Van Racking 1 Year Later.. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

[@samm134]

Adam, as one of your clients, it was really reassuring to see a tidy van. In my mind, if you look after your van, you will look after your clients.

[@sotaelectrical]

Thank you sir! Absolutely agree with your outlook 🙏🤝

[@samm134]

@@sotaelectrical And for clarification, you can't call it a van floor. It's a bacon butty eating shelf.........LOL

[@MattHmm-rq6dn]

For our led lighting we run usb lights to a m12 heated jacket power unit. A simple press on the milwaukee power adapter (real deal not a knockoff has over current protection) turns on the lights powers it for hours and just a m12 battery swap. You wanna get a heated jacket adapter not that new flat pack or the one for the hoodie. Ours in wall mounted and just swaps out batteries as needed.

[@benriley324]

Great video. Maybe move the pouches to the spare space where the expanding foam is and put the battery adapter(s) for the lights on the back ‘wall’ where the pouches are now?

[@sotaelectrical]

Yeah that might work!! Didn’t think of that!! Thank you!

[@CraigKirkwood-t5r]

For the space you’ve got at the front of the passenger side racking, i’ve got a magazine rack type thing from IKEA that i use for paperwork organisation. Works well for me 👍🏾

[@sotaelectrical]

Great idea thanks!

[@alanantliff3515]

Im an office worker but interested in DIY. Nice to see a clean tidy van, obviously someone who takes pride in their work. Re trrim edges i cant understand why Yoke don't have these already fitted to the units instead of you having the hassle of sourcing trims and trying to retrofit them?? Maybe worth an email to Yoke to see if they can do this

[@sotaelectrical]

Il drop them a message and see what they can do!

[@gmeadowcroft84]

Hey, I’ve got to say, your van racking setup looks great! You mentioned people who use stacking systems-that’s me. I’ve got my little Berlingo fully kitted out with Packout, and yeah, you’re absolutely right, moving the boxes around can be a real pain. But there are definitely some big advantages. For instance, when I’m doing a house rewire, I can empty the entire van in about 5 minutes and have everything ready to go on-site. Another big plus is when it’s time to change vans, which most people do every 4 years or so. With fixed racking, you’ve got to pull it all out, figure out how to make it fit the new van, or spend a lot of money on new racking. With the Packout system, it’s just 6 screws to undo the plates, and it all transfers straight into the new van-no hassle, and it’s guaranteed to fit. At the end of the day, you’re spot on-there are pros and cons to everything. It just comes down to what works for you and what you’re used to

[@sotaelectrical]

Thank you for commenting!! It’s great to hear from someone with the packout system and I understand your logic completely!!

[@effervescence5664]

I spent about £500 more on my Bott racking than you have on Yoke and I don't regret it it's modular and wears really well. They both have their place but the deciding factor for me in the end is insurance - I couldn't get insurance at the time for wooden racking I could for the Bott racking as it's crash certified. Less of an issue now as insurance companies don't seem to care either way but it's something to be mindful of if anyone is looking at either racking. Looks wise and being able to self update on the cheap I'd go with the Yoke racking, if you want to put racking through as an expense every time you change your mind about stuff the Bott racking is probably the way to go.

[@sotaelectrical]

Great comment thank you!!

[@keiththesparky]

I’ve used the tool battery idea Adam. Used a Dewalt battery holder mounted onto a Dewalt battery charger plate which also holds spare battery and a mains charger. Wired led strip on the van roof and used a 12v wireless switch at both opening doors. I’d also move the pouches to the side door space and use the newly acquired space for the battery setup which will also leave you lots of free mounting space left over. As an idea you could mount say a magnetic spray can holder which I got off the bay on the same area👍🏼

[@sotaelectrical]

Thank you for the ideas!!

[@markvinter7522]

Nice Van set up I have 5 litre containers, tops half cut off, this enable use of full height of shelve for materials, just fill the container, mark it, and the front one with whats in the 3 behind, each shelf has about 12 5L containers, plus there free from work. All shelf height is utilised.

