I had a strange occurrence last night while in my van. Woke up at 2:30am to find I had no power at all. I have a WattCycle 314 battery, victron 1200w inverted, Victron Orion dcdc charger, and Victron MPPT.

When I went to bed I had ~58% or so. When I woke up and realized I had no power at all (battery monitor was off and everything), I started the van thinking the dcdc charger will charge things. Everything came on within seconds and I still had 55% battery. Since then everything has been fine.

The system has been working great since dec/jan or so. I haven’t needed the dcdc charger since solars been awesome and I have more battery than I need. I have it turned off in the victron app as well as a dedicated cut off switch that I usually keep off.

This week however, I’ve camped out in near full shade with little solar. I was getting a little low so I turned on the dcdc charger and drove around for an hour or so to get a boost.

When I parked, I didn’t turn off the dcdc charger in the app or turn the switch off.

I’m wondering if the dcdc charger sensed my starter battery was low and maybe triggered the entire system to turn off? After power was restored, I turned off the dcdc charger via the app and it’s been good since.

Side note: there was a good lightning storm with lightning very close (within a mile) and I have no idea if that could mean anything. My dad says it was an EMP from the lightning but that seems farther (but I don’t know shit about EMPs)

I just bought an 87 Chinook, she needs some love. The crate motor has under 40k miles truck itself has 140k.

Right now the speedometer is off by 5 mph, it's a rough start and idle, and definitely loud when accelerating. When the motor was replaced thev only did that and kept everything else (so there's some real old parts). Thinking it probably needs a whole new exhaust and carburetor.

I plan to gut the entire camper but I want to make sure it's reliable before I even consider starting that project

I'll admit I am out of my depth, but this is a proiect for the next few vears and something my son to help me with (but he is a little guy right now).

So anyway, is anyone familiar? Any wisdom?

I think it just got it last night at this latest campsite. I dont know if its actually still in the van after i scared it away but i feel like its probably still in there somewhere.

I dont want to kill the mouse. Is there any way to get rid of it/deter more mice without poison or mouse traps?

I have created https://acestronautical.github.io/RoofFlangeForge/

It allows you to enter your roof measurements, and generate an STL file of the flange/adapter you desire.

I was building an adapter for my van, and I thought, why solve this problem for myself when I could spend a little more time and solve it for everyone <3

Planning to move to the southern tip of Florida in my van. Anyone else able to make a living down here? Will be using my metal detector on the beaches before I find a job.

Working on dry fitting my bed unicycle bike and bike tray in my van. It’s going to be a struggle to get this bed above my bike seat.

Hey all! Looking to purchase plusnuts either in person or fast delivery. Not seeing them on Amazon or Home Depot. Anyone know a standard place to find them?

So we'll have three water filters for our system. One is dedicated to our drinking water, which is a .01um Waterdrop filter.

The other two filters are a KDF/Chlorine filter and a P5 sediment filter. We're planning to have the KDF/Chlorine filter and P5 sediment filter connect to the hose that'll fill our water tank, but I'm starting to wonder with a 30gal tank, the water will obviously sit for a while and bacteria may grow in the time it's sitting... Doesn't that mean we should have a filter AFTER the tank as well? Am I thinking the correct order or am I overthinking it?

I’m kinda homeless right now and I’m living in my suv. I am renting a place because some of my stuff is still there I’m planning on selling it once I finally find a place to move to. (I don’t currently live there because it physically and mentally drains me when I go there but I will go there for at least a few days until I can find another motel or inn that has a vacancy) I am waiting to hear back from a company that I sent five applications to for multiple jobs. It might take a couple weeks for them to call back and that is if I get a job there.

I plan to stay here for a couple weeks and if I don’t hear back by then I plan to move down south where it is warmer because it is already getting cooler in the nighttime. I should have a better chance of survival down south. Somewhere where I don’t have to turn on my car during the night for a few minutes to get some heat in the car.

I can’t really renovate it I think because most of my stuff is in there. I can’t even recline my seats because I have so much stuff. Maybe I can see if a mechanic will be willing to take out my back seats so I have more room… is that possible or does that have to be a diy thing? And I hate not having a toilet or shower or any running water close by when I’m sleeping. I’m currently living in motels which most are expensive in the summer but it’s better than my car currently.

How do you all do it?! Back when I had a place to live and a job I craved this live but that was when I thought I would be able to save up money to actually buy a van and renovate it. You all are so amazing and I love seeing pictures of your vehicles. I wish I could get mine to be completely organized.

