VanKookz is home of Dani & Kevin. They share van conversion tips, vanlife hacks, vlogs of their travels and travel tips. One their website they have various DIY van conversion step-by-step guides to download.
Visit them online at www.VanKookz.com
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How to Build Cabinets in a Campervan | DIY Ford Transit Van Conversion
Welcome back to the channel ya kooks!
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com
Today we are working on Upper Cabinets in a Ford Transit van conversion. The Ford has much more curves and contours than a Sprinter or a Promaster. The main difficulty is the downward curve of the roof after the first roof crossbeam.
The first step in this project is to Draw and measure your layout. From here we make a cut list. Getting all your cut measurements on paper makes for a great reference when you are ripping and cutting all your boards to length.
Once you have cut all your vertical pieces of your face frames (Stiles) and the horizontal pieces of your face frames (Rails) it’s now time to assemble your frames. Remember all your stiles will go long and your rails will sandwich in-between your stiles. You will assemble everything with a kreg pocket hole jig. You will kreg all your rails on the top and bottom.
Now that you have your face frames built its now time to hang them in the van. We used small L-Brackets on every roof stud. This is just to hold the frames in place so we can scribe our sides and cabinet dividers. We made a kicker with a clamp and some scrap wood to hold the frames in place at the proper distance on each side. This allowed us to get in with our cardboard and start working on templates. We always start with cardboard templates than to templates on harder pieces of wood like ram board. Once the templates are perfect we then transfer them onto our hardwood.
It’s now time to install all your dividers and end caps. We use a brad nail gun and wood glue and attach all dividers to the face frames. We nail the frames into the dividers vertically down each stile. We also nail in a small nailer on the bottom of each section so we can connect the bottom of the cabinet to the face frames. Then we cut and attach the bottom. For added support, we ran a quarter round along the bottom back edge of the cabinet and nailed that into the van framing as well as the bottom of the cabinet.
To attach it all to the wall we cut headers for each cabinet compartment and used L-Brackets to attach the header to each divider. We also nailed the headers to the dividers at a diagonal angle with the nails. We attached the header with a positive connection to the van framing with 1(1/4)” “Quick Screws”.
The next step is to cut the doors. We used a 3/4” sheet of birch plywood. We used the table saw and the miter saw to cut all our door panels out. Next, we tapped all the edges of our doors with veneer wood banding. This really cleans up your doors and gets rid of the plywood edging. Now it’s time for hinges you can use any hinge you want here it does make it's easier to install the hinges on the doors now, instead of in the van. Once all your hinges are on it’s time to hang your doors on and match the grain.
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - How to Build Upper Cabinets in a Ford Transit Van Conversion
00:25 - STEP 1 --- Face Frames---
00:26 - Draw Out and Measure Your Layout
00:42 - Make a Cut List and Cut All Your Boards Vertically
01:25 - Plane Your Vertical Cuts
02:08 - Cut Your Face Frame Stiles and Rails
02:43 - Kreg Jig Your Stiles and Rails
03:28 - Assembling the Face Frames
04:50 - How to Build Upper Cabinet with the Ford Transit Roof Curve
05:18 - Installing the Face Frames in the Van
05:33 - STEP 2 ---Scribing Templates for Your Cabinets---
05:36 - How to Make Templates for Your Upper Cabinets
06:42 - Making Cardboard Templates for Your Upper Cabinets
07:25 - Installing Cabinet Dividers
07:45 - STEP 3 ---Attaching Your Cabinets to the Van Framing
07:46 - How to Attach Your Upper Cabinets to Your Van
09:12 - Cutting the Bottom of the Cabinets
10:26 - How to Make a DIY Quarter Round
11:17 - Attaching the Bottom to the Upper Cabinet
11:45 - STEP 4 - Cutting Cabinet Doors
11:50 - How to Cut Doors for Your Upper Cabinets
12:29 - Draw Your Layout for Your Doors so the Grain Matches
12:42 - Cutting Your Doors
12:56 - Cleaning Your Door edges with Veneer Wood Banding
13;13 - Installing Hinges on Door Fronts
13:33 - STEP 5 ---Install Door Fronts---
..::Parts & Tools We Used::..
Litheli Impact Driver - https://litheli.com/products/litheli-20v-cordless-1-4-hex-impact-driver-2-0ah-battery-charger?aff=4
Litheli Drill Driver - https://litheli.com/products/20v-cordless-3-8-drill-driver?aff=4
Liquid Nail - https://amzn.to/3pCUwwS
Table Saw - https://amzn.to/3pxbUTL
Battery Powered Brad Nailer - https://amzn.to/3GnrLuZ
Chop Saw - https://amzn.to/31fOWZ3
T- Square - https://amzn.to/2xnD7hg
Measuring Tape - https://amzn.to/2xoT2eY
Kreg Jig - https://amzn.to/3xB0qSN
Kreg Jig Screws - https://amzn.to/3zFUpHI
Clamps - https://amzn.to/3mYm8M5
Jig Saw - https://amzn.to/3tK0jDH
Circular Sander - https://amzn.to/3aYqFLK
Sandpaper - https://amzn.to/3tKzGP0
Router + Bits - https://amzn.to/3HCDvf8
Wood Banding for Door Fronts - https://amzn.to/3mUScAC -
Solar Power Setup for Van Conversion | Van Conversion Wiring Diagram
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com
Welcome back to the channel ya kookz!
