Van Conversion
There is a lot of options when it comes to roof racks on vans. With some of those options in the thousands, we decided to construct our own.
Read more “Van Conversion: Ford Transit Roof Rack”
Van Conversion
This is usually the most daunting task for many on van conversions. Mostly because it requires the highest level of technical knowledge and also the higher risk of catastrophic failure if done incorrectly. You should definitely sit down and research your system before starting and I recommend creating a full wiring schematic to use in the installation to prevent any mishaps.
Read more “Van Conversion Electrical System: Designing our System”
Van Conversion
This was the first real cosmetic project that started to make our van feel more like a home and less like a commercial vehicle. Installing a vinyl floor in a van is not a difficult project nor does it require any previous experience. We took our time and only made a few bad cuts along the way. Here’s how we did it.
Van Conversion
We finally finished the install of the second row bench seats. We’re using factory Ford Transit bench seats with the removable seat rails. I used 1/8″ cold rolled steel to fabricate some plates under the van to bolt the seat rails to. We used 1/2″ Grade 8 bolts, washers, and nylon locking nuts. Cutting the metal and drilling the holes were the biggest pain, as the metal stock was no joke. These are now nearly indestructible seats and ready for years of abuse.
Read more “Van Conversion: Installing 2nd Row Bench Seat in Ford Transit”
Van Conversion
Our first true carpentry project on the van was building our bed platform. We opted for an elevated bed platform that was designed with the intent to keep 4 bikes below it. Slap an 8″ memory foam mattress on and you’re living the life of luxury compared to the many nights backpacking and sleeping on thin sleeping pads.
Van Conversion
The factory stereo in our Ford Transit was a base SYNC system with CD, USB, Bluetooth and AM/FM radio. It will play music but leaves much to be desired in terms of audio quality, capability, backup camera and expandability. We decided to swap it for an aftermarket double din head unit from Pioneer. We’ve had Pioneer units in three previous cars with positive results. This time around, we went with the Pioneer 4200NEX for the full list of audio source options, Apple CarPlay functionality and idatalink integration for diagnostic features. Here’s our experience with a Ford Transit stereo installation. Read more “Van Conversion: Ford Transit Stereo Installation”