So glad you highlighted the Clayton last year Aiden,such a great piece of kit and simple enough to install myself.It’s enabled us to go gasless and handles everything we throw at it.Good to know the option is there to expand should we need it as well.
Exactly what you said I just built a van and am now selling it but there is no way my Clayton is going with it instead it will be sold with the good old lead acid under the seat and the Clayton is going straight into my Crafter you would never get your money back.
Can’t wait to see a swamper build on the new T7! That might be my retirement project, even better if you pioneer it first… For Europe the footprint of the transporter can’t be beaten especially if you actually want to go off road, Sprinters are fantastic for the wide open spaces in the US, try taking one down a typical UK green lane or the mountain trails in Europe and they just don’t work as well imo, too big and too top heavy. The perfect pose/instagram wagon though!
I beg to differ, but then I've only had my 4x4 Sprinter in 32 different countries and 2 continents covering a vast array of terrains and driving some of the more risky unsurfaced routes. Oh, and quite a number of UK green lanes too.
@ I’m sure the bigger van is a better camping experience but are you saying the bigger footprint is an advantage off-road and on 6” wide lanes and tracks? Isn’t your van a pop top too rather than the typical high roof sprinter conversions? I’ve got tree rash on my roof and it’s only 2.1m tall 😬
@@mikelambrou4462 I'm saying it's not a disadvantage. Where are you finding 6 foot wide lanes abroad? (I assume you meen feet not inches). Yes, I have a low roof Sprinter for the exact reason of clearance. It's pushed a few trees in the past but I'm not precious about a few marks on the roof, going great distance on poor roads would be the wrong pass time if I was. Most of the unsurfaced roads we have driven get used by locals in similar sized 4x4s and quite often trucks, a few roads in Kosovo were smaller but you wouldn't have got a Transporter up them either. A Sprinter is 1993mm wide, a D3/4 1915mm wide. Not a great deal in it. A Transporter is 1904mm wide (6 foot is 1828.8mm) so I don't think you'd be fitting a Transporter up a 6 foot wide lane either. I have first hand experience of Aidens Transporter and it's a very capable piece of kit, the quarry video with @bugoutvehiclesuk demonstrated this. I've previously owned and used a T5.1 4mo for laning and long distance trips (Romania/Bulgaria/Nordkapp) which was replaced with a Sprinter as it was not as capable off the tarmac as I would have liked. The advantage of the Sprinter is the option to purchase with a lower diff gearing, a low range transfer box and the greater ground clearance offered by the platform. Lower gearing also allows the fitment of larger tyres. Yes this has to be weighed against the increase in size, although that does bring substantial benefits to living comfort. I've not found the size of our vehicle to be an issue on multiple trips to remote locations, often with days and days of off tarmac use in places like Albania, Greece, Kosovo, Armenia, Turkey, Romania and Georgia.
@ I can certainly imagine the low transfer case is a big advantage that isn’t really available on the Transporters (maybe Hess do something at a silly price!) and I agree the after market options for off-roading the Sprinters are much greater. I’m sure you can get enough of a lift to negate the reduction in break over etc. Yes I meant 6’ and not inches, I’ve been down several lanes in UK that are marked at 6’ but are in reality nearer 7’ and only last month found myself trying to get down to a river in the Provence-Alps where I ended up with about an inch of space either side of the van and added a couple more battle scars to the paintwork 🤣 Your points are all valid, I just think a smaller vehicle works better for me and likely others too especially if it’s a daily driver. I’m taking it down to Greece next year via the Balkans so have been following your trip on Instagram with interest. I’m not set on a particular route yet, any tips or must do's?
I see a lot of these around and I get it light and portable very useful but it's nothing new other than battery technology. Iv had a kettle and grill running in my Toyota on twin battery and inverter also in my work van for years. But I do like how lightweight at portable they are. Love it for camping in tents and things
I've had a custom build power system in mine, as I wanted to run an air fryer, and xbox in my T6, so had a 3000w inverter and a 560mah battery installed with dc to dc.
That Turkish Transporter is gonna bomb, might as well get a Transhit for 25% less. That’s why I got a last off the line 6.1, not having any of that Ford garbage, nor their hopeless dealers.
