[tahoematt]

Hey All!

I want to do a pretty comprehensive post here that will help others in the future as well as me now. Please comment with what you think is the best option for Promaster's currently out there, for the following categories:

- Seat Swivels + lowering brackets
- Type of Insulation
- Ladder
- Heater
- Vents/Fans
- Windows - custom installed
- All Terrain/snow tires
- Solar setup, panels, wattage, and batteries
- Fresh water tank & size
- Water Pump
- Refrigerator
- Stove

+ Extra comments of things not listed.
THANKS!

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Seat Swivels- CTA from swivelsrus.com
Lowered bases, no choice- Sportscraft from eurocampers.com
Polyisocyanurate w/Greatstuff and a Progun for the panels, Thinsulate from Hein for the ribs and over the cab
I have no opinion on a fixed ladder, carry a collapsible one.
Wabasto heater for a gasser, Espar for a Diesel
Fantastic Vent (great quality and cheaper) or MaxxAir
Windows C. R. Laurence with awning lower sections
Don’t do it until you wear out the Vanco’s Michelin
Solar- 200 Wats of Renogy, Tracer 20 amp controller, 2 6 volt Sam’s Club FLA golf cart batteries
water 5 gallon jug under the galley, another for grey water
any cheap 2gpm RV pump. They all work for about 15 years
Refrigerator- big, TruckFrig130, medium Norcold NR751, Chest type- Whynter FM-62DZ if it will fit, high quality- Engel MT60 or a smaller one from them
Stove, one or two burner butane cooktop $19-$60 all work great some look better.
Others are gonna disagree!

 

[dnelsonid]

I can only speak to the items I personally have but many of what you're interested I too will be adding as time and money avail themselves.

Insulation - Thinsulate from Hein 2" for the walls and 1" for the lid. He's great to deal with and will cut you just the amount you need to do the job.
Heater - Espar D2 (if you're diesel). Bought on Ebay from UK. Easy install, add insulation and prepare to be toasty.
Windows - CR Laurence. I went the Gary BIS route and used the easier on the pocket, flat sliders. They work.
Snow Tires - Blizzak from TireRack. Though I must admit the Vanco's do pretty well on their own.
Reefer - Norcold NR751. Quality compressor, keeps things chill.
Fan - MaxxFan Smoke from Amazon. Super quite.

 

[tahoematt]

Thanks! I have a Gasoline engine

Wabasto heater... which model? Smart to get the duo that does both water and air if going to be doing my fair share of winter camping.

 

[tahoematt]

I can only speak to the items I personally have but many of what you're interested I too will be adding as time and money avail themselves.

Insulation - Thinsulate from Hein 2" for the walls and 1" for the lid. He's great to deal with and will cut you just the amount you need to do the job.
Heater - Espar D2 (if you're diesel). Bought on Ebay from UK. Easy install, add insulation and prepare to be toasty.
Windows - CR Laurence. I went the Gary BIS route and used the easier on the pocket, flat sliders. They work.
Snow Tires - Blizzak from TireRack. Though I must admit the Vanco's do pretty well on their own.
Reefer - Norcold NR751. Quality compressor, keeps things chill.
Fan - MaxxFan Smoke from Amazon. Super quite.

Does Hein have a website? What makes this better than others?
I have a gasoline engine. I thought about installing a separate diesel tank tho for heater??
Whats Gary BIS? I wished there was a window that had one awning and one slider. Would be nice to drive with slider open and for awning in the rain.

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Hein does sell on eBay and his site is http://www.impact3d.com/sprinter_products.htm The tank and diesel is an option but a Wabasto gas is a quality product and can feed right off the nipple of the gas tank. I’d do that. And an air heater is MUCH less than a dual. Espar does make a dual. How much hot water do you need? Wabasto air top 2000. PM MsNomer for more help and search for her install of gas, mine for install of Espar D2 air, link below.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Webasto-heater-Diesel-single-4111385C/dp/B01M0M26E3/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502151094&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=webasto+gas+heater[/ame]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ESPAR-D2-AI...ash=item4d3e54473e:g:NGsAAOSwjqVZL9I2&vxp=mtr

 

[tahoematt]

I can only speak to the items I personally have but many of what you're interested I too will be adding as time and money avail themselves.

