That sounds like a handy thing to have when camping. What did you mount it to?

 

Weather is limiting work, I don't want to get sick, odd year I'm afraid.

 

Put the inverter in a sealed compartment that I had already built for that purpose inside the bottom of the bench seats. Added a12V fan from a dead computer for ventilation.

The towel rack I mounted to the panel that originally held a flat screen tv, which was a total waste of money, above and behind the front seats.

 

Weather does limit things but I have the option of working inside. For me it a seasonal thing; it's hard to get enthusiastic about working on the interior of a van when it gets dark so early. I'm in hibernation mode in the winter.

That's all about to change though. I have all the parts that I need to install the house battery and inverter along with lights and other wireing. I also ordered insulation which is going to be the step after the wiring. I'll start on the wiring any day now...

 

I have my power inverter under the rear bench/bed with my amps, looking to do a smoother setup, and have a decorative trim panel to cover it all, I'm needing to pull it all back out and fasten it down to the board, add a fan or two and slide it all back. I have a rear mounted battery, it's paired to my front battery through a solenoid, linking it to charge only when the key is on, everything connected to it is through heavy gauge wiring with fuses. I ran a 4 gauge wire to the rear for charging the rear battery, one day, I'd like to put an extra alternator, like on the ambulance package, and have it hooked solely to the rear battery, but may be a bit over kill.
Always have the inverter accessible, so you can get to the on/off switch, obviously don't want it on at all times, and most importantly, nothing touches it, have space around it, in case of spark and to allow cooling, air must circulate.
I think in tight places, those enclosed, I'm going to spray in the expanding foam insulation, inside the walls only, maybe up inside the door toward the window openings. The factory stuff in my 15 passenger works quite well, my sound system stays inside, doesn't leak out, but I'm going beyond it since I want to replace the plastic panels with more custom designed, made from thin wood.
I'm not building a rolling speaker box, I hate those, I want to retain daily driver status, yet be able to sleep in it, and everything has to be neat as I plan to show it. I have cut some trim panels from cedar, 6'x6" and drilled each with 20 holes for LED pods containing 2 each, and attached them to the ceiling, I have them on a relay that's triggered by the opening of the doors. I bought many loose LED's that require soldering and adding resisters, I'm going to hide them in panels and trim, only to show when on, may link to the doors or a switch, not sure which. I love how LED's put out a lot of light, draw little power, no heat and are so easy to hide, I'm using blue currently, but will have some other colors on a selector switch.

 

Hey Maples01,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
That's some good information. What is a rolling speaker box? I am staying away from the spray in foam; I've heard good things and bad things about using that stuff. The good thing is it makes your van very quiet. The stuff may off-gas and it is difficult to remove if you need to. I am planning to put the inverter in the back under the bed that will eventually be built. I agree to keep the inverter accessible. The one I bought has a optional remote shut off, but it seems just as easy to keep it accessible. I'm going to run 1/0 wire on the battery so that in a pinch I could also start the engine with it. I'm also using a solenoid to isolate it from the starting battery.<o></o>
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I'm thinking of a sound system and now is the time to think about it. I'm going to take some pictures so I can post them as the project progresses. <o></o>
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I have 2 12's in a ported box to be decked in, forming a cabinet for cushions to cover, extending the fold out bed, I have a 15 in a ported enclosure currently in there on top of the 12's, been trying to sell it with the amp paired with it, too much bass, I'd rather have the room for the bed to make it a queen.
The place I'm talking about foam is up the tight area's where you can't insulate, the pillar areas around the windows, I have a window van you see.
A rolling speaker box is the vans walled in the rear with speakers, turning the rear of the van into a box, you can't do anything with it.

 

Update:

After one winter, experimenting with different heaters, I learned that moisture control in the interior in very cold weather (-20F and lower) is a big issue.

Working on that issue now.

 

that spray foam is not good, it will become a permant fixture and could cause water to stick around longer in those deep well along the sides and if body repair is needed... trouble. Your van would be better off with fluffy insulation that can be pulled out when needed.

Home depot sells this stuff: Thermwell 12 In. x 15 Ft. x 1/8 In. Self-adhesive Foil/foam Duct Insulation - FV516 at The Home Depot
I plan on getting it soon and doing the all of the interior panels and hopefully put up some type of cloth on top of it. Maybe with spray adheasive.

Also be sure to make a window drape out of thick material, all the glass causes easy heat/cold loss.

This winter I used: Mr. Heater - America's Most Popular Portable Heaters
It works very well, last about 7 hours on one tank. It does have a smell, but leaving both front windows open about 1.5 inches with rain guards does ok for venting the smell.
I found that keeping it mid van worked best for even heat. Once I get the insulation mounted I'd bet that heater will be great for sub 30 weather.

 

I've been informed that spray foam contains chemicals that slowly eats away at the steel, so it's not an option.

 

For nights above 40° all I need is a sleeping bag. There are bags for lower temps but they're too awkward for me. Below 40, I run the gen all night powering an electric heater. The heater has a thermostat and the generator has an eco-throttle, so when the temp is met inside the van, the heater turns off and the gen goes to idle. You guys using propane inside the van scare me.

 

The problem is not so much foam eats steel, but the fact that improper use of the foam means moisture is trapped.

I elected to use none of it (or very little, e.g. like filling in joints) because of that.

Most of my boxed sections were left "open" so it does not trap moisture.

The heat loss reduction from insulating (eg the upper door window frames insides) is negligible.

You are better off to put a layer of carpet on the inside.

I did use insulation in sealed plastic bags inside the side / back doors, and insulation on the front doors between the factory vapor barrier and the plastic trim.


Right now, the biggest heat loss is front windshield / glass area.

Followed by back 2 windows.

Got any ideas?

 

Cotton quilted curtains or visor, it'll solve the loss.

 

Not so simple.

I had a simple sunshade on the other van, (metal fabric) and it may or may not have something to do with the window developing a large crack after sitting in the sun (evening sun) all summer.

So there has to be a barrier that blocks the heat, but do not allow temps to go too crazy / thermal stress.

I am looking at RV like solutions, but the issue is always space--- want it to be easy to fold up and put away.. maybe a self inflating like foam mat, with foil on both sides to reflect heat?

Ideas welcome.

 

I'd do the heavy curtain behind the front seats sealing the driver/passenger compartment from the cargo area, only thing I can think of, like the head wall in a cargo/commercial van, but heavy fabric instead of steel, I'm gonna do the curtain in my 73.