It’s funny how I go to these vids to get ideas and they’re like. “So yeah I pretty just called my one friend from nasa and my other friend who’s a mechanical engineer doctor, and they came over, we chugged a few beers and did it in a weekend
@@AV8TTR - I don't understand the fans. Are they just blowing warm or hot air on you? If you crack the windows, do critters cone on in? How do you vent CO, aside from temp issues? Love my 2010 toaster, bright orange & proud. But those tiny rear quarter windows would have me in a sweat fest.... 🥵
Nice work, I am looking for an Element now for a weekend camping. I can do a little conversion on. I would recommend moving the solar power panel to above the bars. That bit of shade can kill 50% of the power or more. Very good thanks for sharing.
Love that pullout kitchen! Great set up. I live in my Honda Element and my bed uses the factory seats as an extension really opens up the space in the element!
Hey Josh great tour of your 03 Element. I really like that fridge you have that's awesome on long trips. We love our 04 Element great daily driver, camper, work car ever lol Please post more videos of your E really dog the whole setup. I want to put a solar panel in ours but just need some help figuring out what I need.
Thanks! I’m pretty stoked on it. I’m planning on making another video which goes into more detail about how it was built. Best of luck on your build! It’s an addicting process lol
@@AV8TTR Wow awesome build. What are the length and width of your bed? I'm trying to figure out if a 72 inch long mattress will fit in an Element. Thanks subscribed
New to the Element club… but the entire time I’m like- I think I know where this video is taken. I think your in my town! I think I know that park….???
"Hard to find a rooftop cargo carrier that only covers one side" You nailed that one man I think there is only one and it's a $400 yakima No thanks lol. Great idea great E build How about some specs on that fridge cooler, like the brand and where you got it?
Hey thanks man! It’s been a great setup so far. The fridge gets down to 15 deg F or so. It does really well. Only draws about 2-3ah on average in a 90 F deg climate. I put a link in the description for the model fridge I used. Make sure to buy to $15 5 year warranty option !!
Thanks! The drawer is where most stuff goes. There are two large cabinets above the bed and two below. Larger items that don’t fit inside go up top in a box
Can you please show how you mounted the solar panel exactly? Even just pictures would be great. I am trying to fit 2 of those panels under the factory bars like that side by side.
Hey, this is just the video I was looking for. I'm super interested to learn more about your electronic setup. I'm assuming that 8D battery would keep my router and laptop running for 3 days so I can work without dedicated power source? How do you re-charge that 8D if you don't turn your car on, just the solar?
Cool build. Charging a lead acid battery inside the vehicle is a rather dangerous thing to do, especially contained in a wooden structure. You need to vent it outside or risk fire, injury or worse should it start outgassing. Hydrogen and oxygen are released when charging, and fire is often the result when concentrated next to ignition sources like the refrigerator relays, your light switches, etc. It needs to be vented outside, or replaced with sealed lead or lithium batteries.
Yep. I took out the center hitch tube, but it didn’t need to be welded. You can just bolt it together in the center using the holes that would have gone into the tube, doesn’t even need to be drilled.
Hello! Here’s a link to my video talking about the solar panel install: ua-cam.com/video/Aa5TGiPPX5s/v-deo.html For the wires I just drilled a hole in the roof/headliner and ran it down into the car
@@timkimone hey sorry for the late reply. I don’t have a photo right now but I drilled holes right behind the rear roof rack mount. Straight down through the headliner
Great setup, apart from the nonlithium battery right below your head when sleeping, which is toxic. Could you share how you're wiring the isolator, I have the same charge controller and also plan to have it switch between alternator and panels. Not sure how to wire it yet tho. Thanks!
It’s a sealed maintenance free battery, they don’t release gasses. Wiring the isolator isn’t too hard. The one I bought comes with a diagram, I followed that. But it’s how you think it would be: Red wire from car battery to isolator, red wire from isolator to deep cycle battery. There is a small 12v wire that tells the isolator when to turn on. I just wired it to a cigarette lighter port in the back. The solar charge controller turns off automatically when it detects a charging voltage from the alternator, so there’s no need for fancy wiring. Just connect the solar charge controller leads to the battery.
