Reviewing My Campervan After 6 Months

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Six months ago, I bought this DIY converted campervan to travel Scotland, my home country, after 12 years of living overseas. In this video, I'll be reviewing my campervan after 6 months of ownership.
Since acquiring this Toyota Hiace campervan, I have done some campervan DIY, enjoyed many nights of vanlife Scotland and made some incredible memories. Although I am not living in a van full-time, I have used this small campervan for many extended trips as a solo female traveller.
In my life, I have spent hundreds of nights in vans, doing both part-time and full-time van life. In this van review, I share my thoughts on the vehicle itself, the campervan layout, the campervan kitchen, the campervan water system, my van toilet, the van build electrics and my opinion on Starlink internet.
Whether you are interested in van conversions, looking to start your own van life adventure or are keen to do your own campervan build, I hope this video will be a helpful resource.
🍿 WATCH NEXT:
VAN TOUR: • I Bought a Van to Trav...
HOW MUCH WAS MY VAN?: • How Much Did My New Ca...
VAN TOILET: • I Found The Best Campe...
FIRST TIME USING GAS: • First Time Using Gas I...
STARLINK INTERNET: • I Tried Starlink Inter...
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🎬 Get access to exclusive uncut and bonus videos, behind-the-scenes content and sneak peeks into future projects - / ruthaisling
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MY FAVOURITE TOOLS & GEAR:
🚽 Trelino - The best van toilet (Use code RUTHAISLING for a discount or gift): geni.us/lC0UmdH
🔋 Bluetti - My favourite van portable batteries (Use code BLUETTIRA for 5% discount): geni.us/ewxrm1v
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✈️ Safety Wing - My go-to flexible travel insurance: geni.us/yBV4Xey
WHO AM I?
If we haven't met before... Hi, I'm Ruth 👋 and I recently bought a campervan to travel my home country of Scotland after living overseas for 12 years. I’ve hardly seen anything or been anywhere in Scotland and now is the time to change that!
P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I get a kickback from.
00:00 - Purchasing the van
01:39 - Vehicle Body
02:37 - Campervan Layout
03:18 - Campervan Bed
04:05 - Campervan Kitchen
06:13 - Van Trip to France
07:30 - Campervan Water
08:05 - Temperature
08:22 - Campervan Toilet
08:48 - Campervan Electricity
10:06 - Starlink Internet
11:51 - Window Covers
12:21 - Fridge
13:07 - Future Plans
14:16 - Overall Thoughts

Опубликовано:

22 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 212

@user-yf9wr5wu6p 2 месяца назад

Another great informative video , You would make a wonderful teacher if you ever retired from travelling over hill and dale . 👍🇨🇦

@user-zv9zp2mi8j 6 месяцев назад

ルースさん、日本に帰って来て欲しいですよ！また、しょうたさんと日本一周の継続旅をすることを期待していますよ😊

@davidbarrass 6 месяцев назад

A change I'd make is to make the passenger seat swivel so you could use it when parked up. It effectively makes the van cab part of the living area. Often these conversions give you the space under the seat too, that's where the leasure battery was in my old van

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

The passenger seat does swivel actually, I need to start using it more often!

@JohnSmith-uy7sv 6 месяцев назад

for my 99 toyota sienna???

@sandiandgregh 6 месяцев назад

Ah, your French friend has returned! Lol. That was an interesting tour. We’re impressed how well it’s doing especially given the age. Being super organized is obviously key for van life.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

He's back haha! Hopefully the van will survive well and take me on lots more Scotland trips.

@Annie4Always 6 месяцев назад

Vantastic! This was so interesting! Makes me want to have one of my very own more than ever! Thank you for sharing! Blessings to you Ruth!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@carltonv1 6 месяцев назад

Ruth a great review, you look great with your van as always X

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the review!

@havegrillwilltravel3043 6 месяцев назад

Hey Ruth! After a lot of back and forth I decided to go with a bigger battery system and skip the diesel heater. Instead of trying to heat the entire van, we have an electric blanket for the bed. We also added a Japanese hot carpet and run it off mains at campsites and with the inverter when boondocking. Keeps the toes warm and the doggies love it too!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Hey Jon, hope you're doing well! How was your big van road trip in the US? Those sound like great solutions, I'd like to get an electric blanket too.

@havegrillwilltravel3043 6 месяцев назад

OMG, our big trip was amazing. The Pacific Northwest region (Washington State, Oregon and Northern California) are so beautiful and has amazing food, great local beer and wine!! I highly recommend you fly over and rent a campervan and explore if you have the chance. My coworker was in Scotland recently with her fiance. They rented a caravan and traveled around for a week and loved it. You have inspired us to explore your beautiful homeland with all your great videos! ❤️

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

@@havegrillwilltravel3043 that sounds so amazing, I would love to do that sometime. Were you happy with everything in your van after the long trip? I remember you saying you got a new tarp I think? That’s great that you are interested to visit Scotland! Have you been before?