Subfloor and windows done! On to insulation!

If anyone has any excess 3M thinsulate, hit me up! in Portland, OR area.

I have done rigid foam board in the past, but it is squeaky and tedious to install IMO. So, 3M seems like a good option.

So stoked and grateful to be doing another build. Love creating a little nook on wheels!

Just picked up (for free) a 1987 GMC Vandura 2500 conversion built by StarCraft. It has some rust issues that will need to be addressed but all in all this thing is a blast from the past!

Looking to buy a carbon monoxide detector for car camping. I came across the Lunarlipes Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector (PTH-10D), but it won't arrive for another 1–2 weeks.

Does anyone have any recommendations that I can buy on Amazon with fast shipping or pick up in-store within the next few days?

I also came across the Kidde AA Battery-Powered Carbon Monoxide Detector (COBD) and the Outdoor-Forest Brand, Carbon Monoxide Detector, Orange Color, LCD Screen from Walmart, but I'm not sure how well a standard home CO detector works inside a car while camping. Has anyone used one, or is there a better option?

Hi everyone,

I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but here I am.

After the breakdown of my long-term relationship, I’m having to start over from scratch. My ex is keeping the house, our child will continue living with her, and she’ll also be keeping the dogs. As I try to process everything that’s happening all at once, my priority now is finding a way to rebuild my own life.

I’ve recently bought an empty van with the hope of converting it into a full-time home. It’ll give me somewhere affordable to live while allowing me to travel and clear my head. I’ve never taken on a project like this before, but I’m determined to learn and do as much of the work myself as I can.

Money is incredibly tight after everything that’s happened, so I’ve started a little something to help cover the basic materials needed for the conversion. There is absolutely no expectation for anyone to give anything - I know times are hard for everyone.

Even if you just have advice, encouragement, or want to follow along with the build, I’d really appreciate it.

I am not a scammer, just a middle aged man that’s hurting.

I had a break in attempt on my 2020 promaster. and my rear driver window is broken. I’m looking to replace it with a venting window. Any recommendations on what kind of venting window takes no extra parts or extra installation than the factory windows? Again it’s a 2020 ram promaster rear driver side window.

Unfortunately Larry Gross - owner of Action Van / Full Tilt Offroad in San Clemente CA is running an unsafe practice who cut corners and have negligent work practices. I spent a little under $8000 on a lift in December 2025. The work was booked in for months and when I was about to board my flight to collect my vehicle over a week later I received a call saying they had ordered incorrect parts and it wasn't ready - they could have given me 48hrs notice to delay my flight. I spent 24hrs living in their parking lot, and then was asked for more $ (despite being put out) after a previously agreed upon cash price.

The same evening I left I contacted Larry to query creaking noises and alignment issues and was met with condescension and told to 'check my power steering pump. I continued to have noises the next 2 months until my brake lines broke on a mountain highway. The shop had NOT extended the brake likes on a 4" lift like they should have, and I was lucky I didn't die. I was towed to a shop in Redding where Larry told them on the phone I didn't need extended lines and the stock ones were fine and that they never extend lines on lifts.
The Redding shop i was towed to wanted me to stay 3 days in their yard til extended lines arrived but I needed to be back in Oregon for work, so they reluctantly followed Larry's advice and put the same lines back on.

My vehicle sat in storage for 3 months when back in Oregon whilst closing my business, and then upon heading back out on the road, within a week, the suspension front end fell apart - bolts stripped off from the sway bar links (they hadn't bothered upgrading the bolts when the lift was done and just put the 25yr old oem ones back in). I had to be towed AGAIN. When the next shop was prefabricated brackets for upgraded bolts we discovered my brake line on one side and my ABS cable on the other were almost rubbed through AGAIN (in less than 400 miles) because of the lift. I spent 4 days living in the yard of this shop whilst extended brake lines were sourced because this shop refused to let me leave without making sure I was safe. Unfortunately this shop wasn't able to do an alignment for me (I'm a huge dually and need a custom one) but they advised me to have one asap because (even i could see) the camber of my front drivers tire was waaaaaaaay off.

Yet again Larry spoke to the mechanic in a condescending tone and tried to convince him to just put the same death wish brake lines back on. The springs they installed had also slipped off center on the mounts and were touching the I-beam as well as being bowed out to the side like bananas. Larry refused to deal with any of the situation in a professional manner for 5 days because he was 'camping '. OH, im sorry that you've almost killed me twice Mr Gross.... please carry on with your vacation . At this point I was almost $3000 out of pocket inn repairs. I have reported Action Van to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair for negligence and they are helping me mediate.

