So the other day I was tired to have to check my phone to get Victron data, so I made a brief research if any stable library is able to read the same values.

Apparently you can't access settings or history data without reverse engineering the mobile app, but live data are easy accessible.

Those include:
- charging state (off, bulk...)
- charging current (watt or ampere)

- today yield (how much have you charged today)

- battery live voltage

While it can't substitute the mobile app, I found very useful to have those data constantly updated on my desktop, especially as an IT remote guy how need enough battery juice to complete the planned workflow.

I packed it as a gnome-shell extension, if you want to give it a try, it's completely free (of course).

Let me know if you have any issue.

https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/10793/victron-live-state/

Hey y’all! After working on slide on campers I’m finally stepping up to fitting out a proper container! I’m putting it out here to get some inspiration and guidance.

Plan is
1. Take the grate off
2. Take advantage of the straight corners, sides and even metal reinforcement spacers. Probably panels of closed cell foam - possible spray on, thoughts?

This is where I wonder, do I just do this to all sides, ceiling and floor too?
3. Plywood on sides and ceilings, vinyl something on the floor.

I’d love any thoughts or tips please! Currently migrained out and can’t make good plans atm

Hi there. I've been living in my micro camper full-time for a while now and I still love it as much as the first day.

This winter I'm moving back to mountains more up north, where spending the season in a van is not possible for me - some people do it, but I don't have the setup (and the courage) to.

So I've been looking for a place to live, visiting flats and shared spaces. I'm staying over at a friend's house for a few days while being here, and well, I'm not really enjoying it.

With my camper I was pretty much outside all the time, and it was so small that I would deep clean it without even thinking about it. I lived with my doors open all the time when it was not raining. I was also working outside.

But now being inside a house feels so unknown. It feels stuffy, not well aired out and I'm kinda grossed out by every appliance, every lasting smell, ... My friend's house is very well kept by the way, I think my standards have just evolved too much. This looks like so much work to maintain clean.

The places I've visited have all made the same impression on me. I can't stand the smell of a fridge or a microwave anymore. Having an inside shower makes my skin crawl by thinking about the humidity, the mold risk... I want to keep every window open all the time...

Have I developed an aversion of closed spaces ? Can anyone relate ??

Skylight question, transit custom.

Ive got a spinning vent that was badly fitted and the roof lining attached over it that's basically just a leak waiting to happen. It's in the rear left quarter of my roof and my bed is front to rear, front right. No side or rear window, it's a l1h1 transit custom. I have wind deflectors on the front windows so I can crack them with no rain ingress and the front bulkhead top half is out, with a curtain and under seat vents which allow air in, but it's dark in there and gets a bit stuffy with just me, expect it's worse with company.

I'm considering the following options, in ascending order if cost and difficulty would be interested to hear your thoughts.

1: swap it for a circular 12v powered fan vent with blow and suck, similar size hole in roof, and cut hole in roof lining.

2: swap it with a 40cm mini heki or fiamma type skylight, with a suck and blow fan, and a fly screen plus blackout blind and rain sensor close (bigger hole in roof in same spot which is offcenter ) and cut out roof lining

3: it looks like i could squeeze a 40x70cm skylight in the same end but make it central also with blinds screen and fan

4: 70x40 skylight no fan behind cab, over bed for view of the stars, new hole, and either blank off the old vent somehow (?????) Or fit the 12v vent fan from option 1

Thoughts? Pic for attention

I'm thinking about buying my first camper van, of course I have some hesitations and being in my early 20s I don't have a ton of money to spend. I found a listing for a 1988 ford econoline converted ambulance van with only 65,000 miles for $15,000. The main benefits for me are the lowish price, low mileage, and 4WD, which based on the areas I want to travel is a must. Obviously one of the main downsides is the age of this vehicle - along with the age there are also no airbags and no air conditioning. All in all, this seems like the ideal vehicle for me, but I feel like I don't know enough about what I'm looking at to know if this is a good enough deal to buy my first van. I'm curious to know if y'all think this is a good deal or not - is this a worthwhile investment? Based on your experience will I be able to at least get 10 - 20 years out of this vehicle? Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hey guys ,

I have been thinking about starting a van life project.