@DavidBarker-ke2on 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for another great no nonsense, informative Vlog. Looks like you're creating a very practical compact Camper van. Enjoy. 👌

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks! 👍

@grahamlongdon8448 6 месяцев назад

Really enjoyed that simplicity is best you’ve got it just right living in it and putting your mark on it step by step,my wife and i enjoy watching you our love of Scotland.😊👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks Graham!

@rupertbare2023 6 месяцев назад

It's good to see you getting so much out of a used vehicle. Obviously, it's a keeper. In Canada I used to drive an old Ford (292 V8) school-bus conversion, which was fine except for the electrics, which were a nightmare! After a disastrous wire-harness fire halfway up a remote pass in the Rocky Mountains, where I ended up blocking traffic for two hours, I sold it on. I've driven many a passenger bus since, but I've never had the courage to try another camper conversion. Happy travels, Ruth! 🇨🇦

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Oh a fire sounds so scary, glad you were ok!

@biggypsy75 6 месяцев назад

I am so looking forward to seeing the french trip Ruth,its on my bucket list,your wee van is excellent,that engine with good servicing will easily see 280,000 miles,im a mechanic and seen many off these vans used by shop owners with 300,000 plus miles x

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I'm so excited to visit a French bakery haha! That's great to hear about the vehicle, especially coming from you as a mechanic!

@sbrown2607 6 месяцев назад

Good luck with your modifications, and I am looking forward to your future travels.

@butterflybeatles 6 месяцев назад

When I was sixteen I visited Paris. I had Camenbert on a freshly-baked baguette. I will never forget how incredibly good it tasted. In Canada such a thing did not exist. @@ruthaisling

@allegrosotto2126 6 месяцев назад

I’ve a 99 just turned over 400,000 kilometres, diesel, and she’s going great. And yes, regular services.

@ewanstevenson 6 месяцев назад

@@butterflybeatles No, but you _do_ have poutine! 😋

@michaelbergk127 5 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth, thanx for your vlog and also your travelguide about scotland, I downloaded before. I really like the style of your videos, good stories not boring and so match useful information. Keep going! Regards Micha

@ruthaisling 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much, that's so nice of you to say!

@lesliewatts7537 6 месяцев назад

Your professional videos are a joy to watch, congratulations for that, please continue to show lessor mortals how to do it !

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching Leslie!

@carolynthompson6518 6 месяцев назад

Great van. Love all your ideas

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks so much!

@felinetherapy4782 6 месяцев назад

Its very sweet. Doing up the shelf would hopefully be quick and easy and make such a huge difference. Treat yourself!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Yes definitely! No more bumped head haha!

@TXMEDRGR 6 месяцев назад

It appears you had a comfortable van, to begin with, and have made some sensible and practical upgrades. I'm sure in another six months it will be even better. Thanks for the van overview.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching!

@stewartallan1440 5 месяцев назад

LOVED your French skit!

@ruthaisling 5 месяцев назад

😂

@BarlowsOnTour 6 месяцев назад

Great video Ruth. I'll be planning on getting a van to do a conversion myself although I suspect I'll need something a big bigger, perhaps a Sprinter.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

That's exciting! Sprinters are great and much more spacious!

@gosomewherenew 6 месяцев назад

Hi.. this is just what ik planning with mine.. making a budget bed and gonna get out and about.. I'll think about heating and insulating and a 12 volt system further down the line but for now something like a bluetti and maybe a heated blanket! All the best Ruth

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

A heated blanket is a good idea too

@GK49245 6 месяцев назад

Rich content, nice production. Thanks for sharing. Our camping Mains and DC comes from our EcoFlow Delta 3.6 kW power station, as our Sprinter van’s “house” battery/inverter. We expanded it with companion batteries. We also have StarLink, and we use the “Sleep Mode” to greatly reduce power draw at night. We follow this quote when considering our van’s camping design: “It seems that perfection is reached not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to subtract.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I haven't tried sleep mode, I'll give it a try next time!