@@AV8TTR Thank you for the reply! I mentioned it cause i thought that i recently learned all lead acid or agm batteries vent toxic fumes, even if they say they are 'sealed' I will revisit that notion tho, but im pretty sure that it makes sense given the composition. just wanted to caution given the potential for health effects. Best of luck and thanks for the info!!
No worries man. I’m pretty sure almost all AGM are safe. Here’s one from renogy www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-agm-battery-12-volt-200ah/?gclid=CjwKCAiAyPyQBhB6EiwAFUuaknoN8RASJnNmLRO4tl0IKvjVgbD2QKkh4vSpVee-KyXZQn5wo7bkYhoC4hcQAvD_BwE
Thanks man. It has 206,000. Runs great. Had to replace the transmission (last owner didn’t maintain it). Did the shocks/struts not too long ago, other than that it’s been pretty low maintenance.
@@AV8TTR The only major problem I had, which I did not realize until after I bought it, was the frame was very rusted. The rear control arm was totally rusted out, which is a problem for many Elements from snowy regions that use salt on the roads during winter. There is a recall up in Canada where they will fix it with reinforcements but here in the midwest there isn't a recall, I contacted Honda and the basically said your own your own, so I had my mechanic who has experience with this issue on Elements repair it by cutting out the rusted area and welding in new steel, he also reinforced it and painted it so it would not rust so fast again. The engine runs great though and I love it.
That has been a big problem. Currently I have it strapped to the roof rack. But I’m going to eventually use a full size spare and put it on a hitch mounted swing away spare tire carrier (350$!)
For mounting the furniture to the car, such as the wooden bed platform, i see you drilled into the floor. For the interior sides, did you remove the panels or just drill into them as well?
Yep, I used self tapping screws for the floor. For the sides I anchored them using the two open bolt holes where the rear seats used to bolt into on the sides of the car. It’s not really necessary but since it was easy to mount it there I did.
Is the aux battery recharging via both the solar panel AND alternator cord from car battery or is the solar panel charging a separate power unit? If not do you know if the aux battery could be charged via your solar panel and car battery?
Both the solar panel and the alternator! The renogy solar charge controller manages any potential electrical issues. Basically when the renogy unit detects a charging voltage level ~14v from the alternator it stops charging from the panel. When it detects a lower than normal voltage ~11.5v it allows the solar panel to charge the battery
@@AV8TTR that's awesome dude, I have an '08 and have been wanting to do something similar to your setup, think this video might have been the catalyst for that, nice job!
Nice build.. However on your battery.. Lead Acid / AGM can outgas and be bad for your health. You'll taste it in the air.. However Lead Acid, and AGM can only be discharged 40% without damaging the battery. So 210ah = 84ah of usable power. Typically Lead Acid have a 1000 cycle lifespan. Lithium Ion cough up the ENTIRE Amp hour charge without damage. So a 210ah give the entire 210 Amp hours.. Meaning almost 300% of the stored energy in the beginning. Unfortunately like the battery in your phone, it degrades to 80% in about a year.. 60% in two years etc.. You might get 2000 cycles before it's no longer enough. Lifepo4 batteries (Lithium Phosphate) ALSO cough up their entire 210ah, and charge faster then Lithium ion, but weigh more. They average about 5-6000 cycles. So you can spend $100 every year-ish, $300 every few years, or $700 if you build from cells, ($1200 for a prebuilt) and never buy a battery again.. (30-40 years).. I'm installing 640ah into my Sailboat. Which will be the equivalent to 7.6X, of your one battery. It'll still work when I'm dead from old age (I'm 51).. Which means.. THIS Lifepo4 battery at $379 would last 20X as long as your L.A... at 4X the cost..(2X at an autoparts store).. L.A./AGM $200 X 20 = $4000 Lifepo4 $379 X 1 = $379.. Who's winning now? Dr. Prepare 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Deep Cycle Battery with Monitor Screen, Rechargeable Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery, Built-in 100A BMS, Perfect for RV, Solar Power, Off-Grid Applications a.co/d/jjKd2jN
Yep, this is very true. Not opposed to lithium, just put together a budget camper build. Lithium battery + charge controller will probably be my next step when the AGM battery goes bad.