[@tommysheep8009]

Hi Adam, i’m a general builder local to you and have seen you out and about. love the videos and work, i would suggest for the edges of the ply some metal tile trim, if you were to make the right cuts on it you could bend round the contours of the shelf and you could stick the trims on with some power grab and bond, ive used trim before to protect exposed edges from being damaged and they work a treat, may be a little time consuming on them shelves but will be worth it!

[@sotaelectrical]

Hi mate if you see me bout make sure to say hi!! Great tips, lots shared, really appreciate you taking the time to comment 👍👍

[@ianj1976]

The van looks very cool. I racked mine out myself with ply. Building it all to suit my requirements, keep adding little bits here and there. Happy with the result. But.... your van is making me rethink it..... wife wont be happy! 😂

[@sotaelectrical]

If you have managed to make it work then that’s awesome, I just reached a stage where I wanted it set up in a way I couldn’t do myself, but her some flowers 🤣

[@hussmortada]

Thanks Adam, love your content as always. I am impressed with that Jet Rack, do you have a code for that? Cheers mate

[@pbarnfield]

For edge protection get yourself on fleabay - "T-Molding Plastic Edge Trim". Router a groove into it and this will push in. You might be able to get U channel trim too, potentially easier to fit and could be glued on. Maybe Yoke should provide this as an add on?? I'm an IT Tech / Data / CCTV installer and I've opted for the cheap Stanley Pro Stack Drawers. Got these going side to side partitioning off the back, and then inside I have a workbench for onsite repairs etc. Easy to move it all out if I need to use my Connect to move larger items about. Totally with you on the Packout logic.... lol

[@sotaelectrical]

Thanks for the tip, il check out the moulding strip 👍👍

[@Robstorr86]

Maybe just put a whiteboard up where that space was. For making notes or a materials list.

[@sotaelectrical]

Good idea but I probably wouldn’t use it 👍

[@martinburgess2322]

Was looking for a better layout and racking.Apsolute quality.has insulating the roof kept the moisture out.👌⚡⚡⚡Top content and honest review.Cheers Adam👊

[@sotaelectrical]

Insulating the roof has worked a treat! I have zero moisture in the back now

[@SME_Ste]

All the shelves need is a good sized radius putting on the edges, that’ll stop anymore chipping/splitting

[@sotaelectrical]

Perfect thanks

[@thomasmccabe3088]

What a great video

[@sotaelectrical]

Thank you

[@IAAITKEN]

Smart van - I seems Keels van build which was ashop that built it to your spec, looks amazing and had space for everything but limited if you need to adapt. This looks a mix of both as can customised and still able to adjust shelves. Rubber U chanel strips for edges? You can also get them metal reinforced. Fairy flexi and can adhesive them on. We used it at work for cables going through metal holes. Whats the sticks at side of level?

[@sotaelectrical]

Rubber u channel strips… il have. Look for them!! The sticks re runpotek cable rods 👍👍

[@richardredman3947]

I'd put your lights on a pir. I had my leds running off the van, but they'd time out every minute or 2 to protect the van battery. So I switched to the adapter you have but for a 12v battery. They last an hour off one of those batteries. I'd probably upgrade mine to back on the van hard wired and pir it. As for the edging to ply, there is lots of pvc or rubber U chanel 18mm push on strips.. Oh and I would always pack the van and shut the doors and forget to pull the battery on the lights. So maybe an inline switch

[@sotaelectrical]

Perfect thanks for the comments!!

[@203MPH]

Run a router along the edges to chamfer them. The hard 90° get damaged quicker compared to a rounded edge.

[@sotaelectrical]

Great tip thanks!

[@aloelectricalsecurity9458]

Called them about one of our vans and didn't really seem interested as I wanted somthing different to what you see on socials. Never heard back so did it myself in the end. Stuff looks good mind you

[@sotaelectrical]

That’s a real shame!! I had a great experience with them

[@aloelectricalsecurity9458]

@sotaelectrical probably as it was only a small task. I'm gonna try and do a video on my set up so you can compare. I think you will like my van layout

[@andrewpragnell1417]

Hi for your explaining foam I fix to ur back door Amazon do a plastic holder that hold can like that as so hold wd40 can which allway hand to have with are trade where we work in wet connection? And it was very dear hope that helps?