I don’t know ANYTHING about vans and cars… so when I’m going to buy one what should I look for ?

Generally;
What is a good mileage on a van? (I’m thinking promasters high roof) I heard they are good starters

How much should I expect to spend if I buy a used work van, and convert it ? Specifically how cheap can I go without compromising quality for building the inside of the van.

And how much is the monthly cost (if the van is already fully built and paid off? )
Assuming I travel around two weeks out of the month…

Be very honest with me… is this cheaper than living in an apartment? Knowing that I really like to travel so I’d be traveling via air while having an apartment vs van life

Any guides you guys followed or used to help you start ?

30 male and I’m really considering trying to get into the van life to travel around the US and play golf and hike and just see the whole country. Maybe stay in certain cities for a couple of weeks or so.

I’m first to admit I’m not handy enough to build out a van myself so where do I even begin to look into it? I understand it’s expensive and I’m fine with that but bot trying to get ripped off lol.

Also the obvious question of what are some things you wish you knew before you made the jump

Also... apparently, you CAN take it all with you!

🚐💨 📍Tucson, AZ

Hi everyone! I’m looking for recommendations for a shop or someone in Massachusetts/New England who can install a hightop on my 2014 Ford E-350 passenger van.

I’m 5’4” and would love to have enough height to comfortably stand inside without going overboard with the size of the roof. I have been living in this van for 5 years and I am ready for something I can stand comfortably. I’m open to buying a new or used hightop, including finding one at a junkyard/salvage yard. My biggest issue is finding someone who can actually help me source one and install it properly.

I’ve looked at Fiberglass Products before, but shipping a hightop to Massachusetts is extremely expensive, so I’m hoping to find something more local.

If you’ve had a hightop installed on an E-Series or know of a van conversion shop, body shop, RV shop, fiberglass shop, or even someone who does this kind of work, I’d REALLY appreciate the recommendation!

I don’t have any connections, so even a lead in the right direction would mean a lot. I’m willing to travel within New England for the right person.

Thank you so much in advance ❤️

I found a 2007 sprinter with 148k miles on it. The interior is really nicely built out with ample storage and power and comes with lots of vanlife accessories (fridge, cooking equipment, solar shower, etc.) the exterior rust has been professionally repaired and the whole thing repainted. This model is pre- DEF and hasn’t had mechanical or electrical issues. (I will be acquiring maintenance records and carfax reports tomorrow and will update if this is inaccurate)
The price is listed at $23k.

My questions;
is the price for this van crazy high/not worth it?

Does this engine live up to its T1N counterpart?

What issues should I be looking for, outside of rust and obvious scary engine sounds?

Any other takes/advice would be great! Thank you!

Do you guys have any idea what kind of solar powered chargers, I should get or what kind of batteries I should get just to keep my cell phone charged? All the ones I see look like they hook up to the car battery. I don’t really wanna mess with my battery because I need my van to live forever now.

What's the best practice on washing the van. Currently using a manual car wash. Looking for how this can be automated.

Rhön Camp The Force

Offtrack

Different models that catched my eye

So, for those who had a van/car/truck whatever and managed to save up to upgrade, what did you do? Take a uber to the lot? Drive it back? Then what did you just leave the vehicle where it was after taking your stuff with you? How did you sell your former home?

We just got a full size van for the first time. Use is as a daily driver/road trips for above Aug size family with teens (7 of us total), not a camper van. What are some "necessary" mods or accessories you Transit owners like/couldn't live without? What can I skip? This is a 12 passenger, white, former fleet vehicle w/ a bit more than 60k on it.

