I have been using the AC200 Max shrsl.com/4ljzm for over 2 years in my sprinter. so impressed i have decided to use the bigger AC300 in the Vario shrsl.com/4ljz7 as a side not Becky has the AC240 in here Van shrsl.com/4ljzo
looking good Mel ! but isn't it going to be a heavy build I know the van can take it but going up hills and going over uneven ground it'll be very swing swing and fuel is going to take unnecessary hit but if you are good with that no-one can fault the build quality and workmanship. 👍
I thought that. There's a video on here that shoes a guy building lightweight cabinets for his van using insulation boards and PMF (poor man's fibreglass). Might be worth looking at that mel
8:23 quick tip Mel, with pocket screws it pays to have a clamp when screwing in to stop it riding up a few mil like it did. also, try to make sure you drill the pocket hole so the screw is going the right way, itl be much stronger. What I mean is if you drilled the holes so the pocket was on the top of the stretcher the screw would bite at 4 o’clock and give a stronger hold.. yours from the underside at 1 o’clock has less meat to screw in to and won’t be as strong. It’ll be fine in this case with your worktop on top but just incase anyone copies for cupboards or lockers or thinner materials for example 👍🏼
I do hope my videos help people out with their own projects. Thank you for always taking time to leave positive comments I really appreciate you taking the time 👍🤓👍
A word of caution on using the Bluetti as your electric system for the van. When I did my build I wanted simplicity and a lack of wiring because quite frankly my skills are not up to it. I bought the PowerOak AC200 Pro (I think it is called) well before I had found a van, when it was on special offer. Even in the offer I paid out something like £1600 of my hard earned to buy it. After building my van and having a couple of short test runs (where it functioned ok) it's first proper use was a 3 month trip, which by now was sometime after the poweroak had been purchased. On that 3 month trip the thing would charge up to a percentage of the 100% and this percentage of charge it would accept reduced and reduced to where it would only charge to less than 50%. I finally managed to locate a customer service for them and being fair to them, they collected it and took it for repair. When it came back it would charge to 100%. Having just been on a 6 week nordic trip, twice the thing randomly dropped charge. Once from about 80% down to 40% and one afternoon I checked it and it was at 97% when we went out and we came back to find it had switched off all together leaving the fridge to warm up nicely for us. When I switched it on it was showing 0%. It is nearly 3 years since I purchased it. I generally use sites with electricity so this is to fill in the gap on the odd wild camp of one or two nights or whilst travelling. They are said to be good for thousands of charges yet mine must have had in total less than 200 (prob 100). It galls me when I see these companies throw their powerbanks at youtubers (who are not going to say anything bad) yet when they are used for real they are unreliable and the marketing cost should have been used to provide reliable product. Not a dig by the way, I don't know whether you paid for yours or not. Just a cautionary tale.
I think these units are random when they fail, we’ve had many BLUETTI, Jackery and ALLPOWERS and all of them have worked perfectly for over 3yrs, I’m sorry to hear you’ve had problems. It seems that it’s just the odd unit that has these issues. Get in touch with the company and see how they can help. They should offer a replacement or a refund if they’re wanting to look after their customers 👍🏻🙌🏻
Thank you for sharing your experience with us I’m saddened to hear that you have had problems with your Power Oak. I have a Bluetti AC 200 max installed in my sprinter that I live in full time and it’s never let me down in over 2 years that’s why I’m installing the AC300 in to my Vario camper and Becky has the new AC240 in her transit. Rest assured that if we do have any problems or issues we will let our followers know 👍🤓👍
Not questionning your integrity Mel like I said I don't know if that unit is part of their marketing ie gifted or you paid for it. Is none of my business. I just wanted to add a cautionary tail of my experience. Perhaps I got the powerbank equivalent of a friday afternoon car 😐. On a brighter note I love how the Vario is coming along. Your channel is one of my faves on van buids.🎉
@SACREDTRAVELLER thanks for your reply. I think the first issue was probably a software issue though they never told me. It had had so few recharges that nothing else could have failed. It is now 3 years old (ish) and one of the ones that takes 7 hours to charge which is why it is annoying when it suddenly drops charge. Apart from the obvious of having a warm fridge. I doubt they would be interested in doing another free repair.
To anyone thinking that Mel seriously uses a spirit level while building a van - you’ve been HAD! It’s a totally hilarious joke that Mel wanted to put into the video. Have a chuckle everyone 😂😂😂
I have to be honest, I'm surprised you used a spirit level! Was it a windup?!! I'm sure you will do a great job as always, and I know nothing but what if the van is parked on a slope!!!!!?
Everything i use in my camper van you will find here in my Amazon Store www.amazon.co.uk/shop/melsvanworld this is an affiliate link so every time you make a purchase i make a small commission good news it doesn't cost you any extra but it helps me to continue to make these videos. thank you.
