Episoder
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It's tempting to fly through the steps of cutting and assembling materials for that new bed frame or any other build project. This talk is about the how and why of protecting yourself while building.
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๐ Campervan Storage Ideas and Cleaning Tips
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It's easy to let dirt get out of control in the campervan.
I'll help you make it easy to maintain a clean and tidy living space while out on the road.
Episode Transcript
How do I keep my camper van clean?
I find it a constant struggle to keep loose dirt under control in the van, especially my current mini camper. In some ways that's an advantage.
The bigger the van, the easier it is to lose track of messes.
But it's so easy to allow some dirt to accumulate on the floor, and then pretty soon it's in the bedding and then it winds up in cooking gear or wherever
And so try to be constantly vigilant and at war against little piles of dirt here and there, wherever they may come from.
Typically, it's shoes. It could also be something like mountain bike wheels or beach gear, or whatever your sport isโฆ hiking shoes, hiking boots whatever. I mean, it's so easy to track dirt in.
I have a, a little stunt kite I carry around and that thing will sometimes be half full of sand when I bring it in.
Camper Van Cleaning Super Powers
My superpower tools for keeping dirt under control are
โข Whisk broom
โข Small dust pan
โข Handheld 12 volt vacuum cleaner
I keep a whisk broom and dust pan behind the seat pocket in my van. That means it's always within reach. So, that's nice.
And when I see, oh geez, I tracked something in, I can real quick grab the broom and either just whisk it outside or it has a dust pan with it.
And then of course the vacuum cleaner is just awesome. It's so great. When I see some dirt or even if I don't see it, I'll run the 12 volt rechargeable vacuum cleaner over the floor real quick every once in a while.
You can even run it over your dashboard, door panels and pockets and center consoleโฆ Through your drawer of cooking gear or whateverโฆ any storage box anywhere, you can run that vacuum cleaner through there and reduce dust and dirt very quickly.
But if that's not charged up, I'll grab the whisk broom or if it's just a small mess.
You can head over to Vansage.com and just use the search function to search for โvacuumโ and you'll see some of our recommended products for that.
And I'll put the, a link in show notes to camper van storage ideas, an article we wrote with lots of cool cleaning tips as well.
The Number One cause of dirt in your Camper Van
What else? Shoes. This is the next kind of main point here with regard to loose dirt management: How to deal with shoes.
I actually try not to wear shoes in the van at all, and definitely not in the living area. And I'll wear sandals or slippers up front during a long drive.
You know, shoes nasty. No matter how clean they look, they're down on the ground all the time when you're walking around and they're picking up gawd knows what.
And so I'm really diligent about what I do with my shoes when I come in the van.
I try to take them off and then I put them in some kind of a sealed container. And by sealed I just mean, with a lid or in a plastic bag.
And I actually store all my shoes in a plastic bin. That way they're not banging around on the floor and having dirt knocked off of...
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โ Laveo Dry Flush Toilet Pricing and Product Details
Laveo Dry-Flush Toilet owner Doug Rice interview
What we talked about in this episode:
Background of Doug Rice in the printing industryDoug's acquisition of the Dry Flush Toilet companyThe creation and manufacture of the Dry Flush ToiletDry Flush Toilet diversity and use in a multitude of scenarios and environmentsโ Be READY: FREE Checklist for Campervan Essentials Packing & Outfitting
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Transcript for Episode #139 of The Campervan Podcast. Interview with Doug Rice of Laveo Dry-Flush Portable Toilets
After a successful career as a groundbreaking entrepreneur in the printing industry, Doug Rice bought a portable toilet company called Laveo Dry Flush, where he continues to exercise his generous, creative approach to business growth.
Please enjoy this candid discussion and glimpse into the methods and experience of a true industry leader and innovator.
James Petersen (author, interviewer): So, Doug Rice! Can we start at the start? You were in the printing business?
Doug Rice, owner of the Laveo Dry-Flush Toilet Company: Yes. In 1979, I graduated from college, went to go to work for my father's packaging company, and he did not have an opening for me and he said, why don't you go start your own company.
Labels like for cupcakes, labels for soup, labels in the grocery stores, shipping labels...
So I basically did that and he thought in one year I'd be broke and I'd come back to him and he'd have an opening.
Well, the interesting thing about the label industry, there's about six label companies on every corner in every city. So I did not realize the competition was so fierce. Very early on, I decided to change the model.
Back then in 1979, 1980, delivery was three weeks minimum. I decided to be five days or less all the time. And everyone thought it would fail. I couldn't maintain that level of service, but I realized I had no plan B, I just couldn't compete with all these people, and not manufacturing labels for the first five years made even more difficult.
So, For 38 years, we ran five days or less, and grew the company exponentially with a plant in Connecticut, plant in North Carolina, shipping cross country.
I traveled all over the country picking up accounts because the onset of club stores made the demand for hurry up and make me some brownies for say, Sam's Club.
