A strong powered roof vent with some side air intakes will do a great job. I drove a semi for years and that will create good ventilation. You don’t place air intakes underneath because the pavement gets hot and radiates heat long after sun goes down.
+Static CamperVan You can get untinted window films for the fronts that rejects a lot of heat! The great news is that it's so invisible, you can put it on the windshield too! : )
Yeah yeah everyone, he talks a lot.. 😎 I watch UA-cam, or listen, while doing chores so honey I love listening to you talk. I'm planning my rig in my head right now. I have 14 months before my husband retires and my youngest graduate high school. After that we will be down sizing, selling our home and rentals and building a home in DE. we already have the property, but I'm ready to hit the road already! This is my personal project, I informed my husband last night that I want to build it, I just need him for guidance and supervision on certain things, but he's game! Can't wait, thanks for making videos! I subbed!
Static CamperVan thank you! It will be fun, no pressure, like yeah!... I'm fortunate that way in that I'm not forced into a van suddenly without ever even thinking of this lifestyle. I love watching those people tho that did have that experience, really made of tough stuff! I am ready, my life is not! I'll be surfing through your channel 😎
Your floor vent solution was perfect for me as I have a camper shell on my Silverado pick-up. Following your example I also installed a MaxxAir vent fan on the roof and together, the fan and the floor vent turned out to be a perfect solution. Thanks so much for your frequent good ideas. Oh btw my shell does have side windows that open wide that I generally never want open at night when I'm staying overnight in a populated area.
Put another Max fan in the roof. Put it close to the front. I understand these fans have settings for intake and exhaust. Set the front for intake and have the rear set for exhaust. I've seen others do this with great results.
I must agree that a vent is absolutely required if you plan on dwelling in a van. I have slept in cars, trucks, vans etc. over my many years on the road. I have been eaten alive by mosquitos and other insects as a result of rolling the windows down for ventilation and cool air. A vent fan and screening for windows is much needed. The vent in the floor with a screen and removable cap is actually a good idea and may very well be the route I take. Good video!
+stringbender57 glad my video might be helpful. Other viewers have suggested that I use a boat hatch instead of the plumbing fixture. It’s another way to go.
Yes, air flow is extremely of value. Have you ever noticed that such a huge amount of hot air is verbally being released by someone from their ..venting.. that life can be made unbearable for others nearby?? ...while it is that some rather maintain a calmness and a cool head thereby others are comforted... (Somewhat ..off topic.. and to say, just passing thru while step by step viewing your videos in order here. To Note, when I view a video and really nothing to add will leave a little graphic 🙋♀️)
I have a similar setup to you and was finding that the roof extract fan didn't keep me cool. I've now added a Hella 3361 fan inside to create some breeze and this is really good. Available on Amazon.
+Urban Stealth Van I was hampered a bit last summer because my battery bank was too small. I have an axial fan that I hoped to use with a bucket swamp cooler. The cooler worked out fairly well using a usb fan. This summer will be easier as I've added a second battery. It should give me enough power to use the axial fan which will greatly improve the function of the swamp cooler. Luckily the air here is very dry most of the summer so a swamp cooler can really be a life saver. Thanks so much for the message!
I think that's pretty clever .I like the size of the van .120!!!!!!!!I moved out of Phoenix (which I loved when it hit 115 ) and we had a beautiful apt with a.c.and pool but way too hot ,I had reverse cabin fever not sure where you are that gets that hot .Then came my year in a van ,back up north .I love watching all the different ways everyone has these vans done .Great ventilation idea .If I could I would be a snow bird but I really like the options of a stealth van .
I have that same fan! I use the auto feature all the time. On auto the fan speed will adjust based on temperature and when it gets too cold the hood will shut. But when you have it on auto there is a very bright green LED that keeps me up at night!
+James Morrin I have the non-motorized hood, but you just reminded me why I didn't bother to figure out how to use the auto feature, that dang light! I have a piece of tape over the LED on my charge controller for the same reason. Ha ha!
I like the curtain backdrop = van space doesn't look as cluttered as in some of other videos.. I'm Enjoying your videos. 😊 I would really like a sunroof along w/a vent fan on roof for ventilation... your shelf seems like a good creative idea.
I use a small computer fan over my bunk for localized cooling and it makes quite a difference. I like the floor vent, I am considering adding one in order to run an extension cord to shore power when it's available. Enjoyed the video, thanks.
Did you do this for an extension cord and did it work as you had planned? I am asking as I am transforming a Promaster van into a video production van and considering putting in a pvc pipe with a 4" drain cleanout plug in the rear corner of the floor for cables to come up through so I don't have to leave the doors open.
@@KScamman Yes, using the PVC through the bottom to run an extension cord worked well. It also serves as a small volume fresh air vent. The shaded area under the van is typically a few degrees cooler than the air coming in off the hot roof. (If you're oof road or in a camp. Parking lot surfaces hold heat a long time) Also, DON'T use it as a vent if the van is running, close it off. Otherwise you will be bringing in exhaust fumes 😵
not a great idea. the computer fan will not be powerful enough, and will actually hinder the natural convection/suction. leave the hole as it is. the maxxfan fx. has a 400-900 cfm capacity. the strongest computer fans are around 150.
I cannot even imagine temperatures of 40 C and above. Here in Eastern Canada a hot summer day is high 20s C or 80s F. Thank you for sharing this helpful info.
I really like the stealth ideas. I city boondock & am looking to vent also. My van came with the front window covers you showed in your video. I can lower the window an inch or so without anyone noticing that it's open. I have no rear ventilation other than opening the back windows. Which doesn't look stealth and invites theft. I'm not sure of my old van if I want to invest in solar, And batteries. I will use my van three or four months in the summer at the beach. Not sure how important ventilation will be yet. If it gets overcast and I get too much moisture I'll have to do something. I like the floor idea. I found a 3 inch vent made for trailers that has a cover small enough to possibly be stealth. Problem is like with yours it's only 3 inches. I think you have great ideas keep up the videos
+Boondocker Bill Thanks, Bill. You’re smart to wait and see what you will need for venting. While I believe good ventilation is the single best addition for any van, I no longer believe in “stealth”. I think it’s an overused word that scares us from enjoying our time in our vans. These days I focus on my comfort and happiness over being stealthy. I wish you a happy summer in your van. Summer seems a Long way away right now!
I was just thinking the ground is hot so unless you park in the shade when it’s open more heat will come in. I follow your train of thought and as long as you aren’t in motion having it open could bring in a little more air. But at 3” not much. I probably would have looked at windows in the back with screens in them. They wouldn’t take away from the stealth factor. Also those rain guards still might be a good idea for when you’re in Seattle and cooler areas. Good luck.
+LivGr8 I originally wanted to install rain guards but have found it is best not pull air from the hot cab into the much cooler cargo area. Thanks for the comment.
+LivGr8 it works well in the spring and fall. I plan on adding one more floor vent before next summer as I think the floor vents work better than using the windows.
I think getting the window guards is a great idea. The heat coming off the pavement will be pulled up through the disposal flange, at least initially and until the pavement has cooled down. Just a thought.
+C & B I thought the window guards were a good idea at first. What I found was in a hot climate like I'm in, the only way to keep the inside of the van the same temperature as the outside is to not pull air from the cab area. The difference between sleeping with the windows down to using the floor vent has been huge. Before I added the floor vent, the van would stay above 115 F or more ALL night. It was only after I put in the floor vent that I was able to keep the inside of the van as the same temperature as outside the van. In a cooler or more normal climate, the window guards are the better choice.
Hi - Just subbed - interesting to see a small van used to fulltime in - a bit confused at first as here in the UK a Static Camper/Caravan is usually what I think you would call a Trailer ie about 10ft wide and 40 ft long. :) Here the rule of van conversion is Insulation, insulation, insulation which you don't seem to have any of - surely you are going to need this - I know some (eg Will Burston) think is is not a good Idea in a hot climate (because of thermal retention) then that is not the right insulation. Create an Airtight box then ventilate it. This is very easy with such a small van. Insulation also cuts down on sound transmission - good for stealth and comfort. I cannot believe that having vents at the bottom of the back (or indeed side) doors would compromise the Stealth of your vehicle which is where I would put them, the thing about floor vents is you need to remember to shut them off. Looking forward to more vids - where are you in the US? and that sink does look intriguing.
+Nick Wood hey Thanks for the comments! Yes here in the states we (generally) don't know what caravan means. As for the insulation, that is a heated debate among vandwellers. Pun intended. Here in California, where I am, it is extremely hot. Today was a cool day at 46 degrees. Nothing, and I mean nothing keeps the heat out. You are correct that insulation holds heat in. I had some insulation and removed it because it took too long to cool the van down at night to sleep. That said I am experimenting with some roof insulation. But I agree with Burson. I think having seasonal insulation would be ideal because I will need some come fall and winter. Really though, it's not bad. The temp. inside the van is usual about the same as outside the van, so there's probably not much more I can hope for. Thanks for the feedback on the vents. So far I have not had any exhaust gas enter through the floor vent. But I do need to eventually add a wee bit more venting, so you comment is helpful. Thanks for the sub! Cheers.
Static CamperVan thanks for the post..I am buy my van in a little while..connect..and I have been looking at insulation..I will be living in it full time..mostly summer weather..good to know insulation will keep heat in the van!,don't want that down south!,
+Deborah Caron glad I could help. I've been thinking about making some insulated panels that would be held in place with magnets, that way I could put them up for our (short) wintertime. Connects are great vans. If you don't already, you should follow One Awesome Inch as he is building a Transit Connect right now.
Just came across your video by accident. Seem to have same van, but we are twosome. Its an adequate sleep space for camping trips but your ventilation idea is really a great idea. Recommendation...found on Amazon a two sided blackout blanket that can be cut to size. They sold it as a baby beach blanket..hello, huh? But its great and looks good. Used it in house to reflect heat and look a tad less like windshield visor and it was like 10 bucks. Have a rain issue. Need some creative ideas. We have only opening windows in front of van so we usually try to park so air comes in just right. We are in a cold and wet climate here so cuts may be dicey but wondered if there was some improvisation for the front windows you could think of to make a quick rain block for a getaway camping trip....always our biggest fear, warm climate getaway, and a rainstorm...OF course we need it to not take a ton of storage space. We packed the van with 9 coolers and two boards and a camping mattress, LOL. But rain in the front windows...hmmm. Thinking of using windshield visor blackouts over the window from the outside. Stumped a bit. Needs to have a spacer at top of the window to create an air space but not let rain in. Ideas????? Thanks for your video and any creative ideas.
+Suzanne Ramoundos air deflectors work well but are pricey for our vans: www.moparonlineparts.com/mobile/promaster-city-deflectors-p-7162.html I honestly don't know how anyone gets by without a roof vent. But I understand your reasoning for not installing one.
Thanks for this video. It got me thinking about my situation. This makes me wonder if it would be worth it for a hardcore stealth camper to install a second small fan on the floor of the van. Also, from your research, which of the quality models of roof fans have the lowest profile above the roof? I might have to install a fan underneath the roof rack for the solar panel(s).
Thanks. I don’t know much about “stealth” as I stopped trying to hide years ago. Since that’s the case, I’ve not kept up with “stealthy” type vents. Maybe the Ventline Vents, but those have a lot of drawbacks. Best wishes on your build.
@@StaticCamperVan , thanks for your quick reply. I just now read that the Dometic Fan-Tastic Vent 1250 has a low profile. Have you seen it up close before? Also, I just saw in your recent video that you're now in AZ. I plan on returning there to pick up a solar panel or two. Maybe I'll see you out there :)
I’m not keen on the 1250. It only has three speed settings meaning it draws more power and it’s difficult to find a setting for optimal comfort. It’s also loud. And It’s only “low-profile” when the lid is closed.
@@StaticCamperVan , thanks again. I'll just have to measure how much clearance I have beneath the roof rack once I have a solar panel to put on top of it.
Great idea on the floor vent. I just ordered mine on Amazon. Where would you suggest placing it? (I have the exact same layout as yours except mine is a Ford Transit Connect.)
Not sure I can give you any suggestions on placement of the vent. With my van and layout, I only had two areas that didn’t have gas lines, brake lines or exhaust parts. You’ll need to spend some time looking under your van to determine what will work for you. My vent is is directly under where I sit at my sink. Which isn’t the best location since I get a cold breeze while taking my morning bath. Not a terrible thing on warm mornings but not ideal on chilly ones.
