Van of enormous power Mk 4

[richbee]

Sounds brilliant

[Joeboy]

Sounds brilliant

It has been lovely. The fairy dust has been sprinkled, the improvements list made while we were away. Once home SWMBO went through the house and populated the van with many zero cost upgrade pieces. All of which add to the van.

My own contribution is the "day" bin. An old detergent capsule tub, 2 cable Ties and an adhesive sucker. Incredibly handy! Tomorrow I'll be making up door window insulated covers out of old gear from the home rear lounge windows.

We've also got a really cool reclining chair set and table/seat in fold out for Al fresco dining. This is really a blast.

[Joeboy]

That was one of the most satisfying, fun things I've done for a while. Handmade, suction pad, thermal blinds for the van cabin doors. No cost as swmbo had the gear squirrelled away in the loft from previous projects.It was also her idea to make em.

There's a recurring theme developing here? .
Clever lassie.

Wind deflectors are absolutely excellent. Amazing on the road at weekend. Zero cabin buffeting by trucks and can be left cracked open to keep interior fresh

[Joeboy]

Tomorrow will see extra pir led lights in bathroom and cabin. Acrylic mirror in bathroom ( four pack), usb 4 connection fast charger, one way film test on a window and maybe have a crack at mozzie screen repair on sky light covers. Gotta think hot climates, air circulation and hopefully no insect ingress! All items from SWMBO 15 point weekend list. She disnae miss much.

[AE-NMidlands]

... maybe have a crack at mozzie screen repair on sky light covers. Gotta think hot climates, air circulation and hopefully no insect ingress!

or even cold climate (Scotland) when air circulation can't be stopped because of the wind, but insect ingress is still double-plus ungood!

Have I told the story of our family turning up at a Forestry Commission campsite, Glen Trool in Galloway? We checked in for 4 or 5 nights, the lady on reception looked very doubtful and said "Are you sure? I'm afraid we can't make any refunds!"
It turned out the mossies were so dreadful that most people moved on the next morning and were offended that the Forestry Commission rules didn't allow her to make any payments... We just sat it out and enjoyed the holiday.

(The mossies weren't anywhere near as bad as at a campsite near Strontian another year! There you couldn't even have breakfast "outdoors"! )

[Joeboy]

The midgies don't bother me. Grew up with them I suppose.

Tiger mosquito in Italy, now that's a whole different scope of beastie! It's those we'll be aiming to keep out!

Did a little improvement on the broken medicine cabinet. It was of no use without doors. Fitted backmounted acrylic mirror, retaining bars for toothbrush holder, razor etc and a motion sensor light running on van charged aaa's. I prefer air circulation to a closed cabinet.

[Joeboy]

In lighter vehicle news,, I can happyily report that the van via the offgrid set up has completed the 2 pie small oven test successfully

I often stop at Aldi when in Europe and they have a smashing savoury section in the bakery. That's me sorted then.










Hazy sun through a good grey layer.




Fast recovery too.


The pies have left the building.


Stretching the narrative a little. That's also my first wireless export to the grid (bear with me). The power I'd have used to run up the airfryer in the home has instead been sent gridward.

[resybaby]

Love the reflective shiels, top job by swmbo there

Made some for my transporter in a similar veing but used doubled up heavyweight blackout linings as i can only sleep if its pitch dark.

Will make a huge difference to your nightime comfort levels in foil though, sp on the warmer continent.

[Joeboy]

A beautiful day up here so decided to cook the evening meal in the van.

8 chicken thighs gently pan fried in garlic and onions with olive oil and a touch of smoked paprika along with piri piri salt.

Two tins of plum tomatoes, a tub of pasata, one chopped chorizo ring.

Add all to a 270W slow cooker and take to the van for a 6 hour cook. At hour 5 add a tin of cannelloni beans.

Butter and a crusty baguette to accompany.

Export the power not used in cooking the meal. Be happy!

[Joeboy]

I am amazed at this. Kind of thought of van solar as slightly 'toy'. Combine it with a slow cooker and it's all you'd need. Amazing!

Stuck a hive plug on so I can see the momentary load. The van PV generation is outstripping it on its best moments.

I'll need to find a low load cooking ring. Maybe an induction.