Today we are installing the Renogy DC to DC MPPT Charge Controller (https://amzn.to/3NXDJiJ). Although I have had troubles with this unit in the past, it is a really cool charge controller and I do recommend it. This charge controller has the capabilities to charge both your house batteries and your starter batter from your solar panel. It also has the built-in DC to DC charger to charge your lithium batteries while you drive as well as from the solar panels. It really is an awesome unit for van life.
The only downfall to the unit is it's only capable of inputting 25 volts from your panel. So if your array puts out more than 25 volts this isn't the unit for you.
In this video, I go through a few basic components of the van conversion solar system and also show you how to do a few wiring basics. My camera died while I was wiring the whole system and had no idea so I missed a few key parts of wiring the charge controller.
We also installed our Aims Power pure sine 2000W inverter to a MidNite Solar breaker box and we will also be wiring two 120 volt AC outlets in the van from the breaker panel. I really enjoy installing all the electrical components in a van conversion and these are easily my favorite steps. Wiring the breaker panel is very straightforward and only takes a few hours.
I will recommend checking out the links below and making sure you have everything ordered and ready to be installed. I had to wait a while to get a few parts and it really delayed the electrical installation and I had to start working on upper cabinets.
I really liked this power inverter, especially with the auto transfer built-in. I like the idea of being able to charge the unit via shore power. It was also very easy to set up the shore power input.
Be very careful when doing this project always check your connections with a multimeter to see if they are hot. I installed a few kill switches so I could completely kill my system while I was working on this project. You can get seriously injured or die when working with this inverter so take this project seriously. If you have no idea what you are doing call your best electrician friend and have them help you. Or call a licensed professional.
I made this video because I had a hard time finding a video that ran me through the parts I needed for this project as well as the steps to do it. I hope this helps some of you kookz out there.
..::PARTS::..
AIMS Power Pure Sine Inverter with Transfer Switch - https://amzn.to/3b2ZwXX
MidNite Solar Breaker Box MNEDC Quad - https://amzn.to/3xzaE6R
MidNite Solar MNEDC15 Circuit Breaker 15A 150VDC - https://amzn.to/3NS5ERw
MidNite Solar MNEDC20 Circuit Breaker 20A 150VDC - https://amzn.to/3HrSMiA
Webber WBGF10 20AMP In-Line GFCI 20AMP 120VAC (2x) - https://amzn.to/3zE2Ymg
MidNite Solar MNSBBN Busbar 180A - https://amzn.to/3QimL0B
MidNite Solar Busbar MNSBB-R - https://amzn.to/3tD9m9G
30W 6.0 Amp 3-Port USB Wall Outlet - https://amzn.to/3NYz7JI
15A GFCI Outlet - https://amzn.to/3zGI7Po
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3x3SjhH
Wire Cutter - https://amzn.to/3x5sGyr
Wire Strippers - https://amzn.to/3xWv1fD
Wire Connectors - https://amzn.to/3mXEUmF
Marine Cable (12 Gauge Stranded) - https://amzn.to/3LYqE7q
Jacketed Cable (12 Gauge Stranded) - https://amzn.to/3wWchet
15 Amp Flanged Inlet 125V, Shore Power Inlet Plug - https://amzn.to/3HwI7Dk
Renogy DC-DC MPPT Solar Charge Controller - https://amzn.to/3NXDJiJ
Blue Sea 12 V Fuse Panel - https://amzn.to/3Ol2hCj
40 Amp ANL Fuse - https://amzn.to/3zKYSJj
60 Amp ANL Fuse - https://amzn.to/3xUSHRr
250 Amp ANL Fuse - https://amzn.to/3zC3Sje
Bus Bars - https://amzn.to/3xrUP1H
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3x3SjhH
Heavy-Duty Crimper - https://amzn.to/3NaDAZr
Wire Cutter - https://amzn.to/3x5sGyr
Wire Strippers - https://amzn.to/3xWv1fD
6 - Gauge Wire -https://amzn.to/3Qp6MOb
12 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3NlRxE1
14 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3N8nIGP
16 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3lWWRBD
Wire Connectors - https://amzn.to/3mXEUmF
Terminal Lugs -https://amzn.to/3MTnhz5
Switches - https://amzn.to/3zFYA6u
For More Van Conversion Info Check out www.vankookz.com -
Replacing Roof Fan in a Van | Hike Crew Roof Fan Review
Replacing Roof Fan in a Van
Welcome back to the channel ya kookz!
Today we are replacing our old decrepit Fantastic Fan. We've had this roof fan in our van conversion for almost 4 years now and it has not stood up to the test of time. I'm not going to knock this product to hard because it has been used almost every day for four years so it served its purpose for us.
However, we found a new fan and got it on sale a few weeks ago that was about half the price of the Fantastic Fan. We went with the Hike Crew 14 Roof Fan for our van conversion. We are really impressed with this unit right out of the box. It's Quiet, has a nice LED light on the bezel, and also seems like comparable quality to the Dometic Fantastic Fan.
