Remember to keep the weight down , plywood and paneling add a lot of pounds to a little 4 cylinder van . I'm a old school carpet installer and have customized many vans and boats over the years. I just purchased a 2013 Connect and will start to carpet it out with contact cement and foam underlay . This not only insulates but does a great job with noise reduction .
yes! I saw this today! It looks so great! I’m trying so hard to understand everything but my goodness the electrical work is killing me! I have 2 large deep cell batteries and a 3000w inverter that was already in the van, but I don’t understand any of it. lol! I have a big orange wire for the ac outlets and removed the white wire I think was for 12 v. So idk. I’m just gonna keep watching your videos bcc I love your setup. And I think I’ll do the same electrical setup you have. Thanks for responding to my questions even though these videos are two years old. lol! I appreciate you!
We weren’t living in our van, so I didn’t want to added complexity and cost of setting up an inverter. I can see how someone who is going to spend their lives in the van may want a microwave or plug in a hair dryer or something like that. The idea was to keep it simple and safe, so that’s the route I took. I didn’t want to be reliant on campgrounds for electricity and we were doing a lot of driving so the DC to DC charger combined with solar was really practical for that. I didn’t want to get a 200Ah battery because it weighs 120lbs and I couldn’t afford a lithium ion one. So simple 12v for the fridge, fan, lights and USB chargers was just what we needed! I can take a look and see if I still have the electrical video I made and publish that if I can.
Electrical was the most confusing and overwhelming part of the build for sure! You’re not alone. TH-cam helped, but there seemed to be a base of knowledge that is assumed for most of them and I had none of that.
@@theswansonspot62I won’t be living in this van either. But idk what these huge batteries are for or if I need them or the 3000w inverter. So maybe I should learn about the DC to DC bit. If it wasn’t for your video while framing your van and found that 12V plug i would have never seen mine in the exact same spot! So I pulled it out like you did and use it! So funny how it’s back there like that!
@chartmann43 the inverter is for converting your 12v battery into 120v so you can use it for standard outlets and stuff like that. Sort of depends on what you want to be able to plug in.
Excellent video, love being able to see what others do behind the walls! I’m re-doing my 2012 Connect, had a long winter & having a change up, this video is *exactly* what I’m looking for right now 🙌🏼🏴✌🏼✌🏼🚛💨💨
I had the top part of my pull out bed stolen from my carport yesterday and I’m so distraught about it. I live in an apartment and had it out for three hours and left it there during that short period of time and when I got back it was gone! And unfortunately there are no security cameras anywhere in this complex! I’m in California and I can’t understand how this place doesn’t have security cameras in 2024… now I have to figure out a new bed situation. I was just bawling my eyes out about this. Everyone here knows me and stops by to see my progress and are in awe that a little “girl” like me is doing big boy stuff. lol! But nobody who knows me would have taken it. 😢😢😢
Hi - It's a little late now, but...did you know you can remove that lower "bulge" beside the door? It's just a seatbelt post. Serves no purpose without rear seats. I removed mine by drilling through the weld spots (you can make them out around the edge). A little prying and they came right off. Maybe this will help someone else! Your van is in a lot better shape than my 2012. Nice!
Thanks Marcie! I am sure that will be helpful to others who watch! I did try one time to take it off out of curiosity, but when I saw the rivets, I didn’t go any further. In our build both sides ended up being covered up, so they didn’t bother us much. I appreciate your insight here though!
We used a box and a half of wool and we insulated it very well. We did not use any adhesive, but used some painters tape to hold it in place until the walls were up to hold it. Thanks for watching Shane!
Pretty simple 12v system. One 100Ah AGM battery charged by solar and a DC to DC charger off the main battery. Everything is 12v. You can see more in our full van tour with Camp Mymy th-cam.com/video/5rP2zQJJDlE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xJ0morQLo1KJwlUh
Remember to keep the weight down , plywood and paneling add a lot of pounds to a little 4 cylinder van . I'm a old school carpet installer and have customized many vans and boats over the years. I just purchased a 2013 Connect and will start to carpet it out with contact cement and foam underlay . This not only insulates but does a great job with noise reduction .
Thanks John! I am keeping track of rough weight and keeping in consideration ourselves and our gear as well.
Sure would be great to have all that space indoors & plenty tools
yes! I saw this today! It looks so great! I’m trying so hard to understand everything but my goodness the electrical work is killing me! I have 2 large deep cell batteries and a 3000w inverter that was already in the van, but I don’t understand any of it. lol! I have a big orange wire for the ac outlets and removed the white wire I think was for 12 v. So idk. I’m just gonna keep watching your videos bcc I love your setup. And I think I’ll do the same electrical setup you have. Thanks for responding to my questions even though these videos are two years old. lol! I appreciate you!
