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Re the c-channel it's quite cheap decathlon used to do a large tarp you can sow the c-channel onto and it makes a big awning.
Sadly I think the journey down will be more than picking up a second hand mattress. Thanks for the offer though.
@trail_rat - agreed that cheap can work, but not always. He will be cooking outdoors or in the awning.
Think of ways to keep cool. We’re currently in South of France and it’s forecast to be 36 degrees all of next week!
We did a DIY foam bed for our van, got a big slab and cut into two so it converts to a bench seat. Easy job, works really well. Wife made the covers, she's good at stitching things. Full (almost) width double bed right across the van when sleeping, on a DIY telescoping bed frame.
Think of ways to keep cool.
Yep, can't stress this enough. Unless you're parked up in the shade, vans really soak up heat from the sun in the day and release it all night, even sleeping with the side door open can be really hot and uncomfortable, getting as much breeze through as possible is absolutely key.
I've suggested these before, but I'll do it again, the latches that you can get so you can lock the rear doors in an open-but-inaccessible position make a real difference.
(This is from experience of an April - Sept roadtrip through Europe in a silver T5, from Norway to Romania and most countries in between)
Yep, can’t stress this enough. Unless you’re parked up in the shade, vans really soak up heat from the sun
Ditto
My caravan can reach into the 40's on a sunny UK day. Fortunately I have aircon
has anyone sliced up a memory foam mattress to make an odd shaped bed? Looking to buy a second hand mattress and cut…mrs_oab can make cover.
Yes! We bought two single memory foam mattresses from Ikea, and then cut the ends off them, so they made the top and bottom half of a short king sized bed. Just used a bread knife. My Mum (cough yes, I am useless) then adapted the covers to fit. We have some anti slip mat under them when in bed mode to stop your bottom falling between the gap! Works very well.
Gives you an idea, from when before the covers were shortened:
Agree with trailrat's warning. I had to help a young couple put out one of those stoves that burst into a flames in a site in Aviemore. Fortunately all outside, but shook them up a lot and left them with no stove.
has anyone sliced up a memory foam mattress to make an odd shaped bed? Looking to buy a second hand mattress and cut…mrs_oab can make cover.
Yu can probably buy a piece of memory foam or similar cut to the shape you want, there's plenty of "we cut foam" sites online. The grey 'reflex' foam is really comfortable, it's what we have in the campervan. A five inch slab of that would be lovely.
We actually found the ikea mattresses ended up being cheaper than the cut to fit places when you also took into account the covers (which in our case was just a smaller rectangle); and the ones we went for had the wobbly (so to speak) foam top which helps for sleeping on (I can suffer with a bad back, so this did matter to me - your son is young enough to not worry!).
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15900930/campingaz-elite-camping-chef-double-burner-and-grill-15900930
One of these stoves with a 907 bottle. Easy to find replacements in France.
A big 'thank you' to the STW community again. A forumite met my son last night and gave him an IKEA mattress for free.
Ace. 🤗
Amazeballz. S'good here sometimes.
I have seen people cut window sized squares of this foil insulation stuff to help keep their van cool.
Caravans have roller blinds with foil on the outside for this purpose. If you go to a caravan breakers you'll find piles of them and the associated rails and mountings. Might be tricky to fit to a van though.
Do they really need a fridge? When I were a lad we did 3-4 week trips round france with a cool box without freezer blocks. Most of the food was grim but if you buy your fresh food every other day it should be ok.
Do they really need a fridge?
Where else will they keep the cold beer? When I did it in the 80s we didn't have a fridge, but it was March and April. Could have done with a heater though, the jerry can of water froze solid in Arc 2000.
Do they really need a fridge?
Cool box arrived yesterday. It's going in a super insulated cupboard space, with vent to bike garage area for compressor. He's going to see if he can get a 12v timer up and running, so that the box can cut in and out and rely much more on the insulation.
It may work. It may not.
I can’t remember what thread it was on, but wasn’t there someone talking about an adapter that allows you to use a euro style gas canister on threaded stove?
We're close to finished, I'll post pics this week.
But, questions...
Parking up / camping in Austria seems 'no', yet there's a few posts online about places to park up. Any suggestions (or even STW'ers) around Saalbach-Hinterglemm who can suggest cheap / free camping? From the 27th july-3rd August.