For the price, you can't really beat this fan. We wish we could have gone with a Maxx Air fan because those fans are the Cadillacs of van roof vents. However, the Maxx Air won't fit on our roof due to our custom roof rack. If you are starting from scratch we do recommend the Maxx Air Fan. Although its almost triple the price of the Hike Crew it's a far superior product. The price is a bit out of control in my opinion but people still buy them and you can't get a better van fan anywhere else. Maxx Air Fan (https://amzn.to/3ydcQCw))
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00- Replacing a Roof Fan in a Van
00:29 - Hike Crew 14 Roof Fan Review
01:05 - Why We Don't Like the Fantastic Fan
01:30 - Tools You Need to Replace a Roof Fan
02:06 - Fantastic Fan After 4 Years
03:24 - Replacing the Fantastic Fan with the Hike Crew Fan
05:00 - First Impressions of the Hike Crew Roof Fan
05:58 - Does the Hike Crew Fan Pass the Kook Test?
..::PARTS & TOOLS::..
Hike Crew Roof Fan - https://amzn.to/3HIffbq
Lap Sealant - https://amzn.to/3naWmo2
Butyl Tape - https://amzn.to/3xOVXN2
Litheli Drill Driver - https://litheli.com/products/20v-cordless-3-8-drill-driver?aff=4
Litheli Impact Driver - https://litheli.com/products/litheli-20v-cordless-1-4-hex-impact-driver-2-0ah-battery-charger?aff=4
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
We hope this video was helpful and we will see you kookz on another kooky van build episode coming soon!
Stay kooky
For more van conversion tips and tricks visit www.vankookz.com -
AC Power Outlets in a Van | How to Wire an Inverter to a Breaker Box
Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz!
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com
Today we are installing our Aims Power pure sine 2000W inverter to a MidNite Solar breaker box and we will also be wiring two 120 volt AC outlets in the van from the breaker panel. I really enjoy installing all the electrical components in a van conversion and these are easily my favorite steps. Wiring the breaker panel is very straightforward and only takes a few hours.
I will recommend checking out the links below and making sure you have everything ordered and ready to be installed. I had to wait a while to get a few parts and it really delayed the electrical installation and I had to start working on upper cabinets.
I really liked this power inverter, especially with the auto transfer built-in. I like the idea of being able to charge the unit via shore power. It was also very easy to set up the shore power input.
Be very careful when doing this project always check your connections with a multimeter to see if they are hot. I installed a few kill switches so I could completely kill my system while I was working on this project. You can get seriously injured or die when working with this inverter so take this project seriously. If you have no idea what you are doing call your best electrician friend and have them help you. Or call a licensed professional.
I made this video because I had a hard time finding a video that ran me through the parts I needed for this project as well as the steps to do it. I hope this helps some of you kookz out there.
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz!
00:52 - Aims Power Pure Sine Inverter Install Run Through
02:35 - Wiring a GFCI Inline Fuse
03:02 - Midnite Solar Quad Breaker Box
03:39 - Wiring the Midnite SOlar Breaker Box
03:54 - Wiring Breakers
07:20 - Meeting "Van Code" Using Split Loom
07:48 - Wiring Outlets to Breakers
08:29 - Is Romex OK For Vans?
09:01 - Wiring A MidNite Solar Quad Breaker Box
11:21 - Wiring A 120 Volt AC Outlet in A Van
12:55 - Wiring Shore Power on the AIMS Power Inverter
13:40 - Saftey On/Off Switches for Troubleshooting & Installing Electronics
14:02 - Wiring Power Out From an Inverter to a 120V AC Breaker Box
15:41 - Testing to See if We Did it Right
17:31 - Van Conversion Power System Rundown
18:58 - Sign Up for the Vankookz Masterclass Here! - (https://www.vankookz.com)
---Parts & Tools---
AIMS Power Pure Sine Inverter with Transfer Switch - https://amzn.to/3b2ZwXX
MidNite Solar Breaker Box MNEDC Quad - https://amzn.to/3xzaE6R
MidNite Solar MNEDC15 Circuit Breaker 15A 150VDC - https://amzn.to/3NS5ERw
MidNite Solar MNEDC20 Circuit Breaker 20A 150VDC - https://amzn.to/3HrSMiA
Webber WBGF10 20AMP In-Line GFCI 20AMP 120VAC (2x) - https://amzn.to/3zE2Ymg
MidNite Solar MNSBBN Busbar 180A - https://amzn.to/3QimL0B
MidNite Solar Busbar MNSBB-R - https://amzn.to/3tD9m9G
30W 6.0 Amp 3-Port USB Wall Outlet - https://amzn.to/3NYz7JI
15A GFCI Outlet - https://amzn.to/3zGI7Po
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3x3SjhH
Wire Cutter - https://amzn.to/3x5sGyr
Wire Strippers - https://amzn.to/3xWv1fD
Wire Connectors - https://amzn.to/3mXEUmF
Marine Cable (12 Gauge Stranded) - https://amzn.to/3LYqE7q
Jacketed Cable (12 Gauge Stranded) - https://amzn.to/3wWchet
15 Amp Flanged Inlet 125V, Shore Power Inlet Plug - https://amzn.to/3HwI7Dk
---Check Out More Ford Transit Van Conversion Videos---
Insulation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmGD8R0YYes
Framing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwRkMm-47CE
Walls - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R00VCHX-1Iw
Solar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx8_YWSxHSk
Upper Cabinets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v86mv59KTzc
Tounge and Groove Cieling - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4HCPhAdWVs
Wiring Your Batteries in Parallel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxoBR-WsAFw
Grounding Your House Batteries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBOTyb5O1Q4
Installing a Renogy DC to DC MPPT CHARGE COntroller - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7V-ktdlPBY
How to Build a Bed in a Ford Transit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAMBW1T5Ip0
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Lots of LOVE to you kookz!