@@Transporter2084 ah I’m not so sure. Think it’s gonna be the next thing. Also. Won’t be dealing with ford dealers. I know it’s ford based. But I’ll be going to vw.
@ we’ll see mate, hearing about lots of gremlins on the Customs, although VW’s are hardly paragons of reliability. The likes of THQ, Leighton, Van Haven will have no choice but to big up the Transhit, I’m sure they’ll make them look pretty, but it misses the whole German designed and built ethos in my opinion. Great channel by the way, let’s see more Sprinter/Crafter content as well 😎
I love the Clayton units but they’re just not great value for money and probably only for those that really want the footprint. Say for example take the LPS II 2500 at £3k from THQ today, for that money today also you could buy a BLUETTI ac200l + b300 expansion battery + the charger 1 to charge from the alternator for less than £3k. That’s more power available, more power stored, some 4700wh, the BLUETTI has Higher LiFePO4 cycles and a 5yr warranty, add your own RCD in the build and job done. Let face it how many people are going to remove units once installed!
@@leighfrewin3686 well take 10 percent off straight away with the code. The space the bluetti takes uk cannot be overlooked. Nit just its size. But the way it is wired. Directly out of the unit means you need 4 inches around it front and back. Sooo much more if using the expansion batteries. Also you will need to add an rcd to use in a van
@ I did mention footprint & RCD, and I totally get it. I see the Clayton in say t5/t6/t6.1 etc, but a bigger van, only if you have money to burn. Ps: Not a Clayton hater 👊👍
People need to rethink how this system works. The extension battery is not like adding another battery to your battery bank... It's like adding another way of charging your current setup. The extension basically charges the current battery... which I suppose is the same thing, but it's not. It basically has a limited charge rate. So you won't be running that invertor at max load when that main clayton power unit is dead. Both batteries will not be used in the same way as say a proper battery bank. But they will achieve the same task. I am assuming the extension battery will likely drop to 0% well before the main unit does as it will contiously 'top-up' the main unit. So if you are running the invertor on max at 230amps draw, the ext DCtoDC wont keep up with that draw. The supercharger and ext charger are very likely the exact same thing... I would bet my left nut on it. I bet its a firmware change as they are doing different tasks. But at the same time, I do believe this is a great bit of kit. My only gripe is the lack of app or display.
@@CalMUK91 firstly the supercharger is definitely not the same. And as far as replenishing the main unit. I doubt many people will use the inventor on max for a solid two hours
Dude, when are you actually gonna go somewhere to test these additions out on an actual trip for a few days. I do watch all your posts but Howay man at least sleep out in the van for a few nights and get a real feel for what you actually need on trips.
@ ha ha. I do make those videos. Just don’t seem to do well. And they are really high effort. Hit that I don’t try on these style videos. But the camping vids. High pressure. 👍🏻
@ ha ha. Look forward to that. I’m sure as it will be new…. That they will warranty a certain amount of miles. Heard the belt being made of a better material. One that don’t just fall apart
So glad you highlighted the Clayton last year Aiden,such a great piece of kit and simple enough to install myself.It’s enabled us to go gasless and handles everything we throw at it.Good to know the option is there to expand should we need it as well.
@@petehall9827 nice one mate. It’s standing up to the test of time huh 👍🏻👍🏻
@ Definitely!Doesn’t miss a beat and charges back up in no time.Plus the extra room it gives for being so compact is a bonus!
@ 👍🏻
Love my Clayton best upgrade I’ve made thanks to you.
@@stevecannon8427 I do mate. Never looking back.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
You really know how to set the cat amongst the pigeons 😂 UAO5 wasnt enough to get me to buy a clayton but now UAO10.......cheers fella 😂
@@Tom_Prendiville ha ha. UAOLPS mate 👍🏻
@@Tom_Prendiville email me
Thanks for this pal, I was about to ask the Andy how he finds his and how it works 👌🏼
@@Curbsidecrafters no probs bud 👍🏻
Lovely stuff!
