Conversion on the cheap,

[StickT]

We use our van as a race weekend van, carrying gear and wheels/tyres and also sleeping in. We have lined it with insulation under the ply on the floor and on the sides, the top is still left open metal. The van being a Medium roof has sloped top sides so was going to leave it as it always condensates up Wind deflectors are going on so we can leave window open slightly aswell

Anyhow, bought a musheroom type standard roof vent but abit unsure how it goes into the roof, I think it's obvious but I appear to be missing something as cant figure it out does anyone have any pics of an install going on ? I have searched but cant seem to see any. I think we may line the roof eventually but will see, we only sleep in there really so should be fine.

Got a split charge volt sensing relay also to swap between starting battery and leisure/rear batteries. The aux batteries will power a 1000w inverter so we can charge the laptops/phones/cordless tools etc .. Is there a better way then to use a multi drop plug in unit so we can have multiple things charging at once or is that safe enough for us ?

These are the items in use, if they are no good can anyone recommend products and why

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CARAVAN-MOTOT ... 3a90ae4fe1http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volt-Sensitiv ... 418b48f704http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000W-2000W-P ... 2ed93c4f5e

[Brains_transit]

The bottom bit pulls out and goes on the inside

[StickT]

The gridded bit sticks out from roof then screw together through roof and onto the top musheroom part ? If so happy days, plenty tech screws in the can to do that and plenty sealer to bond it in aswell

[Brains_transit]

One thing I found is during heavy continuous rain water pours inside so the packers I put on the bottom should of been on the outside as the transit roof is a lot thinner than what the vents designed for

[StickT]

So the red bits you would next time put on the outside/ontop of the roof skin ?

If so I will make another plastic spacer ring to put there to help it out. How did the vent perform other than that, we don't stay in it that much so its just an added thing really I don't mind spending the money on the needed bits but its not a full on dayvan so don't want to go mad

[Brains_transit]

Yes the spacers on the outside will lift the vent up a bit and I still get a little condensation but not enough to drip on the floor

[StickT]

That's the one then, will set about making a spacer before drilling the roof out, mark twice and cut once still worries me

Least I can crack on about, any advice on the inverter bit while your being helpful/handy/replying

[Brains_transit]

I've never fitted an inverter or looked into it so can't be helpful there

[dumper]

Hi the first time I used my van I had not got round to lining the roof above the cab where I store the sleeping bags in the morning as iI went put them away the tray on top of the cab was very wet just from overnight and I needed two towels to dry it off just to put them back in if you line the it will stop the damp and make it a lot warmer as for wordingup the inverter mine is a 1600 amp one and all you have two wires that bolt strate on to the battery

[StickT]

Yeah will have to line it i recon, just abit tricky being Medium roof

[sc_BK]

I would swap the mushroom vent for a flettner whirlygig! You sometimes see them new on ebay for a good price, £50 or so.

See what 12v chargers/leads you can get for your devices, as they will use less power than going via the inverter

[dumper]

Hi when I had a mk5 semi high roof van I got a roof lineing out of a crew bus have a look in a van breakers yard if you can find one it well be a easy job to do

[k3vyn]

I have one of the whirly wind vents and never used it as came from my 63 plate work van,
I wonder if that flat plastic put back in its place, stuck with silicon is still on that van!
its in good nick if your local to me you can have it
hopefully the offer of item is ok in this section as thought it was appropriate answer.
pm me
it has to be collected as not posting.
same as this one on Ebay : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281519958718

[k3vyn]

Hi the first time I used my van I had not got round to lining the roof above the cab where I store the sleeping bags in the morning as iI went put them away the tray on top of the cab was very wet just from overnight and I needed two towels to dry it off just to put them back in if you line the it will stop the damp and make it a lot warmer as for wordingup the inverter mine is a 1600 amp one and all you have two wires that bolt strate on to the battery

With my roof lining over cab I drilled several holes approximately 10mm to fit the tube of a expansion foam in and squirted in every 10 inches or so to completely cover the area above lining.
Then the original lining was covered with my new fabric lining brought from Ebay.
To me this was going to give full thermal protection, as did not want any metal parts exposed to hot air rising hitting cold metal and all that sort of stuff to create condensation ect.
I always leave 2 of them cheap Humidifiers in van, and always leave window down half inch or so.

[StickT]

Phone charger and laptops can be run on 12v but the chargers for the cordless gear will need an inverter, will have 2 good leisure batteries so should be cushty, will charge before i go to minimise the charging needed.

The van condenses up rather quickly as it it as the top half of van is bare metal, need to sort it out before lining it and carpeting it out to save it getting soaken Been using google and the net in general to get idea's and also dare it say it, the veedub camper mags while walking around Asda