Owl Boxes, Ladder and Tire Carrier for our B Van

[@howwevan]

Check out all the Gear we keep in our van: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnbZnphpZ8Sirrc

[@hothondansx]

Concise & to the point.....well done!

[@howwevan]

Thanks for watching!

[@therealBobbiSue]

Great video! I am researching what boxes to buy for my van and found this very helpful. Thank you.

[@howwevan]

Thank you so much! Glad you found the video helpful. Thank you for watching and safe travels! Happy Holidays!

[@taurusview9]

Thank you for the video, it was great. How far does the box stick out measured from the face of the tire ( in inches)? Any issues with having that thing stick out that far?

[@tuomasholo]

Very nice setup

[@howwevan]

Thank you! We like it! Appreciate your comment.

[@accidentscienceinc.2056]

Thanks for showing the view out the back window. Good idea to use 2 boxes. I have not decided yet if I should go with the monster box or the 2 like you have.

[@howwevan]

If it helps, we did the math and the two boxes have a bit more room than the monster box. Thanks for watching and your comment!

[@dcasandman]

Just ordered large box and bike racks for ours. Looks good. Still like them?

[@howwevan]

Thanks for reaching out. We still love our boxes! You’ll love yours too! Safe travels!

[@TonyKoji]

That looks fantastic! My van came with the medium storage box and I ordered the large to put over it. I didn’t realize I would have to drill new holes through the mounting system. Poor design on Owl’s part. Did you install the boxes yourself or have someone else do it for you?

[@howwevan]

Yes, because of the drilling we had our ladder and boxes installed by Owl Vans. We love the boxes! Nice that your van came with one already. Thanks for watching! Safe travels!

[@dww1213]

I really like how the storage looks but wonder if interferes for using the back screen in terns of obscuring the view. Thanks!

[@howwevan]

The boxes interfere a bit with the view but we found the boxes necessary given the lack of storage in the “garage.” We installed a digital mirror to overcome the rear visibility issue and love it. Here is a link to watch Wade install our the digital mirror: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml7UXp6HiZiEd5o Hope you enjoy your camper van as much as we do.

[@Sorraxe]

Hello there. Is your van Diy van? Iam asking to know the name of the Sofa you got there? Any help to know where to get it?

[@howwevan]

We purchased our van already built out by Grech. This type of sofa can be found in many vans from companies like Airstream, Roadtrek, and Pleasure-Way. Sorry don’t know where they source it from. Good luck! Thanks for watching!

[@rachel7550]

So glad I saw this. I was wanting the monster box but would prefer the 2 box setup, didn’t even realize it was a thing. I wish they were just a little more affordable since not only do I need the boxes but also the $1900 door attachement and $289 hinges😭it’s hard picturing around 5k on extra storage space, but since the roof is taken up by solar etc seems like the only other option… minus a carrier hitch which isn’t that functional. 😅ugh what to do.

[@howwevan]

I totally understand! I love the boxes if that helps. We keep our outside stuff, outside which I really like and they are easy to access. With the big batteries, there isn’t a lot of storage room so the boxes give us the storage the batteries took away. The 2 boxes provide a little more space in volume when compared to the single monster box but can’t remember exactly how much bigger. Good luck! Thanks for reaching out. And thanks for watching.

[@rachel7550]

@@howwevan thanks!!! Yes would love to have an outside area for outside stuff lol. No problem thanks for the video!!

[@steveleston1848]

do the boxs lock so some low life won't run off w/ the contents? I like the ladder, I wouldn't be standing on the spare tire, you know to cover it from sunlight right.are the batties worth the used inside space is the main thing.

