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Hippie Bus for the 21st Century: DIY Solar Volkswagen Camper Van

03 Dec

[ By SA Rogers in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Iconic for its role in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, the Volkswagen Bus has seen many an amateur transformation into campers over the decades since, and now it’s gone solar electric. An Oregon couple decided to put their own spin on the classic DIY project by fusing the original aesthetics of a 1973 VW van with electric vehicle batteries and photovoltaic panels mounted to the roof, creating a modest but highly functional recreational vehicle for their family trips.

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Brett Belen, an engineer who spent years working on solar electric vehicles before taking on the project, wanted a highway-friendly camper with a large roof surface to pack on the largest possible solar array. He mounted four 305-watt LG panels to a pop-up frame that tilts up to 40 degrees, taking in lots of sunlight on the road while flat and then positioned toward the morning sun when open and parked for the night.

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The space beneath the open panel provides extra elbow room inside the van for Brett, his wife Kira and their two children. This works almost exactly like Volkswagen-produced camper vans, with the sides enclosed by waterproof tent material. A rear window allows them to look out onto the scenery of their chosen camping spot, while the inside is equipped with folding tables and storage space for gear.

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The battery bank consists of 12 Trojan T-1275 lead-acid batteries in a custom battery box tucked beneath a bench seat in the back, providing a range of up to 50 miles per charge. While other battery types could provide more power, Brett emphasizes that he wanted to stick to materials that the average person can afford. It’s not top of the line, but the setup is still enough to take the Belens on a 1400-mile trip of the West Coast. Learn more about the specifics at the family’s website.

[ By SA Rogers in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Rugged Luxury: Take Your Queen Bed On the Road In This Modern Camper

08 Nov

[ By SA Rogers in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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If your camping style is somewhere in between sleeping under the stars and ‘glamping’ with all the comforts of home, Track Trailer’s MK4 ‘Tvan’ camper has your number. Designed to be towed behind standard trucks and SUVs, it’s basically a hotel room on wheels, packing a queen-sized bed, two kitchen configurations, air conditioning and a quick-erect tent to multiply the available space.

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The latest in a series of Tvan designs, this camper trailer enables the most rugged of adventurers to go deep into the wilderness, and it’s gotten a thumbs-up from explorers of Australia’s most punishing desert landscapes. The Tvan is manufactured in Melbourne and has been around since the early ’80s, and features MC2 suspension, a riveted steel and aluminum cabin body, hot-dipped galvanized chassis, and a rear folding platform for the tent, which stows away in its own compartment.

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The slide-out kitchen offers a surprising number of features, including four burners, a sink, counter space and three storage drawers, and it all packs up tight for travel, remaining secure even when you’re driving over rocky terrain. There’s an integrated windshield that deploys simply by raising it into position so windy conditions don’t blow out the flames on the range.

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The cabin itself is substantial enough to block out noise, sun, heat, cold and wind, and when the tent is in use, it secures to the hard fold-out floor, keeping it up off the ground. The rear hatch is assisted by gas struts to make it easy to open and close, and the whole thing is aerodynamic, making it easy to tow.

[ By SA Rogers in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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VW Doubleback: Hacked Camper Van Unfolds into Huge Mobile Home

09 Sep

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

doubleback huge

The recent comeback of modernized (and modified) mobile homes has seen many novel transformations of cars and trucks into various sizes of living space, but the Doubleback may have more secret additional area than any other vehicle of its size and class.

These modified T5 transports have a pop-up top, but also a slide-out back adding up to six feet of extra length – each of these extensions can sleep two people.

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Self-leveling feet drop down from the rear extension, making sure the cantilevered zone remains level at all times, including on variegated terrain.

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Further exterior space can be covered as well via a roll-out canopy top or custom flip-up door, turning parking lots and campgrounds into cookout spaces and backyards.

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Various configurations are possible, sleeping up to four people (drop-down beds in the back and additional sleeping space above) and seating depending on the design details. Newer models also include space for a camping toilet and cooking amenities.

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Telescoping Trailer: Expanding Teardrop Camper Triples in Size

11 Sep

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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The 3X trailer deploys with the push of a button, tripling its interior space in a matter of seconds, turning a cramped road can by day into an expansive set of rooms at night.

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Designed by French company Beauer, the nesting camper is about 8.5 by 6 feet in its travel-ready configuration, but the shorter dimension turns in the longer one (15 feet) when deployed.

Its fixtures conveniently slot into place, unfolding to become parts of a set of bedroom, kitchen, living and dining areas (complete with refrigerator, stove, microwave, sink and toilet).

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Portable tanks for potable and gray water systems are also included. Its compact configuration is ideal not just for taking it on the road but storing it in parking spots, driveways or garages when not in use.

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With a price tag of around $ 25,000 USD, the units may not be cheap but come packed with amenities. Currently for sale in France, plans are in place to expand sales throughout Europe and eventually around the world.

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A larger variant with built-in towing vehicle (shown above) is also in development, utilizing similar space-saving and expansion strategies in addition to other caravan buildouts. Perhaps one model or another could take the action as its name: the Tripling has a nice ring to it.