Oh awesome, I’m literally the same size and wanted to get the Element but was on concerned I wouldn’t fit. Do you happen to have the plans for the build?
@@edgarmiranda5270 You should fit fine. I didn’t write the plans down unfortunately. Just built it and had a few hack job revisions here and there lol. If I did it over I would put the cabinets on the passenger side so that if I were in an accident the cabinets aren’t going to slam into me. I rarely travel with a passenger so the other side is safer.
Have to keep in mind, if you’re ever parking to sleep roadside the traffic will be on the driver’s side and if a car hits your vehicle you’re safer not sleeping behind the driver’s seat. Plus, collisions very rarely happen in a straight line so I don’t know that you’d be any safer with the cabinets on the other side 🤷♂️
parts.cat.com/en/catcorp/153-5720 I was able to get it for $100 from a used battery store. A 4D battery is also a great one to use. Call around to battery stores and see if they have used ones! :-D
I should do another video that goes into more detail….. It’s mounted to the underside of the roof bars, doesn’t touch the roof. I drilled a hole right behind the rear roof bar on the drivers side and fed the wires down through to a hole (that I drilled) in the headliner. I bought this car for the specific purpose of converting it, so I didn’t feel too guilty lol
Hands down the most impressive Element build I’ve seen on UA-cam.
Thanks!!
I wish they made these vehicles again. Great set up.
sick build, the guys on Reddit at r/hondaelement would love this
It’s funny how I go to these vids to get ideas and they’re like. “So yeah I pretty just called my one friend from nasa and my other friend who’s a mechanical engineer doctor, and they came over, we chugged a few beers and did it in a weekend
It’s easy all you have to do is do it
Great idea with the flip down hinges!
Indeed. Genius move right there! I went in complete "wooooaaa-mode" during that segment. 😲
Genius use of the hinges for the bed ❤❤❤
Thank you! I actually took that idea from another UA-camr’s build and modified it slightly
@@AV8TTR - I don't understand the fans. Are they just blowing warm or hot air on you? If you crack the windows, do critters cone on in?
How do you vent CO, aside from temp issues?
Love my 2010 toaster, bright orange & proud. But those tiny rear quarter windows would have me in a sweat fest....
🥵
Amazingly clean, super efficient and brilliant DIY setting! Inspiring, really. Cheers from Canada. :)
Glad you liked it!
Awesome build. You should do some more vids on the element.
Thanks! I’m planning on it. Just too busy skiing and what not
It’s novel and terrific!
Jolly good!
Jolly good indeed!
That’s awesome! I’m building an off-road camping Element myself. It’s a 2009 EX AWD. This is great!
Like the solar panel and bike rack modifications you did
Thanks, it was a challenge to fit it all up there
Nice work, I am looking for an Element now for a weekend camping. I can do a little conversion on. I would recommend moving the solar power panel to above the bars.
That bit of shade can kill 50% of the power or more. Very good thanks for sharing.
That’s what I need! That simple strap to hold the mattress up when not in use. Love the build! Thanks for the new idea with that strap!
Thanks! Yeah sometimes the simplest solutions are the hardest to find
Love that pullout kitchen! Great set up. I live in my Honda Element and my bed uses the factory seats as an extension really opens up the space in the element!
Great build, love it. I want to do rooftop solar on my 2006. Someday!! 👍👍
Nice. I think this is the best set up I have seen so far! Good work! I have an 08 Element and want to outfit it to do light camping and overnights.
nice job man , you packed a lot into your Element . great idea on that roof rack .
Thanks!!
That is one well thought out Element!
Freakin rad my guy, stoked to have you back in town
Great build and setup. It would be nice to see more of the storage and cabinetry. Stay well!
Cool set-up! Enjoy your adventures 😊
Looks good, ready for a road trip and very informative.👍
Nice setup. I've been doing a Sprinter Van conversion but just bought a 2008 Element and thinking of doing something like this. New Subscriber
Thanks! Yeah the sprinter is the next step for me. But because it’s so cheap to convert an element why not?
Great set up bro
Really awesome build! Thanks for the links also!