@user-nu5xs8cj5t 6 месяцев назад

ルースさんのアーニー号の改修は日本でのトニー号の改修で培った知識が役にたっていますね、それと何よりも日本車を選んだことが大正解👍トヨタハイエースはまだまだ続くバンライフを快適にしてくれるはずです、そして費用のことですが、You Tuberとして活動して半年でチャンネル登録者がすでに40.000人を超えています、これからもチャンネル登録者は増え続けると思いますので少しは収入が増えることでしょう、パンライフ生活も楽になるはずです、そして語学の勉強もできますしね、英語、スペイン語、日本語そしてフランス語、きっとヨーロッパもバンライフできるかも知れないですね😊ルースさんの相棒のアーニー号との冒険の旅は始まったばかり、頑張れルースとアーニー号👊😆🎵

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

ありがとう。アーニー・サンには長生きしてほしい。メイド・イン・ジャパンだから、しっかりした作りで、とても信頼できると思う。

@kevinronald4137 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth, an excellent video as usual. Just a thought rather than installing a 12v system consider a 24v system as newer caravans and new campers are now using this with a greater range of products available. Happy driving.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for the advice!

@anotherBailey 4 месяца назад

This was a great and detailed video! Finding that van for that price is insane to me and quite the lucky find (comparing to us car market). Def gonna give you a follow!

@ruthaisling 4 месяца назад

I think it was a lucky find and it was good I acted fast! Thanks for watching!

@tofftheboss6954 6 месяцев назад

Your van looks very cosy and congrats on 40k subs, you deserve it 😊

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@dl1929yup 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth, really enjoying all your adventures, hope to follow in some of your footsteps next summer, especially Shetland !!.Remember and take some sort of fan to France as sleeping at night might be a little toasty 😊✌🏻

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I'm sure you'll love Shetland, would you take a campervan with you? I don't have a fan, so I'll make sure to buy one before leaving for France!

@dl1929yup 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth, no I don't have a campervan, but I do have a tent 🤢 Any plans to visit more of the UK, say Wales, the lakes, Devon and Cornwall, whatever you decide I wish you all the best for 2024, I think it will be a great year for your channel, you come across as a 'fine' lassie, as we would say in Scotland...😊✌🏻.Neil.

@0HARE 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for a very comprehensive and honest look at your camper van. Looks like you’ve got it dialed in pretty effectively, and your plans for future modifications seem sound. Thanks for the work you put into “taking us along” on your journeys. Happy Camping!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@seanmcerlean 6 месяцев назад

Cool vlog. I reckon it is a good idea to upgrade things like the electrical system to make things more Resilient as well as puttiing in heating as it must be freezing in the winter months Ruth.😊. It is certainly something i am looking into for my travels as retirement approaches in the next couple of years.😊

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I'm looking forward to having a heater!

@ryudokuroma8184 6 месяцев назад

I think you made a very good purchase. As it is a used item, some maintenance is unavoidable, but if you have the budget and time to complete it, you can use it in various ways. I'm looking forward to the future.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you, I think it was a good purchase too!

@EricAdamsonMI Месяц назад

I admire your resourcefulness. I envy JeanPaul...

@richiebainbridge2608 6 месяцев назад

Hi, nice video. It looks like you have 2 batteries under the bonnet so using 1 for the starter and the other for your 12v system would be straightforward. Using fuses for water and lights. Cheers Richie.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the advice Richie, I will look into it

@nicholasr82 6 месяцев назад

Off to see friends in Castle Douglas the weekend. So I will be going to see the highest village in Scotland through the mountain pass. It's only just over an hour away from Castle Douglas. So thanks for the previous video about it.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Fantastic, I hope you have a great time there, you might even see some snow!

@nicholasr82 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling That would be brilliant I can build a gigantic snowman

@ihatemybosses 3 месяца назад

If you convert to a traditional 12v solar system you can add that second panel. It won't matter what the power output is either. It just needs its own dedicated charger controller. An MPPT controller sized for a single panel can be had for a low cost. Of course you would need two of them. One for each panel. I run this on my camper van. I have four, 100 watt panels going to one Renogy charge controller. Additionally I have 200 watts worth of portable panels that I can hook up to a second charge controller. Both controller are wired to the same 4000 watt/hr battery pack. I have the newest Starlink panel and it is even more power hungry but the problem it solves is worth it.

@ruthaisling 3 месяца назад

Thanks for the advice!

@keith800 6 месяцев назад

Lovely Ruth , I have been thinking of this as well though not so tall as thinking about 6 foot 6 inch parking restrictions in car parks but certainly having a second battery controlled from a make before brake switch for the other electrics (same as you have on boats) plus a diesel heater .

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Ah yes this van doesn't always fit in parking areas with height barriers so that's a good point to consider too. Thanks for the advice about the switch and the heater!

