator, fridge, etc to get me started. It will probably be like my jeep - keep adding and modifying until you either run out of money or decide enough is enough lol. Thanks for watching!
Just found ur channel. I too have just started planning my van life adventure. Rolling over to 62 on the odometer tomorrow. I'm a ole school van lover myself. Found myself a 83 Chev G20. Had it completely overhauled mechanically. Working on the interior now. Trying to keep everything utilitarian & basic. Also have a homemade utility trailer to carry my extra gear & support.. it takes lots of planning & rethinking space saving hacks. But I'm getting there with a little at a time. Good luck on your build. And I'll follow watching yours. Someday we may cross paths on this journey.
Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching. When I ran across the photos of my van build 41 years ago, I remembered how much fun that was. It just so happened that this van never came up on my searches although it had been at a local dealership for a few months. I caught it when they knocked $7200 off the price and were going to wholesale it & with it being 3 years old with 50k miles, I had to look at it. Everything worthwhile takes time. I don't want to rush stuff, but inside I really want to get my butt out on the road lol. Stay safe & who knows - maybe our paths will cross one day!
Great idea! Happy travels. Look forward to seeing more of your adventures.
Thank you so much for watching! I wish my editing skills were better lol, but it is what it is. I'm making progress on things, but the desire to take off is driving me nuts then I realize I need to take the time to do things what I perceive as "right" so I don't have issues later! Take Care!
Great addition for sure. 👍👍
I agree! I really hated spending that much, but I've really used it a lot just during the van build lol. Sometimes I just sit there and envision where I'll put this or that.
Those Hot Dogs Looked Delicious. Looks like You Cleaned It Up Nice. Ive Heard the Wool is Really good But expensive.
Those hot dogs are really that good! Although I have to admit it depends on who is behind the counter whether or not most of everything goes IN the bun and, on the dog, - OR - all over the roll lol! I'm still undecided about the insulation to use but either way, something is better than nothing! Thanks for watching!
Awesome Van. Cant Wait to See What You Do.. 👍👍
Thanks again! Land has been so terribly priced here in upstate NY - more so since Covid. But it's been equally bad for buying vehicles. I've scoured through more auto ads than I have hair on my head and this one just popped up in my search. It really hit everything that I was looking for and I'm surprised at how long things are still taking to ship to me. But, it's all good - stuff is trickling in and I'm doing a little at a time until my son can give a hand! Stay safe!
Im also 66 and have been into vans and vanning for the last 43 years..im in vt and have 2 custom vans..a 92 ford hightop that i stripped out and made into a camper,and a full custom 73 ford van that is a showvan..i still love vans and vanning..
Thank you for watching! I should've started this earlier, but I guess now is better than never! My son lives a little bit of a distance from me, but I try to get together with him and we'll do some work together. I like that best! Stay safe out there.
Van looks great. Hope you have a great time with your projects and future camping. I am now a full-time van nomad. After my divorce ten years ago and selling my business and home, I finished raising my four kids and retired at 62 after 40+ years as an ASE Master Automotive Technician and shop owner. At first, I was using my new truck with a 12x6 trailer but got tired of the towing so sold it all and found a 2000 Ford Econoline for $3500 with 195K miles I have rebuilt the van and it only cost me the parts so after repairs and doing the RV conversion I only have about $10K invested. I have everything my home did just less space and now doing all the things I didn't have time for in the past. In Oregon right now but going to Quartzsite, AZ for the winter and the next RTR and tent show. Good luck and have fun.
Thanks! That's awesome that you have the knowledge to perform the repairs yourself! My son and I have jeeps and we try and do everything ourselves. It not only saves the labor cost, but there's that sense of satisfaction of doing it yourself - even if it's just an oil change! I thought we were out of the supply chain deadlines, but stuff that I've ordered is just trickling in! My 200-watt solar panel came in as well as my 2 LifePO4 batteries and new roof racks. I can only work on things as my orders arrive. My van is a 3/4 ton and I guess it can tow 10k but I'm really not interested in dealing with something trailing behind me. Who knows - maybe this year I can chase warmer weather and get away from the cold & snow of upstate NY lol. Stay safe!
I had the same thing with an air bag recall on my Silverado. Finger prints on the headliner, spots on the seat where he kneeled on the seat 😡
There's absolutely no need for that type of stuff happening. As soon as I brought it to the dealership's attention, the service manager called me pretty promptly and offered a full detail. I explained to him that I took care of it myself - not to mention I saw how much "detailing" got done when I picked the van up. I have the same type of grime on my drivers seat - gotta love it! Thanks for watching!
I'm 66. Grew up with the muscle Cars.
Rebecca if we only knew then what we know now. My son sadly sold his 1970 Pontiac LeMans Sport and we have regretted it ever since! What a gorgeous car - the rumbling coming out of the exhaust. For many of us, sadly it's just memories! Thanks for watching!