Insulation - Thinsulate from Hein 2" for the walls and 1" for the lid. He's great to deal with and will cut you just the amount you need to do the job.
Heater - Espar D2 (if you're diesel). Bought on Ebay from UK. Easy install, add insulation and prepare to be toasty.
Windows - CR Laurence. I went the Gary BIS route and used the easier on the pocket, flat sliders. They work.
Snow Tires - Blizzak from TireRack. Though I must admit the Vanco's do pretty well on their own.
Reefer - Norcold NR751. Quality compressor, keeps things chill.
Fan - MaxxFan Smoke from Amazon. Super quite.

Hein does sell on eBay and his site is http://www.impact3d.com/sprinter_products.htm The tank and diesel is an option but a Wabasto gas is a quality product and can feed right off the nipple of the gas tank. I’d do that. And an air heater is MUCH less than a dual. Espar does make a dual. How much hot water do you need? Wabasto air top 2000. PM MsNomer for more help and search for her install of gas, mine for instal of Espar D2 air, link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Webasto-heat...1094&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=webasto+gas+heater

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ESPAR-D2-AI...ash=item4d3e54473e:g:NGsAAOSwjqVZL9I2&vxp=mtr

Thanks, Looks like the Gasoline version is $500 more expensive - https://www.amazon.com/Webasto-Gasoline-12v-Heater-2000STC/dp/B01M2ZCWTF/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1502151458&sr=8-4-fkmr2&keywords=Webasto+Air+Top+2000+STC+heater++single+outlet+12v+Kit

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

No $100 see my post #6 And the tank is $60 so it is about the same.
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/heaters-planar-Webasto-consumers-liters/dp/B01JZFIIQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502152803&sr=8-1&keywords=webasto+gas+heater[/ame]

 

[tahoematt]

​

No $100 see my post #6 And the tank is $60 so it is about the same.
https://www.amazon.com/heaters-plan...1502152803&sr=8-1&keywords=webasto+gas+heater

I'm a bit confused. I have a gasonline Promaster. The gas version of the heater is $1400.

Are you suggesting I buy a diesel tank and instal a diesel heater?

 

[GaryBIS]

Hi,

A lot of these choices depend on YOU and how you plan to use the van and what you like.

Some people like a van that is closed and cozy, some like a wide open interior with tons of windows and light. Some want all the conveniences of home while others like a very KISS approach.
You need to spend some time looking at the different conversions people have done and see what appeals to you.


Some of our choices...

Fridge: We did Norcold NB751 electric fridge and are happy with it. Lots of good electric fridges out there -- just avoid the so called 3 way fridges that run on propane, 120 VAC or 12 volt DC -- sounds good but extremely inefficient and finicky in operation.

Furnace: In addition to the Espar, I'd consider a propane furnace (eg Atwood 12K BTU/hr) -- a very popular and common solution, but not so much on this forum.

Water: We used an 18 gallon poly tank installed in the van (not under). Turned out to be a good decision for simple plumbing and freeze issues.

Solar: depends on your electrical loads -- do a load analysis before deciding.

Insulation: Very controversial -- mostly between Polyiso sheets and Thinsulate. Lots of posts here on this issue.

Toilets: You did not list toilet, but probably meant to . Several choices, but be sure to consider a composting toilet in the mix.

All the gory details on our conversion: http://www.buildagreenrv.com/our-conversion/

The nice thing about doing your own camper van conversion is that you can make it exactly what you want. The bad thing about doing a camper van conversion yourself is that you have to figure exactly what you want

Gary BIS

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Mea Culpa. I got crap for a brain I guess. I thought that was a gas heater. However MsNomer knows a few sources that will come in about $1000. PM her, she is the brains on this one having installed one in the past 6 months. I’d do gasoline if it was within $200 of the diesel price just so you get the connivence of no additional tank.

Here is her install thread:
http://www.promasterforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57897

Here is another with sources for buying:
http://www.promasterforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58538

 

[MsNomer]

Tahomatt, I suspect you pm'd me? I have to ask because we are traveling, I'm just using the phone right now, and accessing pm's is a pain. I think everything you need to know is in my install thread. And yes, it works great.

There is a rumor, though, that a new model may be coming out in 2018 with better altitude control. If it does, we will probably swap for it. We are at >9,000 feet now and not using it

 

[softseds]

tahoematt,

I have a gasser with the webasto air top 2000stc. I ordered mine from Smith Power Products located in Sparks, NV. It works great. Consider getting a smart temperature controller which is an upgrade from the one it comes with, opinion. The heater sips the gasoline. I don't think its necessary to get a separate diesel tank just for a heater. Just get the gas heater and run of the vehicle tank. I guess it depends on what your end goals are...