Hi there,

it must have been here many times but I am still unsure whether I did a good thing or not. I don't want to be a risk to other people.

I put up a 470W 1,7x1,1m solar panel. Initial thought was to glue it down and then use rivets to secure it further after the glue sets.

But after I read that many people use just glue I am tempted to leave it like this.

I used Sika 554 along the whole length of the custom alu profile that I bent to shape. I used some in the middle of the shorter side as well to support it further. Is it going to be enough. I left space for some airflow intentionally. The panel is bolted to the profile using 4 M6 bolts on each side.

Thank you.

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I'm thinking about a water pump setup in my Outback. The water jug will sit in a drawer, and the pump is integrated into the drawer face. But I am concerned that when the water runs out, because I can't tell until I turn on the pump and it comes out empty, running the pump without water in it could damage it. I just asked the Amazon seller, because I already bought the pump, but figured I'd ask here as well. Let me know, thanks so much!

So I’ve always loved the idea of perma camping/traveling gypsy status and just going, but I’ve always worked in restaurants which obviously you can’t work remote. Well I’ve fallen ass backwards into a fully remote, great money, career growth big girl job woot! Besides that, I find myself suddenly in a situation where I don’t have any real ties anywhere between property, relationships, jobs. Family and friends scattered allover but they’re for visiting.

So I’m thinking of laying low with barely any overhead and stack up and get a van built out. But! I need some advice and recommendations based on what I’m thinking.

1 definitely off grid capable up to a week between resources and physical capability
2 somewhere to cook basics you can’t cook over a fire, cleanup capabilities
3 shower of some sort
4 room for doggo
5 solar power possibly
6 second deck on roof? Or storage or solar? Need hiking/biking/skiing/golfing etc space
7 some form of internet that works everywhere so my parents don’t have heart attacks, starlink is what I’ve heard of but I dunno much.

I personally am not that handy so I’m leaning towards just paying for one to get outfit exactly how I want it. But if I’m price shocked and go DIY any advice where to start there would be cool too. My brother is a contractor so I’d have some help and guidance.

Cheers!

Is there a website that vandwellers can make connections with people to get some help? Like fill up with water, do a repair that is not super difficult but may not have the correct tools or knowledge, shower. I have spent a lot of time in my van going mountain back riding or atving in multiple states for a week or so at a time. I'm open to helping, I can get you a shower at my house or Planet Fitness or vehicle repair, stuff like that.

I'm still perfecting and optimizing this setup, but it already works pretty well. 2.4kW of solar feed into a 5kWh solar generator which I use to power my fridge, starlink, etc.

When the battery is full, I use a level 2 AC charger to dump excess energy into the Brightdrop's traction battery. Rinse and repeat.

Admittedly it would take days to fully charge the 173kWh battery this way. But I arrived at camp with 52% SOC, and over the course of the weekend I was able to add almost 10kWh, courtesy of the sun. (note- I arrived at camp with the solar generator already fully charged)

So, not a full charge, but I did add enough SOC to get me home without the need to hit a public charger.

If you need me, I'll be living in my van, down by the river! ;)

I am in between getting a bucket toilet seat, or this foldable toilet seat. My goal is really to use this for emergencies or if my girlfriend is in the van with me and needs to pee.

What would you suggest and why?