Portable power stations, at home and on the road!

     (page contains Amazon affiliate links)

    I had begun my interest and research on power stations, solar panels and back up power sources when I bought my class C years ago. Unbeknownst to me it had a small solar panel on the roof that trickle charged the house batteries. Well, how cool is that!?

    Fast forward several vehicles and now we have our own  Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro 

The reason I carry one everywhere is the fear of my wheelchair power assist battery dying, or my prosthesis battery, while away from home. One trip to FL and our timing was off so we had to pull over late and find a place to sleep. It was quite chilly and the Jackery kept our electric blanket on high all night. Super impressive! 

This specific model is light enough for either of us to lift and haul around, and it is usually brought in the house during storms, or winter.

    ALWAYS plan for the worst, and hope for the best.

    With Black Friday and Cyber Monday here, Jackery has some nice sales and deals. Give them a look and you might find one that suits your need and style of travel.

     Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Solar- (Amazon affiliate link)Power on the go, 40W solar panel,Durable LFP (LiFePO4) batteries,  Easily manage your Explorer 300 Plus Solar Generator via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

    Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station- (Amazon affiliate link) LONG LASTING ENDURANCE,  SUPPORT PASS-THROUGH CHARGING, size of a basketball!

    Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station- (Amazon affiliate link) Next-gen Sustainable Power: Built with industry-leading features, including 7.5 times faster charging than its previous Explorer 1000 model, a 50% increase in power output and robust 1,500W AC output, smart app control and monitoring. 

    Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station-(Amazon affiliate link) High-Capacity Power Solution, High-Capacity Power Solution, It's 41% lighter and 34% smaller than typical LiFePo4 portable power stations, Use it outdoors and indoors, risking no fumes and enjoying a safe, eco-friendly alternative to gas generators.

window covers

    I'd bought window coverings shortly after buying the van. I'll be sleeping, using the toilet and really need the covers for privacy. But also to keep heat/cold out, and help keep it warm/cool inside.

Ford-E-Series Van-Window-HeatShield-Sets

No matter if I am traveling or at home. I always keep the 2 back windows covered. 

    A couple friends were following me one day and mentioned that the reflective covers were pretty blinding. 

OH! That's awful. I've had that happen before. Must fix.

    So....I decided to cover the black side. I really like the material and color of a bag Amazon used for some gifts my BIL and niece sent me. 

(NO comments about being a bag hoarder. I have boxes saved too!!)

I'll probably cover the other side eventually, with a light color.

    What do you think?? I love blue. I think it came out pretty good. I ran out of hot glue sticks.lol

Wesonorous 12v dual compartment fridge

Fridge/freezer unit arrived!  

Wesonorous 12v dual compartment fridge

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The 52 Quart 12 volt car refrigerator dual zone comes with two zones, dual temperature single control.

#amazonaffiliate

To me, the size and dual capacity was very important, as I travel with a great deal of home prepared, frozen/stored into servings foods. I plan to only shop every 2 weeks or so for fresh produce. So I needed an adequate fridge to handle that.

I need to figure out how to secure it in the van. Already have too many things that could fly around in a crash. I saw too many videos when I trained to be a bus driver, of items flying around the inside of a vehicle in the slightest of collision.

You can see here it was set into a shelf area, then securely strapped down across the middle. The lids are reversible so I need to turn the unit backwards so the vents have plenty of circulating air. I play to have a fan behind it circulating air for it and my solar set up and batteries.

The beginning plans....

 And so it begins:

(cross posted)

    I have researched and watched videos, taking notes, making plans, changing plans, learning as much as I could about what I will be capable to do, and what I will need in a build. I previously had a small class C and a B and have travelled for many many years. 

    I had planned to hit the road and nomad about 11 years ago, but I started managing my mom’s life (dementia) and travelled from NY to FL every 2-6 weeks for 6 years. 

The time came for her to move in with us. My daughter and I share a home (2 single adult women, why have 2 places??) so, I sold everything including my RV   and bought a 2 family.

Mom passed last year, at home as she wished. 

    It is my time again. 

I’ll always have the 2 family and will be limited to more of a snowbird nomad existence, as my daughter has special needs as well. It’ll work and I’ll enjoy the solitude all the more when and where I can.

I was hung up on whether I should buy an RV and put in a wheelchair lift, or a wheelchair van and modify. (previously I just crawled in and out and dragged my wheelchair behind. My body says I should stop doing that  lol)

I ended up buying a 2012 Ford E-250 last summer, high top, with wheelchair lift with 9k miles. 

The lift was less than a year old and still under warranty.

There is no passenger seat up front. There is a little set of stairs there. And 2 attached seats in the back. 

MobilityWorks Albany NY

I love the van, it handles great. We’ve been back and forth to FL over thanksgiving. 

The add ons I’ve done so far were a Jackery 1000 Pro.

The Jackery 1000 Pro is pretty much for keeping my wheelchair, prosthesis and phone charged.Jackery 1000 v2 2024 version

#amazonaffiliate

Another feature, very important to me as a wheelchair user, was the Laveo dry flush toilet. Yes, that was expensive, but as a wheelchair user I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been unable to find an accessible restroom. (or hotel etc) Even driving around doing errands. It can also be brought inside as a bedside toilet in the case of iless, post op, as I age.... It charges and the battery has lasted me about a year so far. That's crazy  lol

Laveo dry flush toilet

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I also got EuroVan Van Window HeatShield Sets. They are 2 sided, but one side works best as the windows aren’t the same shape, when flipped.

Ford E Series Van Window Insulation Sets

I need a solar set up for anything else. Fan in the ceiling, little fridge, little freezer, possible hot water on demand, water pump. I’ll have a some sort of coleman cooktop for cooking.

My “plan” is a small bed along one wall with storage and fresh water tank. Other side will be little kitchen type space. Sink towards the wheelchair lift so I can use it as outdoor shower, if environment allows. Have a pf membership too, for that reason.

Grey water tank where??

Needs to be gutted and insulated first of course.

I’ve a bit of money to get some of this done, and am looking for resources/people near upstate NY to do it.

Any ideas, dm me!

WandrinVan conversion-it begins!

 Puzzle me this!

I bought a van that I can't use the lift to get in, by myself. Heh

What could be rigged up to keep the door on the right open, then close once I put the lift up/in?? (when looking from the inside)

Below is the fix my friend Ed came up with!

He cut a hole through the floor grating at a height that I can reach my arm through to open the doors. Then we strung rope to the doors, through the grate and attached handles. Then I can pull the doors shut from the inside. The doors staying open and not crashing into the lift, are still an issue. but it is liveable for now.

I need to use care when it is windy as the doors blow closed on the moving lift and those hydraulics are powerful and have crunched the right door a couple times.