Hello ADK, I see things are coming along with your van. I have suggestion: We have the passenger version if this van.. but we bought it as a lease return. It is huge and it was all white. it looked like a huge refrigerator rolling down the street. So we had some custom "wrap" stripes added. It broke the boredom.. the other thing we did and you may consider this is to have your wheels painted with a contrast color.. we had ours powder coated 3 years ago and they are still like new.. Dirt Dogs? LOL Man its so hard to find a good hotdog. Glad you found a good vendor. See ya,, keep the videos coming.
Yep - Dirt Dogs lol. That's what the locals call them. But I'm not kidding when I say those things are shipped all over the place. And you can sure as heck smell them long after they've been in your car lol. I'm actually one of those "black out" type of guys. I thought about black rims. With my equally black Jeep - I have been using a little bit of blue as a contrast. Some other jeepers refer to my jeep as "Blue on Black". I replied "that's a good Kenny Wayne Shepherd song" - if you know who he is (excellent guitarist). Nice to hear from you as always! As you can see, my long windedness scared the viewers away on the last video lol.
@@ADKOverlandNY wow blue, black with red trim always looks good.
Hey bro, looking good. Glad to see you’re having fun and van looks really good nice and shiny. I like the way you did with the power and your solar panels. You buy only what you need and no fluff that says a lot. One little suggestion when you build your van, you may consider one of the less expensive porta potties. I’d like the idea that they have a little compartment underneath and you could just carry that and dump it in a rest station or something. Otherwise, it may be a good idea to build a little subbase for your bucket toilet. maybe a 14 x 14 base with a recessed circle recon set your bucket down into it. Lol I’m a big guy that thing. I’m sure I would tip it over while it use. Anyway, have a great day. Love your progress. Keep the videos coming.
Thanks! Yeah I'm not sure what the pooper may evolve into lol, but all of these things had to fit in my jeep. With the van there's more room of course, so there may be changes. I'll keep using my solar suitcase & solar generator. They aren't hurting anything, and I'll still use them in my jeep when my son & I hit the back roads.
I’m 66 and my wife is 70 ( our dog is eleven) and we’re in Colombia South America in a Promaster. Planning is one thing but doing is what counts. Make sure you do. Best of luck.
Thank you so much for watching! I am so excited to get my build completed; just experiencing a little delay on parts & pieces but I'll get there! Stay safe & enjoy!
Congratulations on your new van. Look forward to your build. And wishing nothing but safe travels
Thank you & thanks for watching! I've got a little delay in receiving parts and such, but I'll take it one step at a time! Here in upstate NY, there have been "heavy pollen" warnings coupled with high temps, and that seems to be hitting me pretty hard. I just pace myself, stay hydrated and try to accomplish a little here and there!
Looking forward to following your van project!
Thank you for watching!!
You're about my age, & you remember the shagging wagons of the 70's. I went to pickup truck camping. Been doing it since the 80's. You're going to have a lot of fun. Install splash guards to help keep your rig from getting dirty. They work, I know. Drive safe & thanks for sharing the video. 🤠
I'll always remember that one sticker "if this van's a rockin' don't come a knockin' lol. Are you a firefighter? I went up through the ranks from 1st LT, to Captain, 3rd Asst Chief and finally 1st Asst Chief before I left. My other KZread channel is entitled: Hot Shots Fire Videos! Thanks for watching!
@@ADKOverlandNY Yes I was, my pinnacle was I got selected to be a combat FF in sector Sarajevo in the Balkans war for the U.N. Then I went to "The Pile" after 9-11 to help dig people out. After all that the thrill was gone & I became a Merchant Marine. I made 26 trips around the world before I retired from that. Drive safe. 🤠
@@fire58372001 Wow - what an exciting life you've lived! I'll never forget the day all of our pagers throughout the county alerted us as I was watching the attacks on our country unfold on tv. We had to contact the county fire coordinator with lists of any specialized equipment we had, and we eagerly awaited word that we were going to NY City to help. We stayed upstate because there was such an outpouring of help from across the country, we were told officials were afraid that many areas were going to be depleted of fire protection & we had no idea if further attacks were coming. Something I will never forget - and - we shouldn't. Thank you for your service!
Let's go!! Love the van and love what you've got planned.
Thank you! I'm very excited to get into it but was slowed by the removal and sale of those metal storage cabinets. They sold yesterday, so now I can move forward! Thanks for watching!
Good work brother. Stay safe out on the road.
Thanks very much! I've got the ideas and a little pocket money from the sale of those cabinets yesterday. Can't wait to get started! Thanks for watching!