@keith800 6 месяцев назад

The idea of the make before brake switch is with the engine running to switch from battery one (your van starter battery ) to battery two (your other electrics battery ) and charge it up and when charged you can turn the engine off ,then to start and drive the van just switch back to battery one again , this keeps the two systems separate and would not cost much to do ,any boat chandelier would give you advice on doing this. @@ruthaisling

@harveywade4112 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth ,only found your channel recently,and excellent content. Being a Toyota guy myself,and involved with maintenence of them and your description of oil related fault,one peice of advice I offer,is to get whoever does your maintenence ,is to always use a genuine Toyota oil filter,bought from a dealer, quality aftermarket parts can be used elsewhere on the van,use genuine oil filter. Not all filters are the same,even although listed compatible for your hiace,and avoid ebay Toyota branded ones,big buisness in fakes. Good luck and I look forward to following you and Ernies adventures.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

That is really great to know, thank you so much. Next time we do an oil filter change I'll make sure it's a Toyota one!

@Rossbott1964 6 месяцев назад

Great little video….nice purposeful van with just about everything you need and once you have completed your upgrades job done ! I would love to have a camper van for the freedom it gives you and I’d happily live in one full time…my circumstances changed dramatically recently and I unfortunately found myself camping in my car ! Not the best ! But on the plus side I already had a Dacia Jogger estate car which I found out has a camping kit produced especially for this vehicle….so a proper bed to go in the back and a large custom made tent that attaches to the back of the vehicle! I’ve now purchased the kit and I’m happily camping out in all weathers 💪

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Hi Kevin, sounds like you've got your car well set up now. Are you keeping warm enough during this colder weather? I got a nice long hot water bottle from home bargains for about £10 which is great for putting inside the sleeping bag.

@Rossbott1964 6 месяцев назад

Ha ha yes I'm keeping warm thank you 👍 I also have a small silent generator so I can run a small fan heater off this for weather like we are having presently! 🥶

@lukekao8136 6 месяцев назад

You could hook up your water pump to the bluetti so that you don't need to turn on the car and drain your car battery again. Then unhook it when you're done.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Good idea, thank you!

@lukekao8136 6 месяцев назад

yw@@ruthaisling

@jimcummings4392 6 месяцев назад

That was very interesting Ruth. I wish you the best of luck with the improvements. Getting a few trips in before Christmas?😂

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks Jim! Yes maybe one or two more before I go to France!

@jem1282 6 месяцев назад

Hi ruth, I don't know anything about Vans but yours look pretty nice. I remembered that a big sport shop sells a kind of warming bags that provide hest for several hours. They must be similar to the thermal patches that can be use to treat a muscular or back pain. Maybe it's not a very bad idea to add some of them to the first aid kit for the dual porpouse: treat a muscular pain or provide warm in a cold emergency. The external diesel eaters look really nice. Also, i remembered that old trains had a pump in the floor to raise the water to the tap. They still can be found as food pumps. But i think it will be better to use the rechargable battery to provide electricity to your actual pump, if possible.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for the helpful tips!

@dggtghggrf8609 5 месяцев назад

ルースさん、元気そうで良かったです❗😊

@markrenfrow9873 6 месяцев назад

Hey Ruth, I think Ernie was a great fit for your needs, at a great price!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Yes, I think it's a good van. Really enjoying the size of it for parking.

@ercieyyy 6 месяцев назад

Your van is good enough only for 1 person otherwise it can't be as comfy as the bigger ones in case you're more ppl living in that space crammed with the stuff. Nevertheless I like its stunning red colour which suits u a lot Ruth. Thank u for that have safe and happy travels with your van.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks, you are right about the stuff. That is always an issue when there is more than one person in the van. Lots of luggage lying around!

@johnclankie324 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth, you have done a good evaluation on the van. I think you should fit a leisure battery, lithium Iron Phosphate if you can afford that or much less costly conventional lead acid style. The alternator will recharge when you are driving plus you have the solar 130w on the roof. You will need to purchase a controller depending on what type of leisure battery you choose. I have simple 100ah lead acid leisure battery which is charged by the alternator, a 120w solar panel or topped up when I’m on a 240v hookup. It also feeds a 1000w inverter so my wife can use her hair dryer for a limited time if we are off grid. I have also fitted a 50Ah lithium Iron phosphate separate system, it is charged by a 40w solar panel and mains 230 when available. We use it for charging phones, pads, watches and it runs the 12v tv and fire stick. It’s doesn’t charge from the alternator due to the cost of a B2B charger. Don’t forget I get as much out of a 50Ah lifepo4 battery as a 100ah lead acid. Enough I say!!! There is plenty on RU-vid about the subject. Now I strongly suggest you fit security dead locks on the front doors, the sliding door and rear door, I used vanlockstore, they are good but there are many others. We feel really good even parking in a supermarket when the doors are deadlocked. All folk have to do is break a door window an open the door. Also if you are inside in an off grid location you feel much safer. I mentioned the diesel heater before but you have already decided on that one. They are so much better than gas, we carry a 500w 230v heater, when on a site you can run them on the thermostat. Good luck we the rest of the winter projects. Also you will love visiting France, it is SO diverse from beaches to mountains and all the countryside in between. Feel free to ask any questions, I’m a retired engineer and a bit of a geek, hoho! Cheers Mike🥃🍷👍 Keep the videos coming👍👍👍

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks Mike, all your advice is very helpful and I didn't know about deadlocks so I will look into those.