The suppliers had a tough time getting labels in time and we always came through including putting a person on an airplane to send 'em across the country with labels just to get them through on time.
We did whatever it took, and it paid off large dividends.
James: Wow, interesting. Briefly, can you give, give us an idea of, of how you overcame that?
Sounds like a longstanding framework that had been place for a long time. There must have been a reason for that. And so how did you kind of beat that problem?
Doug Rice: It's very good analogy, going to the doctor. You're never the only one in the waiting room.
Because doctors like to stack up a waiting room because they don't wanna miss any billing minutes. So conversely, on our label printing operations, no one wants their printing presses to go idle. So they stack up jobs three,...
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Parker Witmore of Moonshot Modules InterviewWhat we talked about in this episode: Parker's background building food trucks and vans, his education and moreThe CUULE mobile kitchen unitThe history of chuck boxes and mobile kitchen unitsHow CUULE works with a multitude of vehicle typesWater supply, cooktops and other mobile gearSeeking funding for Moonshot ModulesEntrepreneurshipDometic GO Hydration portable water supply Moonshot Modules Home Page๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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Continued: Designing products to be reproduced on a CNC machineProduction factors in building custom campervans at Humble Road VansThe future of campevan valuesIs there a vanlife and RV life bubble? Covid and the Vanlife bubbleFuture plans for Humble Road Vans๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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Humble Road Youtube channel and custom vans, George Mauro Interview
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Humble Road Production Campervan ProjectRam Promaster City as platform for solo campervan travelersFord Transit Connect as Campervan build platformHumble Road Vans custom (secret) Campervan air conditioner projectCampervan Air ConditionersXantrext and Victron invertors Designing products to be reproduced on a CNC machine๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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โ Be READY: FREE Checklist for Campervan Essentials Packing & Outfitting
Humble Road Youtube channel and custom vans, George Mauro Interview
โถ๏ธ The HUMBLE ROAD YouTube ChannelWhat we talked about in this episode:
Continued: Building with 80/20 vs woodHow to edit an 80/20 Estruded Aluminum cabinet buildLock nuts and threadlockerThe Humble Road process for keeping cabinets and other build features tight and stable, long termHumble Road Youtube channel as marketing for Humble Road Custom VansHow to sell complex, high end products using YoutubeHumble Road Production Campervan Project๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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โถ๏ธ The HUMBLE ROAD YouTube Channel
Humble Road Youtube channel and custom vans, George Mauro InterviewWhat we talked about in this episode:
Georges background and experience re learning electrical
Campervan toilet design and function
What size van should a newbie get?
What to expect when transitioning from a home to a van or other RV
Building with 80/20 vs wood๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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โถ๏ธ The HUMBLE ROAD YouTube Channel
Humble Road Youtube channel and custom vans, George Mauro InterviewWhat we talked about in this episode:
The near and distant future of electric vans and battery technologyHumble Road Build Philososhy re RVIA and Yachting Counsel StandardsElectrical standards and build quality at Humble Road VansLithionix Victron and Xantrex power systems for campervansWiring solar in series vs parallel for Lithium batteriesGeorges background re learning electrical๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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โถ๏ธ The HUMBLE ROAD YouTube Channel
Humble Road Youtube channel and custom vans, George Mauro InterviewWhat we talked about in this episode:
Requirements for being a Humble Road Custom Van ClientWhy Humble Road Vans don't include propane (LP Gas) for heat or other appliancesThe current and future state of batteries for campervansHumble Road electrical system philosophy for integrity and safety The Humble Road Vans Planning and Build Philosophy for long term client satisfaction๐ Take a Vanlife TEST DRIVE! HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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โถ๏ธ The HUMBLE ROAD YouTube Channel
Humble Road Youtube channel and custom vans, George Mauro InterviewWhat we talked about in this episode:
George's beginnings in building and improving RV's and CampervansHis career in the still photography and film industriesCAD. Cardboard Assisted Design: How to pre-plan your campervan layout for perfect end resultsThe Humble Road Vans Planning and Build Philosophy for long term client satisfaction๐ HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVAN
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๐ HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVANDo camper vans hold their value?
Are Camper vans worth the money?
Are campervans a good investment?
We discuss Campervan depreciation, value and investment. -
๐ Be READY: FREE Checklist for Campervan Essentials Packing & Outfitting
๐ HOW TO RENT a CAMPERVANDo camper vans hold their value?
Are Camper vans worth the money?
Are campervans a good investment?
We discuss Campervan depreciation, value and investment. -
๐ Be Ready: FREE Checklist for Campervan Essentials Packing & Outfitting
Do camper vans hold their value?
Are Camper vans worth the money?
Are campervans a good investment?
We discuss Campervan depreciation, value and investment.
