My PVC upgrades….

[Just smiffy]

As long as he doesn't supply his own wine, I'll never forget that one (a bit of a private joke).

I’ll get ya a nice beer next time Lenny…

 

[Badknee]

want to keep everything simple (cause I am simples..)

Agreed

 

[minesapint]

The small scaffolding tower came this morning, it’ll make it easier for me to climb up there and a bit safer too. I’m going to take off the air-con unit so I can put as much solar up there that I can get on, I had a quick look and I’m going to re-seal all the skylights as I’m not happy with how they look now.

As I’ll be up and down a lot I thought it a good investment at £230…

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Are you not refitting your Air Con ?. Or are you not going to use sites so you need all the solar you can get.
We were in Spain and the South of France last year and Air Con would have been top of my list for nee toys.

 

[daash]

Craig Solar Feeback - I bought a Craig Solar 300W for my PVC. A very helpful company and the panel works well.
Incidently, I hated the standard, oversized, ugly glands so I fitted a marine one. Tiny, very robust and posh! https://www.indexmarine.com/product/se6b_side_entry_waterproof_cable_gland/
Here's a picture of the 2 unused, unstuck, glands in the background and the stronger, fitted gland in the foreground.

 

[Just smiffy]

Are you not refitting your Air Con ?. Or are you not going to use sites so you need all the solar you can get.
We were in Spain and the South of France last year and Air Con would have been top of my list for nee toys.

I’m ok with heat but I won’t be south in the hottest months. Yes I will use sites if it’s where I want to be but I won’t need to plug in and I do intend to off-grid a lot more..

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[Loftyjeff]

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Lovely end lounge. We are looking to change MH later this year to a van with end lounge down sizing what make and model is yours.

 

[Just smiffy]

Lovely end lounge. We are looking to change MH later this year to a van with end lounge down sizing what make and model is yours.

It has no make, it was a van conversion done around 6yrs ago I think, either a self build or a small converter that has since disappeared….

 

[Wightman]

It’s a bodge as no gland as the wire goes in a hole and smothered with sealant…

Sorry smiffy can't totally agree with that statement!! It maybe the case with your van but when we purchased ours we had solar panel fitted with gland etc. When we went to have the awning fitted - which was agreed as part of sale - the awning guy had to remove the solar gland as he wouldn't have been able to fit awning so had to seal with Sikaflex.

Sorry don't know how to remove pics

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[Just smiffy]

Sorry smiffy can't totally agree with that statement!! It maybe the case with your van but when we purchased ours we had solar panel fitted with gland etc. When we went to have the awning fitted - which was agreed as part of sale - the awning guy had to remove the solar gland as he wouldn't have been able to fit awning so had to seal with Sikaflex.

Sorry don't know how to remove pics

Not sure what your not agreeing with…
Surly it would be best to use the correct fitting it’s cheep and easy to get hold of and would be better then a load of sealant…

 

[Wightman]

Not sure what your not agreeing with…
Surly it would be best to use the correct fitting it’s cheep and easy to get hold of and would be better then a load of sealant…

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There was no way the awning could have fitted as the solar panel gland was where the roof awning fits. The awning guy did show me and although I told him I wasn't happy there was no other way - unless we didn't have the awning!!!

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[Just smiffy]

Sorry smiffy can't totally agree with that statement!! It maybe the case with your van but when we purchased ours we had solar panel fitted with gland etc. When we went to have the awning fitted - which was agreed as part of sale - the awning guy had to remove the solar gland as he wouldn't have been able to fit awning so had to seal with Sikaflex.

Sorry don't know how to remove pics

There was no way the awning could have fitted as the solar panel gland was where the roof awning fits. The awning guy did show me and although I told him I wasn't happy there was no other way - unless we didn't have the awning!!!

