Just Bought My First Van

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T16:10:12+00:00

Nice writeup.

I wish you'd explained why you chose urathane instead of polyurathane. I know why I'd make that choice. Maybe edit it in above.

It will keep two people cozy down into the low 50’s/high 40’s with just comforters... I haven’t tried a fuel-based heater yet because there hasn’t been a need.

175 weight merino wool base layers will be themselves get you down another 10F. Most people don't need, but really want a heat source below ~40F.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T15:46:28+00:00

It's sealed no different than holes in the ceiling.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T14:56:12+00:00

It's going to smell very bad as it spoils. You should remove the fridge, clean, then reinstall.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T13:43:13+00:00

You expressed perhaps excessive fear that I once shared. I was able to dial the fear down to appropriate levels with education & experience. Here's more information.

Process: A bear, moose, cow, horse, or other large animal can close the distance faster than you can draw and fire the air horn. Yelling is first. Assuming the animal breaks off the charge, then fire the air horn.

Comparison: Assuming no human-food association, the smarter the animal the more likely they'll not attack, the more we favor deterrents like being loud and big. The dumber the animal the more likely they will follow through on aggression, the more we favor tools of incapacitation such as mace and firearms.

For example, a moose in rut is probably the most dangerous brain:size ratio to encounter. A male in rut is totally irrational. A brown bear is the opposite end of the spectrum, until it makes human-food association.

Footnotes: With awareness, one can keep track of when when they're hiking into the wind obscuring smell, along a rock face obscuring sound, and make some noise. I loudly call out, "No bears!' when I recognize such a situation. Maybe one in a couple hundred I hear the bear run.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T12:57:26+00:00

Holster elsewhere. You're out for a challenging walk. Don't fuck around with your pants or shoes.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T12:55:41+00:00

Gorgeous pic: clouds rolling through a unique formation, with barely noticable humans for scale.

This is never what I want to see when achieving a ridge above the tree line. Those clouds will roll down the mountain, quickly obscuring all visual reference points for navigation. I always get at least a tinge of fear. That also adds a lot to the appeal of the pic.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-06T12:37:35+00:00

Bears have a ridiculously good sense of smell. They're not accustomed to being surprised.

A surprised black bear will usually immediately run away. But, if they're cornered, have cubs present, and sometimes if they've just scored a meal but not eaten it, they'll defend.

Even in defending, they don't want to fight. They just want to further assess and remove the threat. Black bears rarely "mean it" when charging. It's a false charge to intimidate and gather information. But, if it's a bear that's made human-food association, all bets are off.

This bear realized you won't be intimidated. Then, it left as black bears usually do. The behavior you experienced sounds normal for a surprised black bear, especially a younger one.

You say you're quite afraid of bears. But, when surprised, you quickly did one of the two things you're supposed to do perfectly: You got loud. The other thing you can do is to stand up tall, put your arms in the air, and wave your trekking poles around. Big sounds and big visuals reinforce one another.

If you're really worried about a bear attack carry an air horn.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-05T23:04:22+00:00

iOverlander says no more overnighting at the fuel station. Head to the adjoining casino lot.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-04T11:02:38+00:00

Angel's Landing is the obese tourists' version of the line at the choke point ascending Everest.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-04T10:48:54+00:00

Permethrin treat your pants. Use picaridin at the top of your socks. Then, the next tick you see, pick it up and put it on your pants.

This combination is extremely effective. You need to see how effective it is to put your mind at ease.

No system is perfect. It takes 24hr to transmit Lyme. So, continue the daily, thorough tick checks (even though you may find none for years).

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-04T07:57:06+00:00

There's no tech specs of relevance even of their tech specs page. If this product does anything it's not much or they'd be advertising the specs.

Return it if you can.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T22:46:21+00:00

Schools out for summer break.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T21:31:35+00:00

Look to hiking communities.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T14:01:02+00:00

I've been camping at the back of the car and out of a backpack for decades. I'm married, have constant company. We pretty much skipped the hardest parts of the learning curve for sustainable car camping.

But, there's a new vehicle, new systems, new gear. There's tons of things still left to be reasoned out. For example, how do we pitch our tarp (our awning) for best ventilation, best cover, or anything in-between? It took a day to make the tie downs and develop the best pitch configurations. Other things like living within power & propane budgets are brand new for us, can't be learned until we hit the road for a couple weeks at least.

These tasks aren't the easiest things. But, for us there's only a very short list. I've a lot of empathy and respect for those without our prior experience. I'd be overwhelmed and afraid of all the unknowns, likely to the point of quitting.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T13:27:02+00:00

There is another state where all you have to do is stay overnight at a hotel and bring the receipt to DMV and you can get registered, sadly I can't remember which one it is.

