OUR VAN LIFE APPLIANCES
Here is a list of all the major appliances we used in our van and recommend for you to use.
FRIDGE + FREEZER
In our past bus we had a 12 volt chest system fridge which worked great, but it was a pain in the butt getting food from the bottom of the fridge. This fridge is great for traveling with two-three people, a little over kill for just one person. It's 12 volt and energy efficient. Be sure to read the manuals to ensure proper fuses and wire sizes.
Use Code "beerrunbus" on RecPro's website to receive a discount.
3 BURNER PROPANE STOVE TOP
A three burner stove top may seem overkill to some but we cook almost every meal, plus with Hope being a vegetarian, it makes cooking meals easier when an extra pan is needed. After five months of full time use we FINALLY had to change out the tank. Don't make the silly mistake of getting an electric stove top; save your battery power. We had the stove and oven combo in our old bus but found that we never used the oven.
It's pricey, but it's worth it. We're from Florida, so we know how important a good AC is. This 12 volt AC can be hooked up right to your batteries and run all night. Be sure to buy the wiring and hardware kit. We recommend a minimum of 500amps of battery to supply enough power to it. It cools our van down in under 20 minutes. Other dometic 120 volt AC's SHOULD NOT be ran off your batteries or with your inverter. This will cause issues and even a fire. If you choose a cheaper 120 volt AC, keep in mind you'll need either a generator or be plugged into shore power.
Use the link below and get 15% off your AC order with RackUp+Go! Discount given at checkout.
MAXX AIR FAN
This is the best van fan in the market! We had a Fantastic Fan in past because the rain sensor idea appealed to us. I mean, who wants rain to come in their van? The Maxx Air Fan will STAY on in the rain without getting a drop of water in the van; genius. Plus this fan brings in at least 50% more air flow. We put our van above the bed and the AC unit in the middle of the van. Doing this still gave us enough roof space for three solar panels.
PROPEX HS2211 HEATER
Being from Florida, Hope is terrified of being stuck in the cold with a crappy heater. Since we went with a propane stove top, it only makes sense to go with a propane heater also. Electric heaters take up too much of your precious battery power. The HS2211 model can be mounted under the van to save space. Since it's outside, fumes are exhausted outside without a worry. Install wasn't hard, check out the YouTube video regarding the install.
RV LABS LATCHES
After using dozens of locks, these are the best RV latches in the market! Install is a little tricky if your cabinets are built already but it's definitely worth the install time and money. Having cabinets open while driving is the worse!
Use Coupon Code "beerrunbus" to get 5% off your order.
ISOTEMP WATER HEATER
This is the holy grail for off grid water heaters. Although we did not install an Isotemp into our van yet, we plan to in March time. This is a genius unit that heats water using the coolant lines of your car! No power or propane needed. From what we've heard, water stays hot for a day or two at a time with just a couple hours of driving.
SLIDER DOOR WINDOW
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Our thought process is, if you're going to install a window, it better serve dual purposes and open to help with ventilation. When we have the slider door window open, plus the bunk windows and the maxx air fan, ventilation is A++
Although we personally don't have a skylight, this one is best on the market. The see-through lid is tented plus is comes with a screen to help prevent too much heat coming through. The only reason why we didn't include a skylight is because an AC and maximizing our solar space was more important to us.