Vanlifer Jackie
VanliferForum Replies Created
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My absolute pleasure, Tomas.
I’m happy to do whatever I can to help! xx
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Hi Tomas – I have finished your book and it’s a comprehensive, easy-to-read masterpiece!
Congratulations.
What do you plan to do with it? I ask because I would like to link to it on my blog but I’m not sure whether it’s in beta form and you plan to sell it or how things will work.
Please let me know and I will share it if appropriate.
Kind regards,
Jackie
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Heating – we have a Propex LPG heater connected to a 100 litre tank. We used to run it from a Safefill refillable LPG tank, which we also use for cooking and hot water.
We will definitely install a diesel heater as a backup when we venture further afield into places where LPG is not so readily available, but I do think that failing to mention an LPG heater as an option is an omission, since many vans will already have LPG systems.
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I just had another thought. We chat to vanlifers all over Europe in our travels, and some countries do not allow self-conversions. I think Italy was one, possibly the Netherlands and some Scandi countries. Perhaps worth a mensh.
Also in the UK, some body types will never get change of use to a motor caravan, or if you do, it can cause all kinds of problems with an old vehicle that isn’t up to modern standards.
For example, a truck is not an acceptable body type, so we can never change our registration to motor caravan. We’re registered as a private LGV, but our MOT test is for a motorcaravan, since that is patently what we are!
I did hear of a case via a friend where they had to abandon their conversion because they changed an old vehicle to motor caravan, but failed on hundreds of issues and could never bring it up to standard.
The ombudsman has recently been involved in a few cases where the British DVLA has kept moving the goalposts!
“Communication failures by the DVLA about what a campervan is leave people confused. This is a failure of DVLA’s role, according to the national Ombudsman.”
Let’s hope DVLA implement the findings and provide clarity for self-builders.
https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/…/dvlas-poor-communication…
ombudsman.org.uk
Communication failures b
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No worries.
Just another thought on water tanks, you say go as big as possible, but besides using the correct material for potable water and baffles in larger tanks, there is also the weight issue, because water is heavy, 1kg per litre. Plus, cold water inside attracts condensation, so insulation is perhaps a good idea.
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Tanks – you don’t mention about potable water tanks with non-leaching plastic, or baffles in larger tanks to prevent the water sloshing around and affecting braking and cornering.
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Dash cameras – are illegal in some European countries and even having one can attract very heavy fines.
It largely because it contravenes EU privacy laws.
In France and Belgium, dash cams are restricted to ‘private use’, so you can’t share the footage on Facebook or YouTube without permission from those being filmed.
Dashcams are illegal in Austria and Portugal, and
it is illegal to upload dashcam footage publicly in Germany.In Austria, it is illegal to own, let alone use, a dash cam and even first time offenders can be hit with a huge fine of €10,000. Get caught again and it is a €25,000 penalty.
German privacy laws require faces and number plates to be obscured if footage is being shared publicly.
Luxembourg it is legal to own a dash cam, but you cannot use one.
In Switzerland you can own a dashcam, but need a legal purpose to even record a journey, and have to make it obvious to anyone being filmed that they are being recorded.
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Inverters – A classic exAmple of this is a kettle – capital A again. I think this might be deliberate, since it’s always an Amp!
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Toilets – we have a Trobolo separating loo, which is a slightly more sophisticated version of the bag of sh**! We dispose of the poo bags in dog waste bins if poss, or in the refuse. Consider that every year, 167bn disposable nappies are discarded in the refuse worldwide, and they contain plastic, whereas our eco bags of poo is 100% organic and biodegradable.
We spend a lot of time off grid and find this a much better system than the chemical loo. In some less developed countries, eg Albania, we couldn’t buy chemicals, and struggled to find suitable disposal points.
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Fridges – is it important to discuss the difference between ammonia absorption fridges, which can be risky if not level and don’t cool as efficiently as conventional compressor fridges, like the ones you have at home?
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Cupboard doors – we used Tambour doors for our cupboards and shower door. They pull down or across to close, so can’t fly open on bends. They can be cut to size, and fitted to open horizontally or vertically. https://tamboursolutions.co.uk/tambour-doors/
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“The tongue & groove boards are like those featherweight wrestling chAmpions” – another capital A.
It struck me when I was reading this part that you haven’t discussed weight – as in the legal Maximum Permitted Mass of the vehicle and working out how heavy all the build components (insulation, wood, wiring, batteries, solar panels, appliances etc) are, plus the weight of all the personal effects that will go into the van, such as bedding, crockery, pans, towels, clothing, sports equipment, bikes etc. We’re fortunate that our truck still has 10 tonnes of unused weight carrying capacity, but in a 3.5 t van, weight could be a real issue.
We met a van lifer who had used Pawlonia wood for his panels, which is incredibly lightweight.
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For rust removal, do you recommend eye protection as well as a mask? I’ve never done it, so I don’t know if it’s risky to the peepers!
On the insulation section – we routed all our wires and pipes outside of the walls, so that if anything went wrong it is easy to get to. Wires and pipes hidden in spray foam under the floor or behind the walls will be a nightmare if you need to get to them for a fix. Just a thought.
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Bed set ups – I would appreciate a short description of what each bed set up is, since I am not familiar with the terms banquette or Murphy. I know there are diagrams, but you launch straight into pros and cons.
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Hi Tomas – I’ve just finished reading the first part of your book and it’s excellent.
One thing you might consider adding is that if you’re thinking of buying and converting a van, it’s a good idea to visit lots of trade shows and vanlife events. That way, you can glean lots of advice on the realities of van life, plus ideas for layouts etc.
In the tools section, is it worth adding a conclusion such as a bullet pointed summary/shopping list of the essential tools for ease of reference?