Looking really good mate. One thing. Move ya racket strap release catches to the front in case you need to pull your power banks out lol. Looks like it be hard when you got your kitchen work top on 😊👍🏻👌🏻. Loving the build mate keep it coming.
Ive no doubt youve already thought of this because your good like that BUT if you put a top over the Blueetti will there be enough room to undo the ratchet straps should the need arrise???? 🙂
Nice precision work! I just can't fathom why, with all the sprawling space available, you opted to sleep like sardines in a can. My fixed bed is also side to side, but having those overhead lockers so near my noggin wasn't my cup of tea. Thankfully, my bed stretches from side to side at 195x135cm, and when extended over the seating area, it blooms into a spacious 195x195cm. Sleeping back to front rather than side to side has made all the difference in how snug I feel in the van.
Which Bluetti are you using ? After something to give back up / emergency charger and operate power tools away from sockets
I have been using the AC200 Max shrsl.com/4ljzm for over 2 years in my sprinter. so impressed i have decided to use the bigger AC300 in the Vario shrsl.com/4ljz7 as a side not Becky has the AC240 in here Van shrsl.com/4ljzo
Ate unit scribing them to van
@@BigVanSmallWorld so what’s the difference with new ab 50 unit ? Do you know
I done the whole of my Toyota camper in plywood Mel , after near four year's it still looks great 👍 you won't regret that decision
Thank you for the positive feedback really appreciate that you have taken the time to comment 🤙🤓👍
Dragonfly is really starting to take shape, great idea about the storage space near the bed... Nice & level too 😂..😊☯️
Thank you! 😊xx
Love that you used a spirit level, this of course assumes that the van is also level 😂
It was a wind up 👍😂👍
❤@@BigVanSmallWorld
He taught u well young jedi lol.looking gd so far .
Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive comment really appreciated 👍🤓👍
Spirit level , you are on the wind up.
Hahaha well done 👍 yeah totality 😂😂👍
looking good Mel !
but isn't it going to be a heavy build I know the van can take it but going up hills and going over uneven ground it'll be very swing swing and fuel is going to take unnecessary hit
but if you are good with that no-one can fault the build quality and workmanship. 👍
Thank you I’m making it as light as possible but keeping it as strong as possible it’s a fine line 👍😂👍
I thought that.
There's a video on here that shoes a guy building lightweight cabinets for his van using insulation boards and PMF (poor man's fibreglass). Might be worth looking at that mel
Looks great Mel 👊👊
Thank you! Cheers!🍻
Brilliant Mel, best van conversion youtuber by a country mile.
Thank you that’s very kind of you to say I really appreciate the positive feedback made my crappy morning just that little bit better 👍🤓👍
That's looking brilliant 🎉
Thank you 👍🤓👍
8:23 quick tip Mel, with pocket screws it pays to have a clamp when screwing in to stop it riding up a few mil like it did.
also, try to make sure you drill the pocket hole so the screw is going the right way, itl be much stronger.
What I mean is if you drilled the holes so the pocket was on the top of the stretcher the screw would bite at 4 o’clock and give a stronger hold.. yours from the underside at 1 o’clock has less meat to screw in to and won’t be as strong.
It’ll be fine in this case with your worktop on top but just incase anyone copies for cupboards or lockers or thinner materials for example 👍🏼
Thank you 👍🤓👍
Absolutely loving this build series you & Becky make a good team, I’m even watching on sacred traveller as well lol
Thank you 😊 x
Thank you for the positive vibes really appreciate your encouragement and support 👍🤓👍
Another ace video Mel! They always help budding van builders 😁
I do hope my videos help people out with their own projects. Thank you for always taking time to leave positive comments I really appreciate you taking the time 👍🤓👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld they have helped me over the last 2 years 👍
Nice job there Mel ..... Coming on a TREAT!! 🙂
Thank you for the positive vibes really appreciate you taking the time 👍🤓👍
A word of caution on using the Bluetti as your electric system for the van. When I did my build I wanted simplicity and a lack of wiring because quite frankly my skills are not up to it. I bought the PowerOak AC200 Pro (I think it is called) well before I had found a van, when it was on special offer. Even in the offer I paid out something like £1600 of my hard earned to buy it. After building my van and having a couple of short test runs (where it functioned ok) it's first proper use was a 3 month trip, which by now was sometime after the poweroak had been purchased. On that 3 month trip the thing would charge up to a percentage of the 100% and this percentage of charge it would accept reduced and reduced to where it would only charge to less than 50%. I finally managed to locate a customer service for them and being fair to them, they collected it and took it for repair. When it came back it would charge to 100%. Having just been on a 6 week nordic trip, twice the thing randomly dropped charge. Once from about 80% down to 40% and one afternoon I checked it and it was at 97% when we went out and we came back to find it had switched off all together leaving the fridge to warm up nicely for us. When I switched it on it was showing 0%. It is nearly 3 years since I purchased it. I generally use sites with electricity so this is to fill in the gap on the odd wild camp of one or two nights or whilst travelling. They are said to be good for thousands of charges yet mine must have had in total less than 200 (prob 100). It galls me when I see these companies throw their powerbanks at youtubers (who are not going to say anything bad) yet when they are used for real they are unreliable and the marketing cost should have been used to provide reliable product. Not a dig by the way, I don't know whether you paid for yours or not. Just a cautionary tale.