Sorry, I’m not responsible for your solar fitter and awning fitter, I myself will fit a gland and my solar and I will endeavour to do it properly…. Perhaps you need to rethink the professionals you get do work on your van or try doing it yourself and save a lot of money and do it right, it’s not so difficult to learn and do.. there’s plenty of resources on here on how to do stuff…

As for a hole filled with sealant I would at least put a small blanking plate over it first, it’s just common sense isn’t it…

 

[Wightman]

Sorry, I’m not responsible for your solar fitter and awning fitter, I myself will fit a gland and my solar and I will endeavour to do it properly…. Perhaps you need to rethink the professionals you get do do work on your van or try doing it yourself and save a lot of money and do it right, it’s not so difficult to learn and do.. there’s plenty of resources on here on how to do stuff…

As for a hole filled with sealant I would at least put a small blanking plate over it first, it’s just common sense isn’t it…

Sorry, I’m not responsible for your solar fitter and awning fitter........ Didn't say or suggest you were

Perhaps you need to rethink the professionals you get do do work on your van ...... Unfortunately life's not that easy as you don't know until they have done it .......... I merely pointed out that where we purchased our van from fitted the solar input gland right where the awning had to be fitted despite knowing we were having a roof awning - which they actually agreed and paid for as part of purchase deal. The awning fitter actually said he preferred not using glands as so many people don't fit them correctly. I'm not trying to start an argument with you just saying what was done to our van (through someone's cock-up who was about 300 miles away!!). Both places are very professional and I wouldn't think twice about using them again

Anyway as an aside I think your van looks lovely - we are also considering downsizing to PVC as wife doesn't feel confident driving ours anymore. Hopefully we'll be as lucky as you in finding the right one Best wishes

 

[Busybees]

It has no make, it was a van conversion done around 6yrs ago I think, either a self build or a small converter that has since disappeared….

Not these guys then:

Xtremevan Ltd.

Xtreme Van

www.xtremevan.co.uk

 

[Just smiffy]

Not these guys then:

Xtremevan Ltd.

Xtreme Van

www.xtremevan.co.uk

I did find them when I did some research on my van, my van could be an early conversion form them as it has some similarities to there WW conversions but as some of the work on my van is not what I consider to be very good I didn’t want to commit it to them so I’ll leave my van as a mystery…. It will look a fair bit different when I’ve finished doing what I want to do on it…

There was a company called vansports at one time too and similar conversion.

I have decals of Vansportz and Extreme on it at present, the vansportz will be disappearing…

By the time I’ve finally finished the van it will be a Smiffy Van….

 

[Busybees]

I did find them when I did some research on my van, my van could be an early conversion form them as it has some similarities to there WW conversions but as some of the work on my van is not what I consider to be very good I didn’t want to commit it to them so I’ll leave my van as a mystery…. It will look a fair bit different when I’ve finished doing what I want to do on it…

There was a company called vansports at one time too and similar conversion.

I have decals of Vansportz and Extreme on it at present, the vansportz will be disappearing…

By the time I’ve finally finished the van it will be a Smiffy Van….

Exclusive limited edition!!

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[Just smiffy]

My fridge vents are both broken and held on with sealant so I’ve ordered some new ones but I could only get white ones.
I went to my local spray mixer shop and got some paint mixed to colour code them to the van, I bought some plastic primer and advised to put ordinary primer on top of the plastic primer then paint.

Did them over two days and put some lacquer on the front of the vents only, they came up ok and I can’t seem to scratch the paint off even though not completely cured.
If I get some good weather over the coming week I’ll fit them.

 

[Just smiffy]

Did my scuttle today, it had some smallish holes drilled in it already so I’ve put some tubes in to drain away from the engine.
I put some new clips in as well and that has made a vast difference to it seating on the windscreen, much better…

 

[Just smiffy]

Sunny but a bitter breeze today but got some stuff done, the scaffolding is earning it’s money as it was much better and more comfortable then up a ladder. I did the top fridge vent this afternoon and again I don’t know what sealer they use over this van but its not good, it was dry and brittle but it scraped of fairly easily… so a good clean up and re-sealed the back of the vent with tin foil tape some mastic around the new frame of the vent (boy is that stuff sticky) and in it went.