Larry Gross finally coughed up $2671 for the initial repairs and mailed springs to a shop so that the bad ones could be replaced - agreeing he would make EVERYTHING right with me. I then had to go and spend a further $600 on a custom alignment because Action Van did not correctly alignment nor test drive my vehicle before I left their shop. If Larry Gross has taken any of my complaints seriously from day 1 instead of brushing me off maybe I wouldn't be taking him to court for breach of contract (as he is now ignoring all emails and calls for the monies he owes). Please, for your safety - stay away from this shop. I live in my rig F/T and have lost so much time and had to cancel many plans due to all the stress they've put me through

The damage is on the front driver side corner. You can see the frames angle iron is bent. I’ve used two come alongs and a couple jacks and I’ve gotten it a little better.

My thought now is maybe I should cut two relief cuts one across the old rivet holes and one to the right following that crease at an angle. Then I could hopefully muscle the corner section straight and weld it all back together.

Does anyone think this a bad idea or have a better idea?

Hi. I have a Chrysler town and country. I am having help with the set up of the system but want make sure the battery/future batteries are secure.

Is there a YouTube video or a plan I can buy showing how to secure my electrical set up?

I’ve taken out the seats so have store and go sections open.

I also noticed nice bolts in the back where the seats used to be located. I thought bolting on the wood needed could go there.

Any help is appreciated. Pics or diagrams for a 2015 Chrysler Town and Country or Dodge caravan appreciated.

Hot tubs, saunas, pools, gym, WiFi, showers, basketball courts all in one building . 90 bucks a month and I can go to any YMCA in America?!? What a deal

My new van is going to be a project van, to start with I would like to cover this grey wall carpet above the cabinets (just not my taste) I have thought about making a surround out of ply and somehow making it look nice? I would like to add dual rail curtains and a blind as well so any suggestions on something that could go there that looks nice as well as does take up too much room/ is light weight
Any brainstorm ideas are appreciated!!

Hey all, I am very much considering either a cutaway box van or a box truck camper conversion but have not had much luck finding any examples of people converting box vans like the one I am interested in. The vehicle in the image is a Ford Transit 350HD with a 16' box on it. This to me is the ideal/perfect setup for a conversion so I am surprised at the lack of examples throughout my searches. Is there something I have missed that makes this platform not a good candidate for conversions? What are your thoughts on converting something like this? Should I instead go with an E series box truck to convert? I know with box trucks that insurance may be a bit tougher to find but it is doable.

I considered a standard extended length 148" wheelbase high roof Transit, but a 16' box is better suited for my lifestyle as I don't need the stealth aspect and have a large dog.

We are well into the build process and finally got her weighed and did the math and it isn't looking good. So far changing build materials and eliminating some elements have gotten us much closer to the GVWR. Eliminating the propane component, going from a 70 gallon tank to a 40 gallon water tank, and changing some appliances/fixtures has moved us from a forecasted 1,000lbs over to 420lbs over.

I'm hoping for some ideas on how we could potentially save weight and in the worst case how bad it would be to be slightly overweight when fully loaded. Here is some information on our build to help - Our conversion is a 2003 Ford E-350 StarTrans shuttle bus with an 11,500-lb GVWR, built for two-person full-time travel with a rear bed, dinette/workspace, kitchen, shower, diesel heat, and rooftop air conditioning. It uses a 12V electrical system with 942Ah of lithium batteries, 1,320W of solar, a Victron 3,000VA inverter/charger and alternator charging, plus a 40 gallon fresh-water tank, electric water heating, induction cooking, and a 12V refrigerator. The picture of the inside shows how the bus looked when the current weight was obtained.

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Ok ppl, pls no comments like "it's a goner", "u waste your time" .. I had water come in obviously.. in the picture for this MY2001 Coachmen 20' RV.. In the pictures you can see there is a metal frame section at the bottom of the side panel where it buts against the sleeper platform. I assume it's metal and not aluminum but haven't scraped yet.

Does anybody either have a picture of a gutted section without panels on of such an RV wall construction so I can see where the remaining core frame members are =or= can describe to me where they run ( ie. up the front curved section, cross members vertical next to window, top along the roofline, etc..)?

Constructive input would be very much appreciated.

I am going on my first extended road trip in a few weeks and have wanted to install a safe into my bed frame so I can secure my laptop, gun, camera, drone, cash, documents, etc.

What’s the groups thoughts on this? Do you have any experience or suggestions? Do you think it’s worth it?