Our EuroVan Camper
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Mounting a 16 Inch Spare
I finally moved up to 16 inch wheels a couple of years ago and wanted to have a spare tire mounted on a 16 wheel, as well. I had heard some conflicting stories about how to go about mounting this in the same place as the 15 inch spare: some said to just adjust the stock spare tire holder, others said you needed a new holder and some longer bolts - neither version mentioned cutting metal off of the van - which is what I needed to do!
Car Wash
When I was a kid, my dad would wash his car (1969 Volvo 145 wagon) every 2 weeks, whether it needed it or not. I decided that I did NOT want to spend my time doing that when I grew up - and I haven’t. People have asked me how I keep my van looking so nice - and I am always amazed, as I wash the van maybe once or twice a year.
6 Volt Battery Setup
Our reliable Trojan “house” battery was nearing the end of it’s usable camping life (no longer as many days between charges), so I made the switch to a dual 6 volt system. The 12 volt battery we had (Trojan 30 XHS) provided 130 amp/hours - the 6 volt (Trojan T-105) provides 225 amp/hours. More power in almost the same space - how cool is that? This required removing the existing battery box, installing a new box (after modifying the box with parts from the old box, as well as latches and seals), installing a smaller box for the battery disconnect switch, and while I was at it, installing a new battery meter.
Foam Blowing Out of the Dash Fix
A couple of years ago, while traveling on Route 66 in humid Missouri, chunks of foam started blowing out of our dash vents, filling the cab with sticky bits of disintegrating material - quite a mess. I had remembered reading on the ev_update list that this was from the “blender box” in the air conditioning system - the box that regulates the air flow from the heater, directs air to the defrost, floor, etc.
Platform Bed Details
Here are some photos of how our platform bed is put together. The wood is 3⁄4 inch birch plywood, the hinges are brass piano hinges, and aluminum angle is used to create the “box” portion and other supports. View from the back: My method for holding the platform in place: The platform is hinged in such a way as to form a seat (from before we had a drawer):
Mini Table for Coffee
We only travel with one table, but once you have dishes on that, you don’t have much room to prepare anything - like coffee after lunch! We mocked up a “mini” table out of plywood before our desert trip to see if this idea would work - it was such a success, I now need to make one out of maple. Our “big” table is also out of maple (much nicer than laminate!
Modified Control Panel
This is how our control panel above the fridge looks now. Let me give you a tour, explain what I did, and share some pointers on what NOT to do… The stock EuroVan control panel is black, has only one 12 volt outlet, and on the 95, has a very stupid layout for the water pump switch. On later models, the faucet has an integrated switch, eliminating the need for a water pump switch on the control panel.