Like the disposal drain idea! Maybe some hardware cloth (thin wire mesh, usually by the ft at ace) held on with some large hose clamps to keep out bugs and critters that can chew window screen. Would last longer too! Really like the van bud!
Probably would. There really isn’t room for anything much bigger. And my vent does have screen and a way to seal shut. At the moment, I have the vent partially blocked off as it lets too much cold air in. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
not crazy, smart idea, geting cool air from under van .. but as you said, risk of polluted air / water entering the hole. If I were you I'd run some cooling pipe under your van, attached to small air pump, away from floor opening, and then run some more pipe .. up, somehow ??? to drawin air from near the top of your van .. not sure how you'd do that? maybe seal off a wall support frame then drill a hole outside at the top of the interior of the wall support frame ?
+RemusKingOfRome5 yes that was a concern about water and fumes entering the van from the floor vent. But what I've found is NO water ever comes in, I think because of the ring that protrudes down. And if I ever smell fumes, I just switch the roof vent to pull air in instead of out, but I've only had to do that once, when someone was smoking some strange smelling cigarette near me 😎
You made this video a year ago. How is whatever you tried working out? How high off the roof does that MaxxFan sit when closed? I'm trying to figure out if the Ram City will fit in local parking garage. Thx.
Your van and mine are very similar...so I'm very interested in your take on this build...I have only put in a temporary bed so I can travel in the meantime...while I decide what to include ...or not...so continue....woodsmn
Hello Static - thanks for the veni vidi vici venting video ;) I had a few questions about how to conceal a roof fan. Have you ever heard of anyone putting polar panels above the roof fan? How much breathing room do you think you would need to give the fan? The idea would be to run the fan without the cover, with the solar panels mounted above to stop rain and sun, and block light from being seen from above. I'm sure someone has probably already been down this path and has found out it doesn't work, but I can't seem to find anything in searches. I thought of using a Thule, or similar (but cheaper) roof carrier. I thought the top half could be used as a disguise, and break up the telltale side profile of a roof fan. The downside to that is for city stealth, a roof carrier attracts thieves :( I can't imaging doing a build without at least one roof fan but I want to keep as stealthy as possible, while still enjoying the comforts. Thanks again for all your contributions.
In my honest opinion, stealth doesn’t exist. To build a van with “stealth” in mind means making sacrifices to your comfort. Most people don’t install solar panels above vents since vents need to be serviced and cleaned occasionally. Not having direct access would make a simple service twice as difficult or impossible without first removing the solar panels. I’m one hundred percent certain you’d encounter leaks if you removed the vent cover. I don’t think you’d need much in the way of clearance for air movement. Just allow enough room to keep the two from touching or the fan will be very noisy. If you want to mount your vents under your panels, you should look at VentLine Vents or Fantastic fan makes a vent that sits somewhat flush above the roof. These vents are noisier, and if you’re concerned with stealth, that fact should be taken into consideration. These vents also draw more power. I’m my opinion, leaks, higher power consumption and louder operating noise are bigger drawbacks than trying to hide the fact that you have a campervan. The people out there that are aware of campervans, notice them. The rest of the population doesn’t notice the slightest detail of our vans.
Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to answer. I never thought of cleaning them. I guess pulling this off would hinge on a good solution? 😆 Cheers 🚚Go
I’m interested as to how having a fantastic fan would have been impactful on the ideas you had for the layout of the van Thanks Love your videos! I think you are so underrated.
I’m not sure I understand your question. I installed a MaxxAir Vent Fan and it’s the single most important item in my van. Without it, I would have died of heat exhaustion, lack of oxygen or smoke inhalation from (poor) cooking.
Reflectix works great Outside the windows. It doesn’t really work on the inside of windows. But other van building UA-cam channels have marketed it, so Reflectix is being used solely because we don’t look at the facts. Reflectix works great in traditional home building, it’s a poor choice for vans.
Oh, I think I was eluding to the fact that I needed the vent to stay open all the time. The Fantastic Fan needs to be closed when it rains. I considered a rain cover for the fan but that would have severely limited my parking options. Since I’m mostly a city dweller, I need to park in multi level parking garages. Increasing the overall height of my van with a vent rain cover would have limited my parking options.
Using Reflectix Behind glass isn’t effective. The sun heats the glass and that heat radiates through the Reflectix and into the vehicle. Haha! I’m actually a pretty decent cook. I just tend to be inattentive!
I have a peugeot bipper van same sort of size that i'm currently turning into a micro camper. I have yet to put a fan in. but want to keep it steathy. Liking your ideas cheers Karl
Bonus points for wire shelving. Also the lack of insulation is sweet. You don't need it if you have a diesel heater and it takes up precious cubic inches of interior space. . Hell, Nellybelle, my 93 Dodge Grand Caravan LE (The L is for Luxury) has full glass all around and I have no issue with heating. For cooling I use trees and native altitude of high mountain meadows. My new 20l fridge freezer (Iceco) is scheduled for delivery first of the month. Can the push button latte machine be far behind? I think not. #hobomessiah. Enjoy
You remind me of my therapist .... When he forgets that we aren't out to lunch.. So he takes up my session talking about his own interests, I LOVE IT 😂 I think he needs to build a van out and hit the road to be a traveling emergency therapist! He can also do therapy by Skype or FaceTime yeah? I think everyone should try this for a month at least, it would capture those who never would have thought of it otherwise, who would become die hard van dwellers!
Haha, I’m definitely not a therapist! I often wonder why more people don’t have a van, truck or trailer so that they can get out on the weekends. You should have your therapist check out Wayfarer Vans. They make a kit for the ProMaster vans. Might be just what the doctor orders.
Static CamperVan he's so disorganized it's hysterical, and out of funds due to the IRS running him into the ground! He will have to try mine out when it happens.
Hi Static CamperVan, I was just thinking that your van looks about as small as my Ford Transit Connect and I'm guessing gets close to the same gas as mine. I found that mine idols at a pretty reasonable rate and in a 24 hour period will only use about a quarter tank just idling. Which to me is worth being comfortable when the weather is too hot or too cold. On more tolerable days I have bug screens for my two front windows and a big one for my sliding passenger side door. Looks like your solar panel blocks a lot of direct sun from hitting the roof which is great but you might consider raising it a few more inches so it has good air flow beneath it. Also some sort of insolation on the inside ceiling would do wonders for you. Good luck to you.
+jesuscross9 Thanks for the suggestions. I would like to see your van. It is indeed about the same size as a Transit Connect. In fact that was what I originally wanted to buy. I do need to get bug screens, great idea. Although they are mostly not practical for me to use since I almost always park on city streets. I did add some insulation to the ceiling but it was a HUGE mistake. It takes an extra hour or two to cool the van down at night with it. But it's now cooler so it is less a problem at the moment.
+jesuscross9 unfortunately my privacy curtain is a bit unwieldy or I would open it more often to let the AC or heat through to the back. I think I complained To Much about the heat. It really was only unbearable/dangerous for 1 or 2 nights all summer long. You might want to look into getting a "VentLine" vent fan. They are only six inches in diameter but would give you some air movement.
Static CamperVan I actually do have a 12 volt fan I got at Walmart, that I pull out and plug in when I'm sleeping. I just didn't have it on the video. To get the AC flowing past my curtain I use an umbrella to prob it up just above the vents. Lol
💜 I don’t think we think you’re crazy. While some might think you’re crazy with that. Looks like you put the one vent in the floor. It seems like from your newest videos. You still only have the one vent in the floor. While you mentioned that it was working well you thought you needed more. But I don’t think you added anymore, correct? And if that is correct, why did you decide not to add more? Was it just because you couldn’t figure out the best placement to do it? Typically when I ask questions a short while later another one of your videos will pop up and then the answer will undoubtedly be there.
The only spaces that are left for another vent are directly above the fuel tank and fuel & brake lines. I haven’t wanted to attempt cutting near those areas
I think the floor vent idea is excellent. I'm surprised you don't feel 3" is adequate. It should be. On particularly oppressive nights I would idle the van lifting the curtain somewhat and run the AC. That little 4 cylinder will not only idle fine for hours as long as the electric engine fan is operable, but should not burn more than 2/10 of a gallon of fuel an hour.
+uck moo hey, Thanks for the feedback on the vent! This is an extremely hot climate so more venting is helpful. Do you have a campervan too? Get on the Tube man! I might try you suggestion with the A/C. Today was rough weather wise. Cheers!
No. I've considered it but I live in central Florida and AC is imperative to me. I could not comfortably sleep without it. I have considered buying a large Sprinter cargo van, putting a rooftop AC and an RV generator under it. These types of vans are already utilized as RV's so it wouldn't be hard to fit it with a generator, or many other parts that are used in those RV's. Though I like your small, stealthy van I am 6'1, 275 lbs so I don't think I would fit in it.
Helpful video! This is the one topic I’ve been giving the most thought to before I pick my van. I’ve been debating a larger van solely because it will give me more roof area for a second fan. Have you made any modifications to your ventilation system in the past 5 years?
Hey Static. I have the same model van and I'm currently building it out looking for inspiration. Have been searching for an after market window solution for the PMC but have mostly come up short. Wondering if you've thought about such options at any point in your build? Pop out windows on the rear or sliding glass would probably be good venting solutions.
+crayonbandit some people have suggested using boating parts. There are deck hatches that would probably make great water tight windows when latched shut. There is a company called West Marine (that I have bought electrical parts from) that sell a variety of boat deck hatches. I specially bought a cargo van without windows because it's easier to keep the cargo area cool. I made a video where I talked about how I solved my venting issues. If you make videos of your build, please let me know. I always enjoy seeing other vans, especially ProMasters.
+Reed Bailey good to know for the future. As for now, since I live in a hot area, I'm not going to have any windows in my van. Windows equal heat and I got enough heat to deal with :^)
SummeRulz Hello, are the sliding windows made by glass or plastic? In terms of durability, are they unbreakable? Do they come with the blinders? Prefer to install on the roof for stealthy.
One of the nicer things is the bottom vent will be colder air and maybe a computer fan along with the screen. The only time it would be bad if you are parked on a hot black asphalt.
The roof vent fan pulls the air through the floor vent, there isn’t a need for a second fan. Another thing to consider is that a MaxxAir roof vent fan is very quiet, much more quiet than a computer fan.
Hi, I love the vent in the floor idea. I have been thinking about that same thing for some time now myself but never thought of the plugs. I thought about having the fan system be down below and sucking air in from underneath. Then I could just crack my front windows for it to circulate out. The thing that has prevented me from going forward with it is concern that putting too large of a hole under the van might put me in danger of exhaust fumes while driving. But I cant see this being a problem with your "plug" solution. Is it at all an annoyance to have to put the plugs in and out?
+jesuscross9 not at all. In fact I rarely put the stopper in place. I thought I would need to seal off the air when driving, especially when it rains but haven't found a need to do that. It's been months since I've used the stopper. I've recently experimented with using a computer fan down on the floor vent but wasn't happy with the amount of air it could draw. Also, it was much more noisy compared to my MaxxAir vent. I even like to leave the floor vent open in the winter. I turn off my fan and crack open my roof vent slightly and fresh air naturally flows up through the van because of convection. It gives me fresh air without making the van chilly. My only wish is that I had space for a second one. I will probably install a regular RV or boat vent down low on the wall of the van.
+jesuscross9 never. Do keep in mind that I keep the cab (fairly) sealed off from the back. I imagine in heavy traffic jams there may have been some fumes that have entered the van but since I always keep the roof vent open, by the time I've parked there's just fresh air in back.
i have the wind / rain cover for the front windows. yes they do make a difference with some circulation with 3 inches of air flow each side. I too have a small hole in the base , that i always keep open. Now its a heat wave in Hamburg, its 35 degrees C in the van and 35 outside. I tested the metal of the van and its 39 degrees C. I don't have a ceiling roof fan as they all protrude too much. I have such a simple setup, by just winding the front windows down completely, and simply have my 12 volt inside van on all the time. The sliding door is slightly ajar but locked. Just that simple setup is actually enough to be cool. I am not sold on those roof fans. Its all about air flow. The inside fan is enough, its only 15 centimetres, but a slightly noisy. There is only one problem,t he moment the fan is turned off its impossibly hot, quickly. if you have a thermometer can you try test. set up the van like mine (front windows all the way down and small fan moving the air), then try it with the ceiling fan and windows up. I would be interested to know
Guess the whole world is having a heatwave. I did try your fan and window setup. It was 39 here today and while your system works, it wasn't nearly as pleasant in my van as using the roof vent. Glad it works for you and it is good to know if ever my roof vent becomes inoperable. Thanks for sharing, I will try to remember to pass this on in a future video.
