Ford Transit 2016 DIY campervan conversion

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by Saldar

Your fly-around videos are fantastic!

Originally Posted by atoine

Thanks! The Mavic Pro Drone makes it easy with the automatic pilot on...

...

Please, always post your Youtube links. People get attracted to them more than the written words.

[atoine]

After 84 consecutive days of sun (that's right!), it was time to make a U-turn, drive north and chase the snow!

This month we discuss about winter: 4x4 (or the lack of), keeping the van warm, drying our ski gear, Ford's Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and of course our adventures

Fifth Month on the Road: Lessons Learned, Van Report, Tales from the Road | FarOutRide




[video=youtube;EN-gre6vQ5Y]

[atoine]

Since we introduced the spare wheel into tire rotation, we've been dealing with the "Tire Pressure Sensor Fault" message and that's very irritating...



We did some research to better understand how the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) works and how to fix it once for all. We also found how to monitor the pressure in real-time via a smartphone and we feel better about the TPMS now



Here is the results of our research:
Ford Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | FarOutRide

Hope that helps!

[atoine]

We get a lot of questions about the "steering wheel" attached to our wall... It is, in fact, a fan mounted on a 3-axis gimbal, so the air flow can go in any direction. We like it a lot and we use it in summer (duh) and winter (when we use our oven to move the hot air all around the van; heat is more uniform that way).

Here is more info about that fan:

Sirocco 3-axis 12V Fan - Review | FarOutRide



Cheers!

[atoine]

Sixth Month on the Road!
February 2018

This month we travel across Washington, Montana and we're back to the metric system in beautiful British Columbia. We hope you like cold and snow as much as we do

Sixth Month on the Road: Lessons Learned, Van Report, Tales from the Road | FarOutRide

Thanks for reading!

[atoine]

We just wrapped our first winter in the van. We apprehended it, but it turned out to be awesome!

We wrote an article to summarize everything we know about living in a van full-time in winter:

http://faroutride.com/winter-vanlife/

Content:
1.1- Traction Control System (TCS)
1.2- 4×4
1.3- Winter Tires
1.4- Snow Chains
1.5- Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
1.6- Maxtrax
2- Electricity
2.1- Consumption
2.2- Charge
3- Finding Water
4- Finding Camping Spots
5- Staying Warm
5.1- Heat Source
5.2- Window Covers
6- Managing Humidity
7- Drying Gear
8- Tales from the Road
9- Conclusion



Hope that helps!
Antoine

[atoine]

This month we're still enjoying the snow, but there's a twist...

Full write-up: Seventh Month on the Road: Tales from the Road | FarOutRide



Cheers!

[atoine]

So we came up with a new Wiring Diagram. What’s wrong we the previous one? Nothing, it passed the test of time and it works exactly as it should! Then why change it? Here’s why:

We realized many people are just replicating it (which we think is great!), so we wanted to make it

1- easier to understand (see our new Interactive Diagram AND new tutorial “From Blank Page to Wiring Diagram in 15 Steps”)
2- easier to install (more intuitive design and less components to install)
3- easier to use (Plug-and-forget, monitoring via Android or iPhone)
4- easier to adapt to anyone’s need (many features can be deleted/modified for different needs/budget. See our suggestions.)

It’s the result of the ultimate question: “If you had to start over, what would you change?”. Answer: we deleted some features we never used in the real world (option to power the loads from the van's battery) and we updated some components (Victron in lieu of Bogart) because we like to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. Also we changed the inverter+charger setup for a Sterling B2B BB1260.

It's all here:
http://faroutride.com/electrical-system

Hope that helps!

[GeorgeRa]

Did you consider combining solar/alternator charger in one unit?

[atoine]

Originally Posted by GeorgeRa

Did you consider combining solar/alternator charger in one unit?

The CTEK D250S can manage dual charge (solar + alternator), or you can use two separate chargers (like in our diagram: 1 for solar, 1 for alternator). The solar and alternator can charge together at the same time.

But you can't plug solar + alternator in a "normal" solar controller, in case that was the question.