@johnclankie324 6 месяцев назад

Just a thought Ruth look a David “LeisureBit” he has done a very good lithium, inverter, B2B setup, you would not need the expensive lithium battery he chose but the content is very good.👍

@rockinginafreeworld3256 6 месяцев назад

As you have a mains hook up , you can purchase a EV to CEE lead . You then can stop at a Ev station and plug in to a box , put your Bluetti on charge and charge in your van.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Oh wow, I didn't even know that was possible. Thank you so much for sharing. Do you have any idea how much would it cost approximately to use the EV station?

@williamfrazer345 4 месяца назад

Had the same problem with the water. Put in a small LED light near the sink that goes on when key is turned. Works great.

@ruthaisling 4 месяца назад

That's a good idea, thank you for the advice. Did your battery ever go flat from it?

@williamfrazer345 4 месяца назад

@@ruthaisling before the light, YES. The led only draws a watt or two, can be on a long time without affecting your battery. I like the toilet my the way, hope to get one. I live full time in my shuttle bus here in Hawaii. All the best, Bill

@pophooray3749 6 месяцев назад

私もミニバンをキャンピングカーに改造していますが… 高さが低く、車内で立つことが出来ません（I can't stand up in the car → I'm so tired）『車内で立ち上がれる』事は重要ですね。ルースさんの車が、素敵なキャンピングカーになる事を応援しています💘

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

バンコンの成功を祈る！最初の旅行はどこに行く予定ですか？車内での立ち乗りにはメリットとデメリットがあります。屋根が低いので、普通の駐車場にも楽に入れます。時々、高さの壁が邪魔で入れない場所があるんだ。

@davesdaze 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth. We just got our sainsbury home delivery food van 3 weeks ago. Mercedes sprinter with insulated box. Have started converting it to camper. Your van video was very interesting. Keep warm. We're still wearing shorts for work down here in Norfolk. Hope you have a good Xmas. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

How exciting! Good luck with your conversion, it sounds like a fab project.

@tomwinch9107 6 месяцев назад

Hi David and Beverly, a Sainsbury's insulated van conversion has recently been completed by a RU-vid couple based near King's Lynn - true blue travellers. A rather different channel to Ruth's, but they may have some ideas of interest to you (if you can cope with happy / jokey couple!)

@davesdaze 6 месяцев назад

@@tomwinch9107 hi. Yes thank u we got our idea from true blue travellers. Thank u. We're in south norfolk. 20 years older than them and almost retired, that's the idea. Best wishes

@davesdaze 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling thank u Ruth. Always love your videos. Good luck with the French, je suis David. That's about it, not really just kidding. Good luck anyway. See u in the next video. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk

@martincotter6370 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth can you not put solar panels on your roof so you could charge your power pack during all sunlight hours. Great content 😀

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

There is already one 130watt panel but it would be good to add one more

@tenners3258 6 месяцев назад

Just bought a nice Hi ace (03) to convert.No high roof, but I've heart failure,so I'm not so keen on standing up anyway! I,ve some experience of diesel heaters, they're easier to accommodate it it's not a retro fit,but (IMO) they're well worth it in winter. Have you come across Carannnex?....made in Scotland, soon to recommence production.I'm getting one ASAP. Like your channel,best wishes,safe travels.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

All the best with your conversion! I hadn't heard of Carannex, but just looked it up and it looks great!

@ewanstevenson 6 месяцев назад

I've been swithering about doing a van conversion next year and would likely be powering it with a Bluetti AC200MAX. It has a 30A 12v output which, if connected to a 12v fusebox for distribution, is more than enough to power the lights, fridge, USB sockets, diesel heater, water pumps etc. The only downside to the bluetti is the slow charging rate from the vehicle battery when you're driving. There are workarounds though... Using a 500W inverter connected to the car battery and plugging that into the bluetti's mains input. Using a DC to DC converter connected from the car battery to the bluetti solar input. The BLUETTI DC Charging Enhancer (D050S) would (I think) let you use the DC to DC converter method at the same time as your solar panels. It's £150 though! There are plenty of RU-vid videos on all these methods. Also, I think you can get adapter cables to let you connect your mains hookup to EV charging stations and charge the bluetti that way. A possible quick fix for your water tap... Does it connect to the car battery via the vehicle fuse box? Some of the fuse sockets are only active when the engine's on and some are active continuously. If it's piggybacking from one of the existing fuses, then you might be able to switch it to one of the continuous ones. Assuming that the tap only draws power when you turn it on, you shouldn't flatten the battery!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the advice Ewan, very helpful. Someone else mentioned about the EV chargers too and I didn't realise that was even possible so I'll definitely look into that. I think you might like my next video, as I mention about a diesel heater!