Do you mind I asking how reliable Promaster city is? What is your mileage now? And how much you bought your van? I still cannot make up my mind, between Promaster city and Ford transit connect.
+billy yong I've had my van a year and a half, it has about 17000 miles on it. I'm getting about 23 miles per gallon City and 34 or so miles per gallon Highway. I haven't had any problems with it yet. I won't say how much I paid for it but the price on commercial vans is fairly straight forward. Check out the Ram website for current prices. The Ford is more popular. The Ford is also smaller, doesn't have as good of fuel mileage and is more expensive. The Ram also has more power and a bigger towing capacity. I think they are both great vans but I couldn't afford the Ford plus it seemed a little too small for me.
You could put a removable metallic reflector thingy across the front window to keep the sun's heat out. Those front door window shields are nice to let air in/out but bugs & mosquitos can get in as well. Some lady on another bought a micro screen that she put in her windows to keep mosquitos & the tiny "no see 'um" bugs out but lets air in/out for circulation on nice days/nights.
+LovingAtlanta the windshield reflectors do slow down the heat transfer through the windshield. The heat does eventually radiate in so through trial and error I have found it works best for me to not be concerned with the cab area and just focus on keeping the cargo area cool. The no-see-um netting is a great idea, I just keep forgetting to buy some!
I really like the idea of the hole in the floor. I am planning to do it in my TC. i bought an 8 inch deck plate (7 inch hole) from Amazon. It has a screw on top that is waterproof when sealed. I plan to attach fiberglass screen to the bottom of the van with magnets. I'm thinking I can just pull it up through the hole when it needs cleaning. Still have to work out the details. :-)
Good idea. I wish my vent was a little bit bigger. It’s been pointed out to me by several people that a rodent can chew through fiberglass easily. Hardware Cloth would be a better choice. But I’m still using the same piece of fiberglass screen with no issues. Thanks for the message!
really like your ideas. .air underneath should be cooler since it is being shaded. Should work as long as you don't drive through flood water. my personal choice would be some windows. I really like to see the beauty outdoors.
How did you wire the ventation fan? , To your charge controller or did you splice into the wire coming from the solar panel because I think you said that the power from the panle can run it
My vent fan, and all the other electrical components, run through my fuse block which is powered by my AGM batteries. Wiring this way means I can run the fan even when there’s no sunlight. It’s also safer to have fuses.
I don't know if you resolve your issue, I was thinking electronic window tint front windshield driver and copilot also is you don't have fog lights you can try to run air intake hose directly to the inside just how people use it for turbos and intercooler systems, I don't know just and idea
One word 'RAGTOP' - - - I'm not in Seattle but i'm in Southern California never farther then 5 miles from the beach so it's always in the 60 - 85 range all year round ... What i did was skip the typical insulation and just used good lumber to surround all the inside of the van walls/sides/floors the wood itself insulates a little better than using nothing at all plus it gives a good look inside the van ... For ventilation i bought a custom 40''x40'' universal sliding white ragtop very stealth when closed you can not see it from any angle and when slid open the vinyl cloth folds right underneath my solar panels so when open you can also not see it ... The hole is massive and at night when laying in bed and when fully open its like having the sky as your roof ... Fan wise i just have a target bought big circular fan and i set it up on a wall mounted 360 degree swivel where i can swing it in any direction right up to the ragtop hole if needed ... I can also flip the fan both ways so i can either pull air in or push it out but really i just need to open my ragtop half way and swing the fan just near the hole and it gives cools me off completely ... Now at night time in the winter even with the ragtop closed it gets pretty cold inside but i really don't care about the cold i just add more blankets or sleep in a sleeping bag ... Flies do get in from time to time but its not bad at all ... And i haven't really traveled the country but i do go to Las Vegas a lot but only during Nov - February when i know its never above 85 ... And so far when it rains the ragtop does not leak at all and like i said being in Southern California / San Diego areas it really only rains 10 - 20 days if that a year ... So i really love my ragtop and surprised that more people who mostly are near the beach cities don't have one , and no i do not have a vw van lol! , its a big sprinter style van
+GrowerPristine.MatthewMalone Great Idea! I’ve never seen a ragtop on anything other than a VW. Life in a van is pretty sweet down in San Diego. Thanks for telling us about your van!
@@StaticCamperVan Thanks for your reply Static. It was the power steering fluid. Will be going to the dealer in the morning for an oil change, a 250.00 new batterry(eeeek), and to top off the steering fluid. Hope it's all under 400.00. Thanks again for the help buddy.
Great that you got it figured out. I bought a new battery from Napa Auto Parts. Luckily, I was in Portland at the time so the battery was slightly cheaper due to no sales tax.
If the fan is reversible, why not use a front fan blowing in and a rear fan blowing out? The size and flow of intake and output would be the same with two.
+Brian Breiannis that would be ideal except for the fact that there isn't any more space on the roof for another full size fan. I have been thinking about adding a VentLine fan as they are small enough to fit. I will add one more floor vent and I think that will take care of the issue. Thanks for the comment.
I assumed the vents would allow air in but I found two issues. 1. The vents don’t provide enough air in 100plus degrees. And 2. Most importantly, the cab area gets stifling hot because of the windshield and door windows. I’ve found the only way to keep the cargo area cool is to separate the cab from the cabin.
Yeh makes sense, but would an evaporative fan bring the temprature down and air flow get rid of moisture. Im guessing you arnt keen on using reflectives to reduce radiant heat.
Yes, I’ve found Reflectix doesn’t work without an air gap, which makes it impractical to use in a small van. I also find insulation problematic in a small van. I do have a small evap cooler, I made a video on it. The evaporative coolers don’t cool the van but do provide a nice cooling breeze if the vents are aimed at you. Even my small evap cooler does increase the humidity in the van with the vents open and fan running. Unless you live in a very dry climate, I think you will find any evaporative cooler is going to increase humidity, fan or no fan.
In the UK we have a 4"air admitance valve thats used as a breather on a soil stack. Inverted in the floor of a van and coupled with an inspection cap when not in use should provide masses of air. Only issue is the size. There about 6"deep. Ok if you can conceel it in a cupboard or something.
Interesting. I’ve never heard of those, I will look for them. A number of people have suggested boat hatches as an alternative. Something I have found since I made this video is that I almost never close the floor vent. The only time I put the stopper in the vent was when we went camping at Mt Rainier. I was concerned a mouse might chew through the screening on the vent.
I for one enjoyed your video it is fab entertainment that is free with lots of good little tips . So thanks a lot. Greetings from Scotland tu & sub Rob
The basic foundation for this kind of situation is to have a good gauge to be able to track your conditions in the van. You don't have to have a laboratory instrument, you can get a simple humidity/temperature gauge on Amazon, or Lowes for $10 to $12. The 4 inch square one I have also has a high and low feature for the last 24 hours. Humidity hold's heat in the air and until you control the humidity, you can't do much with the heat. I see from your future vlog's you now have some insulation on the roof. Of course you can go the other way and your body will tell you that a. your body is cold despite the steam coming out of your mouth, or B. you have to break the slagg ice off top of your coffee cup! But a gauge will tell you when to turn on the fan or turn up thee thermostat on The Olympian Wave 3.
+Killer Facts the Nissan was a little too small, I wanted to have a bed that is set up permanently and not have to move the seat to be able to stretch out. Also the Ram has the best horsepower and payload capacity. I think fuel mileage will be bad with the NV once it was loaded with weight. In my opinion, the NV isn't a good choice for a camper. That left the Ram or the Transit Connect. I made a bucket swamp cooler which works pretty well here in California. The only way I've found to keep the inside of the van the same temperature as the outside is to keep the cab separate from the cargo area. A window vent will pull the hotter air from the cab into the back.
the sink hardware with stopper vent idea is a great one...with only one caveat...Mice will chew thru most screen material...perhaps something a little more substantial..field mice will be a problem when boon-docking they love to invite themselves in at any opportunity.. they will have no problem jumping up and holding on while creating a little door for entry...you need something they cannot chew through...and they can chew thru most wire...it needs to be steel and of fairly heavy Gage no more than a quarter inch mesh...a mouse can go through any opening that his skull will fit through...I know what a hassell!!!...if you think that's bad imagine living with mice crawling through your bedding while you try to sleep at night....woodsmn
+Ron Bailey haha! There are a LOT of rats in this city. I was worried about that but there is a piece of window screen held on with a band clamp to make it easy to replace if it gets chewed through. Wandering Patches just gave me a tip to use hardware cloth which is metal, it sounds like a great idea. I also want to get some No-See-Um netting.
Great work on the van! On the use of a flange/hole in the floor of the van. They do make small, sealed electric vans that you can fit on the exterior floor of the van (underneath) and tap a ground wire and insulated wire to your source of power. They are very quiet and really crank out a lot of air for such small fans. You can usually find them in a specialty store or amazon. Having said that, I wouldn't cut another hole in the floor & having another vent fan on the roof would not ruin your stealth approach to van living. Most people could care less and with your set up, you could always put out a magnetic sign at night advertising a fan installation business and most folks would merely think it is an ad for your "work". Just a suggestion.
I’m planning on getting a mini cargo van, probably the ford transit, to live in. In pictures online, I don’t see any openings for airflow except for the front two windows that roll down. Since I primarily stay in 65-85 degree weather areas, I don’t need a fan. But do I still need to drill holes to get airflow in these sort of vans?
You may not need to drill holes but I would highly recommend adding more air flow. Without a fan, when the outside temperature gets to the 80’s it will be close to 100 in your van without a vent fan. If your van has windows in back, it will be even hotter. I think there are some vents in the cargo area that allow fresh air inside. You’d need to pull off the trim pieces near the back doors to locate their exact location. Once you find the vents, you could install a computer fan or other small fan behind the trim pieces to help draw air into your cabin area. There are smaller vent fans that you might want to consider. VentLine makes a popular small vent fan that just needs a six inch hole. Some people install them on the back door. A friend of mine just bought a Transit Connect. You may like to follow her channel, she doesn’t have videos of her new van up yet but will soon. ua-cam.com/channels/8ynGRHa8OzpaQn-KNXbdcw.html
Static CamperVan Thanks so much for the reply. I actually had lived in a honda element for 2 years a while back and had pop-out windows in the back. I guess heat was not an issue (during sleep) because I’m from California and stayed close to the ocean. Though I did regret having windows and a moonroof which woke me up every morning with the sun blazing in my eyes. I think the windows also made it colder in the night during winter. I will go back to Van living this fall and still determining the van to get. The main con I saw with the transit without windows is that it seemed almost airtight in the back - but if you’re right, they have hidden vents, which is great! Anyway, just discovered your channel, look forward to browsing through it - and I will follow your friend. Thanks!!
Do you think it’s feasible to place two ventlines on a small cargo van like the transit connect or promaster ram? Perhaps one near the front of the cargo area on the roof and one near the rear? Was just thinking that two ventlines, one pushing air in and one pushing it out, might be ideal for airflow if the roof can hold two of them without issues. Couldn’t find many videos on ventlines for these smaller sized homes!
Static CamperVan Yeah, I was thinking about power because I want to keep it simple and don’t really want a kitchen, sink or even an extra battery / solar panel. Everything I own already fits in a 20 liter backpack - I just need a home next with good airflow! Going to have to ponder about this one I suppose.. Can’t wait till I live in a van again!
Could you measure how many square inches (or cm if you prefer) it takes for the fan to operate on high, med, and low without being bogged down so to speak?
+Matt P I'm not sure I understand your question. If it's how many inches the vent fan needs to be cranked up and open then it's only about 4 inches on high and one inch on low. The vent is about 12 inches wide, I'm sorry, I don't do Math. 😬
. . . . a number of options may present themselves when reviewing marine / boating web sites Defender. !!! Jamestown distributors !! overtons west marine numerous clam shell type vents... numerous clear or solid threaded access hatches in all sizes 4" 6" 8" 10" and shapes ... More vans should have better factory intergrated grill venting such as that Australia based van set up Noria !!! is a new window ac kickstarter Usa based - only horizontal mounted for now and not yet rv based, but certainly a new way of looking at cooling delivery designs with intergrated fan . . .
