Using a Heatshield for my vanlife

Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife
Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife

My van has a large front windshield that lets lots of light and heat inside. That’s going to be a problem here in Florida if I’m spending anytime inside it during the day, or if I don’t want the interior to be damaged from parking it uncovered.

I did some shopping online at EuroCampers and decided to order a 3 piece set of sunscreens that includes covers for the 2 front side windows.

Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife
Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife

I selected silver but gold was also available. The front was ordered for my specific van model that lacks a rear-view mirror and rain sensor on the windshield.

Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife
Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife

You fold the front sun visors down to hold the Heatshield in place. The side window shades have suction cups that are used to keep them attached.

Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife
Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife
Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife
Ford Transit Connect heatshield vanlife

To store the Heatshield you take the two side covers and then place them inside the large front cover and roll them all up. There’s a Velcro strap to secure the roll.

Green-screen in my van?

I was thinking about what I could use to create a privacy curtain between the front part of my van where the seats are located and the cargo area in the rear.

Traditional curtain rods and blackout drape material were the first things to come to my mind. I wanted to also try something out without spending any money if possible.

While I was at Target picking up a folding table for the back of my van I also bought a camping clothesline. It’s a bungee cord like thing with spring clips made onto the string.

Camping clothesline and plastic tablecloth curtain in van
Camping clothesline and plastic tablecloth curtain in van

I looked around inside my home for something I could hang up as a test run and found a plastic green tablecloth that I had bought at the dollar store and tried to use as a cheap green-screen only to find that even when doubled over it was so thin that you could see the pattern on the wall behind it.

I folded it over once and clipped it up inside my van using the camping clothesline. It’s pretty lightweight and didn’t make the line sag much or come loose. As you can see in the photo a good amount of light is making it through from the outside during the daytime.

Plastic table cloth privacy curtain in van
Plastic table cloth privacy curtain in van

From the outside you really can’t see what’s behind it in the darkened interior of the van. For now this super cheap and lightweight combination is going to stay in place while I concentrate on other things.

Solar powered fan keeps vanlife cool

I’d been using my small 5 watt solar panel from Renogy to charge my cellphone and other USB devices for a while and think free power from the sun is about as cool as it gets.

While I was in Target buying a folding table I saw a small fan that could be powered by battery, USB, or AC. Knowing that I had the small solar panel I picked it up and have found that it works pretty well considering it’s small size when placed on the dash of my van.

5W solar panel and small fan in a van
5W solar panel and small fan in a van

There’s no clip or clamp made into the fan I bought, so for now I only sit it here when I’m parked. I’m sure that I will be trying new locations and ways of mounting it in the future for best effect.

Eating pizza inside a van

I had pizza as my first vanlife meal!

I’m just figuring out how to use the space in the back of my van and as a quick test I took a Coleman folding camp chair that I already owned along with a folding table that I bought from Target and set them up to see how it was.

Folding table, camping chair, and garment bar inside van
Folding table, camping chair, and garment bar inside van

I used some bungee cords to hold both the table and the chair down to the sides and floors of my van and can drive around with them setup and in place without worry or rattles.

I also found a Rubbermaid Garment hangup bar while I was at Target that I thought I could use to hang a curtain between the front seats and the cargo area of the van, but I couldn’t find an easy way to place it’s hooks over the van’s side panels. I ended up placing it just inside the rear doors and you can see it at the top of the first photo.

The height of the table to the chair and my head to the roof all works out well. I’d much rather eat outside on a nice day but for times when you’d rather not, this is a workable setup for eating or using it as a desk and working space. I plan on setting my amateur radio gear on this table when operating while parked.

Pizza for first vanlife meal
Pizza for first vanlife meal

Some folks use wood or other materials to frame and build furniture inside their vans. To begin with I’m going to use folding items that can be collapsed to save space or removed altogether offering the most flexibility possible.