LFGSS Camper Van owners?

This says "Leisure battery, charger, 12v system" are standard fit.
https://cjlleisure.co.uk/mtb-vw-van-conversion/

Which would make sense for running the pressure washer.

(though you don't really need it for the water pump in the sink that only runs for a few seconds at a time)

Have you written somewhere hownyou intend to use it? As you've said you want to sleep it in, but also it's just a big estate for transporting bikes. The use of it seems confused and thus the spec is odd.

Why not get the van, use it like a van for a bit. Then have the build done when you have a better idea what you need.

Do you have your two leisure batteries connected with an isolator / switch set up so you don't have to manually disconnect and reconnect to the solar?

What are you running off your leisure batteries?

We've got a 110ah with solar and run a pump for the sink, charge phones etc and plan on wiring in the stereo and we barely deplete it..

Big dometic 110L fridge/freezer, and given I'm in Spain it needs power. . Laptops when working. Its overkill but why not, easier to overbuild when doing it than change later. Also charge ebike battery

Yes got Abso 50A charger unit. https://simplysplitcharge.co.uk/Abso-DMT1250-50amp-Kits?product_id=1070

Have you written somewhere hownyou intend to use it? As you've said you want to sleep it in, but also it's just a big estate for transporting bikes. The use of it seems confused and thus the spec is odd.

Why not get the van, use it like a van for a bit. Then have the build done when you have a better idea what you need.

At the moment I put the bikes on the roof of the car, and get changed standing by the boot.

This is sub-optimal from the perspective of separation of wet/muddy kit and the passenger space of the vehicle, and from a security standpoint. Our recent holiday was defined by which B&B's would allow us to bring the bikes in/had somewhere to store 3 mountain bikes. This proved surprisingly difficult to arrange.

I'd also like the ability to kip in the van in comfort every now and then - if no B&B is available, for instance.

Over winter I put a big tub of water and a battery powered jet wash in the boot, this worked pretty well but the tub was prone to leak and you had to move away from the car lest you soaked it. The carpet in the boot is going to need a damn good clean before I hand it over.

The idea of a fully sealed, secure wet-room in the van is very appealing - the bikes can probably live in there when they're not in use (they obviously can't live on the roof rack).

The wet-room idea extends to it being a changing room, the idea being you can sit on the bench in the back, change from civvies to your wet weather gear without getting rained on and then vice-versa at the end of your ride, hang your kit up then literally hose the mud off/out.

Also each weekend is largely defined by where I can get to and then drive back to London - it'd be nice to be able to drive to (say) BPW and then stay there overnight, knowing that even if the local hotel is full I've got an option, and that the bikes are tucked away secure.

Why would you need an isolator? Even the most basic solar charge controller will notice the voltage from the alternator and consider the battery already charged. Most won't allow any sort of backflow to the panel.

This says "Leisure battery, charger, 12v system" are standard fit.

Hah, your ability to retain data is better than mine! I discussed an inverter with CJL and they said "well, what are you going to charge then?" And I was a bit stumped.

I'd likely work from my iPad rather than taking a laptop with me, should I wish to WFV.

Yeah I'd want a small fridge then, so I can cook some food. And a shower with hot water so I can wash off after riding.

I reckon either commit to it being a camper and get those bits or just leave it as a van. And keep the 16k for hotels.

All you talk is of I, so make sure its got what you need, not just to carry people you never might. Ie does it need 4 seats.

Plus get deadlocks if not on your list, and pick plates for front plus steering wheel lock. I got mine from tvl security. And after thwarting two break ins have earnt their money.

I'd want the option of four seats - consider two scenarios:

1. Weekend at BPW and Afan, with 3-4 people. All the bikes are secure in the back, everyone has a seat, there's a coffee machine in the back that can be used whilst we drive down the M4. Arrive, ride, wash the bikes off and stow securely in the back, drive to the hotel, shower and dinner. Head out after breakfast the next day, ride, wash and stow bikes and drive back home
   
2. Two weeks in Morzine for two people, remove the rear seats and use the space for luggage, two MTB and two road bikes in the secure store in the back. Stay at a campsite with a shower, 12v coolbox in the van to complement the cooking pod. Put the awning out with the attachable side panels to make a sheltered living space, sleep "upstairs".
   
   

I could just buy a van then sleep in the back in a sleeping bag between the bikes, but that sounds miserable - I'm an old man who wants his creature comforts.

You wash your bikes far too frequently. Bike washing is a seasonal thing, not after every ride.

The protective layer of mud theory eh?

12v coolbox in the van

If you don't already own such a coolbox, an Alpikool compressor fridge is about the same size, can produce actual coldness and uses a fraction of the electricity.

The scenarios sound good. Shop around on the 12v cool box, cheap ones are shit

I wasn't talking about split charge, you are correct - split charge and solar will work just fine. Our van is actually just off solar.

Was asking about isolator / switch for the two leisure batteries, if they are same model and aH then parallelling is fine, but if they are different aH or make / model then it's not good practice and you'd want some way of switching batteries.

Alpikool compressor fridge

Such as the 45l one on Amazon for ~£320?

Yes, or there’s a smaller one that’s usually under £200.

4 hefty marine deep cycle boys. Think he used to have solar on the roof (whole thing) but it would really only sort of charge one of them, so now he just charges it at home before every trip, if trip longer than a few days either plugs into shore power at whatever race he's at, or drives around a bit, even with a larger alternator it doesn't really do much to batteries unless you drive for 4 hours +

If you have seen this YouTube video
of GMBN racing at Ard Rock it shows Neil (coincidentally) sleeping in his van next to his bike, which is wrapped in a movers blanket and bungee-corded to the wall.

Which of course shows it's possible - but (as I have mentioned) I'm an old man who likes comfort, so I'd like the bikes to be secure in the separate compartment in the back of the van, and me sleeping in comfort upstairs, with cooking facilities that can either be used in the van or moved out to under the awning.

The awning I'm getting is (apparently) straightforward and affordable to build out into a more complete shelter.

This is the sort of thing:

Are you getting the ARB awning?

It looks awesome, hoping to get one soon.. not sure I want the full room but a wind side panel would be good

https://campervanculture.com/shop/arb-deluxe-awning-room-with-floor-2500mm-x-2500mm/

IIRC the conversation it's the Thule one (which is in the picture I posted), although I may be remembering wrongly. It's 3m long because the van I've chosen is the LWB - should make a decent sized exterior "room".

Awning is one thing I'd love, great for a hot day, or Scottish rain. But God they're not cheap.

On that note add a floor mat, external to your list.

sound like you want this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBHaI-CAzlA&t=4s

Their newer vans is way better and pretty clever than this one including storing illegal ebikes.

That’s going to be above 2m Ed.

never stop you from doing anything!