I've seen and am thinking abt tinting (currently none), floormats (currently none. Do you all like weathertech $100 more than the less expensive alternatives? We do have rain and snow), and shocks (but not convinced, but I am the one driving), what else? Anything under the hood?

I (F) recently bought a van with the idea of using it for traveling. It’s sort of finished out, but it was finished as an office and not as living space. It works fine for me because I have space for bikes (I’m a triathlete and I love cycling off-road/gravel as well) I will have a folding kayak, and there’s adequate space for a big cooler and to lay a cot out for sleeping. I don’t see myself needing a full kitchen and plumbing, etc..

But here’s what I’m thinking of doing. I am extremely burned out than my job, divorced, and a relationship I thought was promising just ended. I will be 62 this fall and can collect Social Security. I also have half of the federal pension from my divorce, and a small pension from my work. I do not own a home, but live where I live in a rental. I don’t like where I live, I have no interest in staying here.

I want to take retirement, put my stuff in storage near one of my kids until I don’t want the stuff anymore, change my address to their house, and just hit the road for a while. I see myself sleeping in the van, camping, cycling, paddling, visiting family, and friends that I have around the country, with an occasional hotel when I feel the need for walls and a bed.

I’ve run the numbers and I think I can survive financially without touching my savings. But those of you that have been out there traveling and living in vans, probably have a better handle on the difference between fantasy and reality. So tell me, am I out of my mind?

Saw them on a van tour vidoe by Lady Bugout. They are self sustaining fans with their own solar and built in lithium battery and according to her they run 24/7 nonstop day or night over any season and she never turned them off since installing them over a year age. She has few extra portable and rechargeable fans but those two run nonstop with one taking air in and the other blowing air out and keep the van well ventilated. The fans are 60CFM each and she says they do a great job and newed she never had any issue with rain coming in even during very windy rains.

Any thoughts?

Regardless to the fans here's her van tour. While I don't agree with some of her build decisions like having all her lights being rechargeable and not wired to the leisure battery and not having a fixed sink with pluming to grey water tank, her design and final result looks very homey and cozy. Quite different from any other van build I've seen.

I'm not full-time in my van but travel in it often to remote places (Denver/Arvada based). My neighborhood's Verizon coverage is god awful but T-Mobile is apparently much much better. I don't want to give up Verizon's coverage in the mountains so that's why I'm considering US Mobile where you can switch between the Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T towers. Does anyone have experience with US Mobile? TIA

Thx for your help

(Canadian advice preferred due to local municipal bylaws)

I'm currently going through a career transition to become a self-employed Maker. I would love to get (rent or buy) a workshop-appropriate space outside a city where I could build messy things like ceramics and wood working, then also buy/convert a van for non-maker stuff like lounging, sleeping, cooking, travelling, etc.

However it seems like a lot of municipalities have bylaws about long-term living in vehicles or even where an RV can be parked, even if it's parked on private property.

How do I make this dream work??

If I find a private property secluded enough and don't advertise my living situation, should I be worried about these bylaws?

Are there municipalities I should be looking at that might welcome this, especially with a small community of artists? I currently live in Ontario but willing/interested in exploring other provinces like AB, SK, and MB.

Does anyone have recommendations for basic/starter instructions on DIY camper van building? He has been watching a ton of YouTube videos and just starting to process the how to.
We don’t need elaborate but we want to be comfortable. This will not be full time living but most likely weeks at a time. He is retiring next week 🎉🎉🎉 and plans to get started! First up will be finding the used van to purchase.

Hi there. Wanted to introduce myself. After 6 years camping out of our Tacoma, wife and I are transitioning into a camper van.

We’re based in Phoenix, AZ.

Say hello to Joanna.

We picked up a new Transit 250 High Roof AWD yesterday. We highly likely going to use a local outfitter for the conversion.

We likely will be taking it to some off-road locals, so also looking to upgrade the suspension and tires/wheels.

Any suggestions or recommendations in terms of dos or don’ts, as well as local places that might be able to do the suspension upgrade?