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It depends how far I'm driving. At the end of the day. I want to be 80 to 90% charged. Charging at high current causes more heat and more wear on the batteries and reduces their lifespan. But within a 10-year lifespan most people aren't concerned. If I can charge at 20 amps anb be at 80% or more at the end of the day I'll do that. But if I have a short drive, I charge at 40 amps that with the solar panels the charging current is over 50 amps. As you travel you'll find what works best for you. It's not good to fully charge to 100% SOC or discharge below 10% SOC for the lithium batteries. I'll have more videos on that in the future!

@@FrugalFactor Thanks for the clarification. I had forgotten the recommendation to not go over 80% SOC. We are just starting out so don't have a handle on our electrical usage yet. But even if charging the battery to 100% brings the battery from 5000 cycles down to 2000 that's still 5 1/2 years, and we won't be full time on the road. So as I learn our needs I'll keep the limit wire in mind. Thank you so much for your videos. Your van build has had more influence on ours than anybody else (and I've watched more videos that I want to admit!), so I am grateful for all your efforts. You have a way of building practicality and budget friendly aspects into camper van builds that works well for our needs.

Thank you. That's probably the most positive comment I've received. If you have any further questions you can email me at the contact email listed on the website. Also at www.thefrugalfactor.com are all the videos listed by category. Thanks for watching 🙂

@@wdj935 The electric pump is faster, much less work. I set it up and let the electric pump do the work 🙂

@@FrugalFactor Thanks. will you be using the electric pump for your transmission services as well?

Thank you. Your comments highly appreciated.

Ours has a very slight tint. Not even noticeable when looking at the stars, the Sun or the trees through the hatch. At night we put up a magnetic screen and see the stars straight through the screen also with a hatch open 🙂

We are still using the original screens we made. But when we do replace them I expect the make that thin side piece (which is only about 3 inches wide) out of solid material so it is durable - in case the door closes on it. A strap or tab to hold the screen away might work, but you would need to remember to attach the strap before closing - which I know I would not do. Also, all the videos divided by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

If you have the stubby ratchet it takes some power to remove it. Be sure you're turning in the right direction. Counterclockwise to remove. The person who put it on may have put it on very tightly which is not necessary. There is a o-ring that will seal. Once you do this the first time you won't have any problems.

@@FrugalFactor yes I have the stubby- and am turning CCW. My dad suggested using a wrench with the circle end over the stub wrench to get more torque. So there is no harm in giving it a good turn- maybe even some hammer tapping? I have a new oil filter cap also- but concerned about fracturing the housing…

I would not use a hammer. Too much force could damage the oil cooler which is under the filter housing.

@@FrugalFactor I think the dealership already damaged the oil cooler as the sensor is throwing an error.

Nice idea. Never thought about that and it sounds like something I would do! But, it has been working as it for three years now, without any problems. All the videos divided by category can be seen at thefrugalfactor.com/

I only use this for flat panels. For any curves I use Polywall and shape it with a heat gun, then cover with marine vinyl or duramax cloth. All the videos can be seen by category at thefrugalfactor.com/

In over 3 years it hasn't softened. It's solid. The brackets are as tight as the day they were installed. No problems so far.

Above the headliner most areas 3/4" (.75"), in a few places two pieces of 3/4" Polyiso. At thefrugalfactor.com/ you can see all the videos divided by category.

You can do it. For the RAM promaster I recommend this order 1. Remove the oil oil filter. 2. Pump out the old oil. 3. Put in the new oil 4. Put in a new oil filter. By removing the oil filter first and leaving it out, makes it easier for the pump to remove the old oil. After your done run then engine a few moments, the turn it off an check the oil level. That's it. Easy to do, and with the pump you never need to crawl under the van! It can easily be done while traveling in a parking lot.

@@FrugalFactor ok ! Thank you for the sequence ! I will be doing this while camping hence my hesitation incase something? Goes South!:)

Once you do it yourself, you will always to it yourself! All the vides can be seen at thefrugalfactor.com/ divided by category.

Thank You, your comment is highly appreciated.

Yes, your correct the top mark. If I said it upside down, sorry - guess its how you look t at it :-) At thefrugalfactor.com/ you can see all the videos divided by category.

CRT is NOT taught in K-12. I would love to see the facts of what was "exposed" during COVID regarding what teachers actually taught. Live feed classrooms? How about a live feed for teachers to see if parents are really parenting properly? Are they teaching their kids to be respectful? Clean up after themselves? Do their homework? Not talk back? Or even get out of bed to go to school?

