This is a great idea. I’ve considered trying to retrofit a Crua insulated tent on the inside of the GFC, but I think your idea might work better and look better.
Unrelated, I just moved to SLC. Where in UT are you? Any camping, hiking, mtn biking, or skiing recs? Always down for a meetup as well.
It has worked out cleaner than I could have ever hoped. I’m thinking about offering these as a product sometime down the road.
I’m in the Logan area. I’ll DM you.
Here’s my latest system upgrade:
Decided that my Highlander alternator swap wasn’t going to cut it, so I went for broke (literally) and now I’m running 4 battle born self-heated batteries, 4 chargers, and an even bugger alternator pushing 120A into the bank. Running the truck for 3 hours and change would put a full charge on the bank, and that could last me 2 or 3 days with starlink and all my other loads running. Epic.
The blankets have been working so well that I now have 5 Rumpl blanked hanging around the tent and bed. Found some on discount at a local store.
Also been working on a monitor in a box - 27" 4K screen that runs on 12V (19V with converter). Computer and chargers + cables fit in the bottom.
One more recent project - cleaned up my solar wiring
Major electrical upgrades going in this week. 4x Victron 12/12-30 chargers to charge my 4 Battle Born 12V 100Ah LiFePo4 batteries. The whole electrical system was in the cab, but I decided to build it into the bed since I like having access to everything when it is nasty outside, and the self-heated batteries won’t have to heat at all if they are with me in a warm truck bed.
Foam insulation 1.5 inches thick gets you clear of the GFC bars
3/16" HDPE starboard sheets Installed with M5 Riv-nuts through the front aluminum wall of the GFC. Planning to add some more once the inverter goes in to give me some more strength.
That’s it so far! Planning on swapping for a 270A DC Power Engineering Alternator. I am planning to wire my batteries as 2S2P for 24V, the only 12V load I have is the heater (easy conversion), but 24V makes starlink 48V easier and everything else can work on 24V.
Floor plan:
Holy battleborns
I’m just here to see the rooftop sprout garden.
Right? I once thought that I only needed a single Renogy LiFePo4 battery, then it turned to 2 battleborns, and now it’s four. You can thank winter for that.
Haven’t forgotten about that yet, but currently in winter. Maybe I could make the propane heater warm it up?
Holy crap what are you powering off that thing? A rock concert?
That would be epic, but really I just want to cook using a small induction stove. Propane is a PITA, especially when it’s nasty outside. The 3D printer consumes about as much as starlink when on, and starlink is on 24/7. For work, I need to power a monitor, laptop, bench-top power supply (that has to drive some beefy loads on occasion), etc.
Bottom line: Lots of medium size loads and I don’t want to be jumping out to idle the truck all the time.
Didn’t realize you were running a mobile 3D print shop out of the truck. That’s pretty interesting.
Was stripping all weekend 
…wire. No joke though, I did nothing but sleep and build this out for the entire weekend. Probably ate less than half of normal meals. But it’s DONE!!!
A few details to note:
Missing electrical items
Got it all rigged back up today and I’m camping again!
Holy substation Batman!
Man that’s some impressive work! Not to rain on your stripping parade but have you thought about running those wires behind the mounting panel? Add to the curb appeal? Haha
Props to you! Can’t wait to see the final result!!!
I might consider it eventually, but for now things are still in flux so I need to maintain as much access as possible. Could add a cover in front, but that would mess with ventilation. Those chargers get toasty.
This is very cool, appreciating your posts.
Any concerns around storing the propane tank in the same compartment where (I assume) you’ll be sleeping? On various ‘van build’ tutorials I’ve seen it specified the tank storage should be sealed from the living area and vented. But I’m pretty ignorant about this stuff, so curious how much of a concern this is in practice.
I have plans to put it in a welded HDPE locker and vent it through the floor (propane is denser than air so it needs to vent through the floor). I have a propane + CO alarm on that back panel that will serve as a first line of defense. Hopefully it doesn’t kill me before then. I think the risk is relatively minimal.
The main concern is the propane regulator or check valves on the tank failing. The regulators have a vent port that has to face down to vent. If something fails, you want a containment and alarm system. Containment system alone will not help because the box will still go boom, but it will give you time to react if you have an alarm
My DC Power Engineering Alternator shipped today, so hopefully by new year’s I’ll have all four chargers going full tilt! Woot!
I installed the alternator and decided to drive the AlCan to AK. Packed everything into the truck and headed out. Nothing like AK to give some cold weather testing. Today (Christmas) I crossed the border into AK. Still going strong, even with the cold and solo driving. I’m excited to keep making improvements and see how the GFC can be modified for better winter use. Planning on staying for a while.
More to come soon once I’m in Alyeska.