Here goes! My build thread to sleep a family of 9 (!!!) in a 2020 170" 4x4

[CWalkSacto]

The Lonseal samples arrived today. Looks great -- best of all the samples; likely we'll go with Lonseal. Thanks @nickbokhoven for posting about it originally! BTW where'd you buy yours from?

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Have you installed this product yet? Did you glue it straight to the original textured subfloor? Thx

 

[drodio]

@CWalkSacto not yet but I'm about to!!! I'll let you know how it goes. My plan is to glue directly to the aluminum SmartFloor. I bought the faster acting contact cement. We'll see how it goes.

 

[djsincla]

@CWalkSacto not yet but I'm about to!!! I'll let you know how it goes. My plan is to glue directly to the aluminum SmartFloor. I bought the faster acting contact cement. We'll see how it goes.

The L-Track on the Smart Floor I believe has a flange profile. Loosen the L-Track and slip your flooring under the flange then retighten the L-Track.

 

[drodio]

The L-Track on the Smart Floor I believe has a flange profile. Loosen the L-Track and slip your flooring under the flange then retighten the L-Track.

Yep that’s exactly my plan!

 

[drodio]

Table and LED lights are in!

 

[drodio]

I have found that having a wagon is really valuable when traveling with a big family! Just fabricated a little bin for it to have a home on the rear door. Going to put a camp kitchen on the right door (LMK if anyone has recommendations on a good one.)

also — some pics of the kids enjoying the van!

 

[drodio]

Starting to think about electrical. My plan is to go with the Inergy Flex 1500 system and two 95ah batteries — easily expandable up to 3 or 4 batteries.

The Flex 1500 doesn’t have any high amperage outputs — the best option is the cigarette lighter output, which can handle 20 amps. I’m going to give that a shot; if it’s not enough, I’ll also get a Flex DC, which has two 30 amp PowerPole outputs, and hot swap in/out whichever I need for the use case.

A great thing about the Inergy is it’s 13.8v regulated output — that’s really the major thing that matters to me, so the Espar heater and Alpicool fridge don’t throw low voltage error codes on startup, like they do with the Sprinter’s stock aux batt.

I bought this Powerwerx CigBuddy Portable Cigarette Lighter Plug to Anderson Powerpole Connector and made a cable to have it hook into my house fuse box. We’ll see how it does!

 

[drodio]

Got the Wrappon Green dry flush toilet, which is a major splurge, but I’ve got people in my family that are more “glampers” than “campers” and it’s a game-changer for them. not having to keep a porta potty filled with water is another big benefit.
Unit works great. I recommend buying it from this vendor which had the best price I found and includes a DC cigarette lighter powered cord (most sellers have AC cord only).

also starting to build out the cages for the water system, and attaching them to the L-track. Everything is modular, meaning it’ll all be removable if I ever need to repurpose the space — like a big lego set.

 

[smittylube]

I love that wall and ceiling material. Looks very functional and cozy.

 

[chipsterguy]

Like your choice of power station and portable toilet. Very interesting approaches, both.

 

[45Kevin]

Got the Wrappon Green dry flush toilet, which is a major splurge, but I’ve got people in my family that are more “glampers” than “campers” and it’s a game-changer for them. not having to keep a porta potty filled with water is another big benefit.
Unit works great. I recommend buying it from this vendor which had the best price I found and includes a DC cigarette lighter powered cord (most sellers have AC cord only).

also starting to build out the cages for the water system, and attaching them to the L-track. Everything is modular, meaning it’ll all be removable if I ever need to repurpose the space — like a big lego set.


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With as many users as you have your toilet will go through $20 of consumables per day.

 

[drodio]

With as many users as you have your toilet will go through $20 of consumables per day.

That’s probably true!

10 flushes/day at $1.50/flush ... $15.
A 72 year old grandma coming on a camping adventure with her young grandchildren, because there’s a decent toilet... priceless.

Although one internet reviewer mentioned swapping out the gel powder w/ clumping cat litter, which we’ll try. That brings the cost down to $1/flush.

 

[drodio]

Got the Lonseal floor in! The #400 cement def has a fast working time, about 3 mins. Did the planks in various segments. I’m a bit worried that the lonseal might not be as bulletproof as I had hoped as some parts got a little scratched up, but we’ll see. Looks great right now!

 

[drodio]

Table is working out great!

 

[drodio]

Testing the Espar in Tahoe snow! Toasty. As epic as I’d hoped it’d be.

 

[vanski]

Nothing like igloo insulation and a well functioning Eberspacher to keep the family warm?✌??⛷

 

[drodio]

Nothing like igloo insulation and a well functioning Eberspacher to keep the family warm?✌??⛷

It’s so good!!! Appreciate the install.

 

[45Kevin]

Testing the Espar in Tahoe snow! Toasty. As epic as I’d hoped it’d be.

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Looks great.
I got one of those extendable snow brushes to take care of the cornice bombs that grow at the top of the slider when you have heavy snow falls.
You need it to get the windshield as well.
Mine also has a squeegee on it as most regular gas stations don't have a squeegee with a handle long enough to get the whole windshield clean.

 

[drodio]

@45Kevin yeah snow was even more today — had to use an industrial broom to clean the roof.

 

[drodio]

These RB Components hooks are way overpriced for what they are: pieces of plastic... but so worth it for what they enable: getting stuff off the floor of the van! especially when you’re in Tahoe with a lot of snow gear that you need to hang.

It’s blows my mind that there aren’t more vendors making something like this. LMK if anyone knows of another L track hook that cost less than $5 each.