Original Post

Tristan Higbee · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,970 May 22, 2014 · Pocatello, ID Looks great. Thanks for sharing.



I didn't know what a Yeti was, so I looked it up. For everyone else as ignorant as me, it's apparently a high quality cooler.

Ben Dueweke · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 20 May 22, 2014 · Lander, WY Hey,

Funny enough I have almost the exact same van. It's a 99 Astro that is white with those same hubcaps. It has windows in the back though.



Anyways, where do you live with this van? I noticed you don't have any insulation. I'm asking because I want to tear out the interior because it's ugly but I'm worried It won't be suitable to colorado winters.

thecornyman · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140 May 23, 2014 · Oakland, CA Tristan Higbee wrote: Looks great. Thanks for sharing. I didn't know what a Yeti was, so I looked it up. For everyone else as ignorant as me, it's apparently a high quality cooler. Thanks man, also cool thing about the Yeti is it can handle dry ice. Basically a freezer. Thanks man, also cool thing about the Yeti is it can handle dry ice. Basically a freezer.

thecornyman · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140 May 23, 2014 · Oakland, CA RocknRone wrote: That is one of the coolest vans I've ever seen. total cost? Total Cost Estimate



Van 5000

Solar 400

Bed and Kitchen Materials 500

Swivel 350

Yeti 350

Bike Rack 200

Cargo Top Carrier 250



Total 7050



Thanks RocknRone! Total Cost EstimateVan 5000Solar 400Bed and Kitchen Materials 500Swivel 350Yeti 350Bike Rack 200Cargo Top Carrier 250Total 7050Thanks RocknRone!

thecornyman · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140 May 23, 2014 · Oakland, CA Ben Dueweke wrote: Hey, Funny enough I have almost the exact same van. It's a 99 Astro that is white with those same hubcaps. It has windows in the back though. Anyways, where do you live with this van? I noticed you don't have any insulation. I'm asking because I want to tear out the interior because it's ugly but I'm worried It won't be suitable to colorado winters. I did't do any insulation because of space. My original build had a bed that converted into a queen for me and my ex. I hit my head on the ceiling every night. Maximizing every inch was my priority. Especially for bed height. Measure the tallest thing that needs to fit under so you have head room. As for warmth, ya it gets cold. I have down booties, down comforter and a 15 deg bag. I was plenty warm in Yosemite for the winter this year with snow. If I had a bigger van, I'd insulate everything. One thing that I still might do next winter is put something on the floor so my feet stay warmer.



Astro for life! I did't do any insulation because of space. My original build had a bed that converted into a queen for me and my ex. I hit my head on the ceiling every night. Maximizing every inch was my priority. Especially for bed height. Measure the tallest thing that needs to fit under so you have head room. As for warmth, ya it gets cold. I have down booties, down comforter and a 15 deg bag. I was plenty warm in Yosemite for the winter this year with snow. If I had a bigger van, I'd insulate everything. One thing that I still might do next winter is put something on the floor so my feet stay warmer.Astro for life!

caughtinside · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 1,445 May 23, 2014 · Oakland CA Nice rig and thanks for the price breakdown. I had no idea you could get a solar system on a van for that little.

thecornyman · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140 May 24, 2014 · Oakland, CA caughtinside wrote: Nice rig and thanks for the price breakdown. I had no idea you could get a solar system on a van for that little. Ya man, every day I'm pretty stoked on how much free power I have. I'll never not have one now. Ya man, every day I'm pretty stoked on how much free power I have. I'll never not have one now.

Royal · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 405 May 24, 2014 · Santa Rosa, CA way to rig an awesome set up at a impressively low cost!

Willie Wilson · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 125 May 24, 2014 · America How's your experience with the yeti cooler been? Sounds like you love it in your op? Do you buy blocks of ice for it, if you do how long does a block last?

thecornyman · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140 May 27, 2014 · Oakland, CA Willie Wilson wrote: How's your experience with the yeti cooler been? Sounds like you love it in your op? Do you buy blocks of ice for it, if you do how long does a block last? Block ice is what I always look for. If it's cold out a block will last me about 10 to 12 days and hot about 6 or 7. If I really have something I want to stay cold I'll wrap the cooler in a sleeping bag. Thats a huge help. Block ice is what I always look for. If it's cold out a block will last me about 10 to 12 days and hot about 6 or 7. If I really have something I want to stay cold I'll wrap the cooler in a sleeping bag. Thats a huge help.

Doug Wolfe · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 120 May 29, 2014 · NJ By Tristan Higbee

May 22, 2014

From Thailand



Looks great. Thanks for sharing.



I didn't know what a Yeti was, so I looked it up. For everyone else as ignorant as me, it's apparently a high quality cooler.



It's probably the next best thing closest to having a refrigerator but it's big $$$$$ I bought one used and it still broke the bank. Worth every penny though.

Here's a tip for ice blocks Tupperware in a chest freezer

Peter nichols · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 95 May 29, 2014 · Unknown Hometown i'm looking into getting an old astro and turning it into a living space...thoughts on all wheel drive?



nice set up.

Ian Stewart · Joined May 2010 · Points: 155 May 29, 2014 · Unknown Hometown Nice work!



I've heard the Yeti's are pretty badass, but if you ever get sick of ice and have some coin lying around you could try out an ARB fridge: store.arbusa.com/Fridges-C1…



I'm currently working on a camper van myself and that's the direction I took. Using a similar 100W panel + 65AH deep cycle battery + battery isolator to charge the spare battery with the alternator, the math tells me I *should* be able to run the fridge (50qt) without external power for quite a while. We'll see if that's actually the case when I'm done though...



BTW, battery isolators are pretty cheap (<$30) and easy to install. Throwing one in might be enough to ensure that you never end up with a fully dead house battery. I was able to find space in my engine bay for my isolator so the van internals weren't affected at all.

Ryan N · Joined May 2009 · Points: 195 May 29, 2014 · Bellingham, WA Nice rig. What are you using your inverter for primarily? I'm in the market and afraid to go with a cheap in price one as I fear it affects the quality. Do you have it hooked to a switch or an ignition switch?

thecornyman · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140 Jun 12, 2014 · Oakland, CA Peter nichols wrote: i'm looking into getting an old astro and turning it into a living space...thoughts on all wheel drive? nice set up. Hey Peter, the AWD is not a true AWD. You really only have 2 wheels driving at any time. The most hard core roads I've been on were some pretty wash boarded roads near the Red in KY and it did awesome. Hey Peter, the AWD is not a true AWD. You really only have 2 wheels driving at any time. The most hard core roads I've been on were some pretty wash boarded roads near the Red in KY and it did awesome.