u/YouCanCallMePete

It'll be my 8th year, but first year not going for build and strike, also first time not in my RV. Going solo this year, for 2 nights, and just bought a ragged 2009 Mazda5 mini-minivan for said purpose (example pics attached for size reference of this essentially glorified hatchback).

I understand radiant heat barrier, air gap, shade, dust ingress, engine idle, all the basics. My question is for anyone having camped in a minivan, bonus points for a Mazda5. Are there any pro tips of things you were surprised by that you either prepped or forgot?

I've got 4kw battery pack, an eu3200i generator, bicycle, dometic cfx75 fridge freezer, will get a 20x20' aluminet and pool noodles for air gap to string over the top and lag into the playa. Planning on getting a small cassette toilet from dometic as well with a popup changing tent to use the bathroom in. Debating on a portable AC unit (i have plenty of power) for afternoon naps (I can 3D print gasket for the hot exhaust from the AC through the drivers window). Any other tips or "so glad I had this thing"? I'm not really bothered by the dust or heat, they just are what they are.

So I have a pair of RBH MC-414 that have been sitting in a toolbox for a decade now. There are a few dents, one of the surrounds is torn slightly. I finally found a use for them in an old truck that I'm 3D printing a small box for each to sit inside, atop the dash, against the a-pillar. Its an old truck from the 70's, everything is brown, and I'd like to keep everything brown/black as opposed to a silver cone behind the 3d printed grille. How much am I going to ruin the sound quality of the speaker by shooting a single thin layer of brown spray paint on the aluminum cone? Please understand the use case here, I'm looking for better sound quality than the 54 year old speakers on the lower dash. It's in a truck with no doors at all, I'm looking for reasonable volume. These will be paired with a new pair of 6x9's behind the bench seat, with a 12" sub. Again, volume over fidelity, with value a close second priority.