Have a good one!
Antoine

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by atoine

The CTEK D250S can manage dual charge (solar + alternator), or you can use two separate chargers (like in our diagram: 1 for solar, 1 for alternator). The solar and alternator can charge together at the same time.

But you can't plug solar + alternator in a "normal" solar controller, in case that was the question.

Have a good one!
Antoine

Check this one. DMT-1250 - Kisae Technology
If I had to do it again I would combine solar and alternator charge controller, divorced an inverter form a charger, and use a charge converter and a separate inverter.

[atoine]

It's been a while, but we're still there!
The last two months were EPIC! Here is our latest "Tales from the Road" post:

http://faroutride.com/eighth-ninth-month/



Thanks for reading

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by atoine

It's been a while, but we're still there!
The last two months were EPIC! Here is our latest "Tales from the Road" post:

http://faroutride.com/eighth-ninth-month/



Thanks for reading

I want to do that too

[Phoebe3]

I've read through your entire blog and enjoyed every bit of it. I will say, however, that I haven't been able to complete many of your mountain biking videos. I KNOW you survived because you've lived to tell about it, but when I'm watching, I'm never quite sure you are going to make it!

[atoine]

Originally Posted by Phoebe3

I've read through your entire blog and enjoyed every bit of it. I will say, however, that I haven't been able to complete many of your mountain biking videos. I KNOW you survived because you've lived to tell about it, but when I'm watching, I'm never quite sure you are going to make it!

Ahah, if you are aware of your own limits you can ride everyday without injury. But some people get injured all the time... it's a mental game too.

[atoine]

A few weeks ago we asked ourselves "If we had to start over, what would we change about our electrical system?" and published a new wiring diagram and tutorial (http://faroutride.com/wiring-diagram).

In this new diagram, we upgraded the Bogart Engineering PWM Solar Charger & Monitor to a Victron MPPT SmartSolar Charger & Monitor. Not only the diagram was upgraded, our van was too...


With built-in Bluetooth and VictronConnect app, it’s possible to monitor real-time status and historical data on a Smartphone (Android or iPhone) via an intuitive graphic interface, sweeeeet! Now, does the Victron system perform better than the Bogart Engineering system? Yes. We observed much more amps coming in. We're glad we upgraded...

http://faroutride.com/victron-review/

[SteveJ]

That Victron controller looks awesome. I currently use a Renogy PWM unit that works ok, but more is almost always better. I have 3 50 watt panels that can easily be set up in series. Looks like a good upgrade to do after my current trip. Thanks.

On TDY at Lake Jacob, AZ.

[atoine]

Just an update on our Water System:

1- We traded our Mr Heater BOSS for an Eccotemp L5 on-demand hot shower system. (nothing wrong with the Mr Heater, we found that : a) we don't need our hot shower to be portable. b) we don't need the extra 7 gallons water jug because finding water turned out to be fairly easy (the Mr Heater must be used with its own pump, while the Eccotemp can be integrated to an existing pressurized system). c) Having to connect water and propane each time to the Mr Heater is irritating.)
2- We replaced the vinyl tubing for PEX tubing. (nothing wrong with the vinyl, this is just how we think we should have done it and what we recommend)

Annnnnnd:
3- We completely re-thought and re-wrote our Water System Guide.
4- We created a new Water System Diagram.
5- We created a new Water System Tutorial.

It's all here: http://faroutride.com/water-system

[atoine]

Fresh from the oven: "TENTH AND ELEVENTH MONTHS ON THE ROAD". A quick pictures/videos recap of the last two months (June/July).

http://faroutride.com/tenth-eleventh-month/








Thanks for reading!
Isabelle and Antoine

[atoine]

This is a huge and overdue update! Indeed, the Propane System of our van has seen a few upgrades since we first built it and initially published the article...

First of all, we replaced our backup heat source from a Mr. Heater Buddy to a Propex HS2000. Then we changed our hot shower system from a Mr. Heater BOSS to an Eccotemp L5.

Second of all, we have completely revamped our Propane System article in a similar fashion than for our Electrical System and Water System (theory, diagram, our system):

https://faroutride.com/propane-system/






Cheers!