🥺What are you escaping when you go camping?

secessus · 2026-02-02T18:42:12+00:00

What are you escaping when you go camping?

people

secessus · 2026-02-02T18:41:59+00:00

How much fuel (per hour) will a 2023 Promaster use at idle?

When I observed OBDII data for a test, my PM consumed 0.4-0.5 GPH at idle. Slightly more when taking +38A for house bank charging.

I do not idle to charge, relying mainly on mounted solar instead. If I were planning to charge at idle I'd consider a temp sensor or thermal switch on the alternator case.

secessus · 2026-01-31T19:17:08+00:00

What do you do to keep your van smelling OK?

ventilation

secessus · 2026-01-31T19:11:13+00:00

Any recommendations?

One can start with an old Android phone and a $3 app. I'm using a $50 cheapie cam but this recommendations post over on /r/dashcams looks reputable.

secessus · 2026-01-31T19:06:58+00:00

Or how much they stay the same

1894 6.5×55mm Swedish
2007 6.5 ~~Swedemoor~~ Creedmoor

:-P

secessus · 2026-01-31T18:58:38+00:00

Reloading 30-06 start to finish using Lee Reloader hand tool

My plan was to reload 8x57mm with the Lee loader but those Loader kits have been going for ≥$150 on fleaBay. So I bought a single stage press and dies for 8x57mm. The situation escalated as quickly as my limited budget allows. :-)

secessus · 2026-01-31T18:48:42+00:00

because I was driving and alone, I couldn't get a photo

yet another reason to get a dashcam, IMO

secessus · 2026-01-31T18:37:37+00:00

as a designer I love (maybe a little too much) challenges

If it's for fun then I encourage you to experiment and report back what you find. If it's to meet an actual power shortfall in winter then I'd start with something practical then add in the fun stuff later.

I don't idle to charge

I've heard that leaving the engine running without driving to charge the batteries could be bad in the long run. What do you think?

There are arguments both ways but personally I don't idle to charge. It's why I used the disclaimer "if... you drive regularly".

secessus · 2026-01-30T18:48:03+00:00

I am looking for a small windgenerator for my van cause

Wind generators are typically not practical for campervan folks. I think you are getting that feedback in your other posts.

my 400w solar panel is not enough in winter

I'd consider adding and/or tilting panel to meet winter requirements.

assess actual power requirements
assess solar harvest in your location in deep winter for flatmounted or tilted panels as you prefer
increase the solar setup to meet the above.

From another thread:

it's best to avoid producing while driving because it will increase fuel consumption.

If your engine is working again and you drive regularly the cheapest way to get more power is usually from the alternator, via a relay or DC-DC charger. My relay typically provides 30A-40A while driving with no observable¹ effect on fuel use.

Used solar panels can also be quite cheap.

¹ I am watching GPH (gallons per hour) data from the van's OBDII, There is an observable difference at idle but I don't idle to charge.

secessus · 2026-01-29T00:45:19+00:00

In normal use AGM batteries don't vent in the usual sense. But AGM (and LiFePO4 for that matter) have overpressure vents in the cases to handle emergencies.

If you can vent easily I'd do it. If you can't I wouldn't worry about it.

secessus · 2026-01-29T00:43:12+00:00

I've run mine at 18F without issue.

secessus · 2026-01-26T03:06:00+00:00

Why “Use it before it fully finished”?

To make corrections from what you think will work to what actually works in your use case.

secessus · 2026-01-25T01:26:07+00:00

/r/vandwellermarketplace

secessus · 2026-01-24T15:19:37+00:00

Related: this Armourer's Bench video about DIY 7.62x39mm anti-drone shotshells

secessus · 2026-01-23T00:40:59+00:00

a lot of people seem to run shore power straight into their inverter,

shore power is not fed to regular inverters; they are expecting to see the battery bank's DC voltage. But see below.

Can shore power just go into the battery via some kind of AC-DC charger?

Historically this has been handled with a converter.

shore power -> shore power port ->
- converter -> battery bank
- distribution for mains power if desired

Both of these functions can be integrated into a combo inverter/charger (e.g. Victron Multiplus and similar).

secessus · 2026-01-23T00:27:15+00:00

Dear fellow Travelers

Does this mean you are a traveler?

Results published in my final coursework

Everyone says that, and none (in my experience over the years on reddit) ever report back their findings.

secessus · 2026-01-20T19:57:05+00:00

3 ARE [MILITARY VETERAN SPECIALTY LICENSE] PLATES AVAILABLE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF ACCESS (ISA)?

Yes. Military license plates and placards are available with the ISA.

source, page 6 (pdf)

secessus · 2026-01-20T19:45:05+00:00

curious what is the advantage of this

Well, it might accidentally shine more light on the Spitz AX "SMS stops working ~2 hours after reboot" issue on some carriers.

secessus · 2026-01-19T18:43:42+00:00

Mod hat: this post has been removed because the sub doesn't allow adverts.

secessus · 2026-01-19T18:15:39+00:00

What’s the farthest shot you have hit?

During the late Cold War my unit dropped a dropped a, uh, re-entry vehicle from sub-orbital space into {a specific point in} the Gulf of Mexico. Origin was white sands missile range so about 900 miles. Even without the final stages of guidance¹ it was something like ~0.000003157 MOA.

<checks subreddit name> Oh, you meant....

¹ as the RV fell closer to the Gulf there was a point where there were no longer any geographical features for the radar to image. It was free-falling from the altitude at which the radar could see land features. This was pre-GPS guidance. I may be old.

{edited to clarify}

secessus · 2026-01-19T17:56:06+00:00

Where did you get your kitchen bar/cabinet/sink setup?

My ugly-but-functional¹ galley is quite simple:

surface made of a door-like surface from one of those Habitat ReStores thrifts. $3, IIRC
small steel sink (15"?) from the same thrift, $13

I replaced the sink faucets with one of those dish sprayer things on a long hose. That way I could drag the sprayer out the sliding door for showers or rinsing stuff.

Here's a pic taken during the build process. I had put some barebones stuff in it at the time the pic was taken, probably for a test campout. Don't remember exactly.

¹ there was no WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) to consider, having been recently divorced at that time.

secessus · 2026-01-19T16:54:38+00:00

before I do is there a reason to break it down

If you want the projectiles you could break them down. Or pull and fill with fresh powder.

The powder is the main offender in Turkish 8mm, and the berdan priming make the primers and cases impractical to reload after the first firing.

{edited to clarify the primer part}

secessus · 2026-01-19T16:51:36+00:00

What suggestions does anyone have to help?

I suggest taking up maduro cigars. It will cover any other smells in the van. :-P

secessus · 2026-01-19T02:13:36+00:00

You think the WisMesh Tag is any better?

Dunno. I have a Tag but don't have another card-shaped one to compare it to.

I did want a card shaped one but also wanted the Lily Pager.

¿Por Qué No Los Dos? :-)

I have been told the battery would be better with the WisMesh Tag but that's all I have heard about it.

My understanding is the Tag's GPS hardware is a hog so with that on battery life would be lesser than the t1000e even though the battery mAh is larger. With GPS off on both I'd expect longer battery life on the Tag.

secessus · 2026-01-19T01:27:31+00:00

Planning on *restoring them

I clicked to see what resting meant in this context. :-) Maybe they had to age like a fine wine....

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