Plumbing/electrical system design assistance

[WanderOften]

I'm working up the courage to build a composite box camper on a Ford Transit chassis, similar in style to the Aeon Rv or the one Total Composites built. One stumbling block for me are the electrical and plumbing systems which are not strong skill areas for me. I had run across a company who was offering services in that area and could help with the design process of the RV systems. Does anyone know that outfit or recall seeing it online? Thanks for any help.

 

[mexjtc]

We are using Thomas at FabHabs to design our habitat. He has been a pleasure to work with. He is designing all the systems. However, we still need to put it all together.

Overland Vehicle Design | Fab Habs UK | England

Fab Habs design and engineer custom overland vehicles, habitation boxes, and tiny houses as well as offering support for custom solar power (PV) installations, off grid energy, and self sufficiency projects. From expedition vehicles to van conversions, our engineering services can support.

www.fabhabs.com

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[WanderOften]

We are using Thomas at FabHabs to design our habitat. He has been a pleasure to work with. He is designing all the systems. However, we still need to put it all together.

Overland Vehicle Design | Fab Habs UK | England

Fab Habs design and engineer custom overland vehicles, habitation boxes, and tiny houses as well as offering support for custom solar power (PV) installations, off grid energy, and self sufficiency projects. From expedition vehicles to van conversions, our engineering services can support.

www.fabhabs.com

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks so much. This looks like a very good resource and exactly the kind of help I was hoping for. Much appreciated.

 

[ReluctantTraveler]

How funny... I actually just came here to post on this very topic today!

I'm specifically curious about where/how to install electrical and plumbing.

With traditional framing, you'd just run it in the walls and put batt insulation around the pipes and wires. But in a panel build (whether it's composite, sandwich, or whatever), that's not possible.

I've seen videos showing that electrical can be run...

• Between panels
• In conduit embedded in a panel (in the foam)
• In conduit outside the panels

Water pipes are a bit more elusive for me, because of their size and what not.

My current floor design has water needs on both sides of the camper. What's the best way to get water from the tank on one side to the source on the other (or vice versa for gray water)?

• Just run the pipes across the ceiling?
• Build a small box/channel to hide them along the front or back wall?
• Build a small basement for them to run through?

In my case, I'm hoping to do winter camping as well, so they need to sit inside the camper to keep them warm.

 

[1000arms]

How funny... I actually just came here to post on this very topic today!

I'm specifically curious about where/how to install electrical and plumbing.

With traditional framing, you'd just run it in the walls and put batt insulation around the pipes and wires. But in a panel build (whether it's composite, sandwich, or whatever), that's not possible.

I've seen videos showing that electrical can be run...

• Between panels
• In conduit embedded in a panel (in the foam)
• In conduit outside the panels

Water pipes are a bit more elusive for me, because of their size and what not.

My current floor design has water needs on both sides of the camper. What's the best way to get water from the tank on one side to the source on the other (or vice versa for gray water)?

• Just run the pipes across the ceiling?
• Build a small box/channel to hide them along the front or back wall?
• Build a small basement for them to run through?

In my case, I'm hoping to do winter camping as well, so they need to sit inside the camper to keep them warm.

I wouldn't put the effort in to creating channels in the walls for wiring or for plumbing.

Why make the effort to screw up a perfectly good floor/wall/roof while making it harder to keep pipes warm AND reducing the insulation pipes have from the outside temperatures?

I suggest you run pipes and wires where they can be easily be inspected and kept warm. Doing so will also allow for easy additions to your plumbing and wiring systems. Just mount things where your small dog won't be tempted to chew anything, or your kids for that matter.

You could put the wiring in conduit without ruining the Millennium Falcon look!

 

[WanderOften]

I wouldn't put the effort in to creating channels in the walls for wiring or for plumbing.

Why make the effort to screw up a perfectly good floor/wall/roof while making it harder to keep pipes warm AND reducing the insulation pipes have from the outside temperatures?

I suggest you run pipes and wires where they can be easily be inspected and kept warm. Doing so will also allow for easy additions to your plumbing and wiring systems. Just mount things where your small dog won't be tempted to chew anything, or your kids for that matter.

You could put the wiring in conduit without ruining the Millennium Falcon look!

This was my thinking exactly. Having owned a few campers I’d prefer to have easy access to wiring and plumbing.

 

[MaritzaTurner]

Running the water pipes inside, maybe along the floor or in a small box, works well and keeps them from freezing in the winter. For drainage or any tricky plumbing stuff, I once had to sort out a weird setup and ended up checking out https://www.pm247.co.uk/services/drainage/ . They were super handy for figuring out the layout without overcomplicating things. Keeps it simple and stress-free.

 

[llamalander]

For electrical systems Explorist.life is a great company with really good tutorials and support as well as very well thought-ought packages of components. This won't necessarily help you design the whole of your system, but it can supply the major pieces that every system might use, then you get to choose where to put the lights & switches-

 

[Transit720]

For electrical systems Explorist.life is a great company with really good tutorials and support as well as very well thought-ought packages of components. This won't necessarily help you design the whole of your system, but it can supply the major pieces that every system might use, then you get to choose where to put the lights & switches-

I'm pretty sure Nate at explorist was offering electrical consulting/design at one point. maybe he still is. either way, I've learned a good bit from watching his YouTube vids.

 

[gator70]

I watched end to end construction of composite box designs. There is a wire raceway. A plumbing raceway. Locations where there is distribution networks. A electrical cabinet. Two plumbing cabinets. The water pump is under the sink in a raised floor compartment. Depending if you want a four season design, then you store water tanks and equipment such as a bilge pump systems inside.

Happy to give you tips from my knowledge of watching a factory design and construct this professionally.

BTW: Puck lights in the ceiling is old design. They now use LED light strips above cabinets and below cabinets instead. Add in wall mounted spots that are directional.

Note: I watched too many water damaged floors in VAN youtubers videos. I decided to start with a subfloor without material that can be water damaged. You never know for sure about a slow leak that happens before you catch it. A dryrot floor can cost $8K repair. (I have a few pictures)

And for me, how the floor is attached to the subframe was a big deal.

My composite habitat is 19ft, with a queen bed over the cab. So 13ft on frame length.

 

[Ozarker]

How funny... I actually just came here to post on this very topic today!

I'm specifically curious about where/how to install electrical and plumbing.

With traditional framing, you'd just run it in the walls and put batt insulation around the pipes and wires. But in a panel build (whether it's composite, sandwich, or whatever), that's not possible.

I've seen videos showing that electrical can be run...

• Between panels
• In conduit embedded in a panel (in the foam)
• In conduit outside the panels

Water pipes are a bit more elusive for me, because of their size and what not.

My current floor design has water needs on both sides of the camper. What's the best way to get water from the tank on one side to the source on the other (or vice versa for gray water)?

• Just run the pipes across the ceiling?
• Build a small box/channel to hide them along the front or back wall?
• Build a small basement for them to run through?

In my case, I'm hoping to do winter camping as well, so they need to sit inside the camper to keep them warm.

SERIOUSLY, START YOUR OWN THREAD!