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3D CAD Model for Transit

102K views 49 replies 26 participants last post by  TulsaMike  
#1 ·
Does anyone have or know of a 3D CAD Model for the Transit? I'd love to get my hands on one so i can play around with some designs for a camper.:nerd:
 
#2 ·
#11 ·
Which awning windows are you planning on, Atwood?
Four of them gets pretty pricey!
 
#13 ·
I had two Atwood/Creation awning windows in my Sprinter.
They looked really good from the outside, and did provide ventilation w/o letting in rain or bugs, but:
The mechanism was finicky and not very robust.
The amount of open area is tiny compared to the window size or to sliders.
I had one in the sliding door and never wanted to slam the door shut with the windows open, since it rattled and clattered and was rough on the rinky dink mechanism.
My first one in the door failed on the first trip! Sportsmobile replaced it at no charge, but they did say that sliders although not as OEM looking, do function much better.
You're buying used, so will have the choice of adding OEM or any type of aftermarket.
This time I'm going with factory all around windows w/ flip-out. I will add my own screen system.
Way cheaper, better corrosion protection, just as much ventilation area, and more importantly.......if I end up hating the vehicle and get rid of it I won't have much extra time and money put in.
I will go with one or probably two Fantastic Fans like I had in the Sprinter though.
 
#14 ·
Do not see the need for 3D. Did all my conversion with 2D and it worked fine. Ford should be even easier because it looked to have some flat and perpendicular surfaces. Should be much easier than the Sprinter that was obviously designed in 3D since nothing is level or square. Even the floor was uneven. I am sure Ford also was designed in 3D but hopefully the designed kept in mind the end user to make it easier to add whatever to the van.

As soon as I can get in a long wheelbase high roof Transit again to get a couple measurements that I missed, I will post a 2D drawing.

Longboard: Consider the Maxxair fans. Leave open in the rain, no rain sensor and two support arms that allow it to be open while driving. Maxxair does have to be fully closed or fully open when driving.
 
#15 ·
I was so pleased with my Fantastics that I never planned on trying anything else, BUT I've seen you praise the Maxxairs many times and since I trust your judgment I will keep them under consideration. I did salvage my fans and have them in my garage along with everything else except the awning windows, and may use them in the Transit. Be nice to start new again though, so unsure as of now. If new, I will take a closer look at Maxxair before deciding.
 
#18 ·
Euro model, I know

Yeah that's some great information, I know it's for the Euro model. I haven't been able to find anything on the NA model yet. I am primarily interested in the body contours, which I can get off the CAD drawings. Don't know if you found them yet. Site is hard to navigate.

When you go to that link click the information tab, then below that click vehicle conversions. Then you must accept the vehicle conversions disclaimer at the bottom. Then click on BEMM Drawings, select Transit 2014.5 from the drop down list, then you can select body style wheel base ect.

You gonna like whats there.
 
#20 · (Edited)
Greetings,

I'm in the beginning research phase of a _van version two_ and looking specifically at the Promaster or Transit LWB EB Vans as posibilities for a DIY RV use conversion.

Right now my wife and i have a nice 2010 chevy AWD van we've converted.

My reason for replying to this thread was to share two tid bits on awning style windows and also roof fans.

Awning style windows...
We live full time in a 38ft Mobile Suite 5th wheel that has Hehr awning windows on all sides. We also tow a small 15 foot fiberglass travel trailer behind our van conversion and the trailer also has Hehr awning style windows. There website is: Hehr International . WE OVE THEM!!!! They allow us to open the windows in driving rain without any water egress into rigs. And they are available in dual pane which is nice in all temps.

On Roof vents...
Go with the MaxxFan if you have the chance. Our small travel trailer and van have the MaxxFan 5200 and it is great to be able to open the vent in driving rain without any moisture entereing the rig. ALSO, the MaxxFan has a 10 speed fan, the Fantastic Fan has only a 3 speed. The variety of speeds is nice to have. We will not go back to a FF after using the MF in our rigs.

Cheers,
Thom
 
#25 ·
Nice van, and went thru your link, Can I ask about fuel mileage? on your trips...
Greetings, Thanks for the VanKudos :)

Well...the milage varies. The van is my wife's daily driver on her ~10 mile round trip commute. In town the math shows about 13mpg.

Now on the road with full load in van (about 7k at scales) we will see about 15 to 16mpg... IF we are pulling the 2300lb at scales travel trailer this will drop to about 12-13mpg. Those are figures from this season's trips so far.

On _speed_?? Yea this van really surprises those we pass on the roadways. This is no granny van. It will easily pass going uphill from 55mph up to over 65+ in no time and no sweat from rig. Ours has the 5.3L v8 with auto and full time/automatic AWD. It will easily travel the muddy/rocky backroads and forestry trails of our Pacific Northwest (we both come from 4WD families and now prefer the practicality of AWD for our adventures and daily use.)

Cheers,
Thom
 
#24 ·
I don't believe Hehr makes awning windows that fit vans, only sliders.
And one question about the Maxxair .........how high above the roofline does it extend?
 
#26 ·
On the Hehr and vans, things might have changed since our DIY van project began in fall of 2010 but they stated then that if we give them a template they will make a window and trim to fit.

On the Maxxair MaxxFan 5200 the vent when down is about 6" above roof, and double that when open. The vent honestly looks nicer down than the FF down. It just looks more _right_ to me (and my wife...<<<and trust me when i say that was the real reason i swapped the fans out on "Her" van!)

picture when swapping vents out on our van:
Image


Thom
 
#27 ·
I had the flat rather than dome smoke lids on my two Fantastic Fans and they fit in nicely with my stealth concept in the Sprinter.. Then again even at medium height in a Transit nobody will really see the Maxxair's unless they are on the second floor of a building or house overlooking my chosen spot for the night, and they would easily detect my flat Fantastics as well. I'll keep them under consideration.