The Main Ingredient For A Van Conversion

ford transit lunar sky

Many months of preparations, have led to this moment. My new Ford Transit cargo van stands ready to be transformed into my stealth camper.

ford transit cargo vanHave been quite busy over the weekend. The 2016 Ford Transit cargo van, that is the center of our conversion project, was on its way after a three and a half month wait since the order was placed on July 31st. The transfer of the vehicle went smoothly: first took the van out for a final, short test drive and on return, went through the vehicle checklist, that I had prepared in advance.

Vehicle Delivery Checklist
pdf [ .pdf Download ] – Size: 45 Kb

Verified the VIN number, checked the options, looked for dents, etc. The dealer’s name sticker was placed on the van, despite multiple requests to the contrary, but was removed in no time.

For those who don’t know, the Transit 250 is equipped as follows:

  • Medium roof.
  • 3.7L V6 Engine.
  • 148″ Wheelbase (LWB).
  • 3.73 Limited slip axle ratio.
  • Heavy duty alternator.
  • Upgraded exterior.
  • Color upgrade: Lunar Sky.
  • All-Around windows with dark-tinted glass.
  • Minimal interior upgrades.
  • Trailer towing package with brake controller.



 

Some of my first impressions are, that the front cabin is fairly well insulated from noise, yet the cargo area produced relatively more road noise, then my previous Dodge-B250 van conversion. I realized however, that even minimal installation of interior features in the future, will reduced that significantly and special attention to obtain a quiet drive, may be unnecessary.

2016 transitThe choice of a standard long wheelbase (LWB) or for that matter, the regular wheelbase (RWB), is probably correct if you plan to use the vehicle both as your daily transport and as a recreational vehicle for part of the year. The extended length version (EL) is better suited for RV use only, as its length makes parking more a hassle. For the RV experience, standing height inside the van is the priority!

The next couple of days, I will be laying out the base work: check-up on all the features and getting familiar with the vehicle. Check the fluids, tire pressure and read the manual. Ouch! Find out how to use the jack and how to replace a tire and finally taking care of the paperwork; that means making electronic copies.

Only then, I’ll start taking actual (precise) measurements from anything in and around the van, to facilitate the making of the final drawings. I will investigate the appropriate location for one or two floor vents, the location and sizes of underfloor water tanks, etcetera.

The actual start of the van conversion suddenly seems far away. In the next few days I will be posting more detailed pictures of the Transit’s interior and exterior.

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