@ewanstevenson 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling Looking forward to it. I should have added that the idea of the DC to DC converter is to increase the car battery output voltage. More volts means more charging power. You'd need to check with a mechanic that your alternator is powerful enough to cope with the extra load.

@petehanson3738 6 месяцев назад

Adding a less than £100 Chinese diesel heater would improve your situation. Also having a switch over so that you can use your leisure battery separately from the ignition would definitely help

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

A switch is a great idea, thanks for the advice

@colinnaylor7915 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth The best & most reliable gas heater is Webasto. Expensive but they are really good. Don’t attempt a DIY job. It needs to be fitted by a professional. It will add value to your vehicle too.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the tips!

@ah4furnishings348 6 месяцев назад

Hello Ruth 😊

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Hello!

@x91w 6 месяцев назад

Consider a small portable petrol generator. Maybe a second leisure battery to run your water pump and 12V items and de-risk flattening the vehicle battery.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the advice!

@Martin37vg 6 месяцев назад

What about an alpicool style fridge /coolbox ( cheap from china ) They are quite good and low consumption. You could put it on runners in the bottom of your fridge space and a powerbank above You may need a differant shape power bank.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks Martin, I'll take a look at those!

@bilbocrackers3246 6 месяцев назад

Jean Paul is a star!!!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Maybe I'll invite him round to enjoy a Speyside whisky sample with me next time 😂

@yoshifumiT 6 месяцев назад

工夫や改良を重ねて、より良いものを求めていく人生は、とても楽しいことだと思います。

@R3dp055um 6 месяцев назад

This is an excellent video! You have given us a comprehensive overview of the topic. And my congratulations on escaping the rat race.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I'm glad it was helpful!

@roppakaho5430 4 месяца назад

馬力が極端に落ちたらピストンリングを交換したら新車並みに走ります　慣らしを十分にしないと壊れますよ

@user-lk3qt7jc6q 6 месяцев назад

NICE❤

@Desmond.TuTu. 6 месяцев назад

A lot of things shrink in the cold 😔

@waqasahmad8015 6 месяцев назад

If you can give us more clips of you travelling around the uk in your van hope things get better for you soon

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Yes more videos coming soon!

@waqasahmad8015 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling keep up the wonderful work

@MikeWood 6 месяцев назад

Jean Paul is going to be busy when you visit France. :)

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

😂

@paulalanryder5397 17 дней назад

The public toilet situation in England is very bad Ruth, there are very few still open and a lot of those are in poor condition be warned when you travel in England.

@ruthaisling 15 дней назад

It seems to be getting worse and worse :(

@Docter730 6 месяцев назад

棚の取っては半円形のカーブを描いたものか取付穴にあった太いロープを入れて両端を結びで抜けないようにすると引っかからいようになるでしょう。車が2001年製では22年経っているという事ですね。それで120万はちょつと高いかと思いますが日本車は部品が手にいればまだまだ乗れるでしょう。

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

今の日本円と英ポンドの為替レートでは、かなり高くも感じられると思う。アドバイスありがとうございました！

@user-ie7lo9ks9c 6 месяцев назад

ルースさん　お久しぶりに　拝見しました　日本の北海道から　見ています!　バンライフ　楽しんでいますね😀

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

北海道が恋しい。素晴らしい場所だ。ビデオを見てくれてありがとう！

@user-mr3lx2hi5f 6 месяцев назад

ルースさん綺麗ですね！❤

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

❤

@billk9856 6 месяцев назад

Where's the whisky collection stashed? 😉

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

There's not much of it left now.... 😂

@MarathonMan1981 6 месяцев назад

Jean Paul cracked me up 😂

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

😂

@alexwade9921 6 месяцев назад

I think you may have your miles/km conversion mixed up. The odometer in the van will read in miles.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

You are right, whoops. The captions on the screen are incorrect. The vehicle reads in miles like you say.

@alanduncan9204 6 месяцев назад

Aye she has it wrong the mileage is 92 thousand miles which is just short of 150 thousand kilometers. Ruth is not taking me on as I made fun of her attempt at saying Graigellachie last week.....

