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| Messages 1 - 32 of total 32 in this topic |
aannaa
Trad climber
colorado
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 24, 2014 - 02:15pm PT
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Hi guys! Does anyone know of a talented craftsmen in the Bay area that could convert a Ford Transit Connect into a livable van for a decent price?
Thanks!!
Anna
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jahil
Social climber
London, Paris, WV & CA
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Apr 24, 2014 - 02:18pm PT
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Ford Transit ! OMG My dad drove a bunch of us to India from London in one of those in 1970. The axle snapped in Kabul, and they got it welded back together at a roadside mechanics.
I can't remember the name of the mechanic in Kabul - I was 11 at the time, but good luck with your van !
:)
steve
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Apr 24, 2014 - 04:28pm PT
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Cool idea.
Research and do it yourself.
Van conversion projects are fun!
It's not that hard. There are many prefab parts available online for almost any amenities you prefer. Bolt them in and go.
You will be happier and save lots of cash.
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kev
climber
A pile of dirt.
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Apr 24, 2014 - 05:34pm PT
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You could DIY. What's your budget and what are your expectations for the setup? Are you just talking about some lights, a bed and some cabinets or are you talking water,fridge,sink, etc?
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Roots
Mountain climber
Tustin, CA
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Apr 24, 2014 - 06:47pm PT
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Post some pictures please!
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Karkoekstan
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Apr 25, 2014 - 12:43am PT
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How much money do you want to spend?
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Apr 25, 2014 - 03:51am PT
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Wait for the proper transit, its on its way to replace the econoline. The connect is so crammy and small. The proper transit van has a floor without wheelwell humps in the cargo bay and has a full 4x8 space of flat not impeded by the wheelwells.
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BuddhaStalin
climber
Truckee, CA
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Apr 25, 2014 - 04:17am PT
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Yup, not sure what model year it will be but from what I understand, it will be here very very soon. Way overdue, as the econoline is inferior to the transit in many ways. The rest of the world uses the transit, save for south america/mexico and such. Cant remember if they get econoline or transit.
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Daphne
Trad climber
Northern California
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Apr 25, 2014 - 01:52pm PT
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It doesn't seem that the new Transit will come with an all wheel drive option. I was getting kinda excited until I saw that. Climbing only, not a ski season vehicle.
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AlanDoak
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Apr 25, 2014 - 02:39pm PT
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I just got a used Transit Connect, and I'm pretty stoked. I averaged 26mpg on my recent trip out to Moab.
For me, I chose it for the economy that it offered, especially for frequent weekend trips where the ratio of driving to time spent at the destination is pretty high.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Apr 25, 2014 - 03:58pm PT
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Too bad the Transit van can't break 10 minutes on the Nurnburg Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc
Ski mobile?
It's got FWD. Put good winter tires on it and carry chains.
Neat van, good to see they're finally bringing it to the states. I might even be a customer.
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Apr 25, 2014 - 04:04pm PT
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I can help.
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Apr 25, 2014 - 05:50pm PT
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We love our Nissan. Here is a video, I have shared before, about our conversion
https://vimeo.com/79569858
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i'm gumby dammit
Sport climber
da ow
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Apr 25, 2014 - 06:14pm PT
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I'm in the process of helping my GF covert a sprinter van. It's got 14' of livable space in the rear compartment and you can stand up and still gets close to 20mpg (diesel). Look out for the BumbleBeast coming to a crag near you.
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Apr 25, 2014 - 06:21pm PT
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I've seen the video of the Nissan before. It looks fantastic! How tall is the open meal area? How much did it cost for the van and materials? How many hours of work?
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WBraun
climber
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Apr 25, 2014 - 07:15pm PT
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Dave (COT)
You're a pro.
I can tell.
Very nicely done videos.
All videos should be like this .......
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Apr 25, 2014 - 08:22pm PT
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Thanks All for the kind words about the van my video(s)!
After insulating the floor and ceiling the Nissan has about 6'1" of interior height.
I have all the receipts for the conversion, but have been afraid to add them up :) Big ticket items were the two side windows $800, solar panels/batteries/etc $2300 (only part of the conversion I didn't do), dc fridge $750. I bet it was close to $10,000 total
If I added up all the hours I spent it would be between 100-200! That doesn't count all the trips back and forth to home depot buying, returning, exchanging.
We bought the van in Vegas and I insulated it and put in the bed/couch then we moved out of our rental and hit the road. I am by no means a master craftsmen. I built it with hand power tools, drill, circular saw, and jig saw in several friends driveways over the course of the next year a little bit at a time.
I think people get intimidated by not having a "full shop" or tons of previous experience to do a conversion. It's really just like climbing, you just need to be psyched, have some time to do it right and deal with the mistakes you are probably going to make and in the end it will be awesome!
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Apr 25, 2014 - 08:29pm PT
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Thank you for the details. I'm just under 6 foot so that would work. Now I need to see if I can raise some cash and gumption to get started...
Looks more affordable than the Sprinter option.
Erik
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go-B
climber
Cling to what is good!
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Apr 25, 2014 - 10:49pm PT
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jaaan
Trad climber
Chamonix, France
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Apr 26, 2014 - 03:47am PT
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Wow COT, fabulous video! congrats!
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Apr 27, 2014 - 08:11pm PT
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He built it custom. I would estimate about $1800 for that setup plus whatever you spend on the cushions. To do it right would take about a week. 1 day to design and get materials, 1 day per box and 1 day to finish. It's probably less than $500 in materials. If you are in the Bay Area then I would build it for that price. I'm a journeyman and my shop is portable. Best of luck. I traveled Europe in a similar rig and it was perfect.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Apr 27, 2014 - 09:28pm PT
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To do it right would take about a week. ... for an experienced professional! I would estimate a month or longer for someone with little woodworking experience, and probably triple the cost. $1800 would be a bargain for something so custom, IMO.
I have to laugh at people who want to buy these things all cheap and packaged and ready to go. GFL with that! Those beautiful rigs you see out there are either horrendously expensive commercial designs (and usually made like crap), or they are 1-up labors of love never to be repeated for anyone - ever! Suck it up and buy some tools, get a loan, or toss a pad back there and just be happy you're not in a frigg'n tent.
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Scole
Trad climber
Joshua Tree
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Apr 29, 2014 - 05:27am PT
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I have seen a number of the larger transit connects here in Chengdu in the past few weeks. It would be cool if we could get them in the US.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Apr 29, 2014 - 07:03am PT
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This bed has been in a Ford Aerostar, grand caravan a,d now a Town and Contry. all AWD the sapre tire fits under the bed in the back but you lose the spot where the folding chairs and the stove are. this was my 1st trip with the tire on the roof and it worked well but cost about 1mpg? The 1st rig this bed was in was the Areostar and it had ample room in front of the bed before the seats. In the Grand caravan and T&C there is some room but not as much as I would like, Good storeage under the bed in 4 seperate compartments. Real 4" Furniture foam for the matress. decent headroom. With the privacy glass you would never know it was a camper except for the amature climbing stickers.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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May 12, 2014 - 11:07pm PT
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The Euros are masters at small and efficient camper vehicles.
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aannaa
Trad climber
colorado
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Topic Author's Reply - May 12, 2014 - 11:31pm PT
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Yup.
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