Building an Adventure Van

[EmmEff]

Originally Posted by TooFast

Not enough room left to haul two little mountain bikes inside the van?

Nope, too many sensors, control pads, and display screens. Rumour has it that the new fridge temperature monitor has a monitor of it's own to ensure the batteries in the monitor are at the right voltage and temperature.

[RLK]

Safe travels Geek and Tweety!

[TooFast]

Originally Posted by EmmEff

Nope, too many sensors, control pads, and display screens. Rumour has it that the new fridge temperature monitor has a monitor of it's own to ensure the batteries in the monitor are at the right voltage and temperature.

I heard he's a 80/20 distributor now.....carries a complete inventory of fittings. etc with him right in the van

Biggest inventory west of the Mississippi, dam!

Need some angle brackets? Here let me take my bike stand apart...using a hitch mount store bought one now....

P.S. Did he buy a special charger for the monitor batteries? You know, both the monitor and the monitor's monitor batteries? Maybe that's what the PV panel going to be for....what if it's a cloudy day? warm beer?

Can't wait to see the alarm system with all that copper, electronics, gadgets, etc inside that big side window.....perhaps a UPS system for the alarm system? Mobile alarm receiver (with back up batteries and monitor) via low orbit satellite? What about night vision cameras, audio proximity warning system ? - "caution, overhead cabinet approaching rapidly, pull back, pull back"!! Ouch again, Should I dial 911 for you?

[Mr. J]

Weight is the Enemy
At 'touring' speeds, fuel consumption is primarily related to weight. As a very rough guide, a diesel­ engined vehicle's consumption increases by 1.0 - 1.5 litres/l00 km for every 1000 kg over 3000 kg (at speeds below 80 km/hr). Whilst excess weight degrades fuel economy, it is a very serious problem
with tyres. Recently, and following a spate of publicised tyre failures, a survey of thousands of private US motorhomes showed that almost all exceeded tyre manufacturers' maximum loadings by 20%­30%, and many by 50% or more. Further, most users were running on tyre pressures lower than specified for the rigs' maximum recommended loading - let alone the gross overloads they were running at. The US trade tyre association that commissioned the survey stated that: 'With gross overloading, and all-but universal under inflation, US recreational vehicle tyres are subject to more abuse than any other known form of tyre usage. . . . this includes mine, quarry and exploration vehicles' .
In Australia , many commercially built campervans, and quite a few motorhomes, are already close to their legally permitted maximum weigh 'empty'. Check carefully before buying. You may well find there's only 300 kg or so still available - for people and everything else.
One simply must stay within the maximum weight-carrying capacity, often specified as GYM (Gross Vehicle Mass) to avoid vehicular and legal problems.
One needs little more for semi-permanent living than for a week or two away: supplies are readily available Australia-wide. Even in the outback one is rarely more than a day or three from a supermarket. And, with rare exceptions (e.g. the Tanami Track (Halls Creek to Alice Springs ) fuel is available at least every 400 km - 500 km.
Before planning your layout, reduce what you think you need to the absolute minimum (and then reduce that by 25%). Not only will it be easier on the vehicle, and on your wallet, but things will be much easier to find. Every so often check what you have not used - and leave it behind.
Regard a larger rig mainly as providing more living space - not an opportunity to carry more stuff.

from here: http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks....nversion_1.htm

[Geek]

Averaged 22mpg this last tank. Woot.


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[TooFast]

What's the total overall MPG for the your mileage to date? Scan gauge tell ya? We'd like to know

Then total cost (pee juice, scheduled service, etc) per mile of ownership?

Good info for the rest of us MB Sprinter wannabees...

[Geek]

Just saw a mama grizzly with three cubs. Wow!




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[Geek]

Originally Posted by TooFast

What's the total overall MPG for the your mileage to date? Scan gauge tell ya? We'd like to know

Then total cost (pee juice, scheduled service, etc) per mile of ownership?

Good info for the rest of us MB Sprinter wannabees...

No idea.. Don't track mileage... Just happened to fill up @ exactly 400 miles this tank so math was easy...

Pee juice now comes to a whopping $26 every 8700 miles. I spend ten times that on red bull every 8700 miles

The big variable for me was the replaced the EGR valve under warranty @ 20k. I have 80k of warranty left to see if it was a fluke or not. That's a $1700 fix each time if it needs it often...


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[Geek]

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[Narsisco Lopez]

Looks like a blast. How come you didn't squeeze in the nine-fiddy, too? Or is in in there and just buried under all your other gadgets?

[Geek]

finally some real camera photos instead of iphone...

[mr_magicfingers]

Originally Posted by Geek

finally some real camera photos instead of iphone...

Now that there is an advertising photo if ever I saw one, cracking shot Geek.

[Geek]

[Geek]

[Geek]

I'm not sure what this brings the state sign total up to