We weren’t living in our van, so I didn’t want to added complexity and cost of setting up an inverter. I can see how someone who is going to spend their lives in the van may want a microwave or plug in a hair dryer or something like that. The idea was to keep it simple and safe, so that’s the route I took. I didn’t want to be reliant on campgrounds for electricity and we were doing a lot of driving so the DC to DC charger combined with solar was really practical for that.
I didn’t want to get a 200Ah battery because it weighs 120lbs and I couldn’t afford a lithium ion one. So simple 12v for the fridge, fan, lights and USB chargers was just what we needed!
I can take a look and see if I still have the electrical video I made and publish that if I can.
Electrical was the most confusing and overwhelming part of the build for sure! You’re not alone. TH-cam helped, but there seemed to be a base of knowledge that is assumed for most of them and I had none of that.
@@theswansonspot62lol! Exactly! same here. Zero knowledge.
@@theswansonspot62I won’t be living in this van either. But idk what these huge batteries are for or if I need them or the 3000w inverter. So maybe I should learn about the DC to DC bit. If it wasn’t for your video while framing your van and found that 12V plug i would have never seen mine in the exact same spot! So I pulled it out like you did and use it! So funny how it’s back there like that!
@chartmann43 the inverter is for converting your 12v battery into 120v so you can use it for standard outlets and stuff like that. Sort of depends on what you want to be able to plug in.
Thank you for being an example.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
Excellent video, love being able to see what others do behind the walls! I’m re-doing my 2012 Connect, had a long winter & having a change up, this video is *exactly* what I’m looking for right now 🙌🏼🏴✌🏼✌🏼🚛💨💨
Thanks Ryan! Happy to hear that it was helpful! It was a tricky project, but ultimately I think it turned out well.
Planning on buying the samw van and this helps tremendously on the how to.
Awesome!! Good luck on your build!
Thanks 😊 this helps a lot. I’m using your vdo to build mine. Awesome informations
Right on! Good luck with the build!
@@theswansonspot62 thanks 😊
Thanks for the video ❤️ that help a lot ~
You’re welcome! Happy that helped! Thanks for watching!
Please! How did you hide the wire/conduit in the walls? In some places it is too bulky to place the paneling over it and look flush.
I had the top part of my pull out bed stolen from my carport yesterday and I’m so distraught about it. I live in an apartment and had it out for three hours and left it there during that short period of time and when I got back it was gone! And unfortunately there are no security cameras anywhere in this complex! I’m in California and I can’t understand how this place doesn’t have security cameras in 2024… now I have to figure out a new bed situation. I was just bawling my eyes out about this. Everyone here knows me and stops by to see my progress and are in awe that a little “girl” like me is doing big boy stuff. lol! But nobody who knows me would have taken it. 😢😢😢
Oh no!! Sorry to hear that!! That stinks big time!
Hi - It's a little late now, but...did you know you can remove that lower "bulge" beside the door? It's just a seatbelt post. Serves no purpose without rear seats. I removed mine by drilling through the weld spots (you can make them out around the edge). A little prying and they came right off. Maybe this will help someone else! Your van is in a lot better shape than my 2012. Nice!
Thanks Marcie! I am sure that will be helpful to others who watch! I did try one time to take it off out of curiosity, but when I saw the rivets, I didn’t go any further. In our build both sides ended up being covered up, so they didn’t bother us much. I appreciate your insight here though!
What little “bulges” are you referring to please? I’m wondering if they are what I am wanting to remove. There in the back door area? Kind of rubbery?
They are a piece of rounded metal that sticks out just behind where the door opening is.
@@theswansonspot62I tried removing it but omg it’s too hard!
@chartmann43 me too! I gave up quickly!
How much wool did you guys use? And what the sticky material on the walls?
We used a box and a half of wool and we insulated it very well. We did not use any adhesive, but used some painters tape to hold it in place until the walls were up to hold it. Thanks for watching Shane!
What size plywood did you guys use for the floor and wall studs?
Did you guys use any bearer on the wheel wells?
We used 1/2 inch for both.
You can see the sun floor installation here:
th-cam.com/video/967sMXuz190/w-d-xo.html
What are you using for your electrical system? Do you have an inverter? Batteries?
Pretty simple 12v system. One 100Ah AGM battery charged by solar and a DC to DC charger off the main battery. Everything is 12v.
You can see more in our full van tour with Camp Mymy
th-cam.com/video/5rP2zQJJDlE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=xJ0morQLo1KJwlUh
✔️