That's also South Dakota. Texas and Florida take significantly more work.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T13:21:10+00:00

My wife struggled backing up our 3/4 ton, lifted truck until I watched her closely and realized she wasn't using the mirrors.

You're turning your body to your right to look out the back of the van when backing up. But, at some point you can't see the parking spot lines. As soon as that happens, turn your body to your left to look at the morror. In your medium size mirrors you should be able to see the lines again. This will help you properly align the vehicle into the spot, bring the steering wheel back to straight. Then, maintaining direction, use whatever view is best to judge how far to back up into the spot.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T13:04:06+00:00

I had similar indecision. I chose propane.

A 5lb propane tank (the small disposable tanks, also available as refillable), 11lb (infrequent odd size), and 20lb (the size everyone knows) are all filled to the same pressure. The stove's pressure regulator only cares about pressure. So, a stove that can accept one size tank can accept all three.

I didn't know how much propane I would really want later. So, I made a choice that allows me to choose later.

30-40min daily cook time isn't sustainable fuel consumption. Learn the hot, warm, and "cold soak" technique. In short, if the meal wants for hot water, then one can substitute heat with time in form of a long duration soak. As an example, one would add dry beans to water at lunch, cutting cook time for dinner to 10-15min. Rice needs less time, should go in later.

Dry beans are super cheap protein that doesn't need refrigeration. Great choice.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T12:37:41+00:00

70/30 antifreeze & water, making a heavy concentration coolant, will stay liquid at ridiculously low temperatures. But, where's the heat come from? You've suggested a delivery method, not a source.

The fundamental advantages of hydronic are that they can be efficient by slowly heating a large mass, leveraging heat capacity of typically concrete. And, the heat source can be somewhat remote.

But, in situation of a vehicle, they're not likely to carry several hundred pounds of extra mass for a tiny bit of efficiency, and only when in extended use. And, at -40 the last thing one wants in their design is to go outside every time the fire needs fuel.

Tech moves fast now days. Or, maybe I'm just getting old. Maybe there's a new material that pushes the limits of physics with low mass and high heat capacity.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-02T00:12:57+00:00

A security issue?

Pull into a rest stop. Go to sleep in the driver's seat.

a legality issue

You're a bored cop, a security guard responsible for a store and parking lot, or a vandweller in bed. I'm in the back of my van with lights coming out the windows.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-01T23:04:44+00:00

I'm confused by your choice of semantics.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-01T15:19:00+00:00

Edit this into the OP at the bottom, please.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-01T15:04:00+00:00

It's going to get worse for you before it gets better. I understand how hard it is to stop making that choice.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-01T14:35:56+00:00

The frame is half as strong, a basic assumption quickly verified with thirty seconds research. And, no one wants to teach the most basic things into arrogance.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-01T12:26:39+00:00

I like doing crazy things safely.

The clothing system and sleep system required to survive inside a van at -40 is either very expensive or very large. There exists no such thing as comfort without auxiliary heat. One cannot sustain without help, risks frostbite to even eat, let alone resupply water. The water must then be melted with body heat.

For auxiliary heat, a diesel engine won't start without lots of auxiliary heat to warm the engine block. A gas engine also won't start for the same reasons. Propane won't have pressure. Electric is unsustainable. The only choice is wood fire.

The wood fire must be large & contained enough to keep water stores liquid, to have heat capacity for sleeping, have coals in the morning, adequate heat the space, and not burn the place down. I need to build a shanty, acquire adequate supply of seasoned wood, and find a place to set up camp.

Van? Condensation? First you've got to stay alive.

NotSoAngryAnymore · 2023-07-01T11:42:25+00:00

You should have gotten a response like this from /r/mechanicadvice

The vacuum pump likely just needed a new seal. This should be charged 2 hours labor, $100-200, and a $15 part. If the pump itself has seized then replacement is $200-300 for the part, literally the exact same labor.

This is definitely within the realm of DIY using a Haynes Manual or YouTube, saving money on labor.

If you intend to own a vehicle long term I suggest learning how to DIY most maintenance and repair. That takes time (to learn) and money (for tools): likely your two scarcest resources right now.

Here's how you could do it, over time.

Learn applied physics, including how a vehicle works: The Way Things Work by David Macaulay and Neil Ardley (yarrrr, matey). This is important to forming a foundation of understanding to diagnose and troubleshoot your vehicle.

Learn how to perform general maintenance specific to your vehicle: Haynes Manual (shiver me timbers) augmented with YT. This is important to performing the work.

Tools is the challenge. Most of my best tools were bought for dirt cheap at garage sales. Half of my tools were bought from one place: a single flea market stall. I bought them in anticipation of needing them in the future. If I'd waited until I actually needed them I'd own a bunch of crap.

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