+Finn Green those are some good suggestions. I stealth camp on occasion near a West Marine, guess I kinda forgot about popping in and looking around. The Noria is interesting but I am keeping my van 12 volt only. Of course I may be open to an air conditioner in the future. Thanks for the info.
My fan is super quiet. The MaxxAir fans are quieter than the Fantastic fans. Yes there is no question that insulation slows down heat transfer. The point I am making is that insulation also holds In heat. It’s a hard concept to understand unless you try living in a van that is both insulated and uninsulated. I’m in Seattle now and some insulation is absolutely necessary here. It reinforces my opinion that a van should be built for the weather that it will be in the most. There’s no one correct way if comfort is the main goal.
+Oxtoa Wolf does laziness count as an answer? Actually, there's not a good spot for one in the cargo area. There is a good spot to install one in the cab area but I've found it best to keep the cab and cargo areas separate since the cab heats up and the cargo area doesn't.
+Vas El Thanks for the info! The one problem I have placing another vent is the tight space I'm dealing with. Everything is more compact in a small van. For instance, all the energy lines are run along the right side of the van leaving that whole side inaccessible. If there was a clear spot not already covered or near fuel lines I'd have installed another vent already.
Static CamperVan with kitchen and electric system that require certain space, without them a small cargo is enough to “crash a night” van lifestyle :) for city dweller, a gym membership with dedicated locker solve the toiletries problem. Eat out is easy. Laundromat is convenient and more efficient as the washer & dryer are bigger, if they’re Swedish brand, Electrolux even faster and better result! Commute is hassle in a metropolitan area so basically just a storage half size for wardrobe and a bike. Beddings are the sleeping bag and sometimes underneath a yoga/fitness mat. But this ain’t camper. My issue is the steam on the window next morning in winter, how to get rid of it?
The great thing about vanlife is that you can do it the way it works best for you. I’m not sure why a little condensation on your windows is an issue to be concerned about. You can minimize the condensation with good ventilation.
Static CamperVan It’s hassle to manually wipe off the water on the interior window next morning in winter time but don’t want to cut a hole to install a fan and can’t open the window too much for safety concern so not much ventilation during the night... Please let me know if you have any suggestion, thanks again :)
TheRawBabe oh, I understand. Lots of people add vents. A popular way is to cut a hole behind the license plate and use a small fan to help move air. You probably already know that I’m am very keen on lots of ventilation. The little work it takes to cut a hole is definitely worth the effort, in my opinion.
It would be hard for me to put up with only a fan. As a kid growing up in the 1960s it's all we had. But omg it would be hard to sleep at night with out a window air conditioner. It never bothered me as a child because you don't miss what you never had.
+David Brown it's not as bad as you might imagine. With the floor vent, I get cross ventilation. Recently I found a small swamp cooler that helps out on the really hot nights.
+Christian Lewis Photography I had insulation but removed it because it kept the van hot into the night. Insulation only works in cooler climates or if you have an air conditioner if you are in a hot area.
the max air is a good fan but its how I was able to tell you were a camper... I didn't even notice the panel but your vent made it obvious to me.... (I'm an rv enthusiast though so I'm look for this stuff..... somebody is going to make a lot of money someday inventing a really stealth vent top maybe one that slides open : )
+Dogs Cats an R.V. & Jimmy I don't think twice about stealth anymore. Comfort first. It's odd how few people notice the solar panel. Although, there are certain times I've thought it was missing, only to see it when the light changed a bit.
Static CamperVan I dream of stealth : ) there's a ton of public land with free boondocking options but I really want to spend most of my time at the coast and it's so expensive to pay for camping over there ( if you can even get a spot) but even if I had a perfect stealth vehicle it wouldn't do me much good with three barking dogs : ) lol. one of these Summers I'm going to just bite the bullet and make reservations four different state parks during all of July and August up and down the coast or maybe I'll go this year and see if they give me a little bit of leeway because of the road closures that's got everything messed up along the Pacific Coast Highway so they might be letting things slide that they normally wouldn't.......... and of course the state parks have to keep 15% of their space is open for first come first serve people so if I got really lucky I might could find a couple of Beach adjacent campsites Midsummer just out of luck and timing
+Dogs Cats an R.V. & Jimmy Great idea! And that's a great tip on holding 15%, I didn't know that. Picking the right beach city is the key, I think. Did you seen Dave2d spent some time in San Diego? They didn't have any problems at all.
Static CamperVan yeah channels like his are motivating me to want to go over to the coast even more : ) each Campground handles it a little differently but check out time is generally 10 a.m. Sam campgrounds will allow people to pull in an hour before and wait for people to leave others will let you pull in and start waiting at like 8 a.m. even though they're all part of the same state park system they all handle it a little differently.... Forest Service does the same thing and the California state parks system is supposed to be getting rid of Reserve America and bringing in their own online reservation system that's supposed to be better I'll believe it when I see it...... another way to get first come spots is if somebody rent a campsite for several days or even a week and they don't show up the first 24 hours the campground will re-rent it out to the first person to show up
+littleoceandrop thanks! Unfortunately AC is not an option as my electrical system is 12 volts only. I do that to make the most of my battery bank and solar panel. AC would be nice but it's not a necessity.
I am in Miami, Living for 5 months now Static at the beach in a Subaru Forester with bed and curtains, I have to leave the car running all night long when temperature is above 77 due to humidity, it costs $8/night, www.swampy.net is the closest thing I've seen, but far from my setup. Ive seen rechargeable solar mini portable AC units on development online but not available yet. I have just discovered that paying for a co-working space will save me more than the membership on food.
+littleoceandrop Florida summers are rough. The swampy cooler wouldn't work well with your humidity, though they work great here in the southwest. Sounds good you may have found an alternative if it gets to hot.
Great idea I did not read through all comments if anyone did not suggest plumbing screw cap that will do the trick and you can go through a fluds and water will not get in when screw cap is in place.
Thanks. Three years into using this vent, I’ve yet to have even a drop of water enter the van. The only time I ever put the stopper in place to close off the vent is when I am in bear country. The vent stays open all other times.
+437johnl that's a great idea. I almost bought one but realized it was going to be more difficult to install than the disposal drain. If I ever get a bigger van, I will definitely go with a marine hatch.
Do you have a link you any specific pass through you would recommend? Looked at this and mushrooms are nice if on roof, but not for floor. Obviously it would need to close. Thanks in advance.
+ksolobk I'll pass on replying to the political aspects of your comment if you don't mind :^) I will say I am an old dog and learning the metric system has been a new trick.
put a vent on the wall closer to the top with a white vent grid. trust me nobody is really gonna care about a vent on your van no matter where it is. also put one of the vents behind or under your fridge
+Crystal Vanner (TheNomadicNatural) I'm starting to think you are correct about nobody caring. As far as adding another floor vent, there isn't any other spot other than where my feet go. And I don't want to be standing on it. I've turned my attention to other things since summer is almost over. Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂
Use one fan that sucks air out on the sealing, and one fan that sucks air in on the bottom, the fan on top must move 3x more air than the fan on the bottom...
Yes. Insulation alone doesn’t work. It will keep heat out for a short period of time but eventually, the heat comes in. Once the heat gets in the van, insulation keeps it there. Insulation only works if you have an air conditioner. I’m not able to run an A/C since I am always off-grid. So the best thing for me is to have no insulation at all. Without insulation trapping heat in my van, the van stays cooler.
There is a company that makes custom Van vinyl covers for outside of your front windows. Don't have the name ,sorry. It's will keep heat out and let's light in.
+Allan Burkeen I have run across a couple of those. I have put of buying one since I am almost always in a city. They would be perfect for camping if I could ever manage to do any :^)
+carla ifera yes it would but there's a problem with it. I insulated the roof of my van and found it kept the heat from coming in, but only for about a half hour. After that, the temperature in the van would warm up the same as if there was no insulation. The real problem came at night. Before the insulation, the van would cool down very quickly as soon as the sun went down. After I installed the insulation, the the van wouldn't cool down until well after 1am. In fact it was So Hot, I couldn't even sit in the van until after midnight. After 3 weeks, I took down the insulation and the van was bearable again. The lesson I learned was to build a van for the climate it is going to be used in. My van would be uncomfortable in Minnesota but it's perfect for SoCal.
+carla ifera I don't think there's any one type. Sometimes I wish I had a full size van just to have the ability to add more solar panels and batteries.
A strong powered roof vent with some side air intakes will do a great job. I drove a semi for years and that will create good ventilation.
You don’t place air intakes underneath because the pavement gets hot and radiates heat long after sun goes down.
Just came across this totally logical thing I completely missed. Thanks from preventing me making a mistake planning my build!
Please post another newer vlog on this topic. Great info & your real-time experience, "street cred" & nice overview brought me to subscribe. 👍
What a great solution! Ingenius! I never cease to impressed by the ingenuity of humans.
+Static CamperVan You can get untinted window films for the fronts that rejects a lot of heat! The great news is that it's so invisible, you can put it on the windshield too! : )
In addition to bugs, I expect the screen over that exhaust hole kept out rodents and snakes, too!
Yeah yeah everyone, he talks a lot.. 😎 I watch UA-cam, or listen, while doing chores so honey I love listening to you talk. I'm planning my rig in my head right now. I have 14 months before my husband retires and my youngest graduate high school. After that we will be down sizing, selling our home and rentals and building a home in DE. we already have the property, but I'm ready to hit the road already! This is my personal project, I informed my husband last night that I want to build it, I just need him for guidance and supervision on certain things, but he's game! Can't wait, thanks for making videos! I subbed!
That’s awesome! Good luck with your build.
Static CamperVan thank you! It will be fun, no pressure, like yeah!... I'm fortunate that way in that I'm not forced into a van suddenly without ever even thinking of this lifestyle. I love watching those people tho that did have that experience, really made of tough stuff! I am ready, my life is not! I'll be surfing through your channel 😎
The disposal drain idea is a great example of thinking out of the box. Well, done!
+GardenGirl1956 Thank So much! :^)
Your floor vent solution was perfect for me as I have a camper shell on my Silverado pick-up. Following your example I also installed a MaxxAir vent fan on the roof and together, the fan and the floor vent turned out to be a perfect solution. Thanks so much for your frequent good ideas. Oh btw my shell does have side windows that open wide that I generally never want open at night when I'm staying overnight in a populated area.
Put another Max fan in the roof. Put it close to the front. I understand these fans have settings for intake and exhaust. Set the front for intake and have the rear set for exhaust. I've seen others do this with great results.
I must agree that a vent is absolutely required if you plan on dwelling in a van. I have slept in cars, trucks, vans etc. over my many years on the road. I have been eaten alive by mosquitos and other insects as a result of rolling the windows down for ventilation and cool air. A vent fan and screening for windows is much needed. The vent in the floor with a screen and removable cap is actually a good idea and may very well be the route I take. Good video!
+stringbender57 glad my video might be helpful. Other viewers have suggested that I use a boat hatch instead of the plumbing fixture. It’s another way to go.
Yes, air flow is extremely of value. Have you ever noticed that such a huge amount of hot air is verbally being released by someone from their ..venting.. that life can be made unbearable for others nearby?? ...while it is that some rather maintain a calmness and a cool head thereby others are comforted... (Somewhat ..off topic.. and to say, just passing thru while step by step viewing your videos in order here. To Note, when I view a video and really nothing to add will leave a little graphic 🙋♀️)
I have a similar setup to you and was finding that the roof extract fan didn't keep me cool. I've now added a Hella 3361 fan inside to create some breeze and this is really good. Available on Amazon.
+Urban Stealth Van I was hampered a bit last summer because my battery bank was too small. I have an axial fan that I hoped to use with a bucket swamp cooler. The cooler worked out fairly well using a usb fan. This summer will be easier as I've added a second battery. It should give me enough power to use the axial fan which will greatly improve the function of the swamp cooler.
Luckily the air here is very dry most of the summer so a swamp cooler can really be a life saver.
Thanks so much for the message!
I think that's pretty clever .I like the size of the van .120!!!!!!!!I moved out of Phoenix (which I loved when it hit 115 ) and we had a beautiful apt with a.c.and pool but way too hot ,I had reverse cabin fever not sure where you are that gets that hot .Then came my year in a van ,back up north .I love watching all the different ways everyone has these vans done .Great ventilation idea .If I could I would be a snow bird but I really like the options of a stealth van .
+Rambling Rose you know heat if you lived in Phoenix! I think we all dream of being a snowbird :^) thanks for the message.