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Thank you so much for watching and following along on this Journey!
If you know someone that needs a little extra courage, inspiration, help, or encouragement on their build, send them this video! We love answering your questions and comments!
For more build videos or to stay up to date with our journey, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our channel on YouTube and FOLLOW us on Instagram.
----Share with Us----
INSTAGRAM: @vankookz
www.instagram.com/vankookz
For more conversion van info and tips check out our website.
www.vankookz.com
#vanlife #vanconversion #diyvanconversion #fordtransitconversion -
How To Camp In Your Car | Car Camping Essentials 2022
Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz!
We've been living on the road for over 6 years now and have used a lot of camping products since we started living nomadically back in 2016. Technology has come a long way we wish we had some of these products when we were traveling overseas in tiny vans and small vehicles. Car camping can now be a 4-star luxury retreat.
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com/
How to build a bed in your Subaru Outback (FREE Plans) - https://www.vankookz.com/vanlife/2017/9/27/2009-camparu
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz!
00:21 - How to Car Camp For Free
00:37 - What Kind of Tent Do You Need?
00:49 - What Do You Sleep On?
01:38 - Car Camping Kitchen Setup
02:18 - How We Cook When Camping
03:05 - How We Keep Our Food Cool (Our Favorite Powered Compact Cooler)
03:44 - How to Power Your Campsite (Bluetti EB55 Review)
04:35 - Our Favorite Small Power Pack (Omnicharge Powerpack)
05:22 - Camping Set-Up (Table and Chairs)
05:56 - Our Favorite Camping Throw Blanket (Get Out Gear)
06:14 - Start Building Your Camping Quiver with a Nomadik Subscription Today
---Here are a few of our favorite camping items---
Bluetti Power Stations - https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1745428&u=1628820&m=108816&urllink=&afftrack=
Omnicharge 20+ Power Station - https://www.omnicharge.co/pages/shop?sca_ref=2147960.6SNdGe4Zq0
Nomadik Monthly Subscription - https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=916830&u=1628820&m=65276&urllink=&afftrack=
Get 10% Off Your Nomadik Subscription with CODE: VANKOOKZ10
Aobosi 12V Powered Fridge - https://amzn.to/3tIdpkW
DeerFamy Tent - https://amzn.to/3zLWS3t
KLYMIT Static V Camping Sleeping Pad - https://amzn.to/3QtVYOV
Eureka Camping Stove - https://amzn.to/3xvOulM
Outdoor Folding Table - https://amzn.to/3mZm9zu
Camping Chairs - https://amzn.to/3b2Bqwx
Cast Iron Pan - https://amzn.to/3N1vtxk
Get Out Gear Blanket - https://amzn.to/3Op5z7W
HydraPak 3 Liter Bladder - https://amzn.to/3b9MO9T
Lots of Love to You Kookz!
Happy Trails!
www.vankookz.com -
Installing a Renogy DC to DC MPPT Charge Controller | Wiring a Solar Charge Controller
Installing a Renogy DC to DC MPPT Charge Controller | Wiring a Solar Charge Controller
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com
Welcome back to the channel ya kookz!
Today we are installing the Renogy DC to DC MPPT Charge Controller (https://amzn.to/3NXDJiJ). Although I have had troubles with this unit in the past, it is a really cool charge controller and I do recommend it. This charge controller has the capabilities to charge both your house batteries and your starter batter from your solar panel. It also has the built-in DC to DC charger to charge your lithium batteries while you drive as well as from the solar panels. It really is an awesome unit for van life.
The only downfall to the unit is it's only capable of inputting 25 volts from your panel. So if your array puts out more than 25 volts this isn't the unit for you.
In this video, I go through a few basic components of the van conversion solar system and also show you how to do a few wiring basics. My camera died while I was wiring the whole system and had no idea so I missed a few key parts of wiring the charge controller.
However, I cover everything I missed at the end of the video with a wiring diagram breakdown of the entire system.
I hope in the near future Renogy can develop a DC to DC MPPT Charge Controller that can input more than 25 Volts. Because this really is a pretty awesome all-in-one unit for your van conversion.
..::Chapters::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel
00:43 - Vankookz Van Build Master Class
01:10 - Renogy DC to DC MPPT First Impression
01:48 - Wiring Your Solar System
02:52 - Cutting and Crimping 6 Gauge Wire
04:37 - Wiring an ANL Fuse
04:48 - 12 Volt Fuse Panel Install
06:09 - Wiring the DC-DC MPPT
06:10 - Wiring the Altenator Lead to the Renogy DC to DC MPPT
07:44 - Wiring the Renogy MPPT to a Ford Transit
08:45 - Wiring the PV to the MPPT
09:42 - Renogy Battery Monitor Review
10:38 - Wiring Diagram for the Renogy DC DC MPPT Charge Controller
..::TOOLS & PARTS::..
