“Rescued” from becoming a Penske van, with two owners, “Vanna” has taken us across the North American lands without any issues. We purchased Vanna as a stand-alone, issue-free wanderer which we have loved!
Our favorite things about Vanna
- Professionally built out-everything truly top of the line
- Plenty of solar power-we have never run out of power
- Full kitchen-Amazing set-up with refrigerator, gas stove, gas oven, full sink with sprayer, filtered drinking water. Two fold-up butcher block counters and Lagun butcher block table for laptop or eating.
- Both driver and passenger chairs swivel to arrange as great living space when parked.
- Laveo dry flush toilet/outdoor shower/set-up for hot water tank
- Elevated bed with garage storage and bike set-up
- 2 heaters–propane and gas–chase the powder for ski season or head to Alaska with confidence
- 2 Maxx Air Fans for continuous air flow in summer
Techy Items
Batteries: 2 x 120 Ah Overland lithium batteries fed by:
● 4 x 100 watt Renogy solar panels up-top that feed 30 continuous amps on sunny days
● Alternator charging as well
● Batteries are monitored/maintained by Victron BMV 712 unit
● Phone connects through bluetooth via Victron app
● All items are run through a fuse box located in the cabinet above the bench
○ Fuses are balanced and organized in the following fashion:
■ 1: garage lights
■ 2: Propex Heater
■ 3: Fridge
■ 4: Drivers 12v
■ 5: Passenger 12v
■ 6: Water Pump
■ 7: Ceiling Lights
■ 8: LP Solenoid
■ 9: Forward Fan
■ 10: LP Alarm
■ 11: Rear Fan
■ 12: Webasto Heater
Electric: Batteries provide power to everything behind the privacy black-out curtains:
● 10 LED lights controlled by dual dimmers
● 12V water pump
● Heaters (Propex & Webasto)
● 2 MaxxFans
○ 6200k
○ 7500k w/ remote + doubles as room thermometer
● 49L Truckfridge slide-out fridge/freezer
○ Temperature controlled by knob behind freezer
● Propane switch for range
○ Located below light dimmers, above sink
● Propane leak detector
● 4 x USB charging by bed
● 10 x 120V outlets enabled by
○ 2 of these, located under the sink, are turned on by a light switch above the bench. Yes, very misleading.
● Renogy 2000 watt inverter (located under closet)
○ It’s own breaker is located behind it and will shut itself off if too much power hits!
● Note:
○ To turn off solar, flip the switch located in the cabinet above the bench.
○ To turn all battery-use systems, turn the power knob located in the bench.
Cooking
● Suburban 3206A 3 burner stove + oven
● Note:
○ When cooking:
○ Ensure propane is turned on below the driver side of the van.
○ Press the propane solenoid button (will illuminate red when on).
■ The solenoid is located below the sink and will get pretty warm when on.
○ Stove top operates by turning the burner to Lite, waiting 5-6 seconds, then rotating the spark knob until the burner is lit.
○ Oven operates by turning the oven to Pilot, pushing+holding knob in for 5-6 seconds, and while keeping it held in, open the oven and light the pilot at the back, bottom of the oven. Once lit and keeping the knob pushed in, turn it to the desired temp. You should see the oven ignite!
Water:
● 11 gallon fresh water tank (gravity fed through fresh-water hose) that feeds
● Hose connection in back to spray bikes or for outside shower
● 12V electric pump to faucet
● drinking water faucet is filtered
● Switch for pump is to the right, outside of the sink cabinet
● plumbing has room for water heater (I removed the initial one)
● 10 gallon gray water tank
● When I empty this, I ensure all water is in the tank from the sink, then pull the hose from the sink trap. That way I can snake the hose out of the van and into okay areas like street drains.
● 5 gallon propane tank mounted under driver-side which feeds:
● Propex heater
● Suburban 3 burner + oven range
Heat:
● Propex heater + stock controller
○ Heater is located inside the bench. Look for the blue box on the left!
● Webasto + MultiControl HD
○ Heater is located under the passenger seat. Be sure to have the black-out curtain rolled up so it doesn’t trap heat in the front seats!
○ When operating, be sure to wait 15 minutes before turning on.
Bed platform in the back fits a 6″ full mattress (included) and sits over the garage with plenty of space for bikes, boards, camping gear, and a guest on a pad. The bed will comfortably sleep those 5’11” or shorter.
● This bed is a Modway Aveline 6” Full Mattress (75 x 54)
Closet with shelves and slide-out hanger bar for clothes storage.
Bench with 2 folding butcher-block backs for extra countertop space.
Lagun pivoting table table to work/eat from bench or from swiveled driver’s seat.
Swiveling driver & passenger seats
● Be sure to push the seats forward enough to clear the turn!
● Pull the red tab upwards and begin the swivel.
Bathroom amenities
● Outdoor shower, Laveo dry flush toilet https://dry-flush.com/
Storage everywhere + box above rear driver-side wheel well.
● Great place for bike gear, travel bags, bike hose, etc.
Ladder
● Attached to rear, driver-side door
Tires
● BFG KO2s added December 2020!
● Warranty info is with invoice
● Note: Spare tire is normal spare, it is not KO2. Should the spare need to be used, I’ve read that the spare can still be used, but aim straight for the nearest tire shop.
Cosmetic
● Slow brush into a tree branch when parking cracked paint above the passenger sliding door.
● This was remedied with silicon sealant into a dope arrow (->).
Repair/Cosmetic
- Hail damage on driver side
- Roof repair by the dealer when the second floor of the double-decker transporter came-down on top of the front right of the van. The roof was fixed by the dealer before purchase. For preventative measures, self leveling lap sealant, silicon, and a paint-on rubber compound to seal missed areas as well as touch-up possible areas of worry (e.g., cables from solar panels).
FarOutRide was followed in this blog: https://faroutride.com/leaking-roof/
