Suggestions on options you can't live without

[kzemach]

GREYWATER TANK: Someone noted that you can't have a greywater tank with the under vehicle compartment and the 46 gallon tank? Not true! I have a RB50, the large under bed storage compartment, and a greywater tank. Works great.

DIESEL / STOVE: I got the marine diesel heater, and it's one of the (few) things that has not been problematic with going all diesel. Have posted ad nauseum regarding the flatplate heater on the Yahoo site, so I won't repeat here, although I may move the pics of the conversion over. The portable butane stove works great, although that means I have violated the "one fuel" mantra. I've seen the small stoves like what SMB sold us for $23 each. The cannisters I've found below $3 each, although usually they come in around $3. Each canister lasts two people an average of 5 days of cooking. If you want two burners, get two of the small stoves! We also have a jetboil to do our hot water, which is key.

BTW, Espar lists that they have a mogas (gasoline) correlary to the marine diesel heater... so those with gas instead of diesel might be able to drop the propane as well?

[Jeffrey]

I'm going for the Espar Diesel heater, too. I will have the propane H2O heater and cooktop. I also want the microwave, which will greatly save on propane usage, and better serves my cullinary needs. I wonder if I can get a single burner stove in the countertop? With the micro, I won't need the burner too much, certainly not two. The standard two burner unit takes up a lot of useable space on the countertop for it's occassional use.

[geoffff]

As a data point, our (gasoline) van has no propane installed. We use the portable butane-cartridge stove for cooking (inside or out). But that does leave us with no furnace. We sometimes fire up a portable Coleman catalytic heater, but usually the heat from cooking warms our van long enough to eat and go to sleep.

-- Geoff

[canyonclan]

We were on the fence about the propane option.
In the end, we kept the system and added:
*Propane furnace
*LPG extension (like Burklin) w/12' hose and adapter for stove & bbq.
One of our main destinations is the Eastern Sierra. In the winter, I want the option of a warm rig for after skiing or chilly nights.
For beach camping at Crowley Lake or down in Baja, I really like the idea of being able to hook up a bbq or two burner stove outside to cook off the SMB tank. Opted not tp get the hot water heater...thats what the stove or solar shower is for.

-Jeff & Maranda
'07 SMB RB-37 4x4
Patiently waiting Aug delivery

[Buji]

Originally Posted by PeasBugs

Black water - Then you must be getting the built in toilet. How much extra Grey water will you be able to hold? Where are they putting the extra tank?

The extra tank is going under the pass. side dinette, and I believe it's 5 gallons.

the Macerator toilet has a 6g blackwater tank, and there's the typical 10 gal greywater tank that the shower will feed to.

I will probably be carrying extra water in a portable plastic tank that I can take out of the van if necessary (rather than have an additional freshwater tank installed in a permanent position in the van, so we have a variable option.

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by canyonclan

We were on the fence about the propane option.
In the end, we kept the system and added:
*Propane furnace
*LPG extension (like Burklin) w/12' hose and adapter for stove & bbq.
One of our main destinations is the Eastern Sierra. In the winter, I want the option of a warm rig for after skiing or chilly nights.
For beach camping at Crowley Lake or down in Baja, I really like the idea of being able to hook up a bbq or two burner stove outside to cook off the SMB tank. Opted not tp get the hot water heater...thats what the stove or solar shower is for.

-Jeff & Maranda
'07 SMB RB-37 4x4
Patiently waiting Aug delivery

We've got the propane heater and have done some winter camping around Mammoth. It keeps the van very warm and comfortable. I'm very happy with the propane furnace.

The extra storage option on the EB vans is also very handy. I keep all of our tools, repair stuff in there and have plenty of room for other items when necessary.

We got the hot water system that draws heat from the motor. Have not used it in more than a year of ownership. If I were ordering today, I would not get any sort of water heater system.

R

[kzemach]

Originally Posted by EMrider

We got the hot water system that draws heat from the motor. Have not used it in more than a year of ownership. If I were ordering today, I would not get any sort of water heater system.

R

Interesting; I suppose that then depends upon what you do with it. We got that option too, and use it all the time. It certainly qualifies as an option that "we can't live without." Since we sometimes stay for extended periods at a ski area (nothin' like parking lot camping), we love taking a hot shower every night after skiing. Same with climbing: after a long day of dirt in Yosemite, there's nothing like a hot shower. I'll bet we use the hot water to fill a portable shower 1 out of every 2-3 nights we sleep in it on average.

We sometimes also, albeit rarely, make a quick stop during a drive to make some tea or coffee. When that's the case, you just turn on the hot water and it's boiling hot out of the tap.

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by kzemach

Interesting; I suppose that then depends upon what you do with it. We got that option too, and use it all the time. It certainly qualifies as an option that "we can't live without." Since we sometimes stay for extended periods at a ski area (nothin' like parking lot camping), we love taking a hot shower every night after skiing. Same with climbing: after a long day of dirt in Yosemite, there's nothing like a hot shower. I'll bet we use the hot water to fill a portable shower 1 out of every 2-3 nights we sleep in it on average.

We sometimes also, albeit rarely, make a quick stop during a drive to make some tea or coffee. When that's the case, you just turn on the hot water and it's boiling hot out of the tap.

I'm hoping to do more extended camping trips and that may indeed change my view about this option. When you're parked, how long do you typically have to run the motor before the water is hot enough to use?

R

[jage]

Yes, and I'm wondering from everyone: Shower inside, outside, both or neither?

It looks like the inside shower wouldn't be that good for tall people is mainly why I'm wondering...

[Jeffrey]

This water heater choice have been my toughest decision. I was trying to go with just diesel appliances and eliminate the propane system and hot H2O tank altogether to create more storage area and a cleaner hookup panel. However, I am just not happy thinking that I will have to idle my diesel engine whenever I want hot water if I get the hotplate system. The last thing I want to do is have to start my engine when I wake up in pristine wilderness (in cold climates) or stand behind the van (where the shower hose option is intended to be used) showering while breathing a dose of exhaust gas close by. Yeeccchh!! And I'm sure my wife will be very unhappy doing that, too. So as of now, I'm getting the propane tank just for the hot water system. It seems like a lot of stuff just for that purpose, but I know that when I have that nice water pouring on my body that really needs it, I'll be glad. And, by the way, I'm getting the single burner portable butane stove and keeping the countertop nice and clean.