Currently in the process of making a functional lay-out within the kitchen unit with shelves. The idea is to use foldable plastic crate’s on a shelf. While working on it I found out that my design wasn’t practical – and actually stupid – to do so. Hahahaha, and this is not the first time! But I love it, theory and practice so different, and……… I am sure that I will do it over after my first long trip. And that’s okay with me, experiencing a learning curve.
This week there will be two sleep-outs in areas around the Dutch national parcs, and see how things work out for me. I guess ‘adaptation’ is the keyword here? Essential part of going on an adventures trip.
One decision I have made – for saving space – is that I will directly get rid of foul water, on the spot. Washing hands can be easily done outside, for me a jerrycan is a rather nice place to fill with other stuff. Also the microwave suddenly become a question mark, due to a neighbor who is an experienced and advanced player in that field. Again, weight, space and the time you use it, was his motivation not to build it in. Guess I am addicted to some luxury here?
Preparing for my first trip. How to organize things, pffffffffffffffffffffffff.
Yeah, looking forward for the many hours I will sit inside the Berlingo and contemplates about its development. Strange, but looking forward to those ‘awareness bubbles”. Creating a design that works for me (alone). It’s like painting a (unique) piece of art
Perspex plate with ventilation grill was connected to each other, with only some contact adhesive. But it seems solid, till I closed the door – a bit to rough. –One side of the connection fell apart. Satisfied about the idea/ concept, I decided to upgrade it. Now the connection will be made with 9 nuts & bolts , and it feels much more solid now. Also used the adhesive to close the gaps (as a kit) more properly. Next trip we will see the result. Oh yes, I was so enthusiast to mount it before my long ride, that wasn’t a good idea because of the noise. Another lesson, mount it on the spot, nor during driving.
Window covers: Believe it or not, but it was the first thing I made, once I received the car. Didn’t do any research and by incident I found the material and started to work as an idiot. Weeks later I noticed all the variations you can buy and make yourself. But okay, I used them during my First night out, and it worked out well, I must convince. The question is, how long will it take before breaking because it is rather vulnerable material. Right now thinking of using an contact adhesive and place them on top of a yoga mat? We will see, I have 15 days before leaving for the big trip.
Next week buying a power-station for the batteries of my car, you'll never know. Also threads are advising to buy one, in case......... I know, still many details to cover. Further investigation is going on to buy a tailgate tent, but there are some doubts. Please feel free to advise me. In a way I prefer to stay Stealth, but the practical & functional aspect is important too.
Counting down, one week before heading towards Spain. Last days working on; security of the solar panels on top of the imperial (that they can’t be stolen). (and the entrance of cables into the car). Connecting a Switch Relay so that the central batteries can’t be emptied by Coolbox (when the motor is off).
During hiking and bird-watching, when the car stands still (see photo’s), the solar panels are on top of the car, charging the powerhouse with energy. When driving I will place them on top of my mattresses. While hiking they need to be locked to the imperial, and can’t be stolen. We succeeded in that, but that doesn't mean that it works optimal. After my first long journey, I will evaluate and see what needs to be changed. A new (big) solar-panel, fixed in top of the car? No idea, I am open to what experiences tell me and upgrade the system again. This means for the whole interior. It needs to be functional and I am willing to invest in that. I created this starting point and will constantly adapt, a kind of sport for me (and a way of killing time nicely J
Decided to invest in a complete new central battery, and another power-bank with start-cables. Might be a bit of ‘overkill’ but it feels nice to be prepared optimal).
It might take sometime to reply again, but I will explain the goods and the bads of my ‘starting model’, with you all. Looking forward to all these experiences, and the process around it. Thank you for reading this thread and always feel free to exchange. Respect!
The following 1 user says Thank You to EM58 for this post:1 user says Thank You to EM58 for this post • Drummond
Back from my very first trip to Spain, with the mini camper, a 5000+ km journey. Like to share the learning curve with you all. The pro’s and cons of the interior, for example. This split in the five most valuable materials, and the five biggest mistakes. Not a problem at all because I have a nice job in front of me to change it to version 2.0
First the top material list:
Urine bottle, 2. Flexible water container, 3. Carrier straps, 4. Portable folding stool, 5). Clothespins (big ones). Further 6). Mobile solar panel(s)- (5 meter cables, although I prefer 10 meter cables because my Berlingo can stand even more easily in a shadow zone.
Mistakes:
1). My coolbox was too big for my little car, although the Volume was correct for being off grid for awhile. 2). I didn’t build in my Anker powerhouse underneath somewhere, and so it make me lesser mobile in the car. 3). Biggest mistake was that I fixed 2 solar panels – while driving – on my bed, and fixed them with carrier straps. More than often I wanted to have a small power-nap but first have to emptied the bed (too much work). 4). Electrical wiring should be better, more fixed cable. I underestimated that. 5). Over capacity on clothes, and other equipment I never used. Crazy when I judged it now, right now.