Renogy DC-DC MPPT Solar Charge Controller - https://amzn.to/3NXDJiJ
Blue Sea 12 V Fuse Panel - https://amzn.to/3Ol2hCj
40 Amp ANL Fuse - https://amzn.to/3zKYSJj
60 Amp ANL Fuse - https://amzn.to/3xUSHRr
250 Amp ANL Fuse - https://amzn.to/3zC3Sje
Bus Bars - https://amzn.to/3xrUP1H
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3x3SjhH
Heavy-Duty Crimper - https://amzn.to/3NaDAZr
Wire Cutter - https://amzn.to/3x5sGyr
Wire Strippers - https://amzn.to/3xWv1fD
6 - Gauge Wire -https://amzn.to/3Qp6MOb
12 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3NlRxE1
14 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3N8nIGP
16 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3lWWRBD
Wire Connectors - https://amzn.to/3mXEUmF
Terminal Lugs -https://amzn.to/3MTnhz5
Switches - https://amzn.to/3zFYA6u
AIMS Power Inverter with Auto Transfer - https://amzn.to/3QrD9f2
MidNite Solar Breaker Box MNEDC Quad - https://amzn.to/3HpZCoI
I hope this video was helpful to you kookz and we will be back soon with more wiring videos.
Thanks for Watching! -
Grounding Your House Batteries | How to Ground Batteries to Van Chassis | Checking Ground Connection
How To Ground Batteries To Van Chassis
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com
Welcome back to the channel ya kookz!
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz!
00:13 - Wires and tools you will need
01:40 - How to cut and crimp heavy-duty wires
03:51 - Drilling a hole to run your wire
04:28 - How To Ground Batteries To Van Chassis
06:10 - Wiring Common Grounds to a Bus Bar
07:20 - Wiring Renogy Battery Monitor
08:46 - Wiring Van Conversion Batteries in Parallel
09:15 - Checking Your Ground Connections
..::TOOLS & PARTS::..
2 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/3m1W9TE
Copper Lugs + Heat Shrink - https://amzn.to/3xaXKwR
Step Bit - https://amzn.to/3zEDllj
Litheli Impact Driver - https://litheli.com/products/litheli-20v-cordless-1-4-hex-impact-driver-2-0ah-battery-charger?aff=4
Litheli Drill Driver - https://litheli.com/products/litheli-20v-cordless-3-8-drill-driver-2-0ah-battery-charger?aff=4
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3x3SjhH
Heavy-Duty Crimper - https://amzn.to/3NaDAZr
Wire Cutter - https://amzn.to/3x5sGyr
Bus Bar - https://amzn.to/3xrUP1H
Today we are showing you how to establish a solid ground connection for your van conversion's battery bank. This is a very important step in installing your battery bank into your van conversion. Establishing a solid ground connection will assure that there is no voltage drop and also help you troubleshoot any issues with your system.
The first order of business is using the proper wire gauge. I would recommend a wire gauge between 2 and 4 stranded copper. I always measure extra wire when working with this thick battery cable because if you cut too little you will waste your expensive cable so always leave a little wiggle room for your wires.
Next, you will want to cut, strip, and crimp your wire. It is very important to have a very tight positive connection on your battery terminal lugs. If this connection is loose it can cause voltage drop and other voltage issues so make sure you crimp the connections as tight as possible. If you don't have a vise I highly recommend buying heavy-duty wire crimpers.
Once you have established a strong and tight crimp you will need to drill a hole in the bottom of your van. We love having a step bit on hand during any van conversion this makes drilling holes in the metal a dream. I didn't show this in the video but after I drilled the hole I went through and filed the hole really well with the file and also put in some lap sealant in the hole to ensure the wire didn't rub up against any rough edges and cause a short.
Now that the hole is cut you will run your wire down through the hole to where you will ground the cable to the chassis. You will want to pre-drill a hole here first otherwise you will be fighting with the metal of the van chassis for quite a while. I used a stainless #6 1.5" self-drilling hex head screw for my ground connection I also used 3 x 1/4" washers to make sure I had a nice solid positive connection to my washers, screw, and chassis.
Now you will want to set up a common ground. I like to use a bus bar but you can set up all common grounds to the negative battery terminal if you would rather do that. I just find the bus bars to help really clean everything up in this process.
Once you have set up all your ground connections it's now time to wire the batteries in parallel. When wiring your battery in parallel always start with the ground connections first before moving on to the positive runs. Also, when attaching your cables make sure they are tight but do not over-tighten the battery terminals.
Now that all your batteries are wired in parallel you can now test to make sure each battery voltage is the same. You can do this with a multimeter and set it to DC Volts. Put the red and black prongs on their correct terminals and measure the battery voltage. It should have the same reading across all your batteries. If you are getting different readings check your connections and crimpings to ensure they are tight.
Once your batteries are wired in parallel you are ready to start wiring the rest of your 12 Volt system.
Now check the ground connections on our system. We will start here by using a multimeter and setting it to Ohm to check the continuity. Once it's set to Ohms you will want this reading to be closest to zero as possible. If it's anywhere near 1 you have a bad connection and will most likely experience a voltage drop or a short to ground. I have a pretty good video example in the video that shows you how to easily test your ground connection.