​@user-oc5bo6fe2p Teachers are paid by the community just like police. They are the ones who need to be monitored. You sound like a comunist with your desire to have parents monitored. If you think CRT is not tought you know nothing. It absolutely is disguised under many names. It's always presents view of white man bad. Wake up

​@@user-oc5bo6fe2p with regard to facts, good grief , tons of vidios on you tube. Do your own research.

@@user-oc5bo6fe2p teachers are paid by the community just like police.They need to be monitored for job performance and not indoctrinating. You sound like comunist wanting parents videoed don't be naive our children are under attack by leftie Marxist teachers.

I agree planning is key. But an AP class that you were successful in, even if it did not meet a College requirement, still raised your GPA.

No when I started I wanted the two summer months off. Your thought sounds better though!

I have had the same valves since installation, about 3 years. They are somewhat covered as seen in the installation. Also, I am in warm climates, and have not traveled in snowy areas (yet). All the videos by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

Maybe that’s part of it I am in Michigan and these have been outside, not being used during the winter. Thanks for the reply

Thank YOU - All the videos by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

Thank You. This is a very popular video. Let me know if you have any other electrical questions. All the videos by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

Your welcome. I did several videos about the shower at thefrugalfactor.com/ you can see all the videos divided into categories. Enjoy your build!

You welcome - All the videos by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

The kitchen sink does not have hot water. Not needed. We could reach over and use the shower wand in the kitchen sink, its long enough. In more than two years we have never missed hot water in the kitchen. All the videos by category can be seen at thefrugalfactor.com/

@@FrugalFactor that’s why in my van conversion, I’m putting the shower & kitchen on the same side, driver’s side, to ease plumbing. This way, I can have a hot/cold water “main,” then have the shower & sink (and maybe a small washer/dryer) split off that.

If you watch this video czcams.com/video/vYiWQh-6bY0/video.html you will see the actual installation. We use a single pump for the shower and a single 5 gallon grey tank for the water. To refill when we want it is gravity fed from the fresh water tanks. Yes we can re-use the 5 gallons for multiple showers, and replace anytime we want. We also use electronic ball valves to empty the tank. Been working well for over two years. Thanks for watching

Yes, also you can see all the videos by category at thefrugalfactor.com/

The tube length is up to the edge of the metal oil dipstick. The first time you do this - after you remove the oil go under and remove the oil drain bolt. If no oil comes out you know you have the correct length of tube. From then on no need to remove the drain plug when changing the oil. Also as you mention in your other comment - the oil filter change is shown in the Part 1 video.

@@FrugalFactor yes! Watched that video on the filter change. Lots of good advice there too!

Thank YOU - All the videos by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

Yes I used these amzn.to/3U8Icnv Also, all the videos by category, with products used can be seen at thefrugalfactor.com/ Thanks for watching. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy your build!

@@FrugalFactor Thank you

I did not add up the cost. But even if you needed to purchase everything, it would be much less that what the mechanics charge. The full list is in the video description and at thefrugalfactor.com/

@@FrugalFactor thank you 🙏

It's sill sealer foam roll see amzn.to/3Wcp5f0 Also, all the products and videos by category at thefrugalfactor.com/ Thank YOU for watching.

@@FrugalFactor thank you so much! Very appreciated!

Thank YOU for the positive comment. Wire for DC to DC charger goes along the bottom channel of the promaster. You can see it in this video czcams.com/video/eRI2-RZOcAY/video.html The wiring for the cabinets goes through the channel on top. You can see the top channel in this video: czcams.com/video/Yjze5Dx_Wu0/video.html No plumbing or wiring goes under the floor. It important to ensure easy access in case you ever want to make a change, add something, or make a repair. All my videos divided by category are at thefrugalfactor.com/

Thank YOU Happy it helped. All the videos are at thefrugalfactor.com/ divided into categories. Be sure to use the proper gauge wires - see this video czcams.com/video/AJGZh6iW5CE/video.html

No, I would not do that. Lots of transmission fluid would be lost. Mark the zip tie/dispstick and store it someplace in the van, it does not get lost or used for something else!

Yes, sandblasting works, or even hand sanding. When you start your build all my videos are by category at czcams.com/video/AJGZh6iW5CE/video.html

I changed the transmission pan to make it easier in the future to drain and refill the fluid. The new pan has a drain bolt. Even if you do not change the pan you should use a new gasket.

Thank you, I will change it then👌🏻