22' Wilderness propane delete, solar conversion and update

[chasingentropy]

Hello, not too many forums left that haven't sold out to AI training. Glad to see there's at least one left.



22' 1990s wilderness I grabbed on craigslist earlier this year. So far I have done

- all oem lighting replaced with led

- propane tank heater removed

- propane furnace removed

- absorbtion fridge removed

- power center rewired

- 10yr polymer roof coating

- 75ah LA front battery replaced with 3x100ah deep cycle agm

- windows reseated with silicon

- USB sockets under bed and couch

- counter installed in center

- all PEX fittings recrimped for modern faucets

- Replace fan in bathroom

- replace kitchen faucet with dual head chef's faucet

- replace bathroom sink/ faucet with vessel sink/led faucet

- porcelain refinish on bathroom tub, replaced shower

- replaced rv height toilet with residential height

- remove front table, relocate jackknife couch

- 8kw diesel heater with exterior 1.1gal aluminum fuel tank, interior air recirculating and controlls

- electric heater and 3kw inverter installed

- all exterior panels resealed with 50yr silicon



Todo list

- led lit bar under counter

- Led 120v lighting

- 1.2 kw solar & engine

- interior heating air filter

- 3.7kw lipo water heater/ backup power bank

- gloss black exterior paint

- motion light in bathroom

- rear view camera and interior headunit with LCD screen

 

[Rich W.]

Quite a project - pictures of the transformation would be great.

 

[chasingentropy]

I wish I was an influencer with rad photo skills but alas I'm but an engineer with average photography skills to I apologize in advance.

Here are some originals since I bought it in feb24

 

[chasingentropy]

Here are some install pictures. I have included some net weight results for the curious.

Vessel sink/faucet (+11lbs)

1.5kw 120v 25gal (-5lb dry), need pictures with PEX in place and inverter

Newish jacknife couch, wood trim needs painting

Fridge and furnace removed -65lbs. New electric fridge and freezer estimate at 30lb each. Need pics of new inverter.

Counter, Todo bar w led light under couch is too big to weigh but the counter is definitely lighter.

Diesel heater in passenger stow w exhaust cutouts. need finished pics and fuel pump and exhaust (-15lbs, 55 including dry propane tanks and diesel tank)


New led light comparison

 

[B52Bombardier1]

How does summertime air conditioning work? Enough battery and solar for it?

Rick

 

[chasingentropy]

How does summertime air conditioning work? Enough battery and solar for it?

Rick

The 300ah LA bank powers the ac which draws roughly 1.1kva at the batteries so around two hours before 10.9v on battery and the solar engine puts out 1kva so infinite runtime in sunlight. I live in a 45ft TT on the same plot so I haven't thoroughly tested it's performance yet. The 1990s insulation factor with no pop outs is insanely high in comparison to nearly no insulation and three popouts on a 2024 45ft TT.

 

[von]

Hello, not too many forums left that haven't sold out to AI training. Glad to see there's at least one left.



22' 1990s wilderness I grabbed on craigslist earlier this year. So far I have done

- all oem lighting replaced with led

- propane tank heater removed

- propane furnace removed

- absorbtion fridge removed

- power center rewired

- 10yr polymer roof coating

- 75ah LA front battery replaced with 3x100ah deep cycle agm

- windows reseated with silicon

- USB sockets under bed and couch

- counter installed in center

- all PEX fittings recrimped for modern faucets

- Replace fan in bathroom

- replace kitchen faucet with dual head chef's faucet

- replace bathroom sink/ faucet with vessel sink/led faucet

- porcelain refinish on bathroom tub, replaced shower

- replaced rv height toilet with residential height

- remove front table, relocate jackknife couch

- 8kw diesel heater with exterior 1.1gal aluminum fuel tank, interior air recirculating and controlls

- electric heater and 3kw inverter installed

- all exterior panels resealed with 50yr silicon



Todo list

- led lit bar under counter

- Led 120v lighting

- 1.2 kw solar & engine

- interior heating air filter

- 3.7kw lipo water heater/ backup power bank

- gloss black exterior paint

- motion light in bathroom

- rear view camera and interior headunit with LCD screen

Having lived in rvs as I worked all over the country I wonder why you would paint an rv black? It may help a little on a very sunny day in the winter but come summer you will cook like a frog on a stick over an open fire. That is why white is the dominant color of choice for rvs.

 

[chasingentropy]

Having lived in rvs as I worked all over the country I wonder why you would paint an rv black? It may help a little on a very sunny day in the winter but come summer you will cook like a frog on a stick over an open fire. That is why white is the dominant color of choice for rvs.

But it's different!

No seriously I just like black and the caravan is a toy, I'm also considering coating the entire exterior in siliconized enamel instead.

 

[chasingentropy]

The winter solstice doesn't leave much spare power for power tools and powering a project house but here's my progress pics so far:

Heater insulated with help, window to control and LCD cut through bed frame, GFCI tied to inverter supply






2.8kva inverter for water heater and backup mains supply, 2.8kva Lifepo4 bank


1.1gal diesel tank for heater 3.9kva AGM bank to the left

 

[chasingentropy]

3kva mains inverter, the solar conduit will run through the old furnace exhaust now filled with foam to the left


Diesel heater and mains inverter control panel temporary position. Will replace furnace thermostat cut in


Caravan roof recoat before edging and panel supports... From a warmer time a few months ago.