I have a functioning Van!

8 June, 2020; Vail, AZ

Last week I made a quick trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado

The time was right to zip up to the home of WayFarer Vans and have them install my Walt Kit (conversion kit for the ProMaster 159" high roof cargo van).  I figured that I could make the trip stopping only for gas.  I carried all my food, had hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes by the drivers door and carried several masks.

I spent a night on the floor of the van on the way up (very cold with no insulation).  My solar generator is back at the factory to figure out why it's not charging from my solar panels, so I only had my headlamp for light.  But, I had my old backpacking gear, so it felt a little like the car camping I did years ago. 

When I arrived at the WayFarer factory, I met the team that did my install - very nice guys.  After answering a few questions and meeting the dogs (like at the Escape trailer Factory, a couple of dogs wander around supervising the work), I left the guys to work undisturbed.  

Very generously, they handed me the keys to one of their ProMaster City Vans so I could go enjoy the mountains.  They even gave me a couple of suggestions for places to go.  So, while they were hard at work, I took a little hike!

I hadn't been to Colorado Springs in probably 50 years!  I'd forgotten (or never knew) about Manitou Springs and the Red Rock Canyon Open Space.  It was perfect for a short hike.  

As I hiked, I got periodic update pictures of the progress on the van.  Very thoughtful, and reminded me of the every Friday emails from Escape Trailers with the latest photos of my trailer being built!  Apparently, high quality, high customer service business people think alike!

Getting started.  They even took out my camping gear and stored it on some shelves for me!

After being in the desert for a year, the smell of pine was just intoxicating.  

The ceiling MaxFan is in; also, the framing for the ceiling and walls.

There weren't too many people on the trails and everyone donned masks as they got close.

The wool insulation is in.

Before I knew it, the Van was done!

Seriously, half a day!  Check out this You-Tube video showing them doing a complete build in about 3 hours (the video is very quick too!).

Great for lounging

I've never seen such a big sink.  We'll see how I deal with a hand pump (I've always had a 12v water pump)

Is there anything nicer than a new, sparkly clean fan?

Table for 2; perfect for planning my first real camping trip!

I'm beyond happy!!  

The heavy lifting is done; I just have a few details left to do myself

The biggest thing will be finalizing the wiring for the fridge and figuring out where to run the interior lights.  For now, I've just stuck up some Puck lights.  I think I'll camp in it a few times to see where I really want lighting.

Today I installed the fire extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm (I'll be heating with a Little Buddy propane heater, and I may be carrying a small propane tank inside).

The IcePro 50 12v cooler fits perfectly behind the drivers seat.  Plenty of room for air flow and I think the 12 v cord will reach to my battery location without needing an extension (won't be sure until I get the solar generator back from Inergy.

Puttering about the house

21 May, 2020; Vail, AZ

They're baaaccckkk . . . . 

Walked out my front door and chanced upon this fellow - he's twice the size of the one I saw last summer (and that one was the biggest toad I'd ever seen!).  Not afraid of me at all.  I was glad Phoebe was inside as they can be quite poisonous to dogs.

Sonoran Desert Toad - largest toad in America.  This fellow was probably 6 inches.

The summer heat has been interupting my morning tea on the patio.

I like to watch the sun rise in the morning, but as soon as it's up, it shines directly onto the patio and is soon unbearably hot.  So, I bought a sun shade and installed it.  It works really well - and now that I know it will work, the next one (this one should last a few years before the sun degrades the plastics) will be a custom fit and maybe even work with a remote!  This one winds manually and the stick is really too short - I have to stand on a footstool and still it's over my head.

Getting ready to install

I temporarily put a couple nails and a rope 'cradle' in the beam so that I could install the shade by myself.  It worked out pretty well.

I hope I don't disturb this nest.  It's a Gila Woodpecker nest.

Shades the patio pretty well - the next iteration may have a shade on the front too.

The Van Conversion drags on!

Discovered a defect when I tested my new Inergy Apex solar generator (lithium battery, solar charge controller, inverter, 12 v and 110 outlets all included in one lightweight 25 pound box) - everything works EXCEPT the solar input connection.  The most important thing!!!  Inergy customer service appears to be excellent though - after some troubleshooting, they sent me a box and the Apex is now on it's way back to the factory for repair - under warranty.  Unfortunately, I won't have it when I drive to Colorado next week for the interior conversion work to be done.  Not a huge deal but it would have been nice to have for the trip.

Since it's a battery, all sorts of shipping restrictions apply; I had to drain the battery to below 10.3, get special hazardous materials shipping instructions, stickers and a special FedEx pickup.

Well, the good thing is that it took days and days for this battery to discharge - I had everything I could think of plugged into it!

Ready for pickup!