Spacious loft with great views in California. 5000$/mo
3 yrs income proof required. Must have reference from mayor
Just watched in 22 and even though i have yet to get a E this is much appreciated!
Nice build
Hey Josh great tour of your 03 Element. I really like that fridge you have that's awesome on long trips. We love our 04 Element great daily driver, camper, work car ever lol Please post more videos of your E really dog the whole setup. I want to put a solar panel in ours but just need some help figuring out what I need.
Thanks! Will do!
You did a cool job.😁
Very cool similar to mine I put my spare under the bed so I don't have to tear out the build to get to it....
The spare is such a tricky problem! I’m going to bite the bullet and buy a swing out hitch mounted spare carrier.
“You’re welcome Josh” -China 🇨🇳
some cool adhoc solutions! :) Rich
Excellent video, awesome share. I will be doing some of the same. One of the best conversion DIY I have seen!
Thanks! I’m pretty stoked on it. I’m planning on making another video which goes into more detail about how it was built. Best of luck on your build! It’s an addicting process lol
@@AV8TTR Wow awesome build. What are the length and width of your bed? I'm trying to figure out if a 72 inch long mattress will fit in an Element. Thanks subscribed
The bed was impressive. 👌👌
New to the Element club… but the entire time I’m like- I think I know where this video is taken. I think your in my town! I think I know that park….???
Well made video. Very informative. Thanks
Thanks! I’m going to post another one that goes into more detail about how it was built.
@@AV8TTR can we get in contact bro? Thanks I would love to do the same
very clever hinge set up
Thanks!
Rad, Josh. 👏🏽
Thanks for the video, good job.
Thanks!
You are extremely talented thank you
Excellent setup
Good job!
"Hard to find a rooftop cargo carrier that only covers one side"
You nailed that one man
I think there is only one and it's a $400 yakima
No thanks lol.
Great idea great E build
How about some specs on that fridge cooler, like the brand and where you got it?
Hey thanks man! It’s been a great setup so far.
The fridge gets down to 15 deg F or so. It does really well. Only draws about 2-3ah on average in a 90 F deg climate.
I put a link in the description for the model fridge I used. Make sure to buy to $15 5 year warranty option !!
Dude I’m loving it damn awesome setup
Thanks! I’m stoked on it. There’s a lot of things I didn’t get into on the video but it’s just a dandy car
Did I miss where you tuck in your dry and canned goods and clothes, toiletries and equipment for your bike? I like the build.
Thanks! The drawer is where most stuff goes. There are two large cabinets above the bed and two below. Larger items that don’t fit inside go up top in a box
Can you please show how you mounted the solar panel exactly? Even just pictures would be great. I am trying to fit 2 of those panels under the factory bars like that side by side.
Hey Zach. Here’s a video showing how I did it.
ua-cam.com/video/F-gCplpcsOM/v-deo.html
@@AV8TTR Thanks so much! Going to try that for sure
Hey, this is just the video I was looking for. I'm super interested to learn more about your electronic setup. I'm assuming that 8D battery would keep my router and laptop running for 3 days so I can work without dedicated power source? How do you re-charge that 8D if you don't turn your car on, just the solar?
Dope, #elementlove
Cool build. Charging a lead acid battery inside the vehicle is a rather dangerous thing to do, especially contained in a wooden structure. You need to vent it outside or risk fire, injury or worse should it start outgassing. Hydrogen and oxygen are released when charging, and fire is often the result when concentrated next to ignition sources like the refrigerator relays, your light switches, etc. It needs to be vented outside, or replaced with sealed lead or lithium batteries.
Thanks for the info! It is a sealed maintenance free battery. There is also a dedicated fan/vent which activates during charging
Fantastic!
I see you have limo tints like mine cool
Yeah! Really helpful for camping in parking lots etc. Plus I feel like a thug
Cooooo! Let me know if you’re ever in SD. I wanna check it out!
For sure! San Diego?
Hey, looks like you took out the hitch tube and re-welded the center of the carrier? Correct? Thx
Yep. I took out the center hitch tube, but it didn’t need to be welded. You can just bolt it together in the center using the holes that would have gone into the tube, doesn’t even need to be drilled.
