Hey Mike, I have been watching your videos for a couple years now. I want to say that I super appreciate you. You are so straight forward and authentic - pretty rare in general and on TH-cam specifically. You are clearly a kind person and I'm sure we would be good friends. Cheers, Keldon
Just got my Transit on December 17, 2021. Waited almost nine months. I got my Flatline Van Co. roof rack and ladder installed, but Winter is not cooperating with my plans. There are some advantages to living in California I guess. I have two videos up on my channel and will add more as the weather cooperates. My van is a long wheelbase (not extended) so I have a little less roof real estate. I'm not putting a fan up there. Air conditioning and solar panels are higher priority. I'm going to install the Dometic RTX 2000 also. It's going to be fun!
Hey Brit and Mike, Its been a few years of van life and you should have good data on how your solar system is performing. Are finding that 400 watts is enough to charge run your loads and charge your 500ah battery bank? fI realize you are running the AC, Starlink, and have a heated floor so it might be a streatch. Especially if you were in the PNW. Its time for me to buy batteries and your input would be very helpful. Happy trails, blue skys and fair winds!
Very nice solar to battery ratio there. 500ah of lithium is very beefy!! Your DC2DC charger will do the heavy lifting for charging that battery bank and the solar panels will keep them topped off when you're not on the move. Lithium batteries love being full too. I have 300w of solar and 300ah of lithium. Does the job but will be going for 500ah minimum on the next build for sure.
Thanks for the reassurance! We were originally going with 400ah of lithium but we saw Sara and Alex James recommended 500ah for our air conditioning unit, and we figured it was better safe than sorry.
@@britandmike yeah, and even 500ah for the AC might be the bare minimum too. But that depends on how many amps the AC pulls. AC in a van is a nice luxury for sure!! :)
Hi Brit hey Mike, I have a question. I’ve been following your build for about a year. Love your work I’ve been trying to use your build as a basis for my build I put 2 of the Renogy 200 W solar panels on my van. My question is with the high noon Sun. I’m not pulling in anymore then 280 W. Does that sound normal? I may have shorted one of my panels out when I was installing it just not sure. Thank you guys for all the great videos. Everything you do is golden, I finally got my floor walls and bed platform done now I get to start on the fun stuff. Thanks again, John.
Thanks so much for watching! We’d say 280 watts isn’t super unusual. Typically we don’t get the full 400 watts - it depends on a lot of factors but more commonly we don’t get more than like 320 watts. We have seen them get over 400 a couple times in Baja but it’s rare!
Thanks for getting back to me on this. That makes me feel better. I’ve really enjoyed the videos and how you explain everything, you guys really helped me with my build which I’m getting closer to the end of. Thanks again. keep up the good work. my wife and myself are enjoying watching your adventures. 😊
Did you put lock tight on all those so they do not vibrate loose? It looks fine out the back -- a good use of space, it does not look like it extends back farther than the bumper, and if you move the spare tire to the back door, it will be well protected.
New subscriber. Enjoying your progress so far. Have learned a few things. I have a question. Could you have mounted your panels to the extruded aluminum cross braces off the van, and then just dropped them in and bolted them onto the side rails?
Thank you! Mike says that you might be able to take the solar panels with the crossbars attached, and slide them into place in the side rails starting from the back of the rack. But you can’t drop them straight down into place because the top of the side rails are narrower than the space where the crossbars attach.
Hey Mike, I have been watching your videos for a couple years now. I want to say that I super appreciate you. You are so straight forward and authentic - pretty rare in general and on TH-cam specifically. You are clearly a kind person and I'm sure we would be good friends. Cheers, Keldon
Thanks Keldon, that’s so nice of you to say! Cheers!
You guys are really going after it. Good job.
I bet it is nice to be done with the exterior/roof and working on the inside now.
Thank you! Yes, since this video we have also put in the subfloor and it is an awesome feeling to see some progress inside the van!
It's electrifying watching your progress! Happy New Year!
Thank you, happy new year!
Just got my Transit on December 17, 2021. Waited almost nine months. I got my Flatline Van Co. roof rack and ladder installed, but Winter is not cooperating with my plans. There are some advantages to living in California I guess. I have two videos up on my channel and will add more as the weather cooperates. My van is a long wheelbase (not extended) so I have a little less roof real estate. I'm not putting a fan up there. Air conditioning and solar panels are higher priority. I'm going to install the Dometic RTX 2000 also. It's going to be fun!
Hey Brit and Mike, Its been a few years of van life and you should have good data on how your solar system is performing. Are finding that 400 watts is enough to charge run your loads and charge your 500ah battery bank? fI realize you are running the AC, Starlink, and have a heated floor so it might be a streatch. Especially if you were in the PNW. Its time for me to buy batteries and your input would be very helpful. Happy trails, blue skys and fair winds!
I would like to know this as well.
Nice move with the carriage bolts. And go raaaaaiiiiddddeeeerrrrsss!
Thank you! Go Raiiiiiderrrrrs!!
Great video and clever solution!
Thank you!
Very nice solar to battery ratio there. 500ah of lithium is very beefy!! Your DC2DC charger will do the heavy lifting for charging that battery bank and the solar panels will keep them topped off when you're not on the move. Lithium batteries love being full too. I have 300w of solar and 300ah of lithium. Does the job but will be going for 500ah minimum on the next build for sure.
Thanks for the reassurance! We were originally going with 400ah of lithium but we saw Sara and Alex James recommended 500ah for our air conditioning unit, and we figured it was better safe than sorry.
@@britandmike yeah, and even 500ah for the AC might be the bare minimum too. But that depends on how many amps the AC pulls. AC in a van is a nice luxury for sure!! :)
Good job, guys!!!!
Thanks Rita!
Looking good guys!
Thank you!
Hi Brit hey Mike, I have a question. I’ve been following your build for about a year. Love your work I’ve been trying to use your build as a basis for my build I put 2 of the Renogy 200 W solar panels on my van. My question is with the high noon Sun. I’m not pulling in anymore then 280 W. Does that sound normal? I may have shorted one of my panels out when I was installing it just not sure. Thank you guys for all the great videos. Everything you do is golden, I finally got my floor walls and bed platform done now I get to start on the fun stuff. Thanks again, John.
Thanks so much for watching! We’d say 280 watts isn’t super unusual. Typically we don’t get the full 400 watts - it depends on a lot of factors but more commonly we don’t get more than like 320 watts. We have seen them get over 400 a couple times in Baja but it’s rare!
Thanks for getting back to me on this. That makes me feel better. I’ve really enjoyed the videos and how you explain everything, you guys really helped me with my build which I’m getting closer to the end of. Thanks again. keep up the good work. my wife and myself are enjoying watching your adventures. 😊
Did you put lock tight on all those so they do not vibrate loose? It looks fine out the back -- a good use of space, it does not look like it extends back farther than the bumper, and if you move the spare tire to the back door, it will be well protected.
Thanks for the tip - we didn't, but Mike will keep an eye on it and add later if we need to!
Nice work guys! Do you know the size of carriage bolts? I have a the same roof rack and would be installing my solar panel in a similar manner.
New subscriber. Enjoying your progress so far. Have learned a few things. I have a question. Could you have mounted your panels to the extruded aluminum cross braces off the van, and then just dropped them in and bolted them onto the side rails?
Thank you! Mike says that you might be able to take the solar panels with the crossbars attached, and slide them into place in the side rails starting from the back of the rack. But you can’t drop them straight down into place because the top of the side rails are narrower than the space where the crossbars attach.
Thanks. Look forward to the next episode.
what's that carriage bolt size?