My First Major Mistake! 😳| Blake Builds Van Life Ep.4

[@gmbn]

What features would you have in your ultimate MTB van? Let us know 👇

[@nacnud2323]

Diesel parking heater, a few kwh of batteries, 100 litre of water (min). Nice to have would be LPG gas install and a calorifier water heater hooked up to the engine coolant loop. After that it's all just layout and what you want to use the van for.

[@sandywatson1082]

whats happened to GMBN e-bike chargers in a van, you might as add a space for your Zimmer frame

[@Ha-GNAR]

disco ball and purple velvet interior

[@tomb2289]

Major security/insurance setup. If I planned and built my pride and joy like that and it got nicked I can't imagine 😭

[@tbregovic]

Insulation

[@paulcrtr]

Loving the build but don't forget to use some sound deadening before you full enclose the rear part of the van. Cuts down on road noise a bit plus helps make the van feel less tinny when shutting the doors. Insulation stuffed in the cut outs in the rear of the van will help with the temperature plus noise reduction. Bit late to put it round the rear wheel arches.

[@JayGee6996]

Insulation will be key if he’s taking the family, hopefully he doesn’t forget that bit

[@gabrielgostelidelacruz6235]

About to come and comment the same thing

[@kirawr8064]

the scenes with jen and the kid are so adorable very very cute Blake Builds Van Life is just too good

[@janr222]

blake you have a small problem. At the big red wires from the battery you put the fuse at the end. If the insulation is damaged you will get a short circuit to the metal of the car without a fuse in between. This can cause a fire. The main fuse should therefore be located as close as possible to the battery. Have fun building your own bus.

[@mjjbroekman]

Your friend is a great teacher. Letting you do everything yourself and make mistakes and not judging or making fun of you when something goes wrong is such a great thing to see. You should be very thankful to him. Keep up the good work! Nice series to follow.

[@Mesa3077Boogie]

Just the amount of research and knowledge it takes just to plan this is insane. nice work Blake.

[@gmbn]

It's definitely not an easy job! 😅

[@DocHolliday3841]

@@gmbn Around when can we expect this project to be done? January or later than this month?

[@gmbn]

Hi Doc, It'll be running for a while longer. The van is a long way off from being complete so stay tuned! 😉

[@cgriggsiv]

The van is coming along with super awesomeness It is a pleasure to see Jen and little man in one of your videos again Everyone have a good day Blake we all make mistakes you fixed it good keep going

[@colinfisher2463]

I don't have a van or plans to convert one myself, but I can't get enough of watching this series.... Top effort Blake.

[@alexroge6495]

Remember blake, “Grinder and paint, makes us the welder we ain’t.”

[@liamkent8305]

Martin is my new favourite GMBN addition, sarcasm at a pro level.

[@jonathandixon8456]

An option would be to link the batteries in parallel to save having two live feeds and two VSR’s

[@andrewsupernova]

Love your build series, seeing your Mrs and kiddo properly brought me back to reality and made me realise you're doing this as a job as much as for us. So humbling.. love you Blakey boy!

[@badbradmx]

From what you explained about the cables and the fuses it sounds like you weren't going to fuse the cable runs at the starter battery? Fyi, car audio fuse holders are good for this, they are designed for high current and can seal to be water resistant.

[@Swiftfury]

Looks amazing Blake, but just getting more and more worried with the fact that you haven't put in ANY Insulation yet ! That van is going to be freezing otherwise :/

[@BBurton1231]

Haha. This is my worry too. Insulation was my first project with my van.

[@janmayen2677]

Nice to hear i'm not the lonely one worried about insulation. Blake, plz, explain us why you didn't anything yet. Great job, though!

[@MehYam2112]

Are there any solutions for injecting insulation into empty cavities, as can be done with spaces in home walls?

[@BBurton1231]

@@MehYam2112 , yes there is, but it's highly toxic.

[@d-nicebikes]

Blake, the less fun business of wiring.....you still managed to make it more bearable. Bound to be some 'mistakes' along the way, it's what will make you appreciate the 'Transugatti' build that much more. Enjoying sitting in on the journey, thanks for taking us along. Cheers!

[@alyssajessie27]

6:10 I love the honesty, Jens cookies also look insanely good.

[@maz_mtb3266]

Being a father of 3 myself, that moment with your family was great. My youngest loves "fixing" stuff in the garage with me. I wish these van build videos would all come out like a Netflix series so I could binge watch them from start to finish!

