I was surprised Mike that it was pretty identical in specs to the two I bought for my solar system yet less $$.

Thanks! There are so many places within upstate NY, but I haven't explored any recently to know if anything is open or closed up. Previously, my travels involved my Jeep JK and since May when I bought my van, it's been build, build, build! If you come up I87 northbound, just as you cross over the Hudson River from Saratoga County to Warren County, you'll see the Adirondack Rest Stop. It's new and has Wi-Fi. That will be between exits 17 & 18. If you come up the Adirondack Trail towards Northville, Speculator, etc, there are areas to pull off the highway. Maybe someone will see your message and reply to this comment! Thanks for watching!

That's awesome! Good luck with your build, safe travels & thanks for watching!!

Welcome aboard and THANKS! I hope my channel grows as well and it's only through subscribers like yourself that make it happen. I think I've been here about a year now and I'm not a professional by any means at videography, editing, clickbait thumbnails lol. At first, I had just my Jeep JK, then I bought my van in May 2024. I knew right from the start that I wanted to do another van build since the last one was over 40 years ago! And the same goes for my van - I'm far from being any type of expert, but I do try with what I have for money and tools, and I love to repurpose things if I can. Thank you again for watching!

I tried every which way Margie to get this thing to extend a shorter distance, even leaving a few rungs at the bottom to see if the ones above it would lock. They didn't, would only lock if everything was extended. Back to the drawing board lol. Take care!

Hi Mike - The step above every one of these must be locked in or it slides down to the next, depressing the locking mechanism on the one under it. It's advertised as an easy, one button release - I guess that's why. It's not a deal breaker on the telescoping ladders. Pretty much my fault for not getting the smaller height that I originally intended. The ladder is great, seems very sturdy, but when that price came $10 lower than the smaller one I was looking at, I grabbed it lol.

@ADKOverlandNY on mine each step locks on its own. Good luck getting the right one.

I may just end up with another, but my first thought was what I should've stuck with. I didn't know the individual rungs couldn't be locked so the height would be adjustable. If that was the case, this ladder would've been perfect. It's very rugged, super easy to use. I'll just look for a smaller size! Thanks for watching!

I mean, sometimes you just need to pass the time and since I can't afford Starlink at this time, I have to depend on something else. I have a single 200-watt panel on my van's roof and although I have room for a 100-watt panel, Renogy said it's not a good idea to mix & match. I would have to get rid of my newly installed cargo basket for the additional 200-watt and I'm not ready to do that at this point. 600 movies and 200 tv series!! Wow that would be awesome! My new receiver will be installed in the van on Monday and that will allow me to connect my portable hard drive that's loaded with music. The TV has a USB connection that I could probably use to play movies from that same hard drive. I'll have to give it a try!

I think they will too Margie! They are just so excited about camping and what I do to my van!

I have a ton of DVD's and had nothing to play them on lol. I just figured the price was low enough to provide an avenue of entertainment. You know - if it's raining outside it limits the outdoor activities!

@ yeah that’s awesome!

Hi Mike! Those little girls are awesome to be around. They are so giggly and full of energy that you can't help to be excited along with them lol. They always greet me with a hug and the same when I leave. In between - they want to check out the build lol. We talked in depth with them about campgrounds and camping in general because last year, a 9 year old girl was abducted in a state campground that we've talked previously about going to. If anything, the day use area that I showed in my last video would give us swimming, kayaking cookouts and fire pit for the day - free of charge. I'll have to see if I have RV (I think I do). Take care!

All I can tell you that's it's still working perfectly. I'll be buying another for my van conversion.

yep - it was all good! I'll have to do that again - but - we have winter approaching here!

Thanks Margie!

Thanks Mike! Hope you are on the mend!

Hi! Thanks for watching! At first, I ordered the aluminum Z brackets to mount my solar panel, but after I got them, I felt they were too flimsy to trust on the top of my van. I really didn't want to take a chance of a solar panel working loose and crashing into someone's vehicle. That's just me - I'm sure those who have used the Z brackets have had no problems. I used simple steel L brackets that were pretty strong & had holes large enough for mounting hardware and screws. I picked up stainless steel mounting hardware (bolts & nuts) to mount the brackets to the panel, then I pre-drilled the holes in the crossbar and attached the panel with stainless steel metal screws (stainless steel won't rust). Hope this helps!