Looking forward to adapt, most of the material and hopefully one day I will improve my organizing skills because that's a real big disaster. But hey, I enjoy every minute of being out in nature and feel the freedom of acting.
It is my intent to launch some of these changes on this platform, in the next months. And who knows? I will keep on adapting till it works for me personal, how unlogic it might get for the outside world, as long as it works for me. Take care and enjoy life.
After a second trip to France, I have now a bit more time to make some adaptations. It became clear that the position of the powerhouse & [huge] Mobicool(box) must be out of my way, whatever it costs. For the of storage place(s), I need to find an alternative solution. I do not think this will be hard because I am amazed about the crazy amount of non usable stuff I took with me during these two trips, wowwwww.
To be clear, I was Lucky, I mean very Lucky. Measuring the height of the bed was tough for me, so (in advance) I thought that lifting the bed was the way to solve the positioning of the powerhouse. But, I had 3 mm left when we put it on top of it. Yeahhh, one problem solved, although I still need to secure it from slipping backwards.
If you watch the photo you see that I cleared the kitchen, and made a new shelf's. One that could carry the coolbox, and yes, it just fits perfectly. With a double wooden shelf I can pull it on top of the matrasses. The idea was that I hardly use the coolbox, mostly three times a day, so this solution was the most economically. I even can use the kitchen worktop to put a crate on with food, and lock it with carrier straps? We’ll see.
And than – for me – the hardest job will be choosing and organizing the material I will take with me on (long) trips.
Looking back, travelling with my little Berlingo is truly a joy. Bought the car for 10.000 euro, revised the complete motor, renewed many things and traveled 8200 km in 4 weeks. I used 0,5 liter of oil (in the First 2500 km, revised motor) and the last 5700 km not a drop. The cruise control is really my big friend, but the Gazprom (to make lovely coffee) surely too. Twitching the car in details, was always the plan, to personalize it. Don’t care starting again from the scratch. Hey, need to do something during pension. And, “no”, not interested (yet) in a bigger ‘van’. I love my Berlingo. With the summer ahead, enjoy your rides. Stay healthy.
Does anybody have some experience of making a kind of roof terrace on top of his imperial? It might sound an crazy idea, but I see some benefits in filling the (enormous) space between the metal bars.
I am in the stage of thinking about material; wood or 'recycled plastic' material with a space of 1.5 cm between it. Besides the aesthetic aspect it can be very functional. During my last two trips, I feel very pleased that I can fix the solar panels on top, but also can place them in front of my Berlingo (wile the car stands lovely in the shadow. In Extremadura [Spain]the temperature was 33+ degrees. A killer when you are in the surrounding of it.
I was thrilled with the mobile solar panels. With the extra roof terrace on top of the imperial, it will be easily to fix them, while driving slowly [50-70 km/h].
I know, it is a lot of work, but hey.....I am a pensionado.
I forget to mention one of my biggest travel frustrations. Be clear, I am not a technician and surely not on electronics. Most of my electric devices have cigarette lighter connections, I have four of them in my car (but only 1 connector on my dashboard).
Maybe its my bad experiences, but the quality of connecting is sooooooo bad, especially driving in bad roads. The powerhouse has a real good connector, but the rest, pffffff. I even bought amdevice with 2 extra inputs………all s**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry for my language).
With a technician we are now playing with Anderson connectors to create a kind of operating panel with only 100 % SOLID connections. Also the wiring will be ‘heavy metal’, 50 A.
So, anybody experiences with other solutions,….or the Anderson connectors?
Have done Anderson connectors, not had a problem.
Have a look when apart, if the connecters are sticking out in the hole (off the back wall) so once connected together they touch, only time had that problem, was on ones that was fitted 5 years, but disconnected when not in use. But found out after a few days, if not touching right they are a bit temperamental.
But normally soldered or crimped right, no problems.
The work on the imperial, took much extra time. But I am pleased with the direction we are heading too. Although it needs a bit more fine-tuning. Then I am going to test it during heavy wind, and highway speed pressure.
The solarpanel is really tight connected to the wooden en metal parts of the ‘imperial’. The tilting arm (32 cm of height) feels solid. Just as the way we made the horizontal locking system. The pictures supports the idea behind it. Most of the ideas were born while walking through the Hornbach shops.
Feel free to ask questions, and again it still needed to be tested in the field. Most of the material are made from stainless steel (the hinge is approx. 134 cm long).
On next weeks agenda will be; painting and hopefully testing it.
Sof ar, the whole imperial project was fun, and I learned a lot from it. Then it is time to make a ‘poor man’s ’awning’. A rather original idea, I must say, which will cost me mostly 92 euro. Yeah, looking forward to that………..
By the way, Hornbach is really happy with me. Three times a week you will find me there, buying all kind of small (and cheap) things. And guess what? I love it, wandering around and getting all kind of new ideas.
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Three times a week you will find me there, buying all kind of small (and cheap) things. And guess what? I love it, wandering around and getting all kind of new ideas.
