OK, this may be the photo I'm most embarrassed to post but in the interest of sharing the process, here we go.
A combination of unexpected life events and a bit of builder advice has led me to take my incompletely converted camper van on the road.
What you see in the photo is scrap wood furniture and an incomplete electrical system tacked in place, all so I can learn what works for me when moving, parked, and at camp.
It barely functions and is not safe.
/thread
#vanLife #vanBuild

My van conversion is currently like a proof of concept software that the CEO saw and decided to ship.
In this scenario, I am both the annoyed coder and the silly CEO.
The foundational work (walls, electrical, ventilation) is maybe 30% complete and yet here I am, driving across Nebraska for the fifth time.
#vanBuild

Look, I'm not saying that it's a good idea to install a smol CNC router in a camper van. I'm simply noting that it would fit.
#vanBuild

So much van yoga.
Today I framed out the non-bed side of the van furniture, including a power cabinet. Tomorrow I hope to add an initial worktop and to install enough power and lights for an upcoming mosey. I should probably also tie down the water jugs in case I take the van ballistic.
#vanBuild #vanLife

I generally avoid linking to channels that bash products to gain views but this video of The Solar Lab begging to be forgiven by solar generator maker Bluetti is kind of satisfying.
Also, the review is for the unit I use in my van, the Elite 200 v2, which has performed as billed for six months.
https://youtu.be/0Q16lZu1T1I
#vanBuild

Five hours of van yoga* and I'm beat. The main walls are reinstalled, this time with ez-cool adhered to the metal of the van shell that isn't already covered by Thinsulate. The ez-cool is acting more as an easily installed and cheap stand-off than as a radiant heat reflector.
The ceiling will be future work. I'm waiting for an order of cable wrap to stabilize, neaten, and protect some cabling runs.
* bending in strange positions to install rivnuts, hold panels while fastening, etc.
#vanBuild

Everybody needs a build buddy.

I can hear the eyes popping out of anyone familiar with wiring vehicles because of the tape around the column hole. Don't fret, the tape is temporary while I run a few more cables. I have a nice secure insert that will hold and protect those cables.
#vanBuild

Did I smooth brain my day by making a custom bracket for a blower and then realizing that it pushes air in the opposite direction than I assumed?
Yes, indeedie.
If only it was labelled... oh, it is? I just didn't use my eyes?

#vanBuild

A hard-fun distributed team project could be to gather, integrate, and improve open hardware solutions for folks living in their vehicles. My relatively simple camper van has a solar+battery system, HVAC, a little LAN, lights, air quality monitor, a security system, and others' vehicles have sensors for plumbed tanks, Home Assistant for automations, voice control, and much more.
#vanLife #vanBuild #osh

Ok! I have a first version of my van on the garage floor. The next steps are to run a few more in-wall cables, install the assemblies (fuse box, switches, blower pots, etc.) that fasten to wall panels, and then button her up.
Once that's done, it's time to start building furniture! Right now I have only a bed and everything else is in stacked bins. It'll be wonderful to have a work surface, drawers, a water faucet, and mounts for the van LAN boxen.
#vanLife #vanBuild