Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[DanoT]

Can anyone recommend a spot to park overnight around Big Sky? Pm details thanks.

Head to hwy 191, turn right (south), go a mile or 2 and you will see a snowmobile staging area on your right. Sled heads won't be staying for the night, but you can.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Reccos for good portable 12v battery pack? This is for a client so not looking for cheapest, but just best overall that isn't like $1500 dollars.

A jackery type deal that can be charged by a roof mounted solar panel, has USBs etc, and can power 3 or 4 lights, a fantastic vent fan, charge a phone etc for a couple night max usually in the summer in MT where it will be able to get some charge everyday.

Do any of them have built in solar panel controllers?

[byates1]

They come w solar cables/hook-ups. Seems like this is the easiest way to go..

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

They come w solar cables/hook-ups. Seems like this is the easiest way to go..

Seems like this one should work with any solar panel. Good ratings, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/GRECELL-Gener...1zcF9hdGY&th=1

[MakersTeleMark]

I've heard good things about the eco-flows, and that the jackery's are under power and over priced. A quick overlander/van life search on youtube should show the winners pretty quickly.

[Ski220]

WG. Acquaint yourself with this guy for all things solar and electrical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDkJ7Sq21Qw

Also came across this - Diesel heater in a box. Premade and cheap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk4qC2JuR5g

[Name Redacted]

I've been pretty happy with our Dakota Lithium batteries. They make a power station too. Not cheap, but quality is much better I'm guessing.

[Huskier]

Vanlife peeps: I have a conundrum. Sprinter 144. DIY build initially for one person. Life happened. One became two. Two became three. Now Three is becoming four. Two of these occupants need car seats. The current rear seat can accommodate two butts, one car seat and one butt, but not two car seats. I need a config that allows for 3 rear seat belts (to hedge against unexpected additions), while maintaining a center isle and space for the split galley amidships. I'm trying to use L-track for versatility.

Has anyone else solved this puzzle? Specifically, I'm trying to source a small fixed double (NOT a $5k converting bed thing) and a single narrow jump seat that will play nice with L-track.

Any recs?

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[FireStrom]

#vanlife is tough with a family in a regular wheelbase rig. I have a 148 transit with a glued in L-track floor mostly to have different seating options. I am currently running 2 2-person benches sideways along the driver side. This layout is nice for hanging out but probably not the most comfortable long road trip situation. If you did a 3 person bench, you should still have room for a full size bed in the rear. The seats themselves were cheap Craigslist finds from a shuttle bus. I actually have extras if you happen to be in CO.


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[beaterdit]

CMIIW but I don't think L-track is DOT certified to anchor seats or restraints? Practically I'm not sure it would hold up in a crash.

[snowaddict91]

CMIIW but I don't think L-track is DOT certified to anchor seats or restraints? Practically I'm not sure it would hold up in a crash.

I had a hard time finding concrete info about rear seat installations when I bought my Promaster. The big hang up I kept running into was insurance if a crash happened. I didn't get as far as talking to my insurance and life went a different direction, but it's definitely something to factor in.

[FireStrom]

Definitely a can of worms but this is the system I’m running. They claim to be FMVSS compliant.
https://rre-global.com/smartfloor-us...ating-systems/
DIY is a different beast but this system proves the capabilities of L-track.


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[beaterdit]

Ah cool, I have seen that system before. Does seem like a can of worms but their safety testing is reassuring. Of course safety of passengers is first concern, here in the USA you also don't want to give insurance companies an inch to deny coverage.

[SchralphMacchio]

Two of these occupants need car seats. The current rear seat can accommodate two butts, one car seat and one butt, but not two car seats. I need a config that allows for 3 rear seat belts (to hedge against unexpected additions), while maintaining a center isle and space for the split galley amidships. I'm trying to use L-track for versatility.

I don't have any recs. If the older kid isn't forward facing yet, remember that you need some kind of top tether anchor as well for when they do switch to forward facing.

Last week I peeked into a DIY Transit conversion and they had the two carseats in-line on individual vehicle seats, both behind driver's seat.

Carseats is one of the big reasons we didn't go with a Class C right off the bat and stuck with the travel trailer (which, admittedly, is probably more risky in some ways). I'm grateful that the Super Duty rear bench seat is large enough to have two carseats side-by-side and an adult comfortably positioned in the third seat.

[Name Redacted]

I have heard so many horror stories about sprinters from the van lifers. This lady parked in front of my shop to run an errand the other day. She got back in and it wouldn't start, just out of the blue. It last for three days as various mechanics tried to figure it out. Ended up having to get it towed to Denver to a dealer. Estimated 3 months before anything could be done. They are thinking that it is something to do with the DEF system.

I wonder if the dealer has just like a Sprinter refugee lot where people can live in their broken down vans while awaiting repairs.


Anyway, sell the Sprinter and get the right vehicle for your foursome.

[Huskier]

I'm grateful that the Super Duty rear bench seat is large enough to have two carseats side-by-side and an adult comfortably positioned in the third seat.

This is my dark side plan B. Ditch vanlife and Pick up a low-mile 250, a scout camper or similar aluminum frame hardside and call it good. But I've paid the fuel bill for the 6.7 before and it still gives me nightmares. At least in comparison to Merc 3.0..

I'm thinking more and more this smart floor deal is looking to be the most painless...

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[frorider]

L track is used in planes to anchor seats and cargo pallets. Of course, it needs to be installed correctly…

[climberevan]

L track is bomber and DOT approved, at least for school buses to anchor down wheelchairs. I pulled like 100 linear feet of it out of my bus, along with a bunch of seat belt reels that snap into the L track and have hooks on the end that can go on the chairs. It's a a great system but I have no use for it.

[whipski]

Vevor for the Silver Streak. Buy from Home Depot get 90 day return no questions, Kicks ass! Directed under bed on 5/8 plywood platform. The mattress was warm on the bottom in no time, Set the thermostat to low temp and will run all day while you're skiing after the wood stove is out,

[sillybunt2]

I hope you directed the exhaust outside

[byates1]

Yeah is that small hose signalling you've given up? Do we need to call someone?

[Dromond]

I was going to say: I’ve read it’s key to have both the exhaust and combustion air intake outside

[Trackhead]

The small black pipe is air intake for combustion, not exhaust. Unless he’s in an airtight building, it’ll just pull nominal air from the room. Still better to run outside obviously.

[whipski]

I hope you directed the exhaust outside

It went out a port where the propane water heater exhaust was previously. A van life friend suggested keeping the air intake inside. Better combustion and it's usually much warmer inside as it's backup for the wood stove while I'm up skiing.

[ma79f8]

I have heard so many horror stories about sprinters from the van lifers. This lady parked in front of my shop to run an errand the other day. She got back in and it wouldn't start, just out of the blue. It last for three days as various mechanics tried to figure it out. Ended up having to get it towed to Denver to a dealer. Estimated 3 months before anything could be done. They are thinking that it is something to do with the DEF system.

I wonder if the dealer has just like a Sprinter refugee lot where people can live in their broken down vans while awaiting repairs.


Anyway, sell the Sprinter and get the right vehicle for your foursome.

I was like that before I could afford one so I feel your pain. With 50,000 flawless miles I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

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