[@OberliXVR]

Nice your friend knows how to work with people and create a good environment to learn in 👍

[@rob_j_b6618]

😂 That very end bit! Like a dad telling their kid that they're not angry, they're just disappointed!

[@gmbn]

So true! 😂

[@Balecart]

Victron stuff is fantastic and use a stirling 60amp charger dc to dc great stuff. I run my 3000w pure sine wave inverter to charge my ebikes boil the kettle etc.

[@dylan-5287]

Been loving the blake build series. The garage shop last year was excellent and the hardtail was so cool. This is another level. Those adventure vans look so sick, more stuff to save up for haha.

[@GAZOD]

I think your van would have a smart alternator in which case you would need a B2B not a split charging relay, using a split charging relay instead of a B2B will cause you problems if your van has a Smart Alternator.

[@Rockhopper1]

correct

[@danbray3960]

Blake, you should have wired your batteries together to double the capacity, then you would have just needed one live wire, one inverter, etc. If you want any advice get in touch. I've done a few race vans

[@Cassienope]

The doubling up everything was interesting. Really not sure why he did it. On the plus side. He does have have double.

[@miless2111sutube]

@@Cassienope I was assuming that it was so that the one in garage can't drain the one that they're using for the living space?

[@chairmanmeow1875]

Seeing you explain stuff to the little boet is brilliant. That boy has a future

[@gazhos]

Very optimistic to have solar roof living in the UK. Excelent work man, really like how the build is going

[@danmar94]

Was like the Interstellar scene behind the book case watching two vsr's and two batteries going in. Going to make it such hard work for yourself! Should have used a b2b with the two batteries next to each other in parallel (van will have stop start so a vsr won't fully charge them. It'll also kill your alternator). One beefy inverter with a changeover switch for the 240v shore hook-up would mean the same sockets could be used for your ebikes wherever you're getting power from.

[@dylanslater919]

These Van builds are just getting better and better can’t wait for the next one

[@gmbn]

It's definitely taking shape! Thanks for the support, Dylan! 👍

[@daveincowes]

excellent series, great work Blake, I am loving it. Bringing back memories of fitting out the Cookie Monster (VW T5 in Danish Blue) The slim lower draw is absolutely genius, a very clever solution. Keep up the great work... and stay warm. #alwaystimefortea

[@matthewjohansalonga371]

This van is going to be really sick after it's done!! Nice build man(:

[@jeskli11]

It'll be very nice van once it's done. Don't forget to put some security layers before you'll start insulating it - see KZbin channel Ladi and Margret, they've done a good video about this topic recently.

[@jeremyrobson7414]

Won't running live wires through a solid metal frame make the rack live if the wires insulation ever wears down

[@gmbn]

Hi Jeremy, All of the wiring is safe and insulated so there is very little risk. 👍

[@evigvandrare]

Absolutely loving this! This van is going to be wicked.

[@gordoncahill1170]

Finished a full conversion of the same size Transit last year. Three month project. 1. You need to double fuse those battery cables. 50 amps at each end. Or you'll potentially burn the thing to the ground or worse, if you're asleep when it goes. You need you master switch before the fuse box or busbar. 2. Get onto your insullation and sound deadening now. You've already made fairly big compromises when it comes to keeping warm by welding to the floor. I'd be looking at sound deadening and insulation of floor walls and roof as soon as possible. 3. Why separate battery systems? Seems overly complex and more expensive. If you combine you leisure batteries in parrallel you'll only need one inverter and be providing it with more efficient power. One fuse box to diagnose issues. The money saved on doubling up can go to increasing you battery and/or solar capacity. 4. Lithium. Only lithium. More expensive but higher usable capacity, lighter and a better choice for charging your eBikes. 5. You probably need a B2B charger for your model van no an isolator. 6. The Joolca is greatlame inside the housing. I'd probably mount it to the back door instead of inside so you can properly isolate and vent it when in use. 7. If you're doing any water system that should be done soon. Put it on top of the insulation to stop freezing issues. Good luck. I hope you love your van as much as we do, ours.

[@gordoncahill1170]

naked flame not *greatlame* sorry.

[@mattb05]

Absolutely loving this series!! Getting all these ideas for my van even though it is just a little SWB

[@lynwoodbeckles2554]

Earthed in the UK , Grounded in North America. RAD !!!!