[@howwevan]

Yes, the boxes lock and are very strong. No one will be breaking into them too easily. The ladder is a great way to get access to the roof if you ever need it, and it seems like standing on the spare tire is commonplace (and is how John, owner of Owl Vans, demonstrates using it in his walk-through video). But I agree it’s probably not the safest way to get up high - I just did it to demonstrate how sturdy the setup is. The tire cover is a great suggestion - thanks! I will have to look into it. Regarding the batteries vs storage issue: that is a tough question. For us, the batteries are one of the big benefits of this model. We never need to use hookups when camping or boondocking because we’re always charged up from driving and they seem to last a very long time. And we can run our microwave, A/C, inverter, or any other appliance anytime we want to. On the other hand, the lack of storage under the sofa was an issue for us and is the main reason we got the Owl boxes in the first place. So for us, the setup we have works great. But everyone’s needs are a little different. Thanks for watching and especially for the tip about the spare tire cover.

[@rachel7550]

Couple questions, 1 did you use the b2 bike carrier as the attachment to hold the boxes or the Sherpa plate? And 2 do you hear the boxes or items in the boxes clanging around when driving at all? Thanks!!

[@howwevan]

We used the B2 carrier to mount the boxes on - were told it supports more weight than the Sherpa. And No, we do t hear anything inside the boxes moving or rattling around. They’re stuffed pretty full but I’d guess there must be some movement - but you can’t hear anything. We love the boxes - they’re on the pricey side but worth it for the extra storage space. Thanks for watching!

[@rachel7550]

@@howwevan good to know!!! Thank you!!! Did you mount the bike poles that it comes with anywhere or just remove to fit the boxes?

[@howwevan]

No, they gave us the poles so that we could use them in the future if we want but we did not mount them. I believe we’d have to remove the upper box if we decided to ever mount a bike (but it’s nice to know it’s an option).

[@ahmadhizan8821]

Very nice

[@howwevan]

Thanks for watching!

[@gofy8481]

Great Video. Check out Avatars boxes and racks. Better than OWL, although I like most of OWLs stuff. I saw them both at Van Expo, if you saw them both you would see that AVATAR are better built, better hardware, and just cleaner.

[@howwevan]

Thanks for the tip! Next time I’m in the market, I’ll check them out. Thanks for watching.

[@tacopusher1]

Hi guys, any thought to adding a roof top rack for more storage? Haven't seen anyone do it on a TURISMO yet. something like the storytellers have. Thank you for making these videos, great for new owners like myself!

[@howwevan]

I would love to add a roof rack of some type but don’t think it’s possible (without a ton of work) A couple key things stand in the way: 1) you’d have to relocate all the existing items already on the roof (solar panels mostly) above any new rack which would be pretty expensive, and 2) you’d likely have to remove the awning as it is positioned directly over the passenger side roof rail mount (the drivers side rail is accessible). Add to that, there just isn’t a lot of room up there with the existing vents, AC, other accessories, and solar panels, so you wouldn’t get that much additional storage. We asked Owl Vans if it was something they might do and they confirmed the issues I noted above and said it probably wasn’t feasible. All of that said, I’d be super interested in any solution that someone can come up with. We recently attached a Dry Bag from REI to the rear ladder just to get space for a few more items. So open to anything that increases storage capacity. If you come up with anything, please let us know. Thanks again for watching and reaching out. Safe travels!

[@tacopusher1]

@@howwevan great points! thank you for the response!

[@fobiesheen4306]

Is it lockable?

[@howwevan]

Yep! Thanks for watching.

[@jamesray3920]

I know lots of people love to tell the world what's in the cupboard or cabinets that tells any thieves what in the box or cupboards nothing is thief proof I drive a semi truck you name it i have haul it and plenty of trailer been broken because the thieves know in inside. I just bought a Mercedes Benz sprinter 170 I do like the small and large box set up over the monster box I plan to do the same without telling people what's inside

[@howwevan]

Thanks - I agree which is why the video was completely hypothetical. The boxes are, in actuality, completely empty. Thanks for watching!

[@therealBobbiSue]

Great video! I am researching what boxes to buy for my van and found this very helpful. Thank you.

[@howwevan]

Glad it was helpful. We love our boxes! Keeps all of our “outdoor gear” outside and leaves the inside storage for inside stuff. 😀 safe travels!