Thank you much - and you're correct - live for today because tomorrow is never promised as it has been said!

I used 1" rigid foam insulation for the walls and ceiling and fiberglass for the inside of the door panels with expanding foam for cracks or otherwise hard to get to areas. Before I applied the rigid foam, my son and I installed Kilmat which is a rubberized material with a super sticky back. This deadens the sound and gets rid of the "tinny" noise. I've outlined this in more detail in earlier videos! Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching!!

I agree with you that a high top will save me from additional head bumps lol. My son jokes that he's going to get me a hard hat. It would be nice - but the money just isn't there for smaller items much less a high top. I don't disagree with you - it's just not financially possible! Thanks for watching - stay safe out on the road!

thanks for the helpful hint with the thumbnails. One thing I detest is the T&A and skintight, barely covering females using those thumbnails just to get clicks. I'm not like that. I'm straight forward, enjoy making my videos - whether good or bad. Being monetized just opens up a mess more KZbin bs that you have to endure. Extra money is always great of course, but it will be me as me - good or bad lol. I really do appreciate your thoughts though!

@@ADKOverlandNY I respect your thoughts. It’s possible to create eye-catching thumbnails without showing off the body. Thank you, and best wishes to you!

I do have a small 500-watt solar generator that I use for running odds and ends - portable power type of thing. A 100-watt solar suitcase fits right on my dash and keeps that charged up. My main power is a 200-watt Renogy solar panel that feeds 2 100AH LiTime LifePO4 batteries. I have a video out on my solar setup.

@@ADKOverlandNY I'm still in the learning stage on solar but have learned a lo

believe me - figuring out solar can get your head spinning depending on how simple or elaborate a system you want/need. The best thing is to write down a list of everything you have or want to run then figure out how much power each draws.

Well..... that's a very good question lol. I was thinking tonight that maybe I should start doing a breakdown of components and such to give everyone an idea.

well, I'm not too far behind you in age lol. Back in the van craze days, I ordered my captain's chairs with swivels straight out of the catalog. Today's prices will give you a coronary!! If I find a source for a driver's seat - I'll get a hold of you! Thanks again for watching!

Yeah - Maine & upstate NY are pretty much parallel with each other on the map, but it has always been an awesome drive to Maine for me in the past. Then to stop at Mike's Clam Shack!

Thanks much! I lack a freaking table saw lol for ripping some trim. That's really holding me up from closing up loose ends. I had those water jugs from before and they fit in pretty nice just by luck. I have the same Shurflo pump that you do with the pressure switch, so as soon as I have enough money, I'll buy the drop-in sink and attach the faucet. But, I'm moving at a snails pace right now!

@@ADKOverlandNY yeah I’ve been super busy so I haven’t been working on the van to much, I think I’m going to sand everything, do some poly and start moving stuff in to make it so I can use it. I could work on all the little odds and ends for months or just be happy and use it haha

Hi Mike - I have a collapsible sink if I need it, but the small drop-in bar sink will do me fine. Good to hear from you!

You're welcome. I got my kit and fuel kegs through Home Depot and I think the price was the same as buying this on Amazon. Thanks for watching!

these are legal for transport - the green buggers aren't supposed to be but you know how that goes lol.

Well thanks for watching & subscribing! Since that video was when I first got my van in May of this year, it took probably a month to find a buyer for the cabinets, security partition and ladder racks. Then I started my build from that point - after cleaning the inside lol. Take care!

The water jugs came from Walmart - they hold a little over 3 gallons and cost about $6-$7 each. The pump came from eBay and right now the same pump is something like $9. I've seen them on Amazon, but mine came from eBay. Hopefully this link works: www.ebay.com/itm/184018619541

It actually worked well in my motorhome, but the jugs fit nicely in the sink cabinet, and I figured - what the hell - use them. I have the same water pump that you do, but I'll wait until I can afford a sink & faucet and other necessary parts. I'm really surprised at how long that bottle top pump runs without having to recharge it, but I figure if I needed to wash something off outside of the van, I could pull the entire setup & go.

