DIY Electric RV?

[JSH]

Originally Posted by slowmover

So it’s all about the last four miles of an 800-mile trip. I’d look at JK JEEP and off-road camper as “practical” choice.

Top heavy and off-road DONT go together.

More like 25-30 miles with at least 1/2 of that single lane where meeting another vehicle means backing up.

A high CG could be a problem for box trucks set up for shipping freight. The typical dock is 48” high so a freight truck usually has a spacer between the frame rail and the bottom of the box. This raises the box to meet the dock height and enough that the floor doesn’t need cutouts for the wheel wells. Nice for loading freight with fork trucks but not for a RV conversion. Someone could cut out the spacer, drop the box, and add wheel wells.

The far simpler method is just to buy a box truck from a moving company like UHaul or Penske. Their 10 and 12 foot trucks have a load height of 29 inches. That compares to a load height of 36 inches for a late model ½ ton truck.

[slowmover]

What’s the living area in sq feet

And what’s the empty weight of the vehicle?

Because it’s a commercial vehicle, it’s extra weight that does not add to its function.

I’ve seen some converted ambulances. Where diesel power worked out. I was on the list for the original EARTHROAMER

But electric is really pushing it for a non-City vehicle. PAST the weight & space inefficiency.

You make backing sound hard. It isn’t.

I’d still continue to think long and hard about so much money & effort into something a long ways from fuel.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by slowmover

What’s the living area in sq feet

And what’s the empty weight of the vehicle?

Because it’s a commercial vehicle, it’s extra weight that does not add to its function.

I’ve seen some converted ambulances. Where diesel power worked out. I was on the list for the original EARTHROAMER

But electric is really pushing it for a non-City vehicle. PAST the weight & space inefficiency.

You make backing sound hard. It isn’t.

I’d still continue to think long and hard about so much money & effort into something a long ways from fuel.

• A Penske 12 foot box truck is about 6,300 lbs with a GVW of 9900 lbs
• Same cutaway chassis as an ambulance
• Smaller than an EarthRoamer (My entire budget is less than the deposit)
• I'm not planning on doing an electric RV (See post 25)
• A hybrid system could be interesting but likely wouldn't cost justify.

The Penske box truck is 78 sq ft
A Ford Transit XL is 53 sq ft
My current Astro campervan is 33 sq ft

[freebeard]

You can replace the alternator with a Buick LaCrosse 20hp altermotor and serpentine belt (and possibly run it as a straight alternator while you sort out the controller and battery pack). Then you'd have regen and more power.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by freebeard

You can replace the alternator with a Buick LaCrosse 20hp altermotor and serpentine belt (and possibly run it as a straight alternator while you sort out the controller and battery pack). Then you'd have regen and more power.

I've thought about that but I'm a mechanical engineer not a electrical. I'm worried about the custom controls needed to integrate the motor/generator into the van's ECU. Also anything I do has to pass smog inspection.

I've thought of using a 4wd transfer case to connect an electric motor to the drivetrain after the transmission. That setup would be essentially a stand-alone EV powertrain with manual controls.

XL hybrids has a nice system but it is $11,000.

[freebeard]

This is the subforum that has the Open Revolt controller thread. But following it isn't encouraging. I agree that systems integration is the hard part.

But right up there are battery boxes and the serpentine belt. On my Dasher it would have to go right through the front engine mount.

It would be a bolt-on compared to anything on the other end of the drivetrain.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by JSH

• A Penske 12 foot box truck is about 6,300 lbs with a GVW of 9900 lbs
• Same cutaway chassis as an ambulance
• Smaller than an EarthRoamer (My entire budget is less than the deposit)
• I'm not planning on doing an electric RV (See post 25)
• A hybrid system could be interesting but likely wouldn't cost justify.

The Penske box truck is 78 sq ft
A Ford Transit XL is 53 sq ft
My current Astro campervan is 33 sq ft

m

A van cutaway? 6300-lbs I’ll believe when I see a CAT SCALE ticket with driver, full fuel and otherwise empty.

Where does “economy” fit in past low purchase price?

And have you figured on-road unscheduled service? For example, we’re that a dually, one doesn’t just lose one tire of a dual etc. Both have to be replaced. And if the other set is too low on tread, then all four. That’s expensive.

Just one tire on this eighteen-wheeler is going to be a $7-800 mobile service call.

There ain’t nothing cheap about commercial vehicles.

If it’s the 4-whl van, yeah, good choice overall.

Expect that body bushings should be replaced (polyurethane; start searching) and that steering slop will be the MPG killer.

Get the scale ticket (TARE WEIGHT), and watch your load balance.

What’s your life/miles plan?

.

.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by slowmover

m

A van cutaway? 6300-lbs I’ll believe when I see a CAT SCALE ticket with driver, full fuel and otherwise empty.

Where does “economy” fit in past low purchase price?

And have you figured on-road unscheduled service? For example, we’re that a dually, one doesn’t just lose one tire of a dual etc. Both have to be replaced. And if the other set is too low on tread, then all four. That’s expensive.

Just one tire on this eighteen-wheeler is going to be a $7-800 mobile service call.

There ain’t nothing cheap about commercial vehicles.

If it’s the 4-whl van, yeah, good choice overall.

Expect that body bushings should be replaced (polyurethane; start searching) and that steering slop will be the MPG killer.

Get the scale ticket (TARE WEIGHT), and watch your load balance.

What’s your life/miles plan?

.

Those are Penske's specs on their used vehicle sales page for the 12ft trucks (which are build on the Chevy's shortest cutaway van chassis)

Purchase price is higher than a van. The "economy" comes from more space in a similar footprint

The 12 foot trucks have single rear tires

We are planning 1-2 years on the road covering about 30K miles. This trip is kind of a "last hurrah" in the States before heading abroad for retirement.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by freebeard

This is the subforum that has the Open Revolt controller thread. But following it isn't encouraging. I agree that systems integration is the hard part.

But right up there are battery boxes and the serpentine belt. On my Dasher it would have to go right through the front engine mount.

It would be a bolt-on compared to anything on the other end of the drivetrain.

XL's hybrid system is a pretty slick. It has motor with a double output shaft that connect the two driveshafts and acts as a pillow block.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by JSH

Those are Penske's specs on their used vehicle sales page for the 12ft trucks (which are build on the Chevy's shortest cutaway van chassis)

Purchase price is higher than a van. The "economy" comes from more space in a similar footprint

The 12 foot trucks have single rear tires

We are planning 1-2 years on the road covering about 30K miles. This trip is kind of a "last hurrah" in the States before heading abroad for retirement.

Yes. I looked it up. Rented one last summer.

Cab sure can use sound isolation. Seats are terrible. See aftermarket. Mirrors can be improved (function & aero; start at VELVAC; best choice is airport shuttle type SET: it’s too easy to miss stuff).

I have yet to see a FEDEX Custom Critical with a Trailer Tail. Surprising. It’d be what I wanted. See also NOSE CONE

Crosswinds are the handling problem. Side Sail Area. Not to be downplayed. HENDERSONS LINE UP is the aftermarket supplier I would start with. No such thing as “acceptable” once out on the highway. Great, or ain’t. (But I’d go with HELWIG or ADDCO anti-roll bars).