👍🏻
Exactly what you said I just built a van and am now selling it but there is no way my Clayton is going with it instead it will be sold with the good old lead acid under the seat and the Clayton is going straight into my Crafter you would never get your money back.
@@oldmangolf72 ha ha. Good lad 👍🏻
Can’t wait to see a swamper build on the new T7! That might be my retirement project, even better if you pioneer it first… For Europe the footprint of the transporter can’t be beaten especially if you actually want to go off road, Sprinters are fantastic for the wide open spaces in the US, try taking one down a typical UK green lane or the mountain trails in Europe and they just don’t work as well imo, too big and too top heavy. The perfect pose/instagram wagon though!
@@mikelambrou4462 can’t wait mate.
I beg to differ, but then I've only had my 4x4 Sprinter in 32 different countries and 2 continents covering a vast array of terrains and driving some of the more risky unsurfaced routes. Oh, and quite a number of UK green lanes too.
@ I’m sure the bigger van is a better camping experience but are you saying the bigger footprint is an advantage off-road and on 6” wide lanes and tracks? Isn’t your van a pop top too rather than the typical high roof sprinter conversions? I’ve got tree rash on my roof and it’s only 2.1m tall 😬
@@mikelambrou4462
I'm saying it's not a disadvantage. Where are you finding 6 foot wide lanes abroad? (I assume you meen feet not inches). Yes, I have a low roof Sprinter for the exact reason of clearance. It's pushed a few trees in the past but I'm not precious about a few marks on the roof, going great distance on poor roads would be the wrong pass time if I was.
Most of the unsurfaced roads we have driven get used by locals in similar sized 4x4s and quite often trucks, a few roads in Kosovo were smaller but you wouldn't have got a Transporter up them either.
A Sprinter is 1993mm wide, a D3/4 1915mm wide. Not a great deal in it. A Transporter is 1904mm wide (6 foot is 1828.8mm) so I don't think you'd be fitting a Transporter up a 6 foot wide lane either.
I have first hand experience of Aidens Transporter and it's a very capable piece of kit, the quarry video with @bugoutvehiclesuk demonstrated this. I've previously owned and used a T5.1 4mo for laning and long distance trips (Romania/Bulgaria/Nordkapp) which was replaced with a Sprinter as it was not as capable off the tarmac as I would have liked.
The advantage of the Sprinter is the option to purchase with a lower diff gearing, a low range transfer box and the greater ground clearance offered by the platform. Lower gearing also allows the fitment of larger tyres. Yes this has to be weighed against the increase in size, although that does bring substantial benefits to living comfort. I've not found the size of our vehicle to be an issue on multiple trips to remote locations, often with days and days of off tarmac use in places like Albania, Greece, Kosovo, Armenia, Turkey, Romania and Georgia.
@ I can certainly imagine the low transfer case is a big advantage that isn’t really available on the Transporters (maybe Hess do something at a silly price!) and I agree the after market options for off-roading the Sprinters are much greater. I’m sure you can get enough of a lift to negate the reduction in break over etc. Yes I meant 6’ and not inches, I’ve been down several lanes in UK that are marked at 6’ but are in reality nearer 7’ and only last month found myself trying to get down to a river in the Provence-Alps where I ended up with about an inch of space either side of the van and added a couple more battle scars to the paintwork 🤣
Your points are all valid, I just think a smaller vehicle works better for me and likely others too especially if it’s a daily driver. I’m taking it down to Greece next year via the Balkans so have been following your trip on Instagram with interest. I’m not set on a particular route yet, any tips or must do's?
I see a lot of these around and I get it light and portable very useful but it's nothing new other than battery technology.
Iv had a kettle and grill running in my Toyota on twin battery and inverter also in my work van for years. But I do like how lightweight at portable they are. Love it for camping in tents and things
@@drugansltd4344 exactly that. It’s convenient and compact
I've had a custom build power system in mine, as I wanted to run an air fryer, and xbox in my T6, so had a 3000w inverter and a 560mah battery installed with dc to dc.
@@blkbassbug1131 that’s hefty that
@urbanarkoverland miss typed its 560mah. She's a beast i will say that.