I have that same fan! I use the auto feature all the time. On auto the fan speed will adjust based on temperature and when it gets too cold the hood will shut. But when you have it on auto there is a very bright green LED that keeps me up at night!
+James Morrin I have the non-motorized hood, but you just reminded me why I didn't bother to figure out how to use the auto feature, that dang light!
I have a piece of tape over the LED on my charge controller for the same reason. Ha ha!
Really like your vent idea. Thinking outside the box. Good job! 👍
+Joan Norris Thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! 🙂⭐️
I like the curtain backdrop = van space doesn't look as cluttered as in some of other videos.. I'm Enjoying your videos. 😊 I would really like a sunroof along w/a vent fan on roof for ventilation... your shelf seems like a good creative idea.
I use a small computer fan over my bunk for localized cooling and it makes quite a difference. I like the floor vent, I am considering adding one in order to run an extension cord to shore power when it's available. Enjoyed the video, thanks.
Did you do this for an extension cord and did it work as you had planned? I am asking as I am transforming a Promaster van into a video production van and considering putting in a pvc pipe with a 4" drain cleanout plug in the rear corner of the floor for cables to come up through so I don't have to leave the doors open.
@@KScamman Yes, using the PVC through the bottom to run an extension cord worked well. It also serves as a small volume fresh air vent. The shaded area under the van is typically a few degrees cooler than the air coming in off the hot roof. (If you're oof road or in a camp. Parking lot surfaces hold heat a long time) Also, DON'T use it as a vent if the van is running, close it off. Otherwise you will be bringing in exhaust fumes 😵
Thanks for the video --- try COMPUTER FAN on the inside of the 3" hole.
+Liam Kelleher great idea. I do use a small USB fan on it but a computer fan would be better.
not a great idea. the computer fan will not be powerful enough, and will actually hinder the natural convection/suction. leave the hole as it is. the maxxfan fx. has a 400-900 cfm capacity. the strongest computer fans are around 150.
@@StaticCamperVan Good luck with that on a muggy night in Florida
I’d need an A/C if I ever had to visit Florida.
I cannot even imagine temperatures of 40 C and above. Here in Eastern Canada a hot summer day is high 20s C or 80s F. Thank you for sharing this helpful info.
Those summer temperatures made me a big fan of the Pacific Northwest.
Hey man, I love the vent idea. Doing what you can with what you got. Love your channel so far. keep the great videos coming.😎👍🤘✌️
+Cycling Mike Thanks man. Very nice of you to say. 🙏🏽
I really like the stealth ideas. I city boondock & am looking to vent also. My van came with the front window covers you showed in your video. I can lower the window an inch or so without anyone noticing that it's open. I have no rear ventilation other than opening the back windows. Which doesn't look stealth and invites theft. I'm not sure of my old van if I want to invest in solar, And batteries. I will use my van three or four months in the summer at the beach. Not sure how important ventilation will be yet. If it gets overcast and I get too much moisture I'll have to do something. I like the floor idea. I found a 3 inch vent made for trailers that has a cover small enough to possibly be stealth. Problem is like with yours it's only 3 inches. I think you have great ideas keep up the videos
+Boondocker Bill Thanks, Bill. You’re smart to wait and see what you will need for venting. While I believe good ventilation is the single best addition for any van, I no longer believe in “stealth”. I think it’s an overused word that scares us from enjoying our time in our vans. These days I focus on my comfort and happiness over being stealthy.
I wish you a happy summer in your van. Summer seems a Long way away right now!
Static CamperVan ...I know, I'm in Pahrump Nv. Right now where it's a littlecold at night. Hard to imagine it being summer. Take care!
I was just thinking the ground is hot so unless you park in the shade when it’s open more heat will come in. I follow your train of thought and as long as you aren’t in motion having it open could bring in a little more air. But at 3” not much. I probably would have looked at windows in the back with screens in them. They wouldn’t take away from the stealth factor. Also those rain guards still might be a good idea for when you’re in Seattle and cooler areas. Good luck.
If you have Rain Guards on your front windows, nobody can see if they are cracked a bit because of the tinted color..
+LivGr8 I originally wanted to install rain guards but have found it is best not pull air from the hot cab into the much cooler cargo area. Thanks for the comment.
Good point, does it cool enough in the night to work?
+LivGr8 it works well in the spring and fall. I plan on adding one more floor vent before next summer as I think the floor vents work better than using the windows.
I agree. Its like 10 degrees cooler under the van.
Static CamperVan Summer in Seattle not that hot? Is it dry or humid air?
I think getting the window guards is a great idea. The heat coming off the pavement will be pulled up through the disposal flange, at least initially and until the pavement has cooled down. Just a thought.
+C & B I thought the window guards were a good idea at first. What I found was in a hot climate like I'm in, the only way to keep the inside of the van the same temperature as the outside is to not pull air from the cab area. The difference between sleeping with the windows down to using the floor vent has been huge. Before I added the floor vent, the van would stay above 115 F or more ALL night. It was only after I put in the floor vent that I was able to keep the inside of the van as the same temperature as outside the van.
In a cooler or more normal climate, the window guards are the better choice.
Static CamperVan I wonder the heat produced from the electronics inside the cargo also increased the van temperature?
Maybe a little
I love out of the box thinking like this! Happy airflow 😊
Hi - Just subbed - interesting to see a small van used to fulltime in - a bit confused at first as here in the UK a Static Camper/Caravan is usually what I think you would call a Trailer ie about 10ft wide and 40 ft long. :)
Here the rule of van conversion is Insulation, insulation, insulation which you don't seem to have any of - surely you are going to need this - I know some (eg Will Burston) think is is not a good Idea in a hot climate (because of thermal retention) then that is not the right insulation. Create an Airtight box then ventilate it. This is very easy with such a small van. Insulation also cuts down on sound transmission - good for stealth and comfort.
I cannot believe that having vents at the bottom of the back (or indeed side) doors would compromise the Stealth of your vehicle which is where I would put them, the thing about floor vents is you need to remember to shut them off. Looking forward to more vids - where are you in the US? and that sink does look intriguing.
+Nick Wood hey Thanks for the comments! Yes here in the states we (generally) don't know what caravan means.
As for the insulation, that is a heated debate among vandwellers. Pun intended. Here in California, where I am, it is extremely hot. Today was a cool day at 46 degrees. Nothing, and I mean nothing keeps the heat out. You are correct that insulation holds heat in. I had some insulation and removed it because it took too long to cool the van down at night to sleep. That said I am experimenting with some roof insulation. But I agree with Burson. I think having seasonal insulation would be ideal because I will need some come fall and winter. Really though, it's not bad. The temp. inside the van is usual about the same as outside the van, so there's probably not much more I can hope for.
Thanks for the feedback on the vents. So far I have not had any exhaust gas enter through the floor vent. But I do need to eventually add a wee bit more venting, so you comment is helpful.
Thanks for the sub! Cheers.
Static CamperVan thanks for the post..I am buy my van in a little while..connect..and I have been looking at insulation..I will be living in it full time..mostly summer weather..good to know insulation will keep heat in the van!,don't want that down south!,
+Deborah Caron glad I could help. I've been thinking about making some insulated panels that would be held in place with magnets, that way I could put them up for our (short) wintertime.
Connects are great vans. If you don't already, you should follow One Awesome Inch as he is building a Transit Connect right now.
Just came across your video by accident. Seem to have same van, but we are twosome. Its an adequate sleep space for camping trips but your ventilation idea is really a great idea. Recommendation...found on Amazon a two sided blackout blanket that can be cut to size. They sold it as a baby beach blanket..hello, huh? But its great and looks good. Used it in house to reflect heat and look a tad less like windshield visor and it was like 10 bucks. Have a rain issue. Need some creative ideas. We have only opening windows in front of van so we usually try to park so air comes in just right. We are in a cold and wet climate here so cuts may be dicey but wondered if there was some improvisation for the front windows you could think of to make a quick rain block for a getaway camping trip....always our biggest fear, warm climate getaway, and a rainstorm...OF course we need it to not take a ton of storage space. We packed the van with 9 coolers and two boards and a camping mattress, LOL. But rain in the front windows...hmmm. Thinking of using windshield visor blackouts over the window from the outside. Stumped a bit. Needs to have a spacer at top of the window to create an air space but not let rain in. Ideas????? Thanks for your video and any creative ideas.
+Suzanne Ramoundos air deflectors work well but are pricey for our vans:
www.moparonlineparts.com/mobile/promaster-city-deflectors-p-7162.html
I honestly don't know how anyone gets by without a roof vent. But I understand your reasoning for not installing one.
Thanks for this video. It got me thinking about my situation. This makes me wonder if it would be worth it for a hardcore stealth camper to install a second small fan on the floor of the van.
Also, from your research, which of the quality models of roof fans have the lowest profile above the roof? I might have to install a fan underneath the roof rack for the solar panel(s).
Thanks. I don’t know much about “stealth” as I stopped trying to hide years ago. Since that’s the case, I’ve not kept up with “stealthy” type vents. Maybe the Ventline Vents, but those have a lot of drawbacks.
Best wishes on your build.
@@StaticCamperVan , thanks for your quick reply. I just now read that the Dometic Fan-Tastic Vent 1250 has a low profile. Have you seen it up close before?
Also, I just saw in your recent video that you're now in AZ. I plan on returning there to pick up a solar panel or two. Maybe I'll see you out there :)
I’m not keen on the 1250. It only has three speed settings meaning it draws more power and it’s difficult to find a setting for optimal comfort. It’s also loud. And It’s only “low-profile” when the lid is closed.
@@StaticCamperVan , thanks again. I'll just have to measure how much clearance I have beneath the roof rack once I have a solar panel to put on top of it.
Great idea on the floor vent. I just ordered mine on Amazon. Where would you suggest placing it? (I have the exact same layout as yours except mine is a Ford Transit Connect.)
Not sure I can give you any suggestions on placement of the vent. With my van and layout, I only had two areas that didn’t have gas lines, brake lines or exhaust parts. You’ll need to spend some time looking under your van to determine what will work for you.
My vent is is directly under where I sit at my sink. Which isn’t the best location since I get a cold breeze while taking my morning bath. Not a terrible thing on warm mornings but not ideal on chilly ones.
You can go even 8 inch diameter 4 inch drain pipe screw cap will be available any hardware store.
Like the disposal drain idea! Maybe some hardware cloth (thin wire mesh, usually by the ft at ace) held on with some large hose clamps to keep out bugs and critters that can chew window screen. Would last longer too! Really like the van bud!
+Wandering Patches oh that's exactly what I wanted but didn't know what it was called. I will go to Ace on Monday. Thanks so much!
Oh awesome glad to help!
Just thinking maybe a quality forced air furnace register with screening and sealability would give 3 or 4 times the air flow.
Probably would. There really isn’t room for anything much bigger. And my vent does have screen and a way to seal shut.
At the moment, I have the vent partially blocked off as it lets too much cold air in. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
What is that & how big is it?
You are not crazy. You are thinking outside of the box.
not crazy, smart idea, geting cool air from under van .. but as you said, risk of polluted air / water entering the hole. If I were you I'd run some cooling pipe under your van, attached to small air pump, away from floor opening, and then run some more pipe .. up, somehow ??? to drawin air from near the top of your van .. not sure how you'd do that? maybe seal off a wall support frame then drill a hole outside at the top of the interior of the wall support frame ?
+RemusKingOfRome5 yes that was a concern about water and fumes entering the van from the floor vent. But what I've found is NO water ever comes in, I think because of the ring that protrudes down. And if I ever smell fumes, I just switch the roof vent to pull air in instead of out, but I've only had to do that once, when someone was smoking some strange smelling cigarette near me 😎
You made this video a year ago. How is whatever you tried working out? How high off the roof does that MaxxFan sit when closed? I'm trying to figure out if the Ram City will fit in local parking garage. Thx.
Your van and mine are very similar...so I'm very interested in your take on this build...I have only put in a temporary bed so I can travel in the meantime...while I decide what to include ...or not...so continue....woodsmn
Did you wind up putting more holes in the floor? Are you still happy with the approach?
I have not. There are very few areas open to drill holes. I might eventually add another vent as it probably the best addition I’ve done.
Hello Static - thanks for the veni vidi vici venting video ;) I had a few questions about how to conceal a roof fan.
Have you ever heard of anyone putting polar panels above the roof fan?
How much breathing room do you think you would need to give the fan?
The idea would be to run the fan without the cover, with the solar panels mounted above to stop rain and sun, and block light from being seen from above.
