Thread: Stan the van (With Gav & Jan)

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Looks great, but have you weighed this van yet?

Thanks - Yes, still got hundreds of Kg’s up my sleeve with us both in it and loaded for a trip. Also just removed the 120Kg gen so I think I have about 600Kg still to go - it’s a 5,000kg truck chassis so I’m not going to run into issues like people do with their 4WD or caravans etc.

Still have a 120 litre water tank to go into it so that’s probably the biggest chunk left to do, so should still have some wiggle room once it’s all done.

So got quite a bit more done - the main bit being the shower base which took quite a while as I had to install the diesel heater first. To give you some idea of why the shower is like this, the toilet sits in top of the old generator enclosure which comes up around 240mm up from the floor in the corner of the van. This meant I really needed to extend this area so using the loo would work, so bringing the shower base up to this height made sense.

Also note that the shower is likely to be used a dozen times a year or so, so it’s not like you’d build one at home although I have used this method before and it works well, although I used different materials.

So, to make the shower base work and be at a similar height to the loo, I first needed to had a solid surround, so used 18mm form ply and cut 4 pieces to line the edges. The front piece is cut out underneath to allow access to underneath where the heater lives.

B865B00A-2B75-499B-9C8B-3BFCB62093C8 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Next cut another piece of form ply to fit the space.
A890EF4D-2536-4F94-8D51-26265997F63C by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Once the drain location is known based on how the waste can be run, I marked up the board, cut where the waste was then marked and cut the board from each corner to the waste hole.
CE0662B5-A2EE-47B4-913F-E1E8AECD7098 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

The sides have plenty of support so now the centre does too, so a quick rat through my scrap steel pile had me find some bits to make the following.
40FD9EB1-4768-4F1D-BADC-7ED5411F507A by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Once the drain for the centre support was made, it was installing into Stan and all the waste plumbing done - the sink in the kitchen and the shower now run to one point which can be either piped to a waste in a caravan park etc or switched to an internal grey water tank (still to be installed)
0DE7837B-B766-4F8D-9002-D14D7F0CF601 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then the support mounted.
14E64F07-765D-42F9-BB42-1E832A5C5D7A by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

The diesel heater was then fitted and fully installed (just in time for Summer.. 😏 ) and the top boards screwed into position giving a 20mm fall from all sides to the waste. The gaps were purposefully left fairly large so the could be glued together with PU. Once that has set up, the base will be waterproofed and the have vinyl tiles stuck on - should last ok in the application.
74916675-34C0-4CD1-ADB5-90D2C84749E0 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

A shot from underneath.
F80C4422-2FC3-41F7-9244-9CBB9D664CEE by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

So hopefully will get the tanking and tiles down in the next couple of days if I have time but it’s coming along well.

Another lockdown, some more work done. This time getting the first water tank fitted. We’ve just camped with friends at caravan parks and Showgrounds so far but we have a long weekend coming and if we aren’t locked down we’ll be spending 3 nights free camping for the first time. Water is the biggest job so have tackled that first.

Now, there’s plenty of room up under Stans skirts - enough room to fit 3 x 80 odd litre tanks - but all need unique mounting methods given I have to fit these with everything else in place. Going to start with 1 x 85 litre water tank and can add another if needed.

Brackets need to be bolted up, then the tank offered up, so the only way to do this is with some detachable bases to the brackets so the tank can go in then be secured. Made up some hinge type things on the lathe and welded them up.
7787B85E-4590-492A-86AE-B0C7159A06E5 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Found a good spot for the filler too that is out of the way and didn’t require any new holes drilling.
F19CECB7-A58F-4B9F-B866-B850B320ACD5 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And can still fill it fine with the steps down.
01ED5B1A-48BF-4010-8107-C77B9945C656 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And very secure when packed away.
F2D35BCF-692F-4C54-87BD-F242BEEE4ED7 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

All plumbed up through a pressure pump and accumulator. Almost silent running too. Will run a test on the shower to see what sort of consumption a short tub will use.

So all the good gear from the Caravan is now in Stan. Lithium battery, Victron Solar controller, Victron battery management and the 90 litre Engel. Just have to stick some solar panels on the roof but that will be a while yet. Have a 120 watt portable panel I can use if needed although I think the Lithium battery will get me 3 days and nights without recharge - will find out on the weekend.

Untill you actually live an a van for more than an overnighter, you dont realise just how precious water is, your ability to eke out your supply will always be your limiting factor.
also, I always fill the tank through one of these, I have a small loop of hose( sort of a carry handle) that goes from the outlet into the tank, this also secures the filter openings

Originally Posted by Homestar

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Stove top and HWS is all plumbed in and working like a treat. Went for an instantaneous gas unit as I’ve never liked having storage units in vans, etc - seems a waste when you may only use the hot water a couple of times a day.

Heats up to 50 degrees in a matter of seconds and the controller allows easy adjustment of the temp so having a shower is a set and forget exercise - just turn the tap on full and you’re done.

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Can you provide details of the HWS, gas use and approx cost pls Gav?

cheers, DL

We've had the Wombat Hilton, now we have the Wombat Park Hilton..

Originally Posted by 350RRC

Can you provide details of the HWS, gas use and approx cost pls Gav?

cheers, DL

It is this one - Girard Endless Instant Hot Water System for Caravans | Award RV

Not sure on gas use yet - only had it out for 2 weekends with it all working, but I like this unit better than the small storage unit in my caravan.

Award RV are good to deal with too, and are open to a bit if haggling which I like.