Oh, and we've been told by a few places that Campingaz is the answer for cooking - apparently you can get it in Europe...
I watch a YouTube channel called travelbeans (see also lost in transit). They were in Austria over the Winter and camped at various places including ski lift car parks that had toilet facilities for a price!
Worth a look for some hints although it may be slightly busier in the Summer.
He’s going to see if he can get a 12v timer up and running, so that the box can cut in and out and rely much more on the insulation.
It may work. It may not.
Just make sure the heat exchanger has good ventilation otherwise the insulation is counter productive
Just make sure the heat exchanger has good ventilation otherwise the insulation is counter productive
We've created two 'tunnels' in the insulated box. One draws in to the fan and one is the hotter exhaust fan. It's not airtight, but it's pretty good. We left the box cold two days ago in there and last night it was still cooler than the air temp in the box when we opened it...
We have to depart on our holidays now.
But he seems about there - some electrics to wire into the charger for phone/GoPro etc, finish lino lining the 'boot' and a bit more paint.
It's SWB, high top Mk7 Transit. He can get an Enduro bike fully built in the back, with a summer of tools, helmets, awning and a couple of chairs.
Inside he's a near double bed, 20lt water, small kitchen area, PV and 120kwh battery, roof vent with extractor fan, coolbox in insulated cupboard. Rotating double seat and lights.
First stop in convoy with mates is Aosta, then back to France, Switzerland, Austria to meet his younger brother, back to France then volunteer at the TransSavoie to finish.
🤘
Looks good 👍 well worth the effort.
We are in Aosta for a few days from 3rd July. In Lugano at the moment but it's far too hot to ride.
Enjoy the holidays
Looks great. IIRC your son is studying engineering at university? If so, make sure he puts this on his cv, whenever I’m interviewing graduates I’m always looking for examples of people who will get their hands dirty with some practical experience
Looks good👍
He needs more Tennents than that!
This is awesome and something I wish I'd done. Me and mates at Uni had a plan but never put it into practice.
Will keep an eye out.
A little update: he phoned from the top of StBernard pass at tea time last night. Seems the cheap van has stormed across Europe, is comfy and quiet.
The only wobble was Swiss police/ customs decided to do a full search of the van when he stopped to buy his carnet - and objected to the Tenant's...(!)
Anyway, priorities means the riding starts today.
and objected to the Tenant’s
Quite right too - you’d have to question anyone’s sanity who takes Tenants beer with them to Europe 😉
Looks awesome except for the shit beer.
shit beer.
I agree.
Sadly he doesn't.
Glad he's made it safe. We looked for the van yesterday but he probably hadn't arrived and we left this morning
When we travelled through Switzerland last week they just waved us through. Never offered us the badge
The supermarket at side of the lift station sells loads of beers as well as anything else you may need. Only went in for some plasters and came out with a back pack full of goodies
Awesome! I spent 3 or 4 nights camped at the top of that pass in Aug 2020. Some amazing hikes and dips in lakes.
Things like this seem to excite me more than any pros adventures. DIY, bootstrapped and working it as you go along.
I am waiting for my mate to do his midlife crisis trip next year and will definitely fly out and join him for a bit. I think there is a business there. People flying out for a week of hosted #vanlife (tm)!
He needs more Tennents than that!
you’d have to question anyone’s sanity who takes Tenants beer with them to Europe
This. Give them their due it's the best of a bad bunch and they are rather skillful replicators but there really is no excuse for taking that shit abroad unless he was planning on swapping it (foreigners love it for some ****ed up reason)
I went into a bar in Switzerland years ago and they had tenents super in bottles in the fridge beside all the fancy beers
He's having fun. Needs to sort his brakes (again)...
thumbs up emoji 🙂
Looks like he's having a good time. Its a great trail from top to bottom with a bit of everything thrown in.
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/col-croce/ is good up the other side, its a long climb to get to it but worth it
The van is doing great.
He however has busted a finger - a crash in Tignes has seen his tendon rip a chunk of bone off his finger. 6 weeks off the bike...
If you see a depressed son of mine with bandaged hand in Morzine for next few days, give him a hug for me...
Oh no, that's not good. Are they allowing him to drive. Its going to be hard keeping of the bike for that long. Any chance he can line some casual work up to keep him occupied
Yeah he can drive, just no riding.
Plan is to turn to feet and the mountains...
Always good to have a plan B