Way to go! You have now completed wiring your own 12-volt battery bank. Give yourself a pat on the back and have a mini celebration. Next, we will be moving on to wiring the whole system.
Happy Building ya kooks! -
Renogy Rover vs. Renogy MPPT DC to DC Charge Contoller
Welcome back to the channel ya kooks!
Today we are switching over our AGM batteries to lithium.
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel
00:31 - SOK 206ah LifepO4 Battery Review
01:46 - Replacing old AGM Batteries with New SOK Lithium
03:15 - Epever Tracer Charge Controller After 5 Years
05:00 - Bluetti EB55 Power Station Quick Glance
06:06 - Installing SOK Lithium Batteries
06:25 - Troubleshooting Renogy DC to DC MPPT Charge Controller
08:45 - Renogy DC to DC MPPT Overview
09:43 - SOK Battery Review
11:03 - Reinstalling the Epever Tracer and Troubleshooting
11:42 - Renogy Rover Li Review
14:16 - Video Wrap-Up What is the Best for Your Application?
We went with the SOK 206ah LifePO4 batteries which are actually an unbeatable deal for the price. Here is the Vankookz Affiliate link for SOK batteries. https://www.sokbattery.com/products/12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
We are really happy with these batteries we went from 300ah of AGM to 412ah of Lithium and this should last us a long time. These batteries also have a 7-year warranty along with a BMS, replaceable cells, and free maintenance if ever needed. We had to pull out our old AGM batteries and also replace our old Epever Tracer as we couldn’t figure out how to reprogram it for lithium batteries. No matter what I did I could not get the batteries to charge from my panels. I was getting volts in my panel but not amps.
We saved so much money going with the SOK batteries and they are built really nice and have amazing reviews. Check out this review by Will Prowse (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU86EJXcTMM)
Also in this video, I was excited to upgrade my charge controller to the Renogy MPPT with DC to DC charge controller (https://amzn.to/3NXDJiJ). However, this unit only could charge the panels with a maximum input of 25 volts. After checking the voltage on my panel I realized my 300 Watt solar panel had a rating of 36 watts so this panel would not work for my system.
I felt this Renogy DC to DC MPPT had some limitations other than the low 25 Volt input (Which is very low) it also doesn't have any built-in monitoring systems. You have to either buy the Bluetooth monitoring unit (https://amzn.to/3NNzN46) that you can only see on your phone. Or another monitoring unit (https://amzn.to/3NsjpGv) that you have to set up in the van. The unit is already $300 once you add on a monitor you are looking at around $350. The most frustrating thing was that I couldn't troubleshoot this unit until I ordered a monitoring system. Once I plugged it in I could get the error code and then discover that my PV voltage was too high.
Once I discovered that this unit wouldn’t cut it for my application I went with the much cheaper Renogy Rover Li (https://amzn.to/3awrA67) which has a PV input of 100V and has an onboard monitoring screen built-in. I got this unit on sale over memorial day for $109. I will still need to add a DC to DC charger so I can charge off my alternator when the engine is on as well but I can get the 20A unit and this will still be cheaper than the Renogy DC to DC MPPT.
In the end, I am really happy with my Rover and it's very easy and straightforward to set up and most of all it has a built-in monitor. I will be installing a 20a DC to DC charger (https://amzn.to/3NonBXC) soon so check back to see how that goes.
I also used the Blueetti EB55 portable power station in this video. I really like this unit. Here is the link https://amzn.to/3NoT9N9
Check back for more DIY van conversion videos.
Lots of Love to You Kookz!
Happy Building! -
How to Connect Lithium Ion Batteries in Parallel | Wire Your Batteries in 6 Easy Steps
Welcome back to the channel ya kooks!
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz
01:18 - Step 1 - Cut Wires to Size
01:44 - Step 2 - Strip Your Wires
02:20 - Step 3 - Slide on Your Heat Shrink
02:25 - Step 4 - Crimp-on Your Copper Lugs
04:28 - Step 5 - Heat Shrink
05:09 - Step 6 - Wire Batteries Together
Today we are wiring our Battleborn Batteries in parallel this is an easy and straightforward task that should give you some confidence to start wiring your 12 Volt system in your van conversion.
Here are the tools I used in this video. If you don’t have a vice grip you can buy heavy-duty cable crimpers to do the trick as well.
2 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/3m1W9TE
Copper Lugs + Heat Shrink - https://amzn.to/3xaXKwR
SOK Lithium Batteries - https://www.us.sokbattery.com/product-page/pre-order-12v-206ah-lifepo4-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery-pack?ref=a7n6vo6o5a
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3x3SjhH
Heavy-Duty Crimper - https://amzn.to/3NaDAZr
Wire Cutter - https://amzn.to/3x5sGyr
The first order of business is cutting your cables. Make sure you cut all the cables the same length this is very important for the longevity of the batteries. Next, you will want to strip the ends of the wires to put on the copper lugs. Whatever you use to crimp this make sure you have a very tight and positive connection on the lug. You can test it by giving it a good tug to ensure it is tightly secured. Make sure you slide and put your heat shrink on first before you crip your lug otherwise you might not be able to get it to slip over the lug. Once the lugs are secured using your heat gun or a lighter to apply the heat shrink to your cables. Once they are crimped and heat shrunk they are ready to be installed.