I'm sure someone has probably already been down this path and has found out it doesn't work, but I can't seem to find anything in searches.
I thought of using a Thule, or similar (but cheaper) roof carrier. I thought the top half could be used as a disguise, and break up the telltale side profile of a roof fan. The downside to that is for city stealth, a roof carrier attracts thieves :(
I can't imaging doing a build without at least one roof fan but I want to keep as stealthy as possible, while still enjoying the comforts.
Thanks again for all your contributions.
In my honest opinion, stealth doesn’t exist. To build a van with “stealth” in mind means making sacrifices to your comfort.
Most people don’t install solar panels above vents since vents need to be serviced and cleaned occasionally. Not having direct access would make a simple service twice as difficult or impossible without first removing the solar panels.
I’m one hundred percent certain you’d encounter leaks if you removed the vent cover.
I don’t think you’d need much in the way of clearance for air movement. Just allow enough room to keep the two from touching or the fan will be very noisy.
If you want to mount your vents under your panels, you should look at VentLine Vents or Fantastic fan makes a vent that sits somewhat flush above the roof. These vents are noisier, and if you’re concerned with stealth, that fact should be taken into consideration. These vents also draw more power.
I’m my opinion, leaks, higher power consumption and louder operating noise are bigger drawbacks than trying to hide the fact that you have a campervan. The people out there that are aware of campervans, notice them. The rest of the population doesn’t notice the slightest detail of our vans.
Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to answer.
I never thought of cleaning them. I guess pulling this off would hinge on a good solution?
😆
Cheers
🚚Go
I’m interested as to how having a fantastic fan would have been impactful on the ideas you had for the layout of the van
Thanks
Love your videos! I think you are so underrated.
I’m not sure I understand your question. I installed a MaxxAir Vent Fan and it’s the single most important item in my van. Without it, I would have died of heat exhaustion, lack of oxygen or smoke inhalation from (poor) cooking.
Reflectix works great Outside the windows. It doesn’t really work on the inside of windows. But other van building UA-cam channels have marketed it, so Reflectix is being used solely because we don’t look at the facts. Reflectix works great in traditional home building, it’s a poor choice for vans.
Oh, I think I was eluding to the fact that I needed the vent to stay open all the time. The Fantastic Fan needs to be closed when it rains.
I considered a rain cover for the fan but that would have severely limited my parking options. Since I’m mostly a city dweller, I need to park in multi level parking garages. Increasing the overall height of my van with a vent rain cover would have limited my parking options.
Using Reflectix Behind glass isn’t effective. The sun heats the glass and that heat radiates through the Reflectix and into the vehicle.
Haha! I’m actually a pretty decent cook. I just tend to be inattentive!
I have a peugeot bipper van same sort of size that i'm currently turning into a micro camper. I have yet to put a fan in. but want to keep it steathy. Liking your ideas cheers Karl
+Dead Fall Bushcraft that is very cool! The bipper looks very similar. I'd like to see your build when you are finished.
Dead Fall Bushcraft I've seen people install ladder racks on top to hide the vents
Bonus points for wire shelving. Also the lack of insulation is sweet. You don't need it if you have a diesel heater and it takes up precious cubic inches of interior space. . Hell, Nellybelle, my 93 Dodge Grand Caravan LE (The L is for Luxury) has full glass all around and I have no issue with heating. For cooling I use trees and native altitude of high mountain meadows. My new 20l fridge freezer (Iceco) is scheduled for delivery first of the month. Can the push button latte machine be far behind? I think not. #hobomessiah. Enjoy
You remind me of my therapist .... When he forgets that we aren't out to lunch.. So he takes up my session talking about his own interests, I LOVE IT 😂 I think he needs to build a van out and hit the road to be a traveling emergency therapist! He can also do therapy by Skype or FaceTime yeah? I think everyone should try this for a month at least, it would capture those who never would have thought of it otherwise, who would become die hard van dwellers!
Haha, I’m definitely not a therapist!
I often wonder why more people don’t have a van, truck or trailer so that they can get out on the weekends.
You should have your therapist check out Wayfarer Vans. They make a kit for the ProMaster vans. Might be just what the doctor orders.
Static CamperVan he's so disorganized it's hysterical, and out of funds due to the IRS running him into the ground! He will have to try mine out when it happens.
Hi Static CamperVan, I was just thinking that your van looks about as small as my Ford Transit Connect and I'm guessing gets close to the same gas as mine. I found that mine idols at a pretty reasonable rate and in a 24 hour period will only use about a quarter tank just idling. Which to me is worth being comfortable when the weather is too hot or too cold. On more tolerable days I have bug screens for my two front windows and a big one for my sliding passenger side door. Looks like your solar panel blocks a lot of direct sun from hitting the roof which is great but you might consider raising it a few more inches so it has good air flow beneath it. Also some sort of insolation on the inside ceiling would do wonders for you. Good luck to you.
+jesuscross9 Thanks for the suggestions. I would like to see your van. It is indeed about the same size as a Transit Connect. In fact that was what I originally wanted to buy.
I do need to get bug screens, great idea. Although they are mostly not practical for me to use since I almost always park on city streets. I did add some insulation to the ceiling but it was a HUGE mistake. It takes an extra hour or two to cool the van down at night with it. But it's now cooler so it is less a problem at the moment.
+jesuscross9 unfortunately my privacy curtain is a bit unwieldy or I would open it more often to let the AC or heat through to the back. I think I complained To Much about the heat. It really was only unbearable/dangerous for 1 or 2 nights all summer long.
You might want to look into getting a "VentLine" vent fan. They are only six inches in diameter but would give you some air movement.
Static CamperVan I actually do have a 12 volt fan I got at Walmart, that I pull out and plug in when I'm sleeping. I just didn't have it on the video. To get the AC flowing past my curtain I use an umbrella to prob it up just above the vents. Lol
+jesuscross9 ah! Very inventive. Ha ha.
💜 I don’t think we think you’re crazy. While some might think you’re crazy with that. Looks like you put the one vent in the floor. It seems like from your newest videos. You still only have the one vent in the floor. While you mentioned that it was working well you thought you needed more. But I don’t think you added anymore, correct? And if that is correct, why did you decide not to add more? Was it just because you couldn’t figure out the best placement to do it? Typically when I ask questions a short while later another one of your videos will pop up and then the answer will undoubtedly be there.
The only spaces that are left for another vent are directly above the fuel tank and fuel & brake lines. I haven’t wanted to attempt cutting near those areas
I think the floor vent idea is excellent. I'm surprised you don't feel 3" is adequate. It should be. On particularly oppressive nights I would idle the van lifting the curtain somewhat and run the AC. That little 4 cylinder will not only idle fine for hours as long as the electric engine fan is operable, but should not burn more than 2/10 of a gallon of fuel an hour.
+uck moo hey, Thanks for the feedback on the vent! This is an extremely hot climate so more venting is helpful. Do you have a campervan too? Get on the Tube man!
I might try you suggestion with the A/C. Today was rough weather wise. Cheers!
No. I've considered it but I live in central Florida and AC is imperative to me. I could not comfortably sleep without it. I have considered buying a large Sprinter cargo van, putting a rooftop AC and an RV generator under it. These types of vans are already utilized as RV's so it wouldn't be hard to fit it with a generator, or many other parts that are used in those RV's. Though I like your small, stealthy van I am 6'1, 275 lbs so I don't think I would fit in it.
+uck moo yeah, I understand. We will see how long I last in this little setup. More space is definitely easier.
Helpful video! This is the one topic I’ve been giving the most thought to before I pick my van. I’ve been debating a larger van solely because it will give me more roof area for a second fan. Have you made any modifications to your ventilation system in the past 5 years?
Never mind, just found part 2!
Feel free to send me an email with any questions. I’d be more than happy to help out.
Hey Static. I have the same model van and I'm currently building it out looking for inspiration. Have been searching for an after market window solution for the PMC but have mostly come up short. Wondering if you've thought about such options at any point in your build? Pop out windows on the rear or sliding glass would probably be good venting solutions.
+crayonbandit some people have suggested using boating parts. There are deck hatches that would probably make great water tight windows when latched shut. There is a company called West Marine (that I have bought electrical parts from) that sell a variety of boat deck hatches. I specially bought a cargo van without windows because it's easier to keep the cargo area cool. I made a video where I talked about how I solved my venting issues.
If you make videos of your build, please let me know. I always enjoy seeing other vans, especially ProMasters.
Static CamperVan motion windows in Vancouver wa make perfect size half slider windows with screens.
+Reed Bailey good to know for the future. As for now, since I live in a hot area, I'm not going to have any windows in my van. Windows equal heat and I got enough heat to deal with :^)
SummeRulz Hello, are the sliding windows made by glass or plastic? In terms of durability, are they unbreakable? Do they come with the blinders? Prefer to install on the roof for stealthy.
enjoyed yr setup.do u ever travel in small caravans..in Florida area..?? somethin Id like to do..
+Chris Selden oh, I'm strictly a West Coast guy. I hear Florida is nice, there are probably lots of van dwellers out there.
One of the nicer things is the bottom vent will be colder air and maybe a computer fan along with the screen. The only time it would be bad if you are parked on a hot black asphalt.
The roof vent fan pulls the air through the floor vent, there isn’t a need for a second fan. Another thing to consider is that a MaxxAir roof vent fan is very quiet, much more quiet than a computer fan.
50 Celsius where on earth is it that hot? Good god.
When it gets 30c+ I'm starting to melt.
+supercooled who says we aren't melting as well!
Hi, I love the vent in the floor idea. I have been thinking about that same thing for some time now myself but never thought of the plugs. I thought about having the fan system be down below and sucking air in from underneath. Then I could just crack my front windows for it to circulate out. The thing that has prevented me from going forward with it is concern that putting too large of a hole under the van might put me in danger of exhaust fumes while driving. But I cant see this being a problem with your "plug" solution. Is it at all an annoyance to have to put the plugs in and out?
+jesuscross9 not at all. In fact I rarely put the stopper in place. I thought I would need to seal off the air when driving, especially when it rains but haven't found a need to do that. It's been months since I've used the stopper.
I've recently experimented with using a computer fan down on the floor vent but wasn't happy with the amount of air it could draw. Also, it was much more noisy compared to my MaxxAir vent.
I even like to leave the floor vent open in the winter. I turn off my fan and crack open my roof vent slightly and fresh air naturally flows up through the van because of convection. It gives me fresh air without making the van chilly.
My only wish is that I had space for a second one. I will probably install a regular RV or boat vent down low on the wall of the van.
Static CamperVan Okay thanks. When you are stopped in traffic have you ever had a problem with exauhst fumes?
+jesuscross9 never. Do keep in mind that I keep the cab (fairly) sealed off from the back. I imagine in heavy traffic jams there may have been some fumes that have entered the van but since I always keep the roof vent open, by the time I've parked there's just fresh air in back.
Static CamperVan Okay thanks. I may want to think about it more before I do anything similar. Sometimes I just sit in the back with the motor running.
Very good job! Thumbs up and Greetings from Ireland! :)
Thanks so much for watching!
Drone Girl Thumbs up to you Drone Girl, your vids are great! thanks for visiting our van community here across the pond...
i have the wind / rain cover for the front windows. yes they do make a difference with some circulation with 3 inches of air flow each side. I too have a small hole in the base , that i always keep open.
Now its a heat wave in Hamburg, its 35 degrees C in the van and 35 outside.
I tested the metal of the van and its 39 degrees C. I don't have a ceiling roof fan as they all protrude too much.
I have such a simple setup, by just winding the front windows down completely, and simply have my 12 volt inside van on all the time. The sliding door is slightly ajar but locked.
Just that simple setup is actually enough to be cool. I am not sold on those roof fans. Its all about air flow. The inside fan is enough, its only 15 centimetres, but a slightly noisy. There is only one problem,t he moment the fan is turned off its impossibly hot, quickly.
if you have a thermometer can you try test. set up the van like mine (front windows all the way down and small fan moving the air), then try it with the ceiling fan and windows up. I would be interested to know
Guess the whole world is having a heatwave. I did try your fan and window setup. It was 39 here today and while your system works, it wasn't nearly as pleasant in my van as using the roof vent. Glad it works for you and it is good to know if ever my roof vent becomes inoperable. Thanks for sharing, I will try to remember to pass this on in a future video.
Do you mind I asking how reliable Promaster city is? What is your mileage now? And how much you bought your van? I still cannot make up my mind, between Promaster city and Ford transit connect.
