5 OVRLND Camper Build Regrets

Truck Camper

Jul 25

Background

I've lived full-time in the OVRLND Camper for three and a half months. While the rig has been mostly great, I've noticed some chronic annoyances and even experienced a gear failure. Today, I will talk about those issues and share my solutions.

ONE: Gear Failure

This might be disappointing for many of you, given the positive feedback I received about this product. However, my Euhomy 12V fridge experienced a major gear failure after only 2 months. It started displaying an F1 code, indicating insufficient voltage. I tried troubleshooting by checking the 12V outlet, using a new cable, and plugging it into AC power. I even turned it off for 24 hours, but the issue persisted. While it works intermittently, the F1 code reappears, and the fridge fails to maintain temperature.

Quality control is always a risk with budget options, and unfortunately, I ended up with a faulty unit. On the plus side, Euhomy's customer service has been excellent, and I'm in the process of getting a refund. Thankfully, a friend has loaned me a cooler, but I'm now in the market for a new fridge. This time, I'm considering investing in a higher-quality option. I haven't made a final decision yet, but I'll update you once I do.

TWO: Solar

I've noticed that the Eco Flow panel is degrading. I use it every day, folding and unfolding it and exposing it to dirt. It shows more wear and tear than expected, especially in the folding areas. Initially, I was getting around 8A in direct sun, but now I can't get more than 5A. I don't know if this has anything to do with the delamination, but it's not great for such an expensive panel.

Additionally, I'm tired of constantly putting it in and out, and I'm missing out on a lot of passive solar by not having roof-mounted panels. Therefore, this week, I'm installing 200w of roof-mounted solar. Keep an eye out for the video on that process.

THREE: Heater

This relates to the time spent setting up and constantly moving things in and out of the camper. I love my planar heater, but looking back, I should have permanently mounted it. I'm considering mounting a diesel Rotopax to the side of the camper and connecting the fuel pump, air intake, and exhaust through the bed. I need to think about this more, but it might be a future project.

FOUR: Propane

I feel guilty about the waste generated by constantly using disposable green containers. However, I don't want to keep a refillable tank in the camper. Therefore, I am considering installing an aftermarket rear bumper with a swing-out feature to mount the propane and possibly a fold-down table.

FIVE: Camper Entry Way

I find dealing with the three locks inconvenient. Having to unlock them every time I want to enter is a hassle, and having to crawl on my knees to get in and out of the camper is not ideal. Looking back, I think I should have chosen full-length barn doors or even a single doorway with a deadbolt and inner screen door. I've seen this design on four-wheel campers and the new Scout pop-up camper, and I have to admit, it looks very appealing.

Important Note

The good news is that none of these things are deal breakers. Sometimes, I get in my head about building a bigger, more comfortable rig on a larger chassis... yada yada yada. But then I try to bring myself back to why I'm out here in the first place: because I want to spend time outside and keep my overhead low.

I am approaching my building process as I would when backing up a trailer—avoiding jackknifing by making small corrections instead of jerking the steering wheel one way or the other. This approach is teaching me the difference between what I 'want' and what I personally 'need' to make this feel like a sustainable lifestyle.

Despite some regrets about the rig, I love many things about this setup. In a future episode, I will discuss all the positives and what is working well, making this lifestyle even better.