Vandweller in a g20 campervan

Feel free to ask me anything!

This is my Chevy G20 Conversion Van that I have "customized". I installed solar panels, a bed, and a HD TV (for gaming). I've been living in it for a year now.

A little bit about me:
I am a 25 year old (2012) college student from Connecticut. I started living in my car in the winter of 2009 and bought this van that summer.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• campervan
• homeless
• vandweller
• vandwelling
• conversion van
• solar panels
• Harbor freight
• 45 watt
• golf cart
• batteries
• travel
• G20
• Chevy
• 1994
• boondocking
• offgrid
• green
• stealth
• energy
• connecticut
• Camping
• Sustainable Energy
• Power

[z1kstunna]

Hello from a neighbor to your east (R.I.). I am wondering about your solar power, looks like the harbor freight kit. I am starting the design part of converting my van and I cant find much about how much solar power I would need to be comfortable. I dont plan on using it to run a refrigerator or electric heater but just a tv, dvd player and maby a few lcd lights and a laptop. I have been guestimating a 200 watt system would work but would love some input from someone in the know.

[krazilogicz]

@z1kstunna hello! Will you be using an AC or DC tv? If i remember correctly converting an AC tv to DC uses a significant amount of energy, For my Setup I have a 1200 watt interverter, 45 watt solar panels (which gives me about 3-4 amps per hour), and two energizer golf cart batteries. I have a 19 inch that has a rating of 40 watts, a PS2 Slim 45 watts. The Harbor Freight Solar Panel kit has a charge regular which offers USB/12v Ports.

[krazilogicz]

@z1kstunna

If I were to do it again I would invest on better solar panels and pure sine wave interverter, maybe more batteries. They always say to plan for the future. The pure sine wave interverter will play nicer with your electronics. Since I live in the northeast and it's winter time there's only about 2 hours of peak solar shine, which with these panels only gives me about 6-8 amps to recharge the batteries.

[jp3eku]

Hello fellow Vandweller! Nice Van! I just got a '94 Chevy G30 Roadtrek, it has the same roof as yours. Could you do a video on how you built the metal holding brackets and where you bought/fabricated them? It would make for a great how-to video. You could even explain how the house batteries let you run what you need it too (tv, game system, etc.) Vandwelling is obviously getting more and more popular by the day. There are a ton of video but none that have solar panels like you! Please tell us!

[krazilogicz]

@jp3eku I should've made the DIY video when I first started building them. It has been two years since I made these, I barely remember how I did it lol. I know I used off the shelf angle aluminum brackets from Home Depot that were cut to make an enclosure around the panels. I used the same style brackets, C-Clamps, and bolts to mount them to the rain gutters. It's actually a miracle it worked. Anyway It's getting warmer so I might take them apart and make a video let you suggested. Good Luck!

[MrImisolate]

Got my van! No more high rent !!

[krazilogicz]

@MrImisolate congrats. keep warm during the winters if you live up north.

[turbobuick33]

How did you get HD tv and how many channels you have?

[ssj4goko4]

@MNC122703 solar works with clouds just not as good. i use a truck camper myself with solar wind so if theirs no sun theirs normally the other.

[ssj4goko4]

@krazilogicz that space heater you got should work fine. the strong smell is the brake in oil run it outside for a hr or so and the smell should go away. i use a 3000 btu of the same style and it heats my camper just fine if im not using electric heat. just rember there not vented crack a window.

[ssj4goko4]

@Andreas748 i use a 250cc scooter to get around and they attach just fine to most bike racks.

[MNC122703]

love what you did with the space , I have ponderd this idea aswell but I have my wife with me otherwise I might have taken the plundge , how does the solar fair with the weather?