So this happened today

Definitely will take time. The main things I need/want to get done before winter are the 8020 roof rack, espar diesel heater, sound and heat insulation and maxxair fan.

Since this van is going to be a people hauler,
I’m also building 8020 enclosures over the wheel wells, that also provide support for an 8020 bed+couch frame. The main design consideration is to make the frame safe for passengers. With 8020, I should have no issues with bolting on seatbelts.

I’ll also build a 12v-only system...will prototype / try out the different components outside of the van, before finalizing the setup within the enclosure over the wheel well.

I’m so glad I went with the crew van that already has 2nd row seats.

I’m not adding a water system right away.

 

Where do you live? Where will you be using this? If you are not cash-constrained, go for it. If you are, do you really need the roof rack? For what? Are you going to sleep in the van this winter? I think the Espar2 is a work of inspired engineering and design. I also know many friends rushed to install and then didn't camp all winter. Even with good insulation (consider Havelock wool) and the Espar, the van will be really cold in the winter in the northern half of the US.
We live and operate in the high desert above 5,400'. We had no need for the fan.
I would sort out the insulation, paneling, and the bed before anything else. Bed first. My two cents.
Interested to hear more about the twelve volt system.

 

This was our setup last year. https://www.tundras.com/threads/lets-see-your-tundra-in-scenic-places.52791/page-50#post-3370352


And this was from 2022...https://www.4runners.com/threads/wh...h-gen-4runner-today.2261/page-710#post-383203

 

I didn't have problems with my 3rd gen but I'm glad I traded it in when I did. I just checked kbb and the trade-in value dropped $4K since 1.5 months ago.

Don't get me wrong, I figured I still lost about $6K after subtracting depreciation and cost of using the truck for 14 months. But trading it in was a stop-loss act.

 

Camping at Grand Canyon National Park. We were supposed to go through Lake Tahoe but rerouted our trip back from CA to MN due to the weather.

The van is so much easier to camp with. It’s not going to have the space that my old trailer had but we are making it work.

the espar heater is such a necessity for us. I also have a maxxfan to have good air flow, and a portable humidifier since the espar gives out dry heat.

Our 12v system and window covers makes it really easy to park at FlyingJ for the night.

 

New rubber got installed today. Michelin Agilis Cross Climates in 265/75R16 which are just a little bigger than stock. They performed like a stud (pun intended) on icy conditions.

 

That interior is beautiful