My Cube Van Box Conversion

RV Living Forum More Alternative Living Tiny Houses My Cube Van Box Conversion

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #1312
    Charles Lakins
    Participant

    I converted an old box from a cube van, took several months to slowly do the build using various recycled materials and some new

    Porch & Box

    empty boxEmply Box

    outside tomato gardenOutside Tomato Garden

    kitchen area floor & trimKitchen Area Floor & Trim

    Solar & furnace room (before new batteries and enclosure)Solar & Furnace Room

    Workbench & Entertainment wallWorkbench

    • This topic was modified 9 years ago by Charles Lakins. Reason: Changed to direct image urls
    #1319
    Charles Lakins
    Participant

    My latest addition that I’m working on fixing up…
    Glendette
    works as my workshop and more storage also provides a larger kitchen, clearing more space inside the cube van box

    #1340
    Pippi
    Keymaster

    Hi Charles, I SOOO much want to see the pics in the first post but because there’s a password required on the Dropbox account, they come across as broken and not viewable. Can you remove the password on the folder? The picture in the second post works though! Maybe you can do the same thing you did with that one on the others?

    What is that grey paint that you got on there? It looks sleek with the white trim. Are there real/regular dual paned windows in the back? I’m guessing you’re going to remove the rust and paint the bumper ans stairs. I think you should paint them bright yellow 😀

    Looks fabulous and I really hope to see the other pics!

    #1452
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    Thanks Pippi, here’s a repost my login this time didnt allow edit
    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k0s7wngmlitupn0/AAC7JCIUX0UnSJ1bbm8Nny4va?dl=0

    Spring

    Empty Box

    Outside tomato garden

    Kitchen area floor & trim

    Solar - Furnace room

    Workbench & entertainment

    The paint Is a high gloss rust paint, window is a dual panes, I repainted the brown bumper and stairs black

    new paint & decals

    #1458
    Pippi
    Keymaster

    Thanks for posting these! I love the red floors and great electrical set up you’ve got going. Looks like a fun project. Any pics of the inside of the trailer? 🙂

    #1464
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    Thanks, yeah I just took these, not the tidiest as it’s more of a workshop and some extra storage over winter as well as my kitchen for cooking breakfast now and then

    Workshop

    kitchen

    dining

    bunks/storage

    #1470
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    Something else,,,, you mentioned in your saltine toffee video about building a solar panel
    I made a jig to assemble my 6×6 cells after pre tabbing them
    I still have to do the soldering of them when I find some 40″x80″ glass to use large enough for 72 cells and buss bars ect

    the board was an old shelf, the pegs are from a candy sucker cut into chunks inserted into drilled holes a tad tight so they stay in without falling out

    Solar cell jig
    jig closeup

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Charles lakins.
    • This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Charles lakins.
    • This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Pippi.
    #1484
    Pippi
    Keymaster

    Fun to always see inside other people’s homes/trailers. My first thought was, wow, that’s a lot of wood paneling. Then I looked up and saw that’s exactly what I have just different wood design. Thanks for sharing!

    #1488
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    Yeah not too fond of the design, next summer i plan to do everything in the white vertical style or even paint it, im doing the kitchen in barn board too

    #1499
    Pippi
    Keymaster

    When you say barn board do you mean like old, worn wood? I’d love to re-do mine when I come up with a great paneling or painting option and of course the inspiration.

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Pippi.
    #1501
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    yeah same wood my lower cabinets are like in the red floor pic
    my parents have all the cupboards that way
    similar to this: barn board cupboards

    oh found one of it here…
    kitchen - east wall

    #1519
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    Rather than start a new thread about my solar project, that could be used in a tiny house or rv living with minor changes mostly in mounting panels, I would recommend having someone who can warranty any mounting for damage due to leaks rather than do it yourself, other wise you could use a ground mount method if your in an area where you don’t have to worry about vandals or thieves

    Anyway here’s my list of parts bought from the cheapest sources I could find to keep cost down, great for a diy setup that performs more than enough for my needs

    right now I’m just using 1 x 18v 100watt panel that outputs on average max 8.5A,
    an ebay 30A pwm charge controller, A 12v 3000w 120v Pure sine wave inverter (6000w peak) with bus bar output for hardwiring to panels,
    I have pushed it really well running my camper and everything inside and it doesn’t trip the internal fan to engage yet due to overheating

    I made my own panel box from a blank enclosure at a local supply shop, most items were ebay such as some aluminum din rails for the din rail breakers and surge protector ,added a volt/amp gauge on the door with 3d printed bezels I printed (posted here too http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1002969 )
    various mc4 connector types and pv cable, auto Transfer Switch, & much more stuff I bought that never used in the final configuration, but you find when you dont have it when building something you only have to wait the time for overseas shipping so i bought a variety to work with

    I got a deal from someone updating their coach and bought 4 x 6v DISCOVER EVGC6A-B AGC 222AH@20H / 207AH@20H Batteries for $280CAD they were used but still work well although 4 more would be better for longevity

    all in so far including the used batteries and also another 90pcs x 6″x6″ solar cells, tabbing (approx another 320 watts) when I get around to assembling it, I have under $1500Cad into it, but enough parts to build another controller box

    now for a few pics (they speak for themselves… mostly)

    [img]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/3/9/6/1/0/4/a8292271-129-P9290035.jpg[/img]

    [img]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/3/9/6/1/0/4/a8338567-84-PA150047.JPG[/img]

    [img]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/3/9/6/1/0/4/a8671743-128-P2040025.JPG[/img]

    [img]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/3/9/6/1/0/4/a8671745-65-P2040027.JPG[/img]

    [img]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/3/9/6/1/0/4/a8671744-32-P2040026.JPG[/img]

    theres still a few things to finish the way want them, some pics are old now and have been completed
    Im also considering getting a led streetlight that will work as a yard light from the solar

    on to doing the panel build soon as I find some glass to use
    If anyone has any questions feel free to ask

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by Charles lakins. Reason: typo, probably more yet lol
    #1521
    Charles lakins
    Participant

    not sure what happened there ….you only have so long to fix stuff 🙁
    I’m so used to using the url format like above and type it in rather than buttons

    pic1

    pic2

    pic3

    pic4

    pic5

    pic6
    the red on the batteries is used to prevent oxidation ect

    #1531
    Pippi
    Keymaster

    Beautiful wood! Thanks so much for sharing your solar stuff. I may hit you up when I’ve got more momentum in my own endeavors. Happy trails 😀

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