I believe in keeping adventure vans (Not Vans converted to RV's) simple. If you want a van like an RV buy an RV. Its cheaper, has all the luxury, and they even make them in 4WD on a sprinter frame for just over 100k!
I get a lot of guys asking for hot water in their simple builds but they don't want to pay the big dollars to have a nicely integrated system and it's been hard to explain that you don't need to have a expensive nor complex hot water solution. You have to understand however just like adding instant hot water in your home; it's not so easy or cheap doing the nicer systems. How expensive is it to add an instant hot water heater in your house? Now 4-6 k doesn't seem to expensive does it? Your van is basically a home with no systems, but you don't need to spend all that money if its just hot water you need. The really nice integrated heater/hot water systems are expensive, complicated, and like anything will eventually break down. Did I say they are expensive? Adventure vans should be simple I find most make them way more complicated than they need to be and they find they don't use 50% of the stuff they cram in the build to begin with.
I recommend a much easier solution for those whom have to have hot water all the time. In Cali mostly we have surfers and desert rats, so just a rinse is perfect and a simple system that can be removed/portable if needed is perfect.
Use one of the several portable hot water systems in the market. The total system will cost you under $500 bucks...and can easily be replaced or repaired. The down side? You have a propane bottle inside your van...so disconnect it or keep it on...add a sensor in your van for safety.
Typical System: (This is so complicated it crazy)
Mr. Heater Base Camp with a 3 year extra warranty $330-350 (this runs off 12v, has a battery charge AND is portable)
USGI Plastic Water Can, 5 Gallon, Green with LARGE opening $55
Put it into a cubbie or cabinet. Now this doesn't fit in the cubbie I have in this van, but you get the idea...super simple easy to install and remove.
See how easy it is to use:
https://youtu.be/Qk3nLw_F8LI
(press Ctrl and click)
Need more water? Use a bigger tank. Want to have unlimited heat? Add a propane tank under your your van...you may already have one if you have a stove. Now I don't recommend having a propane tank in your van...but if you have a small bottle like this that can be removed not a big deal and you likely have one anyways for your stove. If it's in there all the time don't cheap out, put a propane and co2 sensor in your van, you should have one anyways if you have a heater, don't get it at Home Depot, use the proper one certified for enclosed spaces.
The advantage of this system...did I say cheap, easy, simple? Worst case it blows up; its still WAY cheaper than to fix a D5 and takes no expertise.
Hope this helps!
www.cacampervan.com
I get a lot of guys asking for hot water in their simple builds but they don't want to pay the big dollars to have a nicely integrated system and it's been hard to explain that you don't need to have a expensive nor complex hot water solution. You have to understand however just like adding instant hot water in your home; it's not so easy or cheap doing the nicer systems. How expensive is it to add an instant hot water heater in your house? Now 4-6 k doesn't seem to expensive does it? Your van is basically a home with no systems, but you don't need to spend all that money if its just hot water you need. The really nice integrated heater/hot water systems are expensive, complicated, and like anything will eventually break down. Did I say they are expensive? Adventure vans should be simple I find most make them way more complicated than they need to be and they find they don't use 50% of the stuff they cram in the build to begin with.
I recommend a much easier solution for those whom have to have hot water all the time. In Cali mostly we have surfers and desert rats, so just a rinse is perfect and a simple system that can be removed/portable if needed is perfect.
Use one of the several portable hot water systems in the market. The total system will cost you under $500 bucks...and can easily be replaced or repaired. The down side? You have a propane bottle inside your van...so disconnect it or keep it on...add a sensor in your van for safety.
Typical System: (This is so complicated it crazy)
Mr. Heater Base Camp with a 3 year extra warranty $330-350 (this runs off 12v, has a battery charge AND is portable)
USGI Plastic Water Can, 5 Gallon, Green with LARGE opening $55
Put it into a cubbie or cabinet. Now this doesn't fit in the cubbie I have in this van, but you get the idea...super simple easy to install and remove.
See how easy it is to use:
https://youtu.be/Qk3nLw_F8LI
(press Ctrl and click)
Need more water? Use a bigger tank. Want to have unlimited heat? Add a propane tank under your your van...you may already have one if you have a stove. Now I don't recommend having a propane tank in your van...but if you have a small bottle like this that can be removed not a big deal and you likely have one anyways for your stove. If it's in there all the time don't cheap out, put a propane and co2 sensor in your van, you should have one anyways if you have a heater, don't get it at Home Depot, use the proper one certified for enclosed spaces.
The advantage of this system...did I say cheap, easy, simple? Worst case it blows up; its still WAY cheaper than to fix a D5 and takes no expertise.
Hope this helps!
www.cacampervan.com
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