+billy yong I've had my van a year and a half, it has about 17000 miles on it. I'm getting about 23 miles per gallon City and 34 or so miles per gallon Highway. I haven't had any problems with it yet. I won't say how much I paid for it but the price on commercial vans is fairly straight forward. Check out the Ram website for current prices. The Ford is more popular. The Ford is also smaller, doesn't have as good of fuel mileage and is more expensive. The Ram also has more power and a bigger towing capacity.
I think they are both great vans but I couldn't afford the Ford plus it seemed a little too small for me.
You could put a removable metallic reflector thingy across the front window to keep the sun's heat out.
Those front door window shields are nice to let air in/out but bugs & mosquitos can get in as well. Some lady on another bought a micro screen that she put in her windows to keep mosquitos & the tiny "no see 'um" bugs out but lets air in/out for circulation on nice days/nights.
+LovingAtlanta the windshield reflectors do slow down the heat transfer through the windshield. The heat does eventually radiate in so through trial and error I have found it works best for me to not be concerned with the cab area and just focus on keeping the cargo area cool.
The no-see-um netting is a great idea, I just keep forgetting to buy some!
I really like the idea of the hole in the floor. I am planning to do it in my TC. i bought an 8 inch deck plate (7 inch hole) from Amazon. It has a screw on top that is waterproof when sealed. I plan to attach fiberglass screen to the bottom of the van with magnets. I'm thinking I can just pull it up through the hole when it needs cleaning. Still have to work out the details. :-)
Good idea. I wish my vent was a little bit bigger.
It’s been pointed out to me by several people that a rodent can chew through fiberglass easily. Hardware Cloth would be a better choice. But I’m still using the same piece of fiberglass screen with no issues.
Thanks for the message!
really like your ideas. .air underneath should be cooler since it is being shaded. Should work as long as you don't drive through flood water. my personal choice would be some windows. I really like to see the beauty outdoors.
+Sarah Abrahamsen unfortunately because I live in a hot area, windows aren't practical. A window would be nice.
Not bad idea...I've seen others do..great info
Thanks 👍
How did you wire the ventation fan? , To your charge controller or did you splice into the wire coming from the solar panel because I think you said that the power from the panle can run it
My vent fan, and all the other electrical components, run through my fuse block which is powered by my AGM batteries.
Wiring this way means I can run the fan even when there’s no sunlight. It’s also safer to have fuses.
I don't know if you resolve your issue, I was thinking electronic window tint front windshield driver and copilot also is you don't have fog lights you can try to run air intake hose directly to the inside just how people use it for turbos and intercooler systems, I don't know just and idea
+J M not a bad idea!
I don’t have much of a problem with heat at the moment. I’ve traveled to Seattle.
Static CamperVan that's nice, any way think on the electronic window tint you can use it for privacy.
+J M unfortunately tint doesn’t work which is why I separate the front from the back with an insulated panel.
One word 'RAGTOP' - - - I'm not in Seattle but i'm in Southern California never farther then 5 miles from the beach so it's always in the 60 - 85 range all year round ... What i did was skip the typical insulation and just used good lumber to surround all the inside of the van walls/sides/floors the wood itself insulates a little better than using nothing at all plus it gives a good look inside the van ... For ventilation i bought a custom 40''x40'' universal sliding white ragtop very stealth when closed you can not see it from any angle and when slid open the vinyl cloth folds right underneath my solar panels so when open you can also not see it ... The hole is massive and at night when laying in bed and when fully open its like having the sky as your roof ... Fan wise i just have a target bought big circular fan and i set it up on a wall mounted 360 degree swivel where i can swing it in any direction right up to the ragtop hole if needed ... I can also flip the fan both ways so i can either pull air in or push it out but really i just need to open my ragtop half way and swing the fan just near the hole and it gives cools me off completely ... Now at night time in the winter even with the ragtop closed it gets pretty cold inside but i really don't care about the cold i just add more blankets or sleep in a sleeping bag ... Flies do get in from time to time but its not bad at all ... And i haven't really traveled the country but i do go to Las Vegas a lot but only during Nov - February when i know its never above 85 ... And so far when it rains the ragtop does not leak at all and like i said being in Southern California / San Diego areas it really only rains 10 - 20 days if that a year ... So i really love my ragtop and surprised that more people who mostly are near the beach cities don't have one , and no i do not have a vw van lol! , its a big sprinter style van
+GrowerPristine.MatthewMalone Great Idea! I’ve never seen a ragtop on anything other than a VW.
Life in a van is pretty sweet down in San Diego. Thanks for telling us about your van!
Take your time, great video! Thanks!
+Rico Law Thank you! Glad you liked it.
Great video. Have you had problems with your truck making a whirring sound when you first start it up then going away?
Thanks Static.
No, I haven’t heard any whirring sounds.
@@StaticCamperVan Thanks for your reply Static. It was the power steering fluid. Will be going to the dealer in the morning for an oil change, a 250.00 new batterry(eeeek), and to top off the steering fluid. Hope it's all under 400.00. Thanks again for the help buddy.
Great that you got it figured out.
I bought a new battery from Napa Auto Parts. Luckily, I was in Portland at the time so the battery was slightly cheaper due to no sales tax.
I noticed and I might be wrong but is your van a Ram Cargo van. I have been thinking you had an older transit mini van
Yes, my van is a Ram ProMaster City.
If the fan is reversible, why not use a front fan blowing in and a rear fan blowing out? The size and flow of intake and output would be the same with two.
+Brian Breiannis that would be ideal except for the fact that there isn't any more space on the roof for another full size fan. I have been thinking about adding a VentLine fan as they are small enough to fit. I will add one more floor vent and I think that will take care of the issue.
Thanks for the comment.
Just as a point of interest, dont the vents in the dash board provide enough air flow to equalize air pressure if allowed to use external air?
I assumed the vents would allow air in but I found two issues. 1. The vents don’t provide enough air in 100plus degrees. And 2. Most importantly, the cab area gets stifling hot because of the windshield and door windows. I’ve found the only way to keep the cargo area cool is to separate the cab from the cabin.
Yeh makes sense, but would an evaporative fan bring the temprature down and air flow get rid of moisture. Im guessing you arnt keen on using reflectives to reduce radiant heat.
Yes, I’ve found Reflectix doesn’t work without an air gap, which makes it impractical to use in a small van. I also find insulation problematic in a small van.
I do have a small evap cooler, I made a video on it. The evaporative coolers don’t cool the van but do provide a nice cooling breeze if the vents are aimed at you. Even my small evap cooler does increase the humidity in the van with the vents open and fan running. Unless you live in a very dry climate, I think you will find any evaporative cooler is going to increase humidity, fan or no fan.
In the UK we have a 4"air admitance valve thats used as a breather on a soil stack. Inverted in the floor of a van and coupled with an inspection cap when not in use should provide masses of air. Only issue is the size. There about 6"deep. Ok if you can conceel it in a cupboard or something.
Interesting. I’ve never heard of those, I will look for them. A number of people have suggested boat hatches as an alternative.
Something I have found since I made this video is that I almost never close the floor vent. The only time I put the stopper in the vent was when we went camping at Mt Rainier. I was concerned a mouse might chew through the screening on the vent.
I for one enjoyed your video it is fab entertainment that is free with lots of good little tips . So thanks a lot. Greetings from Scotland tu & sub Rob
+Rob Duncan Thanks so much! I can't tell you how much I appreciate that.
Cool, your vids look smart i am working my way through them . Much better than my stuff
+Rob Duncan are you watching with your eyes closed? You have a channel? I will check it out when I get a chance.
Ok there is no van stuff but i do have a ford connect . Tks
The basic foundation for this kind of situation is to have a good gauge to be able to track your conditions in the van. You don't have to have a laboratory instrument, you can get a simple humidity/temperature gauge on Amazon, or Lowes for $10 to $12. The 4 inch square one I have also has a high and low feature for the last 24 hours. Humidity hold's heat in the air and until you control the humidity, you can't do much with the heat. I see from your future vlog's you now have some insulation on the roof. Of course you can go the other way and your body will tell you that a. your body is cold despite the steam coming out of your mouth, or B. you have to break the slagg ice off top of your coffee cup! But a gauge will tell you when to turn on the fan or turn up thee thermostat on The Olympian Wave 3.
Why did you go with the Ram over the NV200? Also what cooling options does your van have other than the vent? Also how about a window mounted vent?
+Killer Facts the Nissan was a little too small, I wanted to have a bed that is set up permanently and not have to move the seat to be able to stretch out. Also the Ram has the best horsepower and payload capacity. I think fuel mileage will be bad with the NV once it was loaded with weight. In my opinion, the NV isn't a good choice for a camper. That left the Ram or the Transit Connect.
I made a bucket swamp cooler which works pretty well here in California.
The only way I've found to keep the inside of the van the same temperature as the outside is to keep the cab separate from the cargo area. A window vent will pull the hotter air from the cab into the back.
the sink hardware with stopper vent idea is a great one...with only one caveat...Mice will chew thru most screen material...perhaps something a little more substantial..field mice will be a problem when boon-docking they love to invite themselves in at any opportunity.. they will have no problem jumping up and holding on while creating a little door for entry...you need something they cannot chew through...and they can chew thru most wire...it needs to be steel and of fairly heavy Gage no more than a quarter inch mesh...a mouse can go through any opening that his skull will fit through...I know what a hassell!!!...if you think that's bad imagine living with mice crawling through your bedding while you try to sleep at night....woodsmn
Yes, hardware cloth is better than window screen. I can always put the stopper in place as well.
Do rats & bugs come up the hole in the floor? I would be paranoid & put on a screen.
+Ron Bailey haha! There are a LOT of rats in this city. I was worried about that but there is a piece of window screen held on with a band clamp to make it easy to replace if it gets chewed through. Wandering Patches just gave me a tip to use hardware cloth which is metal, it sounds like a great idea. I also want to get some No-See-Um netting.
Did you ever put in more vent holes?
+Ron Bailey not yet. I don't need another one until the weather get back over 95 F.
Put some spikes on the vent somehow. Like the spikes to fend off birds
Pintor The Pintor only for camper right?
Great work on the van! On the use of a flange/hole in the floor of the van. They do make small, sealed electric vans that you can fit on the exterior floor of the van (underneath) and tap a ground wire and insulated wire to your source of power. They are very quiet and really crank out a lot of air for such small fans. You can usually find them in a specialty store or amazon. Having said that, I wouldn't cut another hole in the floor & having another vent fan on the roof would not ruin your stealth approach to van living. Most people could care less and with your set up, you could always put out a magnetic sign at night advertising a fan installation business and most folks would merely think it is an ad for your "work". Just a suggestion.
+Phil Capling Great suggestions. Thanks for the info.
At this point I don't bother with stealth. I think you are correct about most people not caring.
I’m planning on getting a mini cargo van, probably the ford transit, to live in. In pictures online, I don’t see any openings for airflow except for the front two windows that roll down. Since I primarily stay in 65-85 degree weather areas, I don’t need a fan. But do I still need to drill holes to get airflow in these sort of vans?
You may not need to drill holes but I would highly recommend adding more air flow. Without a fan, when the outside temperature gets to the 80’s it will be close to 100 in your van without a vent fan. If your van has windows in back, it will be even hotter.
I think there are some vents in the cargo area that allow fresh air inside. You’d need to pull off the trim pieces near the back doors to locate their exact location. Once you find the vents, you could install a computer fan or other small fan behind the trim pieces to help draw air into your cabin area.
There are smaller vent fans that you might want to consider. VentLine makes a popular small vent fan that just needs a six inch hole. Some people install them on the back door.
A friend of mine just bought a Transit Connect. You may like to follow her channel, she doesn’t have videos of her new van up yet but will soon.
ua-cam.com/channels/8ynGRHa8OzpaQn-KNXbdcw.html
Static CamperVan Thanks so much for the reply. I actually had lived in a honda element for 2 years a while back and had pop-out windows in the back. I guess heat was not an issue (during sleep) because I’m from California and stayed close to the ocean. Though I did regret having windows and a moonroof which woke me up every morning with the sun blazing in my eyes. I think the windows also made it colder in the night during winter. I will go back to Van living this fall and still determining the van to get. The main con I saw with the transit without windows is that it seemed almost airtight in the back - but if you’re right, they have hidden vents, which is great! Anyway, just discovered your channel, look forward to browsing through it - and I will follow your friend. Thanks!!
