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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Does anyone watch campervibe on YT? Id love a campervan like they built. Do you think its possible for someone with no DIY experience to convert like they did?x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Their van's nicely done.
You can find the knowledge on YouTube. No shortage of people showing how they built their vans.
For tools you can get by with a decent drill (including hole cutters), an electric saw, some spanners, a multimeter and some wire crimpers although you'll probably find you end up with a much larger toolbox by the end of the process! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you have the tools and knowlage yes you can build anything.
I built my own camper with solar power 12v 240v tv bed heater etc. Built to what I wanted with my hands and to my budget "
Do you need to get the electrics done by an electrician? Iv started watching build videos, it looks easy when they do it but im not convinced it really is hahaha |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Electric's not that complex but you'll probably feel more confident if you can find somebody who knows what they're doing to take a look at what you're planning.
The advice I was first given was to use thicker cable for the main runs and then I'd never need to worry about adding more stuff. This proved to be good advice!
The alternative option is to just run electrics from one of the Jackery type power banks. |
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By *oy1234Couple
over a year ago
GLASGOW |
We built ours.
My advice.
Buy the beat base vehicle you can afford first.
Decide on your intended use ie mostly sites, off site or a mix of both.
This will gave bearing on what systems you may wish to fit ie shower and hot water, solar, battery to battery charger,mains , and inverter.
Gas hob, cooker? Microwave?
Ventilation max air fan,windows.
Insulation, sound deadening etc.
There is a lot to consider.
And then there is budget.
Ours was about 10k for the van and 17.5k to fit it out and that was with us doing all the work.
Depends what you want and intended use.
Pm if need any info,
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"If you have the tools and knowlage yes you can build anything.
I built my own camper with solar power 12v 240v tv bed heater etc. Built to what I wanted with my hands and to my budget
Do you need to get the electrics done by an electrician? Iv started watching build videos, it looks easy when they do it but im not convinced it really is hahaha"
I am qualified as an electrician so have no issues doing the work myself. But if you have any idea how electric works you will be fine.
Solar is 2 cables from the panel to the charge controler and 2 to the battery..
12v cable to fuse block then wire from there to what ever you need.
Inverters make 240v from 12v for power on the go.
Batterys get one to suit your needs (usually bigger capacity the better!!)
Charging solar split charge and a charger for when your on hook up if you have 240v power.
Yes if your unsure always seek advice or assistance
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By *oy1234Couple
over a year ago
GLASGOW |
"If you have the tools and knowlage yes you can build anything.
I built my own camper with solar power 12v 240v tv bed heater etc. Built to what I wanted with my hands and to my budget
Do you need to get the electrics done by an electrician? Iv started watching build videos, it looks easy when they do it but im not convinced it really is hahaha
I am qualified as an electrician so have no issues doing the work myself. But if you have any idea how electric works you will be fine.
Solar is 2 cables from the panel to the charge controler and 2 to the battery..
12v cable to fuse block then wire from there to what ever you need.
Inverters make 240v from 12v for power on the go.
Batterys get one to suit your needs (usually bigger capacity the better!!)
Charging solar split charge and a charger for when your on hook up if you have 240v power.
Yes if your unsure always seek advice or assistance
"
If you can go for a b2b rather than a split charge, split charge much cheaper but will charge to 80 percent at best.
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More control especially if you have engine management systems or smart alternators etc. Not really an issue in my 02 t4, especially with a victron charge controller and 200w solar panel
As long as there is a way of stopping the leasure side of the system discharging the starting battery that is the main aim.
I did have a direct link between ignition and leasure,,, no problem at all until the leasure battery crapped out lol |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"As long as there is a way of stopping the leasure side of the system discharging the starting battery that is the main aim.
I did have a direct link between ignition and leasure,,, no problem at all until the leasure battery crapped out lol "
We have a direct link too - handy if it ever needs a jump or on very cold mornings.
I don't think B2B is worth the money for most cases, especially if you have solar. The 80% charge thing is only likely an issue if you're completely dependent on the alternator for charging.
Obviously if you have lithium leisure batteries you don't have any choice but otherwise I don't see much benefit. |
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"As long as there is a way of stopping the leasure side of the system discharging the starting battery that is the main aim.
I did have a direct link between ignition and leasure,,, no problem at all until the leasure battery crapped out lol
We have a direct link too - handy if it ever needs a jump or on very cold mornings.
I don't think B2B is worth the money for most cases, especially if you have solar. The 80% charge thing is only likely an issue if you're completely dependent on the alternator for charging.
Obviously if you have lithium leisure batteries you don't have any choice but otherwise I don't see much benefit."
Did look at lithium when I needed a new leasure battery but couldn't qualify the cost to myself.
Would sooner spend the dosh on a compressor fridge towards the respray for my other toy or or or or lol |
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"Does anyone watch campervibe on YT? Id love a campervan like they built. Do you think its possible for someone with no DIY experience to convert like they did?x"
We subscribe to their channel and we have a transit campervan conversion that we decided to change it around and its not as complicated as you'd think however I did get someone to do the electrics as I didn't feel comfortable doing myself but as for the rest it's easier than you think x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"As long as there is a way of stopping the leasure side of the system discharging the starting battery that is the main aim.
I did have a direct link between ignition and leasure,,, no problem at all until the leasure battery crapped out lol
We have a direct link too - handy if it ever needs a jump or on very cold mornings.
I don't think B2B is worth the money for most cases, especially if you have solar. The 80% charge thing is only likely an issue if you're completely dependent on the alternator for charging.
Obviously if you have lithium leisure batteries you don't have any choice but otherwise I don't see much benefit.
Did look at lithium when I needed a new leasure battery but couldn't qualify the cost to myself.
Would sooner spend the dosh on a compressor fridge towards the respray for my other toy or or or or lol"
Yeah I wouldn't get lithium personally just yet. Unless I was living in it and then I definitely would.
We have a compressor fridge but have actually replaced it with a top quality cool box. We found with the fridge we'd turn it off at night anyway so cool box makes better sense (for us).
|
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"As long as there is a way of stopping the leasure side of the system discharging the starting battery that is the main aim.
I did have a direct link between ignition and leasure,,, no problem at all until the leasure battery crapped out lol
We have a direct link too - handy if it ever needs a jump or on very cold mornings.
I don't think B2B is worth the money for most cases, especially if you have solar. The 80% charge thing is only likely an issue if you're completely dependent on the alternator for charging.
Obviously if you have lithium leisure batteries you don't have any choice but otherwise I don't see much benefit.
Did look at lithium when I needed a new leasure battery but couldn't qualify the cost to myself.
Would sooner spend the dosh on a compressor fridge towards the respray for my other toy or or or or lol
Yeah I wouldn't get lithium personally just yet. Unless I was living in it and then I definitely would.
We have a compressor fridge but have actually replaced it with a top quality cool box. We found with the fridge we'd turn it off at night anyway so cool box makes better sense (for us).
"
Mainly for the ice tray for my rum lol |
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