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๐ Article: Campervan Air Conditioners: Staying Cool for Vanlife
๐ Podcast Episode: Are there any portable air conditioners that donโt need to be vented?Hey, thanks for tuning in to the camper van podcast. Once again, I'm glad you're listening. Another question about air conditioning. Can you use a portable air conditioner in a camper van?
So can you use a portable air conditioner and camper van? You, you absolutely can. There are advantages and disadvantages.
The biggest advantage is that there's no installation. You simply go buy a 110 or 240 volt portable air conditioner, the freestanding kind that you see in people's homes and offices and shops, et cetera.
And you stand it up in the van, you plug it in, you run the vent hose that comes with your freestanding, portable air conditioner out through a window or a hole cut in the side of the van. And now you're cooling down at 5,000 BTU's or 7,500 or 10,000 BTUs, depending on how powerful your portable AC unit is.
Another advantage of using a portable air conditioner in a camper van or RV is they're reasonably priced.
There are also several disadvantages. The number one disadvantage is the power consumption. They're not built to be as efficient as the RV , camper and campervan specific AC units that are available such as the ones that Mount to your roof, or the Marine style that mount in cabinets and are vented through the hull or side of your van.
What I mean by that is, the fans and the motors in the RV and Camper van specific air conditioning systems are balanced, lighter weight, they tend to be better insulated and they're designed to withstand the vibration of a motor vehicle such as an RV or Campervan.
RV air conditioners are built to be more quiet and run more efficiently because the manufacturers know that you have less power at your disposal because oftentimes if you're running off battery and solar,
Also, you need the thing to be quiet because it's right above your head in the camper or RV when you're sleeping. So there's another disadvantage of DC powered portable air conditioners. they're going to be louder.
Another disadvantage aside from the power consumption and the noise is that they take up more space. They stand in the middle of the room and, and I don't know about you, but I don't have room for one of those.
That's why so often air conditioning systems are mounted to the roof of campervans because they need to be up and out of the way.
That also solves the venting issue because it's not even in the van. It's outside of the van. So the venting takes care of itself with a camper van air conditioner.
Another issue with regard to portable air conditioners is that they are not durable since they're made for homes, they aren't made to be joggled around In the rolling earthquake that is the back of your camper van.
So aside from the fact that they take up a ton of space, the thing's going to fall apart over time or quickly.
Now, granted, you could set it up on the mattress every time you're driving and make sure that it...
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๐ Article: Campervan Air Conditioners: Staying Cool for VanlifeAir conditioners are not magic.
Well, it's that time of year again. No, I don't mean Christmas. I mean, when our camper van air conditioner articles and questions and traffic goes crazy, many more people are much hotter than they normally would be.
So, yeah, I thought I'd answer a couple of common questions. And specifically this one, are there any portable air conditioners that don't need to be vented?
The answer to that question is no. What do I mean by that? Why am I so cursory? Why am I cutting to the chase like that? The answer is no. Well, because when a compressor style air conditioner goes through its compression process and all the other stuff that it does to make warm air cold, it generates heat and that heated air has to go somewhere doesn't it?
The idea that you can plop an air conditioner in the middle of a van or a room without having a vent going outside... What that would mean is that the hot air would just be going back into the room, canceling out the cold air that's being generated at the cost of a lot of power usage.
Therefore, I completely disagree with these small portable compressor units, and I won't name any names other than to say that we don't promote them on Vansage.com.
We're not interested in reviewing them or talking about them. We could make a lot of money from that if we did, because so many people are so excited about a little portable air conditioning unit that you just set on the picnic table and magically it cools down the entire park.
I'm being a little bit glib about that, but. Is that how the marketing is for some of these portable, unvented units where it shows an air conditioner sitting on a table outside.
That's madness. There's no way that can have any impact on you personally, maybe if it's pointed right at your face. And that's what I've heard actually, is that the very low BTU compressor style air conditioners really do need to be within a few inches of one single person for them to work at all.
But I would argue that again, the heat that's generated from producing that small amount of cold air is making the entire van warmer at the same time. Your air conditioner needs to be vented outside so that the hot air doesn't get recirculated back in the room.
Again, they take up so much energy. They require so much power to do their job, that it pays to do air conditioning properly. It really does to an air conditioner that's built for your particular camper van or RV, and make sure that it's set up right with proper venting or it's just mounted on the roof.
Now, there are some really cool Marine style air conditioning units that are mounted inside. Up against the hall of the boat or the outside wall of the van or the floor of the van. And they go in a cabinet and they are vented directly out.
And then you can point the cool air wherever you want, including through what would normally be your heating ducts.
They're expensive for a 5,000 BTU plus unit to really do its job and cool down a very hot van. And oftentimes they are also 240V.
They are kind of pricey, but at some point we plan to review some of those. And kind of create more access because they're a great solution for camper vans. If you have the skill and know how to install them and to maintain them, and you want really high quality air conditioning that isn't...
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