@ it’s actually just ah. Not mah 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@urbanarkoverland this just shows how daft I am 🤣
@ I totally understood what you meant. And wasn’t correcting you to be an arse. But to help 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
That Turkish Transporter is gonna bomb, might as well get a Transhit for 25% less. That’s why I got a last off the line 6.1, not having any of that Ford garbage, nor their hopeless dealers.
@@Transporter2084 ah I’m not so sure. Think it’s gonna be the next thing. Also. Won’t be dealing with ford dealers. I know it’s ford based. But I’ll be going to vw.
@ we’ll see mate, hearing about lots of gremlins on the Customs, although VW’s are hardly paragons of reliability.
The likes of THQ, Leighton, Van Haven will have no choice but to big up the Transhit, I’m sure they’ll make them look pretty, but it misses the whole German designed and built ethos in my opinion.
Great channel by the way, let’s see more Sprinter/Crafter content as well 😎
@ thanks man. Sprinter next on the list. Big rebuild.
I hope vw don out all the creases in the transit and create something a bit more…..better
Perfect unit, but waaaaaay to expensive 🙁
@@nelydk I wouldn’t say too expensive. Great value for money.
I love the Clayton units but they’re just not great value for money and probably only for those that really want the footprint.
Say for example take the LPS II 2500 at £3k from THQ today, for that money today also you could buy a BLUETTI ac200l + b300 expansion battery + the charger 1 to charge from the alternator for less than £3k. That’s more power available, more power stored, some 4700wh, the BLUETTI has Higher LiFePO4 cycles and a 5yr warranty, add your own RCD in the build and job done.
Let face it how many people are going to remove units once installed!
@@leighfrewin3686 well take 10 percent off straight away with the code.
The space the bluetti takes uk cannot be overlooked. Nit just its size. But the way it is wired. Directly out of the unit means you need 4 inches around it front and back. Sooo much more if using the expansion batteries. Also you will need to add an rcd to use in a van
@ I did mention footprint & RCD, and I totally get it. I see the Clayton in say t5/t6/t6.1 etc, but a bigger van, only if you have money to burn.
Ps: Not a Clayton hater 👊👍
@ ye for the transporter it’s an absolute winner.
People need to rethink how this system works.
The extension battery is not like adding another battery to your battery bank... It's like adding another way of charging your current setup. The extension basically charges the current battery... which I suppose is the same thing, but it's not. It basically has a limited charge rate. So you won't be running that invertor at max load when that main clayton power unit is dead.
Both batteries will not be used in the same way as say a proper battery bank. But they will achieve the same task.
I am assuming the extension battery will likely drop to 0% well before the main unit does as it will contiously 'top-up' the main unit.
So if you are running the invertor on max at 230amps draw, the ext DCtoDC wont keep up with that draw.
The supercharger and ext charger are very likely the exact same thing... I would bet my left nut on it. I bet its a firmware change as they are doing different tasks.
But at the same time, I do believe this is a great bit of kit.
My only gripe is the lack of app or display.
@@CalMUK91 firstly the supercharger is definitely not the same.
And as far as replenishing the main unit. I doubt many people will use the inventor on max for a solid two hours
Dude, when are you actually gonna go somewhere to test these additions out on an actual trip for a few days. I do watch all your posts but Howay man at least sleep out in the van for a few nights and get a real feel for what you actually need on trips.
@@KI55DUB I go away all the time mate. I just don’t often vlog it. I’ve done some maximum effort cinema style stuff. And no one watches them.
This is man’s full time job, these vids make him money, why would he make a video that won’t make money 🤣
@ ha ha. I do make those videos. Just don’t seem to do well. And they are really high effort. Hit that I don’t try on these style videos. But the camping vids. High pressure. 👍🏻
Wet belt engine in the Ford transporter 😢
Yeah. I heard
Just service it every 10k
@ ha ha. Look forward to that.
I’m sure as it will be new…. That they will warranty a certain amount of miles. Heard the belt being made of a better material. One that don’t just fall apart
Never mind this Vdub nonsense you need to get stuck into that Merc mate 😅
@@apeadventurevans ha ha. Careful what you wish for. You know the first job involves you. Massively
Hahaha ooops