@@ADKOverlandNY makes sense, I like it!

I bought that little pump in 2021, and it's been going strong ever since. They're selling on eBay for a little over $9 - www.ebay.com/itm/184018619541

Thanks! I love it and it had everything I was looking for. The original owner had it rust proofed and undercoated which was big for me in upstate NY! Thanks for watching!

Why thank you! Between the bugs on my windshield and the clouds moving in, it could have been a much better video!

Hi Mike - once you get away from the cities the Adirondacks are awesome!

lol - nope - JC Penney. I also ordered from JC Whitney but if you look at the "Blast From The Past" video, I showed the exact catalog pages that I ordered from at JC Penney. Wished they still sold that stuff - a great variety but I liked the prices too. Thanks for watching!

Thank you & thanks for watching!

@@ADKOverlandNY you are very welcome!!!!

thanks Mike - a little at a time

lol - maybe that's what I needed Mike - simplicity!

Thanks! I'm slowing down a bit too - I've poured a lot of money into stuff and right now car insurance hit. It's always something!

@@ADKOverlandNY I feel that haha

Apples, apple picking, apple pie, apple crisp and colorful fall foliage lol!!

Thank you so much & thank you for subscribing! I love that oscillating saw. Just like you said - it's easy to use, makes less of a mess and the cuts are more controlled. I bought the pine at Home Depot for $32 each; here's the link to their site: www.homedepot.com/p/Common-21-32-in-x-18-in-x-6-ft-Actual-0-656-in-x-17-25-in-x-72-in-Edge-Glued-Pine-Panel-0080105/323005946

@@ADKOverlandNY Thank you SO MUCH!

I have faith in you!! I'm 67 years old; no special skills but I do try to take my time and the only person I need to satisfy is me. If I don't know something, I research it online - especially KZbin. You probably read where I was on a Facebook group for Chevy Express conversions and a member of the group asked how to make a cardboard template. Oh my God - you'd think he just asked for your first born! He was ridiculed and received nothing but idiot comments. So, I included that process in one of my videos - or at least how I do it. I am far from being an expert, but if I show how I'm doing something, maybe it will help someone else - and that how I learn - by watching others do their build and it's like an online exchange of ideas! PS - my bathroom is a 5gal plastic pail - for now lol! Have a great day!

@@ADKOverlandNY Thank you so, so much for this very kind, encouraging response. Sooooo nice of you to take the time. Thank you.

I've seen where it splits and was told that the other trail goes to Prospect Mtn, but I've only ventured where I did. It's still a nice little ride! Thanks for the info Dave on the other trail!

Hi Mike - I'm still building. I've started on the framing for the sink cabinet; got all of the shelves cut & installed on the newest cabinet by the side doors and yesterday I cut the hole, mounted and wired the remote for my inverter. After installing that yesterday, I just wanted a break and decided to take a ride northward. I'll have a longer video put together shortly!

they're like a one stop shop lol - power outlet, fused switches, USB and a voltmeter!

Great job. I’m really liking the switch panel, Amazon? Thanks 4 sharing.

yes, it came from Amazon - it's been working great with no issues!

@@ADKOverlandNY excellent thanks for the quick reply.

Thank you once again Mike for your nice comments! Spartan Power made up some of my cables and it's really handy that you tell them the length and the size terminal you need. They provide a lifetime warranty on the terminal ends. I've since cut the remaining shelves for that tall cabinet by the bed and today I started moving some clothing in there. Also today, I cut more of the tongue & groove cedar and enclosed one wall right alongside my propane cylinder. Eventually I'll have that portion enclosed and I'm going to install a propane leak detector there.

thanks Mike! Yeah, the portable solar generators certainly keep everything compact! I continue to use my little Oukitel solar generator, especially on the 110v outlets. My solar suitcase fits perfectly on my dash, so it keeps that generator topped off pretty easily!

Wow two 2000-watt Bluettis! That's an expensive power solution but I would love the simplicity of that as well. I've been looking at similar units.

Thanks very much! Hoping to use it this fall anyway!