Bug Wall sliding door screen

 Hello folks,

My original sliding door flyscreen gave up the ghost during my big loop in 2025. I had been hoping someone would produce a magnetic closure type for some time. I came across another Sprinter which had just what I wanted during my recent Mundatharrda 2026 adventure, although it came from USA. 

I did some digging around and bit the bullet for a relatively expensive solution compared to the like for like replacement from Dove Camper Conversions here in Perth. They do make them ‘handed’ for right hand drive.

The installation instructions were good and supported by a video. Herewith the end result. I do like the magnetic closure.

La Bestia 28/1/26

 Yo there dear followers. As most of you know summer is my ‘other passion time’ 🏍️

That doesn’t stop me continuing to rearrange, improve or reinforce stuff in La Bestia. In fact having such a vehicle is a continuous improvement program. Always thinking of making it better for next time…

Indeed that has been happening in the background since my return in November.

Modification #1

Install a turnbuckle arrangement to support the microwave which decided to sag during the Big Loop (after a barrage of hyper corrugated roads).

Modification #2

Add tyre and cargo racks to the rear end. I bought these on line while in Katherine after seeing another Sprinter with them fitted at Pentecost River xing. A little bit nerve wracking having to drill through the door panels but turned out well in the end.

The tyre rack gets the second spare out of the boot and is more accessible in times of need. The cargo rack is a base unit to which I have fitted a truck lock box and a fuel carrier. The truck box carries the bits and pieces required to perform a wheel change without having to dig around inside the boot. 

I have both single and twin fuel can carriers that can be installed. This gets fuel out of the boot space. In addition I can fit a carrier for a spare 4kg lpg bottle above the fuel can for really remote longer duration trips. Mind you I only use lpg for hot water as I am up to speed with induction cooking powered by the sun/batteries.

I’m quite pleased at how it has turned out. The extra space in the boot is welcome. First test will be a short trip around the Murchison/Gascoyne with my daughter in April/May.

PS: I have also developed a bike rack to get it out of the boot as well.

#sprinter4x4

Turnbuckle supporting the microwave 

Weldbeat frames in place, wheel mounted

Truck lockbox in place

Single fuel can carrier in place

Dirty bag & spare lpg fitted

Wheel change gear in the lockbox

Bike rack fitted

La Bestia 14/12/23

 Let’s talk electricals for remote off grid travel.

The two most influential questions are:

1 Do I need / want the functionality?

2 What power source?

I had decided on lpg for hot water and cooking although I’ve ended up using the induction cooktop supplemented by butane cookers as they are more versatile for outdoor cooking and the spin off is that the lpg is saved for hot water duties. This is important as the gas bottle is limited to 3.7kg. The induction cooktop is fantastic in the wind.

12v, 18v or inverter driven 240v?

12v

All lighting,

Fridge,

Diesel heater fan,

Cooking area exhaust fan,

Ensuite exhaust fan/light & toilet,

House cooling fan,

Water pump,

Bar fridge,

HEPA filter,

Vacuum sealer,

Electric blanket,

Fuel transfer pump,

Water transfer pump,

Back up compressor,

TV (rarely carried).

18v Ozito

Chainsaw,

Hammer drill,

Impact wrench,

Reciprocating saw,

Blower,

Side grinder,

Vacuum,

Spotlight.

240v via 1600/1800W inverter (twin 120Ah LiFePo batteries each capable of 150A continuous discharge)

Air compressor, 550W

Ozito battery charger, 70W

Microwave, 1000W

Pizza oven, 2*650W switchable elements

Induction cooktop, 1100-1350W 

Kettle, 1000W

Toaster 750W

Mini air fryer 900W

Heat gun, 1600W (electrical repairs)

Stick mixer, 200W

Soldering iron, 40W

My DCDC charger can take up to 600W of solar input with 200W fixed panel on the roof plus two direct input points on the outside of the van. This means I can bypass the panel controller and feed raw power into my central DCDC charger. 