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

@@alanduncan9204 Mr Alan Duncan, chief member of the pronunciation and caption police 😂 But yes you are right, the captions showing miles and km are incorrect! I did say miles in the video but when writing the captions, made an error. Oops!

@butterflybeatles 6 месяцев назад

Being Canadian I would have liked to have learned how to pronounce it.@@ruthaisling

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

@@butterflybeatles The correct way to pronounce it I believe is "craig-elle-achie" with a focus on the "elle' in the middle. Alun was being very helpful with sharing the correct pronunciation. I was just winding him up above as he doesn't miss anything. 😂

@AnnMarieYeager 6 месяцев назад

You should do something as simple as tie a yellow key chain to the faucet. They make a coiled stretchy with a hook, to attach keys to. Otherwise, a good post it note, or prigram your phone alarm, to ring a reminder, after 10 minutes. Does Alexa work like that? Call you in five minutes, as a reminder?

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

That's a good idea, thank you!

@SalKnt 5 месяцев назад

Bonjour❣. Ruthｻﾝは. 差し詰め「オイリー・ボーイ(和製英語?)」ならぬ「オイリー・ガール」ですね💛.

@davidtoddhoward 6 месяцев назад

Great to see and hear that Ernie is working out well for you. I've been looking for something similar but there are so few good Hiace vans on the market. I've started looking at Japanese second hand imports as an option. Is this something you considered?

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Are you searching in the UK? I spent about a month searching and found 2 suitable vans, this being one of them. The other van was a 1997 and already in Scotland which would have been easier to go and see. I did actually consider shipping one of my campervans from Japan to the UK. I talked about it in my first video on the channel but decided against it for a few reasons, mainly the cost would be equal to buying a van in the UK (based on the budget I had), it would take about 4-5 months and I wanted the van for the summer and also that van had a low-roof and it's really important for me to have a high-roof so I can stand up inside. I lived 18 months full-time in the low roof van and found it very difficult and had a sore neck and back from bending over all the time.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I spoke to many export companies in Japan who are very efficient and helpful with this type of thing though. Second-hand vehicles in Japan are usually in excellent condition. If you can get a van through an auction too, you could get a very good price.

@davidtoddhoward 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling Yes I've been searching in the UK. There seem to be lots of specialist Japanese importers around the UK and the Japanese market has so many more compact camper options than we do. Something like a Toyota Alphard with a pop-up roof would be ideal as a solo or 2 person short term camper. They were only sold in the Japanese/Asian markets, which is a shame as they are compact and ideal for our little island I think.. Prices for a good imported model (UK reg, etc) are high, but so tempting!

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

@@davidtoddhoward Campervans seem to hold their value well in the UK too so if you did decide to sell it on eventually, you might not lose much money on it. There were some Japanese comments on this video saying the price I paid for this 20+ year old van is very high compared to what you could get it for in Japan which is interesting.

@davidtoddhoward 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling That's a great point ☝🏼.. I hadn't considered the resale value (especially for a good condition Japanese import). Thanks so much Ruth ✨. I'll let you know when I've made a plan or decision!

@Alastair6 6 месяцев назад

Nice video, Ruth. Because of you, I am looking at a telescoping ladder. Yours looks to be very handy. You didn't mention how tall you are.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I am 5 foot 3. Those telescopic ladders are good but I was a bit nervous to use one at first incase it was flimsy but it's been fine. Just be careful of your fingers when closing it!

@charlestimothy4345 6 месяцев назад

I think I know Jean Paul, a Frenchman with a scottish accent 😂.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

😂

@user-vi1nb3kh3t 6 месяцев назад

LUTHさんこんにちは。愛車をレンタルするのですか？その間はどうしますか？電車やバスの旅紹介が良いのかもね！フランスに行くんやね、フランス語の勉強中なんやな。次の動画を楽しみにしています。

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

キャンピングカーを持ってフランスに行くんだ。フランスはキャンピングカーの旅に適しているし、キャンプ場や宿泊施設も安いと聞いている。楽しみだ！

@user-vi1nb3kh3t 6 месяцев назад

貴方は頭がいいからフランス語なんかもんだいなしだよ。気を付けないとね。今のレンタカーは人に貸すんだろう。新しいのを買うの？とりあえず気を付けて下さいよ。次の動画を楽しみにしています。@@ruthaisling

@user-uc7bn4ve5s 6 месяцев назад

相棒アーニー号がどんどん進化していきますね。キュートなジャンポール氏お茶目です。😺

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

コメントありがとう。ジャン・ポールを気に入ってくれて嬉しいよ(笑)。

@boonnagao 6 месяцев назад

おー、フランスへ行くんだ！いいねー

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

行ったことはありますか？楽しみにしています。

@amcluesent 6 месяцев назад

Looks snug and fun for travelling.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

It's a great size and works well for me

@shirleysavoury5638 6 месяцев назад

For the water, how about using a hand pump? No wiring or electricity involved.

