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Me n SWMBO were discussing levels of comfort last time we were van life in Europe in the Bongo. I'm looking for a little bit more. Not a full boat RV but a wee step up in interior space.

Happily found/discovered the Autosleeper monocoque pod on a 2.5ltr TD Ford Transit lwb chassis. It's just retro enough to my mind to be .

Looking forward to collecting it and getting into it. First thing first will be PV & leisure battery on a clamshell build monocoque.

Before that though I'll need a night away at Braemar in the snow.

I’ve got a flexi 100 watt panel you can have, still in the box.

AGT wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:02 pm I’ve got a flexi 100 watt panel you can have, still in the box.

Ooh! Barter, I likes it! Thought I'd fire up a test ad on the old Bongo and it sold in 5hrs....At real money too.

Are you going for a 4s LF280k setup on the leisure battery?

Stinsy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:17 pm Are you going for a 4s LF280k setup on the leisure battery?

God knows! Good idea though. First thing will be to make sure all the RV gubbins work as left factory. Once I've cracked through that list we'll look at where any pass through is situated in the monocoque.

Joeboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:47 pm

Stinsy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:17 pm Are you going for a 4s LF280k setup on the leisure battery?

God knows! Good idea though. First thing will be to make sure all the RV gubbins work as left factory. Once I've cracked through that list we'll look at where any pass through is situated in the monocoque.

A 14.4V alternator voltage matches really nicely with a 4s LFP pack charging voltage. I guess that van has a beefy alternator, if it is a bit weedy then you might want to fit a smaller pully so the altenator spins a bit faster. LFP batteries pull a bit more current when charging than Lead and some weedy altenators overheat when trying to charge a LFP at idle speeds. Alternatively you could have a switch at the driver's seat that connects the two systems for charging and only throw the switch once you're on the motorway...

Joeboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:13 pm

AGT wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:02 pm I’ve got a flexi 100 watt panel you can have, still in the box.

Ooh! Barter, I likes it! Thought I'd fire up a test ad on the old Bongo and it sold in 5hrs....At real money too.

If you don’t mind saying what site did you sell it on?

AGT wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 8:26 pm

Joeboy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:13 pm

AGT wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 7:02 pm I’ve got a flexi 100 watt panel you can have, still in the box.

Ooh! Barter, I likes it! Thought I'd fire up a test ad on the old Bongo and it sold in 5hrs....At real money too.

If you don’t mind saying what site did you sell it on?

Gumtree. Priced it at 1k below fair market value in a private sale, so that's about 3k below dealer price. It flew! Anecdote, one guy was eager to view and first through the door but needed to check if he could get time away from work on Wednesday for when we are back home. I mentioned this to the next guy and he said "I'll bank transfer you now". As Jack & Victor say.. "He who hingeth aboot getteth heehaw".

Did the same for the new van, didn't mess about, didn't dicker. Asked my questions, good answers received and sent a deposit. The guy had the van on at 6 grand under the average anyway and i'm not joking 12 grand under forecourt dealer price. The only fault is a cracked side window. It's acrylic so I'll run the solder iron down it on a narrow tip to reseal it and strengthen inside and out. First Battle scar! SWMBO woke up full of great ideas and plans. She will make it a beautiful wee home.

The only risk I have taken is that I'll have to ensure that everything inside the habitation pod is working. Thinking fridge freezer and water heater, shower pump. I expect them to be as the van is truly mint. If not there's more than enough left over from the killer price to upgrade and repair.

Sorry, Gumtree to answer the original question. I just remembered, I better drain the water tank when I get it home as we are looking at minus 5 next week, which is OK as it will be.the following week before I can collect van post ashp install.

Cheers Bud!