[@TrailsJunkie]

Ah a van, vanlife. A mountain biker's dream 🤘🤙

[@ChefBrian1]

Love these videos. Great work Blake!

[@dorkysaur]

I really enjoy this van build series cause I am learning stuff and Blake is just an awesome human being.

[@gmbn]

Glad to see your loving the build, @Blackfire! Stay Tuned! 👊

[@Rockhopper1]

please shock mount your inverters, sat above the wheel the vibrations will damage them.

[@patrickbarrett5790]

this is a fantastic series! I am really looking forward to the next episode!

[@gmbn]

Thats great, Patrick! Stay Tuned! 👊

[@BOLLOX64]

Expect you'll be hitting the bike resorts in Europe, so it'd be wise to also have a 2-pin EU socket on the outside as well, for connecting to the mains

[@bhamlax6]

Highly recommend a foot valve for that boiler/shower if it doesn’t come w/ one already so the pump doesn’t get jammed up and burn out 👍

[@tomoliver1996]

hate to give ya the news after all that welding, but JOOLCA make a mounting bracket for the system. and also might be best to put it on a hinge as it produces quite a bit of heat from the top vents possibly damaging the bed above.

[@oakleymaliska5359]

these videos make my day, Great work blake!!

[@jaredjosiah9089]

Buzzing! very happy to see this today!

[@joshbb9463]

That is some milky tea Blake! Great work!

[@JaredHerdlevar]

We all need to make sure that this man keeps streaming across the internet for all days!

[@the_spanner_ch7mp]

Yes more Blake (and Martyn ) builds 🤘 Vans coming on nicely We all learn from our mistakes and good that you (Martyn) noticed it early . Oh and I think your #GMBN Stunt mug needs a good clean 😜😂 Great stuff 🤘

[@littleshopofrandom685]

I'd dispute the term "hot" water with that kit. So called instant hot barely work when connected to 100 amps of 3 phase mains power. At best, it will be a bit warmer than a freezing river. :)

[@jackieminka1161]

Loving this series! Doing a build from scratch is complicated and this behind the scenes is really helpful. One question/comment - on the wire run through the steel pipe, are the ends of the pipe rounded or padded to prevent friction against the casing? The rattle of driving could wear down the wire casing over time which would be dangerous. Have fun and stay safe!

[@nilz6432]

The 12v positives which connect the batteries should get some protection from getting worn through, especially the one running through the metal pipe. Run it through a plastic tube or something similar.

[@jiffy6867]

Are thay pure sound wave inverters

[@raphaelwolff8205]

LEGEND ITS LOOKING GOOD.

[@tobiasiserhot4880]

I Love this Series Blake 🥰 It will be a amazing Van.

[@stujm8376]

Am loving this, I would love to have the opportunity to do the same thing. A mate is planning to turn a van into a camper, I don't think he realises just how much work is involved.......

[@gmbn]

It's certainly more work than we expected! 😅

[@itsyaboiclark4194]

I LOVE BLAKE BUILDS, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS EPISODE SINCE PART 3

[@gmbn]

Thanks for the support! 🤘

[@tngkr]

love this series and cant wait to see the finished van!

[@Hooknlinefishing]

I just absolutely love this series

[@gmbn]

Glad to hear it, Charlie! Thanks for the support! 🤘

[@Hooknlinefishing]

@@gmbn thanks

[@MarkToddMJT]

Great work Blake! Loving this series!

[@junaustria0119]

Blake. For shelving. It's best to use a laminate finish on it then a paint finish. My suggestion only.

[@ddsgardening7437]

Love the work boy your a great team can't wait for part 5🙏🙏🍺

[@Silverhaze78]

You can tell Blake likes his full size vehicles after having a wrangler and now a full size van. Keep up the great work and be safe on those narrow roads. 👍🏿

[@dazmtb]

I’m so loving your van build series and totally hooked. I don’t know who’s more excited you or me to see it finished ✅ 🙌🏼

[@ConorPhe]

Are you putting in a split charge relay or a b2b charger? That van looks new enough to have a smart alternator so would need a b2b. This caught me out when building my van!

[@pulser955]

Looks really good. But pro tip never but screws in the the end grain of plywood. It will not last and will fall apart latter. And any time you are building things with wood to go in to a van you should glue and screw.