Hi there
Look good ! I like it
Can I have pictures how you install solar on the roof and wires how you make run to in the car ? Thanks
Hello! Here’s a link to my video talking about the solar panel install: ua-cam.com/video/Aa5TGiPPX5s/v-deo.html
For the wires I just drilled a hole in the roof/headliner and ran it down into the car
Hi there
Where location are you run cable from solar panel go to inside your car ? That I need ? Can you show me . Take pictures ok. Thanks
@@timkimone hey sorry for the late reply. I don’t have a photo right now but I drilled holes right behind the rear roof rack mount. Straight down through the headliner
Nice build. How tall are you and how long is your bed?Thanks
Thanks! I’m 6ft and it would fit someone up to 6’ 3”
Great setup, apart from the nonlithium battery right below your head when sleeping, which is toxic. Could you share how you're wiring the isolator, I have the same charge controller and also plan to have it switch between alternator and panels. Not sure how to wire it yet tho. Thanks!
It’s a sealed maintenance free battery, they don’t release gasses.
Wiring the isolator isn’t too hard. The one I bought comes with a diagram, I followed that. But it’s how you think it would be: Red wire from car battery to isolator, red wire from isolator to deep cycle battery. There is a small 12v wire that tells the isolator when to turn on. I just wired it to a cigarette lighter port in the back.
The solar charge controller turns off automatically when it detects a charging voltage from the alternator, so there’s no need for fancy wiring. Just connect the solar charge controller leads to the battery.
@@AV8TTR Thank you for the reply! I mentioned it cause i thought that i recently learned all lead acid or agm batteries vent toxic fumes, even if they say they are 'sealed' I will revisit that notion tho, but im pretty sure that it makes sense given the composition. just wanted to caution given the potential for health effects. Best of luck and thanks for the info!!
No worries man. I’m pretty sure almost all AGM are safe. Here’s one from renogy www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-agm-battery-12-volt-200ah/?gclid=CjwKCAiAyPyQBhB6EiwAFUuaknoN8RASJnNmLRO4tl0IKvjVgbD2QKkh4vSpVee-KyXZQn5wo7bkYhoC4hcQAvD_BwE
I'm thinking in blacking out the hood rims and roof
Can I ask what matters do you use? My boyfriend and I have been looking for one for our Honda Element and that one looks super comfy!
I bought a foam tempur-pedic mattress off Facebook marketplace for $80. Cut it to fit and its been a dream
Thumbnail is not part of the tour video. Was curious to see your mtb and roof storage box as shown.
Nice job, I have a 03 EX also. How many miles you got on it? I've got 205,000 and still running strong.
Thanks man. It has 206,000. Runs great. Had to replace the transmission (last owner didn’t maintain it). Did the shocks/struts not too long ago, other than that it’s been pretty low maintenance.
How’s your rig been? I haven’t really heard about major failures on these
@@AV8TTR The only major problem I had, which I did not realize until after I bought it, was the frame was very rusted. The rear control arm was totally rusted out, which is a problem for many Elements from snowy regions that use salt on the roads during winter. There is a recall up in Canada where they will fix it with reinforcements but here in the midwest there isn't a recall, I contacted Honda and the basically said your own your own, so I had my mechanic who has experience with this issue on Elements repair it by cutting out the rusted area and welding in new steel, he also reinforced it and painted it so it would not rust so fast again. The engine runs great though and I love it.
Great Job! just curious, how do you get to the Spare?
That has been a big problem. Currently I have it strapped to the roof rack. But I’m going to eventually use a full size spare and put it on a hitch mounted swing away spare tire carrier (350$!)
For mounting the furniture to the car, such as the wooden bed platform, i see you drilled into the floor. For the interior sides, did you remove the panels or just drill into them as well?
Yep, I used self tapping screws for the floor. For the sides I anchored them using the two open bolt holes where the rear seats used to bolt into on the sides of the car. It’s not really necessary but since it was easy to mount it there I did.
Can a person that is 5'11 be able to sleep on that bed? I want to purchase an element but don't feel it's long enough to sleep in for a tall person.
