Answers
Van build questions, answered plainly
Short answers to the questions most DIY van builds run into. Every number is a planning estimate or a sample number. Check yours against your van, the product manuals and, where it matters, a qualified professional.
10 answers
- How much power do I need for a van build?Add up your daily watt-hours, then size the battery for the days between charges. A worked sample, with numbers labeled as planning estimates.
- How much solar do I need for a van?Solar has to put back what you use on parked days, in the season you travel. How to size it, with a worked sample in planning estimates.
- Will my van's alternator keep up with a DC-DC charger?Compare the charger's input draw to what your alternator has left after the van's own loads. A worked sample in planning estimates.
- How do I mount an upright fridge in a van so it stays put?Fasten an upright van fridge to structure, not cabinet skin, and keep the vent gaps the manual asks for. A worked sample in planning estimates.
- Fixed bed or bed lift in a van?Fixed beds are simpler and lighter. Bed lifts give daytime space back at a cost in weight and install. How to choose, with a worked sample.
- How much payload does my van actually have?Real payload is the door-label GVWR minus your van's weight on a scale. Then check each axle. A worked sample in planning estimates.
- What should I buy first for a van build?Buy the parts that set the size of other parts, after the layout is drawn. Hold batteries, solar and lumber until loads and layout are set.
- When should I cut the roof on a van build?Cut the roof early, once the van is stripped and the layout is set, before insulation, wiring and ceiling. A sample sequence and when to get help.
- What does "it depends" depend on in a van build?Most van build answers trace back to five inputs: the van, the people, where and when, time off-grid, and budget. How one question traces through.
- Planning estimate vs professional design: what's the difference?A planning estimate helps you choose and budget. A professional design is what you build high-risk systems from. When you need each, with a sample.