You should have already established a secure ground connection either to the chassis of your van or to the secure ground that you have created. You can always get your ground by checking the resistance or ohms on a multi-meter.
When wiring your battery in parallel always start with the ground connections first before moving on to the positive runs. Also, when attaching your cables make sure they are tight but do not over-tighten the battery terminals. This can damage the batteries for good and you may not get a return on them as it will void the warranty. Use a socket set or a Phillips screwdriver (depending on battery) to tighten the lugs to the battery terminals. Now that all your batteries are wired in parallel you can now test to make sure each battery voltage is the same. You can do this with a multimeter and set it to DC Volts. Put the red and black prongs on their correct terminals and measure the battery voltage. It should have the same reading across all your batteries. If you are getting different readings check your connections and crimpings to ensure they are tight.
Once your batteries are wired in parallel you are ready to start wiring the rest of your 12 Volt system.
Congratulations you have started the first project to wiring your own 12-volt solar system. Give yourself a pat on the back and have a mini celebration.
Happy Building ya kooks! -
How to Wire A Van Conversion | Beginners Guide to Running Electrical Wiring for a Van
Beginners Guide to Wiring a Van Conversion
Sign up for the Vankookz Van Build Master Class Here! - https://www.vankookz.com/
Welcome back to the channel ya kooks!
We’ve had a long hiatus from putting out DIY van conversion videos but we are back in a big way!
Today we are going to give you the beginner's guide to wiring a van conversion. This is a very straightforward task. Here is a list of items you will need.
Tools
Wire Strippers - https://amzn.to/38SHIyp
Wire Cutters - https://amzn.to/3lZebFV
Plastic Conduit 3/8” - https://amzn.to/3GQj1iF
Plastic Conduit 1/2” - https://amzn.to/3m1hYTq
Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/3N8p44n
Wire Connectors - https://amzn.to/3PTlAUT
12V Wiring
12 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3NlRxE1
14 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3N8nIGP
16 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3lWWRBD
120V AC Wiring
Marine Cable (12 Gauge Stranded) - https://amzn.to/3LYqE7q
Jacketed Cable (12 Gauge Stranded) - https://amzn.to/3wWchet
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel
00:25 - Van Conversion Wiring Module
02:32 - Wiring Lights in a Van Conversion
04:46 - Wiring a Fridge in a Van Conversion
06:16 - Wiring a Fan in a Van Conversion
07:45 - Upper Cabinet Wiring
08:04 - Wiring a Switch
10:31 - Wiring LED Lighting
12:35 - Wiring 120 Volt AC Outlets in a Van
13:31 - How to Split a Wire Into Two
19:27 - How to Daisy Chain Ceiling Lights
20:55 - Wiring a Roof Fan in A Van Conversion
22:20 - Cleaning Up the WIres With Conduit
We will be running 12/14/16 gauge wires for all the 12-volt accessories and 12 gauge stranded wire for all our 120-volt AC outlets. This is a very straightforward process. You will need to have a diagram and a layout in place before you start wiring. You will need to know where all your accessories (fridge, lights, outlets, and switches) and where your battery bank and 12-volt fuse panel as well as your power inverter will be.
You will want to start wiring all your lower draw accessories first running your 16 gauge wire to all the areas where you will be power lights, led lights, and any other low draw accessories, Next, you will want to wire all your 14 gauge accessories this will be things like your roof fan and your USB outlets and anything that will need a little bit more amperage than the 16 gauge wire accessories will need. Then you will want to go through and run wire to where all your 12 gauge accessories will be these will be things like your fridge, 12-volt heaters, 12v water heaters, sink pump, and anything else that requires more amperage.
You will want to be sure to mark each wire for what accessory it goes with. Use tape and a marker and mark what each wire corresponds to on both ends. This will make your life so much easier when you are hooking up your 12 Volt fuse panel. as well as once walls get installed so you will know what each wire goes to.
After you will want to run your wire for all your 120 Volt AC outlets. You will want these to start at where your power inverter will be and end where you will have wall outlets to power 12 Volts AC units like laptops/blenders/and cooking appliances. Also, make sure you are marking with the sharpie and tape which each wire corresponds to so when you are hooking up your inverter you will know what cable corresponds to which outlet. This will help because some outlets will require larger breakers. I like to write mine out as follows (15 Amp Kitchen Outlet)
Once all the wires are run it’s time to clean up the mess. I like to use a 3/8” and 1/2” plastic conduit and clean up the rat's nest of wires. This will make your life so much easier when it comes time to slap on your walls. I will also note that before you put your walls on it helps to draw out a diagram of where all your wires run behind the wall. I will draw a diagram and also make each wall with tape and measurements of where the wires are being the studs. You do not want to put a nail or screw through your wires as this will cause a short and blow a fuse or will render your wire useless.
I hope this beginner's guide to 12-volt wiring is helpful to you kookz. We are going to have more videos for beginners on how to convert your van conversion easily and professionally with the kookz.
Check back for more DIY van conversion videos.
Lots of Love to You Kookz!
Happy Building! -
What is Van Life Like in Moab, Utah | Moab's Best Adventures
Welcome back to the channel ya kookz!