It’s on a slight curve so it pops out a bit at the top so a bit of extra mastic round there, I think it looks good being colour coded…

Bottom one tomorrow…

Oh, I took a picture of the sealant for the solar panel mounting where it took its flight departure from… it’s thin, smooth and hard so it wasn’t done right and it was just a matter of time that it was heading for a maiden flight and at 2 in the morning hopefully it didn’t cause any hassle for anyone…

 

[mapman55]

Ya doing a fine job

 

[CazPaul]

What does the tin foil do at the back of the vent?

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[mapman55]

Tin foil or tape ?

 

[Just smiffy]

What does the tin foil do at the back of the vent?

Tin foil or tape ?

Foil tape, seals around the edges of the plywood casing venting system at the back of the fridge so no fumes can enter the van and helps protect it from the heat generated…

 

[Minxy]

Foil tape, seals around the edges of the plywood casing venting system at the back of the fridge so no fumes can enter the van and helps protect it from the heat generated…

Nothing to do with aliens and tin foil hats then?

 

[Just smiffy]

Been doing a few bits on the van over the last few weeks but not a lot as it’s been cold here, or I’m really feeling it a lot more…

Today I decided to take the air-con unit out, first the cover comes of fairly easy then the main bit was four long bolts and I mean long and they were tight all the way out
Then I had to get up on the roof and I’m so glad I bought this scaffolding, it makes it so easier for me to get up and if I fall it will break my fall somewhat… a bit like a marble in kerplunk…

The base of the unit has a seal round it so it just lifted off, as I thought it had loads of sealant around it so that was a bonus… tied a rope around it and lowered it to the ground, I’m just glad the roof hadn’t been polished as the weight or the unit might of slid me off with it..

I will leave the plate in place and just seal a sheet of Ali that I have over it tomorrow or the weekend. I’ve taped a rubber sheet over the hole temporarily…
This van is lined with this sponge backed vinyl and I don’t like it, looks like it soaks up condensation and holds it… I can see me ripping it all off and replacing with something else in the future…

I’m going to fill the roof with expanding foam and finish with ply but any ideas on what to put over the area? There’s is a power feed to it and I thought a light of some sort but there is already one about a foot away, could put a ceiling mirror up but it’s not over the bed area..

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Been doing a few bits on the van over the last few weeks but not a lot as it’s been cold here, or I’m really feeling it a lot more…

Today I decided to take the air-con unit out, first the cover comes of fairly easy then the main bit was four long bolts and I mean long and they were tight all the way out
Then I had to get up on the roof and I’m so glad I bought this scaffolding, it makes it so easier for me to get up and if I fall it will break my fall somewhat… a bit like a marble in kerplunk…

The base of the unit has a seal round it so it just lifted off, as I thought it had loads of sealant around it so that was a bonus… tied a rope around it and lowered it to the ground, I’m just glad the roof hadn’t been polished as the weight or the unit might of slid me off with it..

I will leave the plate in place and just seal a sheet of Ali that I have over it tomorrow or the weekend. I’ve taped a rubber sheet over the hole temporarily…
This van is lined with this sponge backed vinyl and I don’t like it, looks like it soaks up condensation and holds it… I can see me ripping it all off and replacing with something else in the future…

I’m going to fill the roof with expanding foam and finish with ply but any ideas on what to put over the area? There’s is a power feed to it and I thought a light of some sort but there is already one about a foot away, could put a ceiling mirror up but it’s not over the bed area..

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Do you not fancy a Fantastic Fan, handy for shifting some air about and it would be easy to seal up then?

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[Just smiffy]

Incidentally, a few more pictures of the sealant that was (not) holding the original solar panel on, looks like it had gone for some time as there is mould between the joints and it so thin and brittle so I don’t know what they used…

 

[Just smiffy]

Two large 200w panels covering most of the roof is going up there, I may replace the front vent with a maxxfan…

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

a maxxfan…

That’s the one I was thinking about

 

[Just smiffy]

Covered the hole with a sheet of Ali today, should I do anything to the Ali..? Spray it, treated or other ..?

And what to cover the inside with after I’ve filled it with expanding foam and ply..?

 

[Minxy]

And what to cover the inside with after I’ve filled it with expanding foam and ply..?

Pardon our interruption...

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