I’ve considered the leisure battery option with solar panels and inverter but really can’t justify the cost. Most of our trips include camp sites very often with hook up electricity. Times when off grid such as wild camping or festivals we use internal battery lamps for lighting and switch the fridge over to gas to keep the wine chilled.
We don't have EHU in/on the van at the moment, in do have an 1800w power bank with 200w solar panel to recharge if we need mains power, it also has 12V cigarette lighter socket, USB and USB-C sockets I am looking at solar to change a leisure battery, so i can fit some 12v power sockets in the rear of the van, and power some touch on/off interior lights, the solar panel, MPPT, 135Ah lithium leisure battery, and associated fitting kit, xamebin at just over £1800 fitted The air suspension is a wish list job, full 4 corner kit, with controllers, fitted, at £8500, whereas, i could simply fit some Progressive Springs on the rear, to stop the sag when fully loaded, at a cost of around £500
I’ve just bought one of these in order to improve my MH’s off-grid capabilities without having to go to all the ballache and expense of a solar installation. My MH is in for repairs at the moment so I’ve not used it yet, but they get good reviews. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0...mob_b_asin_title#immersive-view_1760811051233
Our VW T4 Westfalia uses two leisure batteries linked to the motor alternator, you can get roughly 4 days of use without hookup. It's not an expensive setup as the batteries are about 70 quid each. (Fridge and lighting use)
Mine has a leisure battery, solar panel, power sockets in the back, insulated, sound proofed, and carpet lined plus bed diesel heater & gaz hob. I have a power hook up too, -just an extension lead. Is the pop top worth £2500? I've heard they are noisey & leak whilst driving, they leak when up, they rip in sudden wind. But surely thats not true? I don't need a fridge. I carry 5 gallons of water in a drum with pump & tap so thats all I want. What is the attraction of air suspension?
Solar panels are cheap? https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/dm...=965cd2d38560d62c67c5266152b6a8a7&fo_s=gplauk All the charging stuff came with mine so I've no idea about that.
Got woken up 4:45am as my partner was woken by a little bit of arson on a neighbours car. The third time their car has been targeted, I think someone has it in for them. We did at first try to put the fire out but it caught the plastics quickly and from there game over. No one injured though just an expensive object destroyed and my beauty sleep interrupted.
Firstly, I have just spotted a mistake in one of my posts that you quoted yesterday, it originally read as it is a full camper conversion, it is NOT a full camper conversion, it is a panel van with windows and fake windows, sorry for any confusion I have been quoted £3500 for a Westdubs pop top to be fitted to my van, they are worth it, under normal conditions, they do not leak, or tear, I was talking to a friend yesterday, he was parked somewhere, and they had torrential rain and very strong winds, the pop top was up, after around 18 hours, the pop top did start seeping water through, but, only on the side that the rain was being blown on to Regarding air suspension, when I load the van with two motorbikes and all the camping gear for a 3 to 4 day weekend, the van sits real low on the back end, air suspension would compensate the weight for the van to sit level, for a full 4 corner kit, with electronic controllers, £8500, for a rear axle kit with a compressor, and an up/down switch, £1800, both fully fitted There is a much cheaper alternative, progressive springs for the rear axle, around £500 The solar installation, panel, battery, dc-dc charger (with MPPT), and all associated cables and fittings, £1850 fitted I want all the electrical stuff fitted before I get the van insulated, sound deadened, and carpet lined
OK, now I understand -mostly! You want the air suspension because you carry big loads. Beware of over paying for your solar panel, the prices vary dramatically often by £350 more for the same thing. I only use mine for interior LED lights and charging the ever hungry Apple family that go everywhere with me. I've never come close to running out of power. As its now colder, the diesel heater will require some power too, but I don't expect this to be an issue. I can always go for a drive and recharge the leisure battery. TBH camping out in a van during the winter has limited appeal! My van is not well insulated so I've a vague plan to redo that in spring. Only because I'd like the van to be quieter inside when driving and when its raining hard but I want to sleep. I plan to use the foam board and probably cork tiles. But I may not bother and instead improve the sound system. All the glass makes expensive laborious insulation pointless imo. But I may be wrong. Thanks for the info re the pop top. But some people do complain a lot after the instal. Perhaps its down to quality between suppliers? Lastly I'm dying to know why you have "fake windows"?
Our 23 wedding anniversary yesterday Went to a contemporary art exhibition held at Victoria Baths which incidentally is where I first swam 25 yds as a kid. Bought a lovely piece made by a local artist from Maple and Oak veneers
How much will the van owe you once it’s all done? How come you don’t just sell it and buy one that’s already been converted?
I might start a Camper/Motorhome thread if there’s enough interest so all these discussions are in one place rather than scattered across the forum. Leave an “Agree” if you think that’s a good idea.
I'm currently toying with the idea of a 'racevan', it'll double up as a van for weekends away with both my partner and Son on the odd occasion and it may save me money on b&b's that I use when working too far from home to make the traveling viable. Mercedes, VW or MAN 3.5 tonne panel van not a great huge motorhome.
Not today but yesterday decided to pop into CMC on an ongoing mission to find a motorcycle that my partner actually likes that wasn't built before flares were originally fashionable. Spotted this Norton out in the wild which has changed my thoughts on it as it looks so much better in the flesh.
Since vital restoration work the building has been used in various ways. A music venue, Manchester gin festival , wedding venue and was used in making the series Peaky Blinders not sure if it still operates as a functional swimming pool open the public. The famous swimmer who was credited as being the first woman to cross the English Channel lived nearby and trained there Here’s a photo of her. Sunny Lowry