I think these units are random when they fail, we’ve had many BLUETTI, Jackery and ALLPOWERS and all of them have worked perfectly for over 3yrs, I’m sorry to hear you’ve had problems. It seems that it’s just the odd unit that has these issues. Get in touch with the company and see how they can help. They should offer a replacement or a refund if they’re wanting to look after their customers 👍🏻🙌🏻
Thank you for sharing your experience with us I’m saddened to hear that you have had problems with your Power Oak.
I have a Bluetti AC 200 max installed in my sprinter that I live in full time and it’s never let me down in over 2 years that’s why I’m installing the AC300 in to my Vario camper and Becky has the new AC240 in her transit. Rest assured that if we do have any problems or issues we will let our followers know 👍🤓👍
Not questionning your integrity Mel like I said I don't know if that unit is part of their marketing ie gifted or you paid for it. Is none of my business. I just wanted to add a cautionary tail of my experience. Perhaps I got the powerbank equivalent of a friday afternoon car 😐. On a brighter note I love how the Vario is coming along. Your channel is one of my faves on van buids.🎉
@SACREDTRAVELLER thanks for your reply. I think the first issue was probably a software issue though they never told me. It had had so few recharges that nothing else could have failed. It is now 3 years old (ish) and one of the ones that takes 7 hours to charge which is why it is annoying when it suddenly drops charge. Apart from the obvious of having a warm fridge. I doubt they would be interested in doing another free repair.
To anyone thinking that Mel seriously uses a spirit level while building a van - you’ve been HAD! It’s a totally hilarious joke that Mel wanted to put into the video. Have a chuckle everyone 😂😂😂
I have to be honest, I'm surprised you used a spirit level! Was it a windup?!! I'm sure you will do a great job as always, and I know nothing but what if the van is parked on a slope!!!!!?
lol well done for spotting that 😂🤣😂🤣👍
It’s a HUGE windup to see how many people notice, only two people so far…😂😂😂
Everything i use in my camper van you will find here in my Amazon Store www.amazon.co.uk/shop/melsvanworld
this is an affiliate link so every time you make a purchase i make a small commission good news it doesn't cost you any extra but it helps me to continue to make these videos.
thank you.
becky and adz are gonna love this mel.are you going to call it the thruple.?lol
Call it whatever you like
Great vlog Mel looking good 👍
Thank you 😁
I have size 16-17 feet, wouldn't be much of a bottom to the cabinet left 😂🎉
Looking really good mate.
One thing. Move ya racket strap release catches to the front in case you need to pull your power banks out lol. Looks like it be hard when you got your kitchen work top on 😊👍🏻👌🏻. Loving the build mate keep it coming.
Thanks for the tip that’s a great idea I’ll go do it right away 👍🤓👍
Ive no doubt youve already thought of this because your good like that BUT if you put a top over the Blueetti will there be enough room to undo the ratchet straps should the need arrise???? 🙂
Yeah I did realise this mistake afterwards! Thank you for taking the time to comment really appreciate it 👍🤓👍
Yeah I did realise this mistake afterwards! Thank you for taking the time to comment really appreciate it 👍🤓👍
Great bit of woodwork vans coming on nicely did you do a before weight of van just to see how much weight had gone in it
Thank you and yes 👍
Nice precision work! I just can't fathom why, with all the sprawling space available, you opted to sleep like sardines in a can. My fixed bed is also side to side, but having those overhead lockers so near my noggin wasn't my cup of tea. Thankfully, my bed stretches from side to side at 195x135cm, and when extended over the seating area, it blooms into a spacious 195x195cm. Sleeping back to front rather than side to side has made all the difference in how snug I feel in the van.
lol the bed is massive it’s it’s literally 6.5 foot by 5ft euro double
How do you know the ground the van is on is level?
Because I used a spit level 😂👍
The van will never sit level springs shock absorbers and all the other suspension stuff .
It’s a wind up - the van will always be whatever level the ground is that were parked on 😂😂
Scribing😮
🤷♂️
..Sorry Mel!!..shuttup ya noisy F..... good edit Mel lol
Haha 👍👍
What’s with the red dot on your icon? I don’t like it.
I don’t know 🤷♂️