[nebulight]

Got info from the dealer that it should be end of April or the beginning of May. I've already got my solar panels (3 200w 24v panels) for a total of 600w. I'm trying to see about getting an Aircon and a 12v vent fan. I took the drawing @Hein provided as I plan to use his new formed rails to mount my panels and Fiamma awning. It looks like I can fit the 9k Houghton with no issue:

However I'm a little concerned if the 13.5k will fit (this unit is much larger but has a heat pump function):

I'll wait and get full measurements once the van is here and the layout is finalized.

 

[Hein]

Nice layout work. We can verify in 3D CAD and physical check on our 159 van.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

 

[dog_house]

Got info from the dealer that it should be end of April or the beginning of May. I've already got my solar panels (3 200w 24v panels) for a total of 600w. I'm trying to see about getting an Aircon and a 12v vent fan. I took the drawing @Hein provided as I plan to use his new formed rails to mount my panels and Fiamma awning. It looks like I can fit the 9k Houghton with no issue:

View attachment 93650

However I'm a little concerned if the 13.5k will fit (this unit is much larger but has a heat pump function):

View attachment 93651

I'll wait and get full measurements once the van is here and the layout is finalized.

If you can make it fit, the 13.5k is also a lot more efficient since it has more condenser. I was going to use it before I went with the under bench setup in order to save MPG and make room for more solar. It only really matters if you want to run off an inverter. If I can help with a physical measurement let me know, I don't have a ceiling installed yet.

 

[nebulight]

If you can make it fit, the 13.5k is also a lot more efficient since it has more condenser. I was going to use it before I went with the under bench setup in order to save MPG and make room for more solar. It only really matters if you want to run off an inverter. If I can help with a physical measurement let me know, I don't have a ceiling installed yet.

Thanks! I was going to use the same undermount setup, but I'm having trouble finding a good spot for it with my layout. Any place that it could fit won't work for the beams under the van. And yes, I'll primarily be using the AC off the inverter. And thanks for the measurements, I should be good as I think my van should be here in a few months.

 

[dog_house]

Thanks! I was going to use the same undermount setup, but I'm having trouble finding a good spot for it with my layout. Any place that it could fit won't work for the beams under the van. And yes, I'll primarily be using the AC off the inverter. And thanks for the measurements, I should be good as I think my van should be here in a few months.

Yeah it’s very limited, you basically have to put it sideways on the passenger side of the van. It worked out purely by luck. I think it will be worth it to keep the roof clear but it’s not as cut and dry as it first seemed. Our floor plan happened to have room under one of the twin beds but it was inches away from not working.

 

[Roblee]

You can move the rear panels past the end of the rack to insure an AC fit without issue. Or make the rack a little longer.

 

[KerstenH]

Hi, Nebulight! My husband and I ordered our red van 8/29/22--almost identical to yours, but not quite. It looks like our vans are being built at the same time! Where are you located, and what do you expect for shipping time? We are in New Mexico.

Our build will not be as fancy as yours will. We will be learning as we go. I see that you are considering installing fan and AC side-by-side. Have you seen any pictures or read any accounts of people who have done it this way? I am wondering if having them side-by-side instead of inline will increase the drag. I am also curious to see what the interior looks like for people who have configured them this way.

 

[KerstenH]

opps--I thought I had posted an intro, but clicked the wrong button at the wrong time. Fixed it!

 

[nebulight]

Hi, Nebulight! My husband and I ordered our red van 8/29/22--almost identical to yours, but not quite. It looks like our vans are being built at the same time! Where are you located, and what do you expect for shipping time? We are in New Mexico.

Our build will not be as fancy as yours will. We will be learning as we go. I see that you are considering installing fan and AC side-by-side. Have you seen any pictures or read any accounts of people who have done it this way? I am wondering if having them side-by-side instead of inline will increase the drag. I am also curious to see what the interior looks like for people who have configured them this way.

I'm in Nevada and our dealer is saying late April.

There have been a few on this forum that have installed the AC and fan side by side. I can't seem to locate it on the search but I think it was a smaller dometic AC with Maxxfan. I'll see if I can find the post and update the thread here.

 

[KerstenH]

My van is also at the 'scheduled' stage--landed there the same day yours did! My customer care persons wrote "Your Promaster has begun the build status and has an eta of Mid April for possibly being ready for shipping" two weeks ago. Which seems to me to say that my van will ship in Mid April. But I don't know how long shipping will take...Do they send them by boat to LA? By train? Do you know? I will get an update from Customer Car today, and post what they say.

Thank you for looking for others how have done the side-by-side. I will be installing at Dometic RTX 2000. I have two concerns, really: the amount of metal taken out of one roof area, and the amount of drag produced by having them side by side. I haven't been able to find anyone other than yourself who is planing to or (even better!) has already done this...

K

 

[KerstenH]

Ah! Customer care wrote today: "Everything is moving along with the build of your vehicle and the eta of shipping is early April now, however, that is subject to change as well." Still don't know how long shipping takes.

K

 

[nebulight]

Finally decided on a battery box for the large bank. Not sure this is the best idea but the plan is to have 4 cells in parallel installed in a battery case. Then each case will be in series to make a 12v battery. The parallel bus bars are rated for 300amps and I’ll be using similar bus bars (not pictured) for the series connection. The BMS is external and will connect externally to the terminals of the box. The reason I’m doing it this way is so the case could be manageable when removing the cells in the hot summer months (I live in the southwest).

 

[nebulight]

Picked up the smart plug 30 amp as I’m not a fan of the twist lock. I purchased the 30amp 25ft cord separately to save a bit of money. Hack off the twist lock and install the smart plug. You have to soap up the cord to feed it through the outer jacket. That was a pain in the butt. Then you simply lock down the wire, add a strain relief, then screw down the plug to the house. Pricey yes but I hate the twist lock enough to warrant the cost. Plus on shore I’ll be charging the 1200ah bank and running an ac so it’s going to see some current.