Yes. I’m 6ft. It could fit up to 6’ 3”
Is the aux battery recharging via both the solar panel AND alternator cord from car battery or is the solar panel charging a separate power unit? If not do you know if the aux battery could be charged via your solar panel and car battery?
Both the solar panel and the alternator! The renogy solar charge controller manages any potential electrical issues. Basically when the renogy unit detects a charging voltage level ~14v from the alternator it stops charging from the panel. When it detects a lower than normal voltage ~11.5v it allows the solar panel to charge the battery
@@AV8TTR that's awesome dude, I have an '08 and have been wanting to do something similar to your setup, think this video might have been the catalyst for that, nice job!
@@drewbeholy9760 nice man make a video!
Can't hear audio very well
Nice build.. However on your battery..
Lead Acid / AGM can outgas and be bad for your health. You'll taste it in the air..
However Lead Acid, and AGM can only be discharged 40% without damaging the battery. So 210ah = 84ah of usable power.
Typically Lead Acid have a 1000 cycle lifespan.
Lithium Ion cough up the ENTIRE Amp hour charge without damage. So a 210ah give the entire 210 Amp hours.. Meaning almost 300% of the stored energy in the beginning. Unfortunately like the battery in your phone, it degrades to 80% in about a year.. 60% in two years etc.. You might get 2000 cycles before it's no longer enough.
Lifepo4 batteries (Lithium Phosphate) ALSO cough up their entire 210ah, and charge faster then Lithium ion, but weigh more. They average about 5-6000 cycles.
So you can spend $100 every year-ish, $300 every few years, or $700 if you build from cells, ($1200 for a prebuilt) and never buy a battery again.. (30-40 years)..
I'm installing 640ah into my Sailboat. Which will be the equivalent to 7.6X, of your one battery. It'll still work when I'm dead from old age (I'm 51)..
Which means.. THIS Lifepo4 battery at $379 would last 20X as long as your L.A... at 4X the cost..(2X at an autoparts store)..
L.A./AGM $200 X 20 = $4000
Lifepo4 $379 X 1 = $379.. Who's winning now?
Dr. Prepare 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Deep Cycle Battery with Monitor Screen, Rechargeable Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery, Built-in 100A BMS, Perfect for RV, Solar Power, Off-Grid Applications a.co/d/jjKd2jN
Yep, this is very true.
Not opposed to lithium, just put together a budget camper build. Lithium battery + charge controller will probably be my next step when the AGM battery goes bad.
How tall are you? Curios the length of the bed
6ft 175lbs. It was perfect for me. Could maybe push it to 6’ 2”
Oh awesome, I’m literally the same size and wanted to get the Element but was on concerned I wouldn’t fit. Do you happen to have the plans for the build?
@@edgarmiranda5270 You should fit fine. I didn’t write the plans down unfortunately.
Just built it and had a few hack job revisions here and there lol.
If I did it over I would put the cabinets on the passenger side so that if I were in an accident the cabinets aren’t going to slam into me. I rarely travel with a passenger so the other side is safer.
Have to keep in mind, if you’re ever parking to sleep roadside the traffic will be on the driver’s side and if a car hits your vehicle you’re safer not sleeping behind the driver’s seat. Plus, collisions very rarely happen in a straight line so I don’t know that you’d be any safer with the cabinets on the other side 🤷♂️
How much is total cost, incl. Labor?
I did the labor myself. It was around $5200
Great job check mine out Honda Element into camper
Thanks man. Will do!
Didn’t see a reference link for the 8D battery you used. Can you share?
parts.cat.com/en/catcorp/153-5720
I was able to get it for $100 from a used battery store. A 4D battery is also a great one to use. Call around to battery stores and see if they have used ones! :-D
Awesome build. Lol creepy disembodied voice @ 1:19
Compressor fridge
I thought the same for I have been watching van life for five year and never heard of this type of fridge.
How did you connect your solar panel? Also, how did you route the cables?
I should do another video that goes into more detail….. It’s mounted to the underside of the roof bars, doesn’t touch the roof.
I drilled a hole right behind the rear roof bar on the drivers side and fed the wires down through to a hole (that I drilled) in the headliner.
I bought this car for the specific purpose of converting it, so I didn’t feel too guilty lol
Nice build