[@sotaelectrical]

Brilliant thank you

[@planespeaking]

Wrt shelf wear, i would just buy a sheet of phenolic ply (fen-o-lick) and use the old damaged shelf as a template. Shop around for it though as prices vary greatly. I ran led lights on my interior light circuit but they do drain the battery so using a tool battery for your light is a good idea. You could use the space to mount your battery chargers and charge from your afferiy power station. Then recharge you afferiy either at home or at a customer's if they don't mind. I have gone through various configurations but I am going to build long drawers with locks for tools a raised bed and going to bin/sell my l-boxx and go with dewalt toughsysyem 2.0 and t stak because they make purpose built van racking. It's a lit cheaper tgan pack out

[@sotaelectrical]

Thank you for the advice on the ply! Yeah that might work well with the battery chargers and power station, thank you for sharing!!

[@planespeaking]

​@@sotaelectricalThanks for your channel, Adam. I find it motivating and interesting. 👍

[@planespeaking]

The other mod to consider is getting a flexible solar panel (1 or 2) for the roof of your van, you could plug this into your afferiy power bank ​@@sotaelectrical

[@robak1978]

Packout all te way 👍

[@sotaelectrical]

Why pack out??

[@robak1978]

@ easy reshuffle and reorganise whatever and however i need 🤷‍♂️ Yes i know is expensive but 🤷‍♂️ I only wish is red unfortunately not in 🇬🇧 👎

[@sotaelectrical]

@ well that’s all fair comments!! If it works it works!!

[@bobturner3645]

When will your testing video be out?

[@sotaelectrical]

Ooooh il get that out soon!!

[@MattHmm-rq6dn]

If time is money for you 2.5k is a steal for a good custom layout that serves you well.

[@sotaelectrical]

It is an absolute steal, worth every penny!!

[@stuartm0791]

why not place your LED battery adapter on the underside of one of your permanent shelf

[@sotaelectrical]

That is a good idea!!!! 👍

[@BerkeleyTowers]

Probably not old enough for the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy reference! 😀

[@sotaelectrical]

Well I’m 37 so I would say I’m well in there for that reference 😁

[@BerkeleyTowers]

@@sotaelectrical 37!? Yer weren't even a glint in yer old mans eye when it first came out! 😜

[@sotaelectrical]

@ 🤣🤣

[@gileswalker182]

Tha is for this. I’ve nearly finished my van now but still thinking of carpet lining the roof. How did that garage door insulation hold up? Cheers

[@sotaelectrical]

The garage door insulation has worked brilliantly!

[@gileswalker182]

Great then I think I’ll go for that then. I did my racking and false floor myself using phenolic ply I bought on marketplace and I got an armorgard drawer on eBay for £70 with no keys and changed the locks. (That’s the difference between a painter and a spark 😂😂) it’s looking good though and I might make a video soon… as for you wear and tear on the shelves maybe cut some aluminium and glue down to do the protruding sides of the shelf as this is where the wear seems to be occurring? I liked the idea of the foam gun where it is it looks like a drain pipe bracket would hold it there nicely instead of that clamp. They’re such and obscure shaped tool but it looked perfect there. Thanks again.

[@gileswalker182]

*angle not “and glue” 🙄

[@sotaelectrical]

@@gileswalker182 thank you for the suggestions!! Tag me if you make a video on yours!! I would love to see it

[@hackwoodelectrical]

I’m 99% sure the back of my van would give you anxiety

[@sotaelectrical]

🤣🤣🤣

[@garymurphy2463]

Most vans I reckon to be fair!

[@hackwoodelectrical]

@@garymurphy2463 🥲

[@bobjit252]

As smart as it is me personally I wouldn’t want to get on my hands and knees to get to stuff

[@sotaelectrical]

Fair enough!