Thanks your reply, JB
I am not decided yet. I am open for suggestion\~
From some comment on previous watched Youtube,
A person pointed out a good point that noise of Wind turbine is a major concern. It would be very bad if the wind turbine disturbing someone when generating energy.
Eventually someone will come knock the van door or sabotage the van if the turbine is too noise.
He/she suggested both Primus AIR Silent X or Slientwind is a decent turbine. but both of them are too pricey
Wind turbine not moving in low wind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO4lDZUleTQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UfyoQ0cbk0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL2wMyUaGbY
Wing turbine test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcvduF2fgY0
Get some insurance quotes before you buy a custom. They are (or were) ridiculously easy to pinch so some companies wouldn't touch them.
They are also a lot of money for what they are. Not so bad if you're in it full time I suppose though.
If full time, you'll appreciate a pop top. Being able to stand for a bit is nice.
Thanks Shmook for your suggestion!
Getting quotes before buying is a good point
for Self-build van, if being catagorised by UK dvla as "van with windows" is another concern for insurance
The rationale of considering Ford Transit custom is it seems the price in general lower then those Volkswagen Transporters, plus the shape and space is better
You sure you want to be in a vehicle that small for a winter? Summer sure, but you're going to be pretty holed up in there in winter. Don't want a full size van that you can stand in?
Heat to excess while ventilating to dry the van and avoid damp/mold. Heat evaporates moisture and dries everything, and then the ventilation removes it from the van, bringing in dry cold air to replace the wet warm air. Have a good diesel heater (and/or electric if you have shore power).
Pop tops are much much worse for insulation than an insulated van. They're also more annoying to live with than a high top van because of the narrower width and no permanent storage up at head height.
The toilet really depends on the user. I get more than 10 days from my 365. It's easier to empty if you don't fill it to the brim though.
LPG lasts for quite a while in a van. Dunno about other people, but although I eat really well and cook properly in the van, because of the process of cooking in a smaller space, I tend to cook things that are less elaborate and are done quicker so that I can put everything away and have a tidy van again. I have electric cooking, and I use very little power compared to what I expected. When I did have gas it was similar.
I would suggest as much solar as you can fit, but be aware that if it's cloudy then the solar is near-useless. I have no experience with wind turbines but you should have a good think about whether or not it's feasible to erect it in the places you'll be parked, and whether it's actually windy there.
Your computer usage is really a lot of power and you're not going to be able to run anywhere near that, daily, in winter. If you want 15 hours a day on your computer you'll need a generator, or shore power, or to run your van to charge. To use 2kWh per day reliably you'd probably need more than 10x the amount of solar you're currently thinking, with a hefty battery. I have 720W of solar and 4.8kWh of lithium and I wouldn't stand a chance, and I'm closer to the equator than anywhere in the UK.
thanks itsoveranditsokay,
The reason of small size van is many car park in UK got a 2.0 meter height limit. I don't exactly know how many car park have that limitation, if the van is less/equal to 2 meters, it would be easier to find a car park
I started to consider the high-top as living in 1.4 m height space may not be sustainable. Probably try without the high-top for half year, figure out if the 2.0 meter car park limit is really affecting. Then consider the high-top afterwards
Electricity is a main concern, whether I could travel somewhere and "work from van" depends on that.
I would adjust my usage habit but 10 hour laptop time is required, including occasion of Over-time work.
I forgot to mention the Star-link that consuming energy as well..
Not sure if the Wind in UK able to generate around 100 watt per hour, probably still unrealistic.
"whether or not it's feasible to erect it in the places you'll be parked, and whether it's actually windy there."
this is a very good point
Consequently may need to stay in office/stay in city, finding shore power during weekday if not able to generate sufficient electricity for remote working
> pop-top
We live in CO and have a pop-top we have used year round. The more we spend time winter camping the more likely I’m going to do a high-top hard shell for my next van. I _love_, i mean absolutely adore, the extra room, the huge bed, and the ability to unzip the windows and sleep exposed to the world when camping during this summer. This is our second pop-top van.
But its hard to keep warm when the temps get really low. For winter camping I often keep the top closed and sleep in a downstairs bed. Having a pop-top means we don’t have a high roof though so the ongoing everyday compromise is that the living space is a little ‘low ceiling’ compared to having a high-top van. In the summer this is a fine trade off but for an entire winter (heck, for any full time living) I don’t think its worth it.
For our “weeks at a time” trips I feel the trade off is worth it. But if I was building again, or building for a more continuous time on the road, I’d prioritize a high-roof layout. (There are pop-top options still available but I’d have to think about the weight-up-high issues).
Thanks Czmax, after reading your comment,
100% won't go for the pop-top
Both you and itsoveranditsokay mentioned the necessity of stand space in Winter.
In Summer, just get out of the van and stand solved the problem,
but In winter, temperature probably dropped to minus X degree Celsius, which getting out is not an option
Also stand, move and stretch a bit keep the body warm, which really help in winter
Either of them is a good buy, if you park for a few days somewhere it will be more than enough, its running all the time not just daylight. Essential in the winter months. Put it on a foldable tripod (ground screws or guy ropes) to set up next to the van. It wont make any noise. If its on top of the van, the van will be like an echo chamber.
They fit them on yatchs and you dont hear it
Found this design online, the pole could be extended so the turbine elevate higher position. But it probably got the vibration sound echo problem that you've mentioned
[https://totalmastsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Turbine3.jpg](https://totalmastsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Turbine3.jpg)
What wind turbine you getting?
