Jump to content


Photo

Adventuremobile Conversion (Dodge Ram 2500 Van)

campervan conversion Dodge Ram 2500

  • Please log in to reply
20 replies to this topic

#11 Rusty

Rusty

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 929 posts
  • LocationSanta Rosa, Calif

Posted 27 May 2016 - 12:51 AM

Very nice...low key, efficient, thoroughly thought out....

 

400w solar.....very nice

 

did you do the wiring?....wiring says alot about people...neat means quite a bit ;)


Edited by Rusty, 27 May 2016 - 12:52 AM.

  • 0

2003 Ford 250 Superduty Crew.... 7.3L PowerStroke diesel 1970 10" NCO Alaskan Firestone airbags pulling a 18' Silver Streak runabout


#12 Lighthawk

Lighthawk

    Weekend warrior

  • Members
  • 3,318 posts
  • LocationNevada City, CA

Posted 27 May 2016 - 02:11 AM

Excellent documentary write up with well thought out mods.  

Welcome to WTW and looking forward to reports of your travels (TR's).


  • 1

2021 RAM 3500 Crew 4x4, 6.4 hemi/8 speed trans with 4.10 gears, Timber Grove bags, Falken Wildpeak 35" tires.

OEV Aluma 6.75 flatbed, Bundutec Odyssey camper on order for 2024

For this year we're still using our 2008 FWC Hawk with victron DC-DC charger, 130w solar, MPPT controler

with 2000w inverter and external 120v output and 12v solar input with 100w portable solar.   http://lighthawkphoto.com


#13 ski3pin

ski3pin

    Belay On

  • Site Team
  • 15,251 posts
  • LocationSierra Nevada Range

Posted 27 May 2016 - 02:42 AM

Excellent documentary write up with well thought out mods.  

Welcome to WTW and looking forward to reports of your travels (TR's).

 

x2 :)


  • 0

2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II 2013 ATC Bobcat SE "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln  http://ski3pin.blogspot.com/


#14 GroovyDad

GroovyDad

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 765 posts
  • LocationReno, NV

Posted 27 May 2016 - 02:45 AM

Way to make what you have work for you--right on!


  • 0

"I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." —John Muir. http://aimlessroamer.blogspot.com/

 


#15 my_wild_dreams_

my_wild_dreams_

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 98 posts

Posted 27 May 2016 - 03:06 PM

Thank you everyone for the compliments and encouragement. 

 

I do hope to take a lot of pictures and start experimenting with video once I set off full time, and I'll be sharing those somewhere. Not sure exactly where/how yet. 

 

 

 

Very nice...low key, efficient, thoroughly thought out....

 

400w solar.....very nice

 

did you do the wiring?....wiring says alot about people...neat means quite a bit ;)

 

Thanks. Yeah, so far, 400w has probably been twice as much as I've needed. My battery hasn't been depleated any more than about 85%, so it can't take nearly as many amps as the array and CC can provide. I imaging the extra array size will be useful when I'm in shady areas or when I have stretches of very cloudy days in a row and then need to make the most out of whatever sunshine happens. 

 

Yeah I did everything myself. I had never done any kind of electrical work before. It took me a really long time to figure things out well enough to build my system. I still worry occasionally that my crimps may be poor and could cause a problem. I'm hoping that if there are any poor crimps, the cables are oversize enough for it not to be an issue anyways. 

 

 

 

Way to make what you have work for you--right on!

 

Thank you. I'm assuming that you may be referring to using a pretty cheap vehicle and self-building most everything. The van was quite cheap ($3,200). I spent more on the build than I really needed to because in the early stages I was in a hurry, which costs more. Also, I used nice and expensive parts for the electrical system. The total cost for the full van build is somewhere around $15k. That feels like a lot compared to the price of the van itself. But I think I found a pretty good deal on a van to start with.

 

The biggest categories are:

Van, tax, reg, etc: ~$3,700

Tires and rear locker: ~$1,600

Fridge: $500

Electrical System: ~$2,500 ?? Maybe more? not sure on this one

 

I have all the costs documented and categorized, but I don't want to get out my personal computer at work right now. 

 

I could "afford" to spend much more than this, but I prefer to spend about as little as possible while still accomplishing what I want. That's one part of my "web of goals", which are now allowing me to quit my job  :D. I worry that maybe the engine will blow up or I'll have some other major failure. If that happens, I'll probably just pony up the money to replace it, since I have a lot of time and money invested in the rest of the van. 


Edited by my_wild_dreams_, 27 May 2016 - 03:09 PM.

  • 0

 Website/Blog: MyWildDreams.net


#16 Bill D

Bill D

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 981 posts
  • LocationEdmonton, Alberta, Canada

Posted 27 May 2016 - 04:44 PM

 

The van was quite cheap ($3,200).  The total cost for the full van build is somewhere around $15k. That feels like a lot compared to the price of the van itself. But I think I found a pretty good deal on a van to start with.

 

 

The van look pretty solid.  I think you did real well.

What matters more than what you paid for it, is how much you are using it relative to what you paid for it.

You've lived in it for 2 months plus camped out in it a number of times and you are just getting started.  That's what matters.

 

Plenty of people out there with $50,000 + campers + their truck that only have used them on a couple weekend trips and they sit on an RV pad or in storage most of the time.

 

I think this van will serve you very well and you have already practically got your moneys worth.


  • 0

#17 Rusty

Rusty

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 929 posts
  • LocationSanta Rosa, Calif

Posted 29 May 2016 - 01:50 AM

your electrical system is where you want to spend a bit more...and engineering the system to perform in the worst of conditions....very smart.  Marginal system "might" make it...and as far as oversizing the wires....again, good call...that little extra makes the difference....peak performance under less than optimal conditions.....

 

add to that...It's done neatly!!  

 

The van is well within reasonable expenditures.

 

2 months out....alot of people stretch for 2 weeks 


  • 1

2003 Ford 250 Superduty Crew.... 7.3L PowerStroke diesel 1970 10" NCO Alaskan Firestone airbags pulling a 18' Silver Streak runabout


#18 hoyden

hoyden

    Lady Bug

  • Members
  • 1,459 posts
  • LocationCarbondale, IL

Posted 14 July 2016 - 05:08 AM

Nice build!

And you went to my home-area - the beautiful Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois! Yay!


  • 0

https://no-destination.org/ .:.  https://razorgirls.org/

 

2014 Tacoma DCLB + 2015 FWC Fleet

 

As I get braver I get stronger, and as I get stronger I get braver. It’ a good cycle.

#19 Lefty315

Lefty315

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 9 posts

Posted 06 August 2016 - 06:38 PM

Nicely done! Enjoy your travels, life is short so go explore and have no regrets...
  • 0

#20 Doc Foster

Doc Foster

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 37 posts

Posted 23 August 2016 - 12:00 AM

Nicely done!


  • 0





Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: campervan, conversion, Dodge, Ram, 2500

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users