[@zsanterre]

Can we get an episode where Martin explains the complex details of the wiring? Like are you converting a DC/DC to the 2 AC/DC batteries? It looks like thats what you're doing.

[@hammyh1165]

Should run Lithium leisure battery's , they run for ages off of solar. Bit spendy though.

[@JasonFoxLCB]

I don't know how I missed the first three episodes (yes, I'm subscribed), but this is a hoot.

[@kmurashov1]

Waiting for new episode is like for presents on Christmas morning🔥🔥🔥

[@gmbn]

🧑‍🎄

[@bluestraycat]

I love this series so much

[@junka1975]

Mistakes happen Blake. That chocolate chip biscuit looked very tasty, if you have a wonderful wife who bakes for you, you are a very lucky man (buy her some chocolates as a thank you.). Your son was having a ball by the looks of it seeing his dad work. All in all a great effort. The van looks like it's going to be epic. 😎👍

[@SquashysDaddy]

Nevermind Blakes builds, Van life. How about Blake and Monkey just chat. So cute.

[@malintous1]

That's great, the water system running off its own battery when you already ave mains and 12v system seems counter intuitive though

[@manolis3948]

Please make a blake builds a bike park 😂🤙🤟

[@gmbn]

That would be insane! 😅

[@Butter__knife]

You are always welcoming The beautiful people! Well what about the rest of us?

[@elanorfairbairn]

I don't like DIY. Or vans. But I looove your series Blake!

[@martintin250]

Brilliant, I chuckled when it was -2…

[@paulhowell1534]

Great series 👍 Martin wasn’t angry......just disappointed 😂😂

[@gmbn]

Thanks for the support, Paul! 😂

[@rupedog]

looks like it will be epic. No insulation in those voids?

[@martinwheatley1639]

How have you fitted the split charge relay.. I thought you would need "CTEK" charger because of the smart alternator?

[@montyswoodworkscrafts2232]

Love the build, but what about sound proofing and insulation?

[@gmbn]

Thanks, @Montys Woodworks & Crafts! All to come! 👍

[@cityproofdad]

Way good what a van that will be

[@tobythornber3465]

Looking good

[@weekendshredding1958]

BLAKE JUNIOR!!😜

[@reiddryden9805]

Check out the shower Ronnie Dahl has on 4wheeling AUSTRALIA

[@denesk2794]

In a vehicle used for bikes my primary requirement is to fit 1, preferably 2 or 3 bikes WITHOUT ANY DISASSEMBLY. No twisting bars, no taking wheels out, no messing with any of the components in any way other than dropping the seat with the dropper post. Also preferably bikes should be inside when parked, preferably chained/alarmed/electrified and booby-trapped because the world is filled with bike thieves. Just my 2c. Currently own a pick-up that fails in some ways (locked inside) ... looking at a Hiace (2018) that might fit 2-3 bikes and provide *some comfort*. While not being a "driving a boat" experience at the same time. Not for camping, just day trips taking a normal and an e-bike to bike parks.

[@tomb2289]

No chance I'd have got that weld right either to be fair. Love this series!

[@ChrisCapoccia]

buzzbar??? doesn't blake mean busbar?

[@alexh.4068]

Hi Jen, let's have that cookie recipe :-) New series, Jen Bakes!

[@66tiny93]

Grab some alcohol and drink every time Blake says "HERE" HAHAHA. Great work mate!

[@rubenmehta1586]

good job blake keep up the grate work

[@gmbn]

Thanks, Ruben! Glad to see your loving the series! 🤘

[@DeanJonathanNeal]

What invertors and leisure batteries did you use? I'm about to fit one in my van!

[@lordoverride]

Best part of the video: The cookies. 🤗 Sorry Blake.

[@BikeLifewithRob]

Keep buiilding!

[@SGT952]

Milk in first blake! You bloody mad man

[@dr_delay]

@zimblake I hope you have factored in the switch from 27.5" to 29" wheels for the hard tail when it comes to the bike garage in the van.. :-)

[@thim8009]

I run a 400 watt inverter for my ebike. If I charge 2 bikes then I run a 500 watt.

[@milolangers_overhall]

What's is that 240v fuse box called thanks

[@Tomfriendly9000]

Blake if at some point you need some pro advise I recommend you hit up Josh Oaks here on KZbin. He dos custom vans for a living, the dude is a wizard when it comes to building a portable home.

[@ben.vonegidy977]

What about Insolation