Lowering a Transit

5664 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Kosarfan, Aug 21, 2021

Kosarfan

Discussion Starter · Nov 30, 2020

I’ve been searching far and wide for a way to lower a Ford Transit 350 XLT LR Passenger van so we can fit it into our residential garage as it will scrape the top (just barely). Ford doesn’t want to tackle the problem. Any chance the Ford F-350 lowering kits would work? Guessing not.

I found this article: Vantastic - New Billstein handling tweaks for the Ford Transit

Problem is that it is for the European Transit, I called local Billstein dealers and they can’t even get the parts.....Does anyone know if the European Transit is substantially different? Is there a good chance that would work on the American Transit?

Has anyone successfully tackled this problem? I do not want to mess with the garage - surprised Ford hasn’t figured this out. They even added the shark-fin antenna to the roof making matters worse. There has to be someone out there who has successfully lowered their transit a couple inches.

Thanks!

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Michael Ophus

· #2 · Nov 30, 2020

Photo found somewhere on the Transit Forum.

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Michael Ophus

· #3 · Nov 30, 2020

This subject has come up once before on this forum.

www.fordtransitusaforum.com

Lowering the Transit

I will be in the market for a van in the near future. I am considering two options: a Mercedes Metris Cargo or a 2020 Transit LR Cargo Diesel, probably a 150. I rented from U-Haul a 2018 