[blodn]

Hi everybody!

I picked up my 2015 Transit van a little over a year ago, put a bed in, and have put more than 60,000 miles on it traveling to the US national parks with my rescue herd (two cats and a bird).

The van came with the large alternator and extra heavy-duty battery and the four toggles. What should I use the toggles for? They turn on so easily that I don't want to put anything on them that would burn out the battery overnight (though I doubt that would happen) or anything outside, like an awning (nightmare of awning opening at 65 mph). So, what to do?

Deb

 

[ronnielynnholley]

Hey Deb, how do you stay cool on hot days and hot nights?

 

[TomB985]

Hi Deb!

The upfitter switches should only have power when the ignition is on to avoid draining the battery.

 

[blodn]

Thanks, y'all!

I had an A/C installed for when it's just toooo hot to boondock, and I have a MaxxFan. Next year, I'm having it redone by a professional so I'll have a propane heater and fresh water. I figure I'll go south in the winter and north in the summer, so I won't have to use any power except what's generated by the 300W solar and my four 6-volt house batteries.

TomB, I still have that nightmare of the awning unfurling on I-95 I don't have an awning, yet, so I think I'll switch it another way, should I buy one. Better yet, a manual one.

But I still don't know what to use those switches for.

Deb

 

[ronnielynnholley]

Been thinking about an AC but reading too heavy and too loud...what system do you have and how does it work for you...thanks!

 

[orton]

Consider a 4 legged canopy sold by sporting goods stores instead of an awning. Somehow attach two of the legs to the van for stability.

Another thing to consider is to put a hole in the van floor so cooler air from under the van can flow up and out the Maxxair.

 

[blodn]

I have a Coleman that IS too loud, but not too heavy. I use it only when docked, and only when it's just too hot to live in the van.

When I have the van professionally redone in January, I'm going to have two windows put in for ventilation and light, so I don't think I'll need the floor hole. I find the Maxxair too loud, too, but there is a little breeze when it's open, at least.

 

[alarmist]

Dunno about the original question. I figure I'll make use of mine right after I figure out what Samsung TecTiles are good for.

 

[RandomJoe]

I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with them either. I realize now the vast majority of my planned loads will be powered from my house bank, not the vehicle.

But, some possibilities...

A number of people have added driving lights, or light bars, for better illumination on dark roads (or off-road).

I haven't quite decided if/how I'm going to connect the house bank to the vehicle. If I get something like the CTek DC-DC charger I'll use one of the upfitter switches to switch it on/off. (I don't necessarily want my house bank fully topped up every time I start the vehicle.)

If I connect my 1500W inverter to the vehicle side it'll be powered by the CCP connections (higher amperage) but I could control the inverter remotely with one of the upfitter switches.

I may find it useful to switch some other house load on/off while sitting in the driver's seat. Perhaps being able to turn on the interior lights while driving along. I've thought about adding some exterior lights for "patio lights" or such, I'd normally want to run them off the house bank but could find them useful if I could turn them on while driving - perhaps better lighting to the rear when backing down a boat ramp at night, or lights to the sides for seeing something off the road.

The last few are using the upfitter switches merely as control switches, a bit of overkill since they're 20A relays, but hey...

 

[Byron the Painter]

Four of them, huh? Hmmm....

1. Machine guns that pop out of the front fenders
2. Roof mounted rocket launcher for the big stuff
3. Passenger ejector seat
4. Oil squirt gun on rear bumper

 

[blodn]

Great suggestions, Byron, but my stealthy van won't be very stealthy, any more. Maybe with all that fire power, I wouldn't need to be stealthy...

And RJoe - the patio/rear lights would be a good use. I might just do that. Thanks!

 

[Tourneo]

Search around in here, pretty sure I saw an interesting possibility in this forum.

I don't think I'll need the floor hole.

Somebody discovered what is essentially a big "floor hole" factory made & covered with an EZ to remove plastic plug. It opens from below, under the rear corner & connects to the inside corner framing.

The write up I remember showed the inventor enclosed the opening with screen, added flexible (drier) duct inside framing & an inline fan, in order to blow fresh air out through framing above rear doors. If I'm not mistaken they did both sides.

Sounded like a very interesting idea. However don't recall any follow up to confirm the idea's long term practicality.

 

[blodn]

During the tear down, I'll have them look for the hole. That's about where I'll put the new composting toilet, so it would be a good use of an existing hole.