@pokeyjeanne 6 месяцев назад

Old VW Westphalias circa 1975 had a simple set up where the water just ran out at the speed of the storage tank if you pulled a lever. Alas I am too old now to remember how this worked exactly.... :(

@shirleysavoury5638 6 месяцев назад

@@pokeyjeanne PULLED a lever? Do you remember if the water was stored above - something like gravity feed?

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

That's a good idea!

@caw25sha 6 месяцев назад

How difficult would it be to transfer all the camper conversion bits to a newer or lower mileage van of the same type, if you ever needed to?

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

I think I'd be more likely to sell this van as it is and buy a new one and do DIY if that was the case and I'd do out the interior with wood!

@EricAdamsonMI Месяц назад

You make me want to buy a van 😘

@ruthaisling Месяц назад

You should!

@hank1519 Месяц назад

Ruth, you might consider getting a gas detector.

@Carrera-gp9od 6 месяцев назад

Interesting video , van seems like really good value . Can I ask why all RU-vidrs always pull a surprised face in the thumbnails ? It’s a genuine question does it get more views ? Is that the reason ?

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching! Yes, it does mean the video tends to get more views. I have tested out different faces and shocked faces do the best. There are others who have done breakdowns of thousands of thumbnails on RU-vid and shocked or excited always seems to be the best performing. Sad is the worst performing...!

@yayatarou4769 6 месяцев назад

Paul is handsome indeed😂

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

😂

@craigdunse3 6 месяцев назад

Get a bath fitted next ha

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

That would be lovely haha. Some Japanese vanlifers carry inflatable bath tubs with them in their vans. They always look fun to use, especially in the snow during winter.

@craigdunse3 6 месяцев назад

I have a summer shower in the wagon.handy in the summer months.or find a river👌

@sbrown2607 6 месяцев назад

Hi Ruth, I love your video's. The problem you have with the incorrectly wired water pump, is a straight forward job of moving a cable. Just a small point, I think you made a mistake with the mileage. The outer large numbers and larger MPH signifies that the van is at 92k miles. Sorry to rain on your parade. Keep up the good work.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the advice and you are right, whoops. The captions on the screen are incorrect. The vehicle reads in miles like you say.

@JohnSmith-uy7sv 6 месяцев назад

Never heard of that model of toyota. I have had toyota's for many years and honda motorcycles. I have had a 1999 Toyota Sienna van since 2005 with 230,000 miles on it. It is only automatic and yours is standard. nothing is standard in america. Can't imagine where and how bad your oil leak is. There is nothing much under there for the oil and oil filter. Running a few new wires from the 12v batteries to the sink water pump should be no problem. 14 gauge wire should be more than enough. I don't think the amperage draw is that much for the water pump. It should be labeled voltage and amps. 😁 I want to see the stick shifter. Is it a diesel engine? Most of ours are all petrol/gasoline.

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Yes this is a manual diesel vehicle! Thanks for the tips about the wiring, very helpful

@JohnSmith-uy7sv 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling If my private jet and helicopter was not broken and I was a millionaire, I would fly there and do it for you. Listening to your accent would be enough payment. 😂😂🤪🤪But I am a poor person. 😢

@dawnhertz1014 5 месяцев назад

I have a usb rechargeable pump in my Hiace.

@ruthaisling 5 месяцев назад

Good idea!

@cms9902 6 месяцев назад

How odd. On the speedometer there is H25 and on the gas cylinder it also says H25. Spooky

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Weird...

@robmcvaigh796 6 месяцев назад

Jean Paul 😂

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

😂

@user-se9ny8jw5d 6 месяцев назад

Can we see the inside2 second pictures are a joke

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Sorry I don't understand, do you mean inside of the van? Here is my van tour video where you can see a more detailed tour: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o5C87dFVZpQ.html

@user-se9ny8jw5d 6 месяцев назад

Clips of inside to short 5 seconds not 2

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

@@user-se9ny8jw5d Ok, this isn't a van tour video though - if you'd like to see that please check out the link above

@user-se9ny8jw5d 6 месяцев назад

@@ruthaisling mabe but if you want older viewers slow it down or do you just want to appeal to youngsters

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

@@user-se9ny8jw5d Thanks for the feedback, will add longer clips for future videos 👍

@chriskeystoneadventures 6 месяцев назад

Good day from Manitoba Canada there is a device called a battery isolator when installed can prevent your van battery from going dead on you have a great day 👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🚐⚘️⚘️

@ruthaisling 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for sharing!