Today we have an action-packed adventure lined up for you. We are back in Utah and having an amazing time again with @Vanning Ain't No Joke. In today's episode, we are exploring Moab's canyons. The canyons in Moab are known for their short approaches and long rappels. A few of these canyons have rappels over 200ft long! We dropped some of our biggest rappels in this video and we are now becoming proficient canyoneers.
..::CHAPTERS::..
00:00 - Welcome Back to the Channel Ya Kookz!
01:19 - Canyon #1 - Midevil Chamber
06:46 - Canyon #2 - Moonflower Canyon
10:23 - Canyon #3 - U-Turn Canyon
12:05 - Canyon #4 - Lower Granary Canyon
14:04 - Looking Glass Rock (Climb + Rappel + Rope Swing)
We hope you kooks enjoyed this extreme adventure. The weather is getting too hot and we must vacate the desert. We've had an amazing spring adventuring on rocks of all sorts with @Vanning Ain't No Joke. But now summer is here and it's time to find a new place to call home. Where will the Kookz go? Find out in our next episode.
We hope this helps you kooks on your van life journeys and hopefully, you learn a thing or two from us kookz.
Thanks for watching and please like and subscribe and share!
Sign up for the Vankookz Master Class Here!
https://www.vankookz.com/
Vanlife Is Not A Crime Sweatshirts and Swag Available Here! https://www.vanningaintnojoke.com/shop
Here are a few of our favorite van conversion toys
Fridge - https://amzn.to/2wovDx9
Diesel Heater - https://amzn.to/2uIzox4
Natures Head Composting Toilet - https://amzn.to/2HWDN25
Lights - https://amzn.to/38DgLcs
Roof Fan - https://amzn.to/2UWVTZz
Batteries - https://amzn.to/2P1c4Bp
Flexible Easy to install Solar Panel - https://amzn.to/2T9ffIt
Solar Charge Controller - https://amzn.to/2HuXJZU
Wiring for Lights and USB chargers (Low Draw) - https://amzn.to/39ElzhN
Wiring for Accessories with more power draw - https://amzn.to/2UWmm9K
Wiring for Batteries/Battery Isolator - https://amzn.to/37tdZVO
Battery Isolator - https://amzn.to/37wQmM9
Lots of LOVE to you kookz!
.
.
.
Thank you so much for watching and following along on this Journey!
If you know someone that needs a little extra courage, inspiration, help or encouragement on their build, send them this video! We love answering your questions and comments!
For more build videos or to stay up to date with our journey, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our channel on YouTube and FOLLOW us on Instagram.
----Share with Us----
INSTAGRAM: @vankookz
www.instagram.com/vankookz
For more conversion van info and tips check out our website.
www.vankookz.com -
We've Been Broken Down for Over A Week | What is Van Life Really Like?
Welcome back to the channel ya kookz!
Vanning ain't no joke! Ever wondered what happens when the wheels stop turning. Well... You'll end up camping on the street in front of the shop if it becomes a multi-day/week ordeal. Our van has been taking a while to get repaired and back on the road so we can continue the journey. We've been in Grand Junction, Colorado for over a week now and are ready to get back on the road.
In this episode, we try to paint the picture the best that we can of what van life is really like when your vehicle breaks down. Our van broke down almost 200 miles from Grand Junction and we are very thankful that the people at Alpine Auto Haus in Grand Junction (https://www.yelp.com/biz/alpine-autohaus-grand-junction) have been trying their best to get us back on the road. They have also allowed us to stay in front of the shop for the last week and a half.
Van life isn't always glitz and glammour kookz, sometimes life hits you hard and you'll need to be prepared. In this video we also have a sit down discussion explaining what to be prepared for when the wheels stop moving and you have to pay what we call "rent"
We hope this helps you kooks on your van life journeys and hopefully, you learn a thing or two from us kookz.
Thanks for watching and please like and subscribe!
Sign up for the Vankookz Master Class Here!
https://www.vankookz.com/
Vanlife Is Not A Crime Sweatshirts and Swag Available Here! https://www.vanningaintnojoke.com/shop
Here are a few of our favorite van conversion toys
Fridge - https://amzn.to/2wovDx9
Diesel Heater - https://amzn.to/2uIzox4
Natures Head Composting Toilet - https://amzn.to/2HWDN25
Lights - https://amzn.to/38DgLcs
Roof Fan - https://amzn.to/2UWVTZz
Batteries - https://amzn.to/2P1c4Bp
Flexible Easy to install Solar Panel - https://amzn.to/2T9ffIt
Solar Charge Controller - https://amzn.to/2HuXJZU
Wiring for Lights and USB chargers (Low Draw) - https://amzn.to/39ElzhN
Wiring for Accessories with more power draw - https://amzn.to/2UWmm9K
Wiring for Batteries/Battery Isolator - https://amzn.to/37tdZVO
Battery Isolator - https://amzn.to/37wQmM9
Lots of LOVE to you kookz!
.
.
.
Thank you so much for watching and following along on this Journey!
If you know someone that needs a little extra courage, inspiration, help or encouragement on their build, send them this video! We love answering your questions and comments!
For more build videos or to stay up to date with our journey, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our channel on YouTube and FOLLOW us on Instagram.
----Share with Us----
INSTAGRAM: @vankookz
www.instagram.com/vankookz
For more conversion van info and tips check out our website.
www.vankookz.com