Amazing Chev van ❤❤
Thanks! I did a ton of searching and was willing to travel to other parts of the country if I found one that I liked. What surprised me was this had been on a local dealer's lot and advertised for months but it never showed in my internet searches - local or nation-wide. As soon as I saw it, I drove there the next day to check it out and left a deposit before I left. Thanks for watching!!
I'm female, 66 to be 67 in July. I have been considering van life for a few years now. I've got a truck and a Casita trailer but I'd rather have a van. I have a home too but I'm tired of being tied down by chores etc. We'll see.
Happy Birthday - although I'm a month ahead (mine is June 8th). I love my Jeep and love to ride the trails and such with my son (he has a JK Wrangler like mine) and I'll continue to keep it. The van not only brings back many fond memories of 41+ years ago, but I found my Jeep and a tent might not provide the security from the elements and idiots. My van is newer, and I purchased a bumper-to-bumper maintenance agreement to cover me for 60k additional miles and I also have AAA. We try to do what we can and plan but also be prepared for what may pop up along the way. Also - I'm bored to death and needed a project lol. I hate sitting and doing "nothing" and just find the drive to get out and explore! Thanks so much for watching!!
Beautiful area!
The upstate Adirondacks of NY is awesome! I live in the southernmost portion of the Adirondack (ADK) Park and there's still many places that even I haven't been to! Thank you for watching!!
Oh my gosh, your video made me sooo homesick. I lived in Saranac Lake for 20 plus years and worked for NYSDEC in RayBrook! You do an awesome job vlogging! Thank you so much for bringing us along on your travels!!!
Welcome HOME lol! As you know, the Adirondacks is so gorgeous and even though I live in the southernmost portion of the Adirondack Park, there's still so many places that I haven't explored. Working for DEC, especially in RayBrook, and living in Saranac Lake you were right in the spot to experience all of this! Thank YOU so much for watching!
I retired at 63 4 years ago! 43 years an electronics engineer. When you get to your solar system I will have some suggestions as to what to use and safety tips! I'll be watching.. Have fun!!!!
Happy retirement! I took an early retirement at 62 and I'm still trying to "find my way" sort of to speak. I bought a class A motorhome initially, then covid hit. That RV sat on a friend's property for 2 years. As covid started to ease up, gas prices shot through the roof, and I decided to sell. I bought my Jeep and love going into the back country with it and I used a 100 watt solar panel suitcase to feed a 500 watt solar generator. It worked out well for what I was using and I still have them. Thanks for watching!!
@@ADKOverlandNYyeah that sound good as long as it does what you need you don’t waist money on fancy
@@ADKOverlandNY I’m a big fan of the box type solar stations. They are pretty safe
@@mjrootz And the new ones are really coming down in price, while going up in capability. Oupes, Pecron, and Bluetti are some good brands to check out. Hobotech has some good reviews of solar stuff on his channel.
Ok now I'm going to take you up on your offer and pick your brain on solar lol! I have a 200-watt Renogy solar panel that will feed to a Renogy 50amp MPPT charge controller (with DC to DC charging). The batteries are 2 - 100AH LiTime LifePO4 batteries and I have a 1000-watt Renogy invertor. My plan is to take the positive lead from the solar panel and first run it to a power disconnect switch then to a circuit breaker then to the charge controller (if that sounds correct). I know the invertor comes with cables and the battery manufacturer recommended 2awg to connect the batteries together (I'm running them in parallel). My head is spinning a bit as to all of the wire sizes and what/where to use my circuit breakers. I do have a 2nd power disconnect that I was going to use to cut power to the batteries, but I don't know what size breaker to use. I have ordered positive and ground bus bars as well. That charge controller also will allow my van's alternator to charge the batteries while I'm driving. What size wire do I run and do I just connect it to the positive terminal of my starting battery? Sorry for all of the questions!
Hello, I have the 3500 passenger version of this van with the 6 liter engine. we use it to pull our camper and all of our stuff. I can tell you from experience this is a great van.. it can pull anything. This is also one of the least expensive options if you want real pulling power. I remove all the seats and it has lots of space so I'm sure you will be able to make a great camper. We purchased ours during COVID and we stored enough supplies in the van to do an 11 week trip without the need to go shopping. Suggestion: spend the cash and get the best, heavy duty tires and spare designed for this van and don't use cheap passenger or truck tires. Remember, you get what you pay for.. Have fun and I'm looking foreword to watching your progress!
I've been looking it seems like forever when I found this van. The 8 cylinder didn't phase me. I just figured it would have the power and towing capacity should I ever need it. I touched on the covid issue in my other response to you and I was the same way. I have plastic bins broken down into cooking supplies, cleaning supplies, food, etc to make it easier to "grab & go". I agree on the "you get what you pay for". I don't always buy brand names, but I do research things and read reviews before I purchase. For my jeep - I replaced the tires with Goodyear Wrangler Dura Tracs and they ride great and have an aggressive tread for winter & off-road use! Thank you for your offer on the solar install. I don't have any high draw appliances but was going to go with a roof mounted 200-watt panel to start, feeding to an MPPT controller (Renogy) with a DC to DC charger then maybe a 1000 watt invertor and two 100 AH LifePO4 batteries. Thanks again for your suggestions and thanks for watching!!