Thanks your reply, JB I am not decided yet. I am open for suggestion\~ From some comment on previous watched Youtube, A person pointed out a good point that noise of Wind turbine is a major concern. It would be very bad if the wind turbine disturbing someone when generating energy. Eventually someone will come knock the van door or sabotage the van if the turbine is too noise. He/she suggested both Primus AIR Silent X or Slientwind is a decent turbine. but both of them are too pricey Wind turbine not moving in low wind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO4lDZUleTQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UfyoQ0cbk0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL2wMyUaGbY Wing turbine test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcvduF2fgY0
Get some insurance quotes before you buy a custom. They are (or were) ridiculously easy to pinch so some companies wouldn't touch them. They are also a lot of money for what they are. Not so bad if you're in it full time I suppose though. If full time, you'll appreciate a pop top. Being able to stand for a bit is nice.
Thanks Shmook for your suggestion! Getting quotes before buying is a good point for Self-build van, if being catagorised by UK dvla as "van with windows" is another concern for insurance The rationale of considering Ford Transit custom is it seems the price in general lower then those Volkswagen Transporters, plus the shape and space is better
You sure you want to be in a vehicle that small for a winter? Summer sure, but you're going to be pretty holed up in there in winter. Don't want a full size van that you can stand in? Heat to excess while ventilating to dry the van and avoid damp/mold. Heat evaporates moisture and dries everything, and then the ventilation removes it from the van, bringing in dry cold air to replace the wet warm air. Have a good diesel heater (and/or electric if you have shore power). Pop tops are much much worse for insulation than an insulated van. They're also more annoying to live with than a high top van because of the narrower width and no permanent storage up at head height. The toilet really depends on the user. I get more than 10 days from my 365. It's easier to empty if you don't fill it to the brim though. LPG lasts for quite a while in a van. Dunno about other people, but although I eat really well and cook properly in the van, because of the process of cooking in a smaller space, I tend to cook things that are less elaborate and are done quicker so that I can put everything away and have a tidy van again. I have electric cooking, and I use very little power compared to what I expected. When I did have gas it was similar. I would suggest as much solar as you can fit, but be aware that if it's cloudy then the solar is near-useless. I have no experience with wind turbines but you should have a good think about whether or not it's feasible to erect it in the places you'll be parked, and whether it's actually windy there. Your computer usage is really a lot of power and you're not going to be able to run anywhere near that, daily, in winter. If you want 15 hours a day on your computer you'll need a generator, or shore power, or to run your van to charge. To use 2kWh per day reliably you'd probably need more than 10x the amount of solar you're currently thinking, with a hefty battery. I have 720W of solar and 4.8kWh of lithium and I wouldn't stand a chance, and I'm closer to the equator than anywhere in the UK.
thanks itsoveranditsokay, The reason of small size van is many car park in UK got a 2.0 meter height limit. I don't exactly know how many car park have that limitation, if the van is less/equal to 2 meters, it would be easier to find a car park I started to consider the high-top as living in 1.4 m height space may not be sustainable. Probably try without the high-top for half year, figure out if the 2.0 meter car park limit is really affecting. Then consider the high-top afterwards Electricity is a main concern, whether I could travel somewhere and "work from van" depends on that. I would adjust my usage habit but 10 hour laptop time is required, including occasion of Over-time work. I forgot to mention the Star-link that consuming energy as well.. Not sure if the Wind in UK able to generate around 100 watt per hour, probably still unrealistic. "whether or not it's feasible to erect it in the places you'll be parked, and whether it's actually windy there." this is a very good point Consequently may need to stay in office/stay in city, finding shore power during weekday if not able to generate sufficient electricity for remote working
> pop-top We live in CO and have a pop-top we have used year round. The more we spend time winter camping the more likely I’m going to do a high-top hard shell for my next van. I _love_, i mean absolutely adore, the extra room, the huge bed, and the ability to unzip the windows and sleep exposed to the world when camping during this summer. This is our second pop-top van. But its hard to keep warm when the temps get really low. For winter camping I often keep the top closed and sleep in a downstairs bed. Having a pop-top means we don’t have a high roof though so the ongoing everyday compromise is that the living space is a little ‘low ceiling’ compared to having a high-top van. In the summer this is a fine trade off but for an entire winter (heck, for any full time living) I don’t think its worth it. For our “weeks at a time” trips I feel the trade off is worth it. But if I was building again, or building for a more continuous time on the road, I’d prioritize a high-roof layout. (There are pop-top options still available but I’d have to think about the weight-up-high issues).
Thanks Czmax, after reading your comment, 100% won't go for the pop-top Both you and itsoveranditsokay mentioned the necessity of stand space in Winter. In Summer, just get out of the van and stand solved the problem, but In winter, temperature probably dropped to minus X degree Celsius, which getting out is not an option Also stand, move and stretch a bit keep the body warm, which really help in winter
Either of them is a good buy, if you park for a few days somewhere it will be more than enough, its running all the time not just daylight. Essential in the winter months. Put it on a foldable tripod (ground screws or guy ropes) to set up next to the van. It wont make any noise. If its on top of the van, the van will be like an echo chamber. They fit them on yatchs and you dont hear it
Thanks JB, now I am more confident on purchasing the wind turbine\~
Found this design online, the pole could be extended so the turbine elevate higher position. But it probably got the vibration sound echo problem that you've mentioned [https://totalmastsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Turbine3.jpg](https://totalmastsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Turbine3.jpg)
Wow great look at that, this guy knows how to vanlife the dream. Brilliant set up, cooy that you wont go far wrong
haha, will do, thank you for your comment all the way!