I carry:

2x100W Voltech fixed panels the same as the roof panel to which I added fold out legs. These run high voltage and are very efficient,

120W Kings fold up mat c/w regulator to charge the vehicle battery on long stays

NB I have tried quite a few portable fold out units but most run max voltage of 18.6V whereas the Voltech run at 23.4v and the Kings mats 19.2v. It’s best to match voltages for efficiency therefore my Voltech gets used the most. It’s also the lightest and easiest to set up.

As always, questions welcome.

#vanlife #rockwallaby #sprinter4x4

12v HEPA filter

12v Brass monkey 15L bar fridge

18v Ozito tools

240v compressor 

240v pizza oven

240v Ozito charger

240v microwave 

240v induction hot plate

240v kettle

240v soldering iron

240v stick mixer

240v heat gun

La Bestia 6/11/23

I’ve been a bit quiet of late since returning from Italy and I thought folks might be interested in the gear that I carry as mechanical consumables, spares, tools and repairs.

I have a spreadsheet inventory for everything in the van. Two 62L tuff crates in the boot act as primary storage augmented by a dedicated tool hatch inside under the slide out table. Most electrical gear is kept under the passenger seat. 

My power tools of choice are good old Bunnings 18v Ozito. A battery charger is mounted permanently in the boot and plugs into the inverter circuit when mains isn’t available (mostly where I go).

*chainsaw

*impact drill

*125mm grinder

*reciprocating saw

*blower

My onboard compressor is 240v 750W with a small tank which is much more efficient and quieter than 12v units.

I’ve been a bit quiet of late since returning from Italy and I thought folks might be interested in the gear that I carry as mechanical consumables, spares, tools and repairs.

I have a spreadsheet inventory for everything in the van. Two 62L tuff crates in the boot act as primary storage augmented by a dedicated tool hatch inside under the slide out table. Most electrical gear is kept under the passenger seat. 

My power tools of choice are good old Bunnings 18v Ozito. A battery charger is mounted permanently in the boot and plugs into the inverter circuit when mains isn’t available (mostly where I go).

*chainsaw

*impact drill

*125mm grinder

*reciprocating saw

*blower

My onboard compressor is 240v 750W with a small tank which is much more efficient and quieter than 12v units.

 #vanlife 

#sprinter4x4

La Bestia 18/6/26 P8

 The key element of my layout was the convertible meals/bed area. It worked well however I found my legs dropped into the gap due to the relatively narrow bed width during the first couple of trips.

I sat there one afternoon and nutted out a method of widening each side independently by inserting a panel and providing a wedge and prop support. Voila! Just what was required. It’s now beaut.

#vanlife

#sprinter4x4

Table fully extended 

Bed extension on rhs only

Both sides original width

Extended width

La Bestia 18/6/23 P4

 The layout developed in combination with Dove. It became a refinement of my layout (5th iteration) using standard Dove modular items and equipment specifications. They had to provide a warranty so all equipment was what they determined as functional. Mostly Dometic or associated suppliers.

Equipment included:

Toilet/shower cubicle c/w exhaust fan/hatch

Turbo extractor fan/hatch over cooking area

LPG hob

Sink

3x openable windows

110L fridge

Microwave

200W rooftop PV panel

2x100 Ah batteries

1600W inverter

AC/DC & DC/DC chargers

12V TV and retractable rooftop aerial

240V rooftop air conditioner

LPG hot water service

100L fresh water tank and pump

45L grey water recovery tank

Wind out Fiamma awning

External shower pod

Diesel heater

plus an owner supplied 240V air compressor 

They had never used the layout I had landed on. It was a bit of a challenge to convince them it would work. The key difference being a convertible meals area with slide out table combined with north-south bed direction. The boot layout was also critical for functionality.

My specification was a bit of an eye opener to them (image of page 2 of 4 included here)

#vanlife

#sprinter4x4

House Layout

Under-bed boot layout

Specification sample page