@@ADKOverlandNY sounds really good ADK, couple of safety tips for your future solar system: use good quality DC breakers to isolate your solar panel, going to your solar controller and to isolate your battery going to your inverter. This way you can isolate your inverter and your solar panels when you need to work on them. I see a lot of people who don’t do this. The other thing is to, use the heaviest wire you can going from your battery bank to your inverter. You have to keep in mind that 1000 W being drawn from your inverter will draw close to 200 A DC so use it good quality, pure copper wire I would say at least one or two gauge wire. Also keep your length of wire short as possible, especially on the wire that goes from your battery to your inverter. They make some really good flexible solar panels now that are literally bulletproof check out Bouge RV. They have some really nice solar panels up until now flexible solar panels were not a good idea because they, go bad after a few years but they’re better now. Have a great day. Text me if you need anything.
@@mjrootz Thank you for the tips. I hate the CCA wire that people think is a good buy, but I try to make sure I'm ordering pure copper. I was trying to decide between a 1k or 2k watt inverter but figured the 1k would be sufficient for my needs. I'm not running an induction cooktop so probably the largest draw is my fridge. I also looked at the flex panels you were talking about because I'd really to hate to drill holes in the roof. Everywhere I looked, I haven't been able to find even a pair of crossbars other than Rhino or such that sell for hundreds. Recently I looked at a 200 watt solid panel from Renogy, but that will require drilling if I can't find crossbars so who knows which way I'll go. I initially steered clear of the flex because of the same reason you mentioned.
@@ADKOverlandNY hello Adk, BOUGE_RV sells a new technology panel called the SIGS. You can drive over it and I saw one guy shooting through it with a 10mm. It has two ways to mount one being adhesive tape. Which is a good way to mount them. These are the only solar paddles I would even consider, but they are expensive but again you get what you pay for.
@@ADKOverlandNY if you don’t need the higher wattage on an inverter, don’t do it. The reason being is the idol current draw is usually more on a higher power inverter. When it’s idle, it’ll draw considerably more power.
I'm 59. I want to get into Van Life. I don't have good credit and I am disabled plus I was just discharged from the hospital, Saturday May 25 after having spinal stenosis surgery. Trying to catch up on my KZread videos. I love watching van life videos. Unfortunately, I only survive on a little over $1,000 a month disability and can't afford to purchase a van of any kind. After I fully recover from this surgery I am going to try and rent a U-Haul van and do some stealth camping here in NYC. I saw NY in your videos and your age and decided to watch your video about your van. 67 soon, Fantastic! I will subscribe and vicariously live through you! Good Luck on your journey and I hope to join you through your videos.
Believe it or not I receive the same amount of social security, but I also have some retirement that provides an additional support each month. That amount covers my van payment. When I retired, I bought a class A motorhome - then covid hit and every place I planned to go was closed. As covid eased, the gas prices shot through the roof, and I decided to sell the RV without going anywhere. I was fortunate enough to come across this van with low enough miles to where I feel confident in traveling. Keep positive - it took some time for me to get this and I'm sure with your positive attitude - you'll make something happen for YOU! Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Glad to hear you are home from the hospital. Suggestion: look up camping clubs in your area. See if you find a group that you can go with maybe even assist you. Anyway, do what you can and don’t let handicap stop you. I really admire your courage. Have fun maybe start a KZread channel so we can follow your adventure.
How about an SUV ? I get the hospitalization I am still healing and dealing with a raging incision infection and also being given an ostomy. Oh joy. I bought the Prius V 2012 had it all set up to go and then boom in the hospital and now just trying to heal enough to be able to actually get on the road. I will go. I have seen even an VW bug turned into a camper it can be done. We have to be creative. I am 74 and am determined to get back out on the road for adventures.
God Bless,rest and heal soon
and put the Mick in the glove box and the antenna in the trunk and no one is the wiser
Yep - I agree. I leave the ghost antenna on because it doesn't stand out anyway, but I do remove the mic and put it in the glove box.
Is overnight camping allowed anywhere along that road?
That I don't know. I haven't seen any signs that prohibit overnight camping or no trespassing signs the entire length of the road. Thanks for watching!
Sweet setup! I like the fact that the main power unit is out of sight - out of mind. Thieves like easy to grab stuff and hiding the radio & microphone helps to keep sticky fingers away.
that's exactly why I love this unit - out of sight and easy to hide! Thanks for watching!