Do you think it’s feasible to place two ventlines on a small cargo van like the transit connect or promaster ram? Perhaps one near the front of the cargo area on the roof and one near the rear? Was just thinking that two ventlines, one pushing air in and one pushing it out, might be ideal for airflow if the roof can hold two of them without issues. Couldn’t find many videos on ventlines for these smaller sized homes!
Yes, the Ventline is small enough you could add several of them. I’m not sure how efficient they are, though. Running two might use up a lot of power.
Static CamperVan Yeah, I was thinking about power because I want to keep it simple and don’t really want a kitchen, sink or even an extra battery / solar panel. Everything I own already fits in a 20 liter backpack - I just need a home next with good airflow! Going to have to ponder about this one I suppose.. Can’t wait till I live in a van again!
Could you measure how many square inches (or cm if you prefer) it takes for the fan to operate on high, med, and low without being bogged down so to speak?
+Matt P I'm not sure I understand your question. If it's how many inches the vent fan needs to be cranked up and open then it's only about 4 inches on high and one inch on low. The vent is about 12 inches wide, I'm sorry, I don't do Math. 😬
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a number of options may present themselves when reviewing marine / boating web sites
Defender. !!!
Jamestown distributors !!
overtons
west marine
numerous clam shell type vents...
numerous clear or solid threaded access hatches in all sizes 4" 6" 8" 10" and shapes ...
More vans should have better factory intergrated grill venting such as that Australia based van set up
Noria !!! is a new window ac kickstarter
Usa based - only horizontal mounted for now and not yet rv based, but certainly a new way of looking at cooling delivery designs with intergrated fan
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+Finn Green those are some good suggestions. I stealth camp on occasion near a West Marine, guess I kinda forgot about popping in and looking around. The Noria is interesting but I am keeping my van 12 volt only. Of course I may be open to an air conditioner in the future. Thanks for the info.
Even 1/2 inch of foam insulation on the roof would decrease heat transfer - and probably quiet the fan operation.
My fan is super quiet. The MaxxAir fans are quieter than the Fantastic fans.
Yes there is no question that insulation slows down heat transfer. The point I am making is that insulation also holds In heat. It’s a hard concept to understand unless you try living in a van that is both insulated and uninsulated.
I’m in Seattle now and some insulation is absolutely necessary here. It reinforces my opinion that a van should be built for the weather that it will be in the most. There’s no one correct way if comfort is the main goal.
Static CamperVan Build the van for different climate - temperature & humidity. Lesson learned :)
why not put another passive vent on the roof?
+Oxtoa Wolf does laziness count as an answer? Actually, there's not a good spot for one in the cargo area. There is a good spot to install one in the cab area but I've found it best to keep the cab and cargo areas separate since the cab heats up and the cargo area doesn't.
Static CamperVan thank you.
If you are still deciding where to put floor air vents have a look at Stealth Sprinter website. Not sure if they have a YT channel.
+Vas El Thanks for the info! The one problem I have placing another vent is the tight space I'm dealing with. Everything is more compact in a small van. For instance, all the energy lines are run along the right side of the van leaving that whole side inaccessible. If there was a clear spot not already covered or near fuel lines I'd have installed another vent already.
Static CamperVan with kitchen and electric system that require certain space, without them a small cargo is enough to “crash a night” van lifestyle :) for city dweller, a gym membership with dedicated locker solve the toiletries problem. Eat out is easy. Laundromat is convenient and more efficient as the washer & dryer are bigger, if they’re Swedish brand, Electrolux even faster and better result! Commute is hassle in a metropolitan area so basically just a storage half size for wardrobe and a bike. Beddings are the sleeping bag and sometimes underneath a yoga/fitness mat. But this ain’t camper. My issue is the steam on the window next morning in winter, how to get rid of it?
The great thing about vanlife is that you can do it the way it works best for you.
I’m not sure why a little condensation on your windows is an issue to be concerned about.
You can minimize the condensation with good ventilation.
Static CamperVan It’s hassle to manually wipe off the water on the interior window next morning in winter time but don’t want to cut a hole to install a fan and can’t open the window too much for safety concern so not much ventilation during the night... Please let me know if you have any suggestion, thanks again :)
TheRawBabe oh, I understand. Lots of people add vents. A popular way is to cut a hole behind the license plate and use a small fan to help move air.
You probably already know that I’m am very keen on lots of ventilation. The little work it takes to cut a hole is definitely worth the effort, in my opinion.
It would be hard for me to put up with only a fan. As a kid growing up in the 1960s it's all we had. But omg it would be hard to sleep at night with out a window air conditioner. It never bothered me as a child because you don't miss what you never had.
+David Brown it's not as bad as you might imagine. With the floor vent, I get cross ventilation. Recently I found a small swamp cooler that helps out on the really hot nights.
how much did you already cut in the floore ?=
How much what?
@@StaticCamperVan Ventilation holes in the floor
@Ton_Ginic the information in this video is still up to date. I still have only one 4 inch vent
@@StaticCamperVan Thank So much!
Why no insulation on ceiling and walls?
+Christian Lewis Photography I had insulation but removed it because it kept the van hot into the night. Insulation only works in cooler climates or if you have an air conditioner if you are in a hot area.
very good explanation .
+C Reinicke Thanks so much.
keep it cool. great new idea
I think the hole in the floor is a great idea.
+Carpenter Family :^)
Brilliant ideas 👍
+Mark moto 😊🙏🏽
+
Static CamperVan
You can put on th back doors those small louvers like a lot of company delivery vans have! : )
+Robert Bidochon I've relocated to cooler climates for now. But Thanks for the advice.
+Static CamperVan It's just a thing I've saw, I won't advice a veteran van dweller : )
+Robert Bidochon Hey, I appreciate the ideas. We all learn from each other :^)
+Static CamperVan Every bit can help !
the max air is a good fan but its how I was able to tell you were a camper... I didn't even notice the panel but your vent made it obvious to me.... (I'm an rv enthusiast though so I'm look for this stuff..... somebody is going to make a lot of money someday inventing a really stealth vent top maybe one that slides open : )
+Dogs Cats an R.V. & Jimmy I don't think twice about stealth anymore. Comfort first. It's odd how few people notice the solar panel. Although, there are certain times I've thought it was missing, only to see it when the light changed a bit.
Static CamperVan I dream of stealth : ) there's a ton of public land with free boondocking options but I really want to spend most of my time at the coast and it's so expensive to pay for camping over there ( if you can even get a spot) but even if I had a perfect stealth vehicle it wouldn't do me much good with three barking dogs : ) lol. one of these Summers I'm going to just bite the bullet and make reservations four different state parks during all of July and August up and down the coast or maybe I'll go this year and see if they give me a little bit of leeway because of the road closures that's got everything messed up along the Pacific Coast Highway so they might be letting things slide that they normally wouldn't.......... and of course the state parks have to keep 15% of their space is open for first come first serve people so if I got really lucky I might could find a couple of Beach adjacent campsites Midsummer just out of luck and timing
+Dogs Cats an R.V. & Jimmy Great idea! And that's a great tip on holding 15%, I didn't know that.
Picking the right beach city is the key, I think.
Did you seen Dave2d spent some time in San Diego? They didn't have any problems at all.
Static CamperVan yeah channels like his are motivating me to want to go over to the coast even more : ) each Campground handles it a little differently but check out time is generally 10 a.m. Sam campgrounds will allow people to pull in an hour before and wait for people to leave others will let you pull in and start waiting at like 8 a.m. even though they're all part of the same state park system they all handle it a little differently.... Forest Service does the same thing and the California state parks system is supposed to be getting rid of Reserve America and bringing in their own online reservation system that's supposed to be better I'll believe it when I see it...... another way to get first come spots is if somebody rent a campsite for several days or even a week and they don't show up the first 24 hours the campground will re-rent it out to the first person to show up
Great video!!!!
Thanks!
And AC?
+littleoceandrop thanks! Unfortunately AC is not an option as my electrical system is 12 volts only. I do that to make the most of my battery bank and solar panel. AC would be nice but it's not a necessity.
I am in Miami, Living for 5 months now Static at the beach in a Subaru Forester with bed and curtains, I have to leave the car running all night long when temperature is above 77 due to humidity, it costs $8/night, www.swampy.net is the closest thing I've seen, but far from my setup. Ive seen rechargeable solar mini portable AC units on development online but not available yet.
I have just discovered that paying for a co-working space will save me more than the membership on food.
+littleoceandrop Florida summers are rough. The swampy cooler wouldn't work well with your humidity, though they work great here in the southwest.
Sounds good you may have found an alternative if it gets to hot.
Little Ocean Drop can you cook at the co-work office?
Great idea I did not read through all comments if anyone did not suggest plumbing screw cap that will do the trick and you can go through a fluds and water will not get in when screw cap is in place.
Thanks. Three years into using this vent, I’ve yet to have even a drop of water enter the van.
The only time I ever put the stopper in place to close off the vent is when I am in bear country. The vent stays open all other times.
like the T-shirt but I believe I would have got some windows in the back that pop out at the bottom
+Bee American those pop out windows are very useful
Keep 'em coming!
Thanks! I appreciate you watching. I may record a shorter version as this one seems a bit long.
get a marine grade pass through, like on a kayak or sailboat, they come in different sizes.
+437johnl that's a great idea. I almost bought one but realized it was going to be more difficult to install than the disposal drain. If I ever get a bigger van, I will definitely go with a marine hatch.
Do you have a link you any specific pass through you would recommend? Looked at this and mushrooms are nice if on roof, but not for floor. Obviously it would need to close. Thanks in advance.
Oops that was to +437johnl
U are right on!!!!! when ur referring to Celsius and said "If u are in a civilized country" because we are not civilized yet until 2020. CT
+ksolobk I'll pass on replying to the political aspects of your comment if you don't mind :^)
I will say I am an old dog and learning the metric system has been a new trick.
put a vent on the wall closer to the top with a white vent grid. trust me nobody is really gonna care about a vent on your van no matter where it is. also put one of the vents behind or under your fridge
+Crystal Vanner (TheNomadicNatural) I'm starting to think you are correct about nobody caring. As far as adding another floor vent, there isn't any other spot other than where my feet go. And I don't want to be standing on it. I've turned my attention to other things since summer is almost over.
Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂
Use one fan that sucks air out on the sealing, and one fan that sucks air in on the bottom, the fan on top must move 3x more air than the fan on the bottom...
Very cool. Subbed.
+uck moo Thank you! I appreciate it.
Where’s you ur insulation?
I removed it. I’ve found it is easier to keep the van cool without insulation.
Static CamperVan You mean you felt hotter with insulation inside the van?
Yes. Insulation alone doesn’t work. It will keep heat out for a short period of time but eventually, the heat comes in. Once the heat gets in the van, insulation keeps it there.
Insulation only works if you have an air conditioner. I’m not able to run an A/C since I am always off-grid. So the best thing for me is to have no insulation at all. Without insulation trapping heat in my van, the van stays cooler.
Static CamperVan You probably need insulation again in Seattle and Portland for winter :)
I think this guy lives in the United States? Depending where you live it is a civilized. We don't do Celsius here.
👍🏻 on the photo clips!
very good video. The volume is low. thanks
Thanks for the message.
There is a company that makes custom Van vinyl covers for outside of your front windows. Don't have the name ,sorry.
It's will keep heat out and let's light in.
+Allan Burkeen I have run across a couple of those. I have put of buying one since I am almost always in a city. They would be perfect for camping if I could ever manage to do any :^)
..........hi static.........some styrofoam sheets in your ceiling might deflect some of the sun heat......... :)
+carla ifera yes it would but there's a problem with it. I insulated the roof of my van and found it kept the heat from coming in, but only for about a half hour. After that, the temperature in the van would warm up the same as if there was no insulation.
The real problem came at night. Before the insulation, the van would cool down very quickly as soon as the sun went down. After I installed the insulation, the the van wouldn't cool down until well after 1am. In fact it was So Hot, I couldn't even sit in the van until after midnight.
After 3 weeks, I took down the insulation and the van was bearable again. The lesson I learned was to build a van for the climate it is going to be used in. My van would be uncomfortable in Minnesota but it's perfect for SoCal.
Static CamperVan ..........thanx for the getback.........what van works best in your hot climate?.........:)
+carla ifera I don't think there's any one type. Sometimes I wish I had a full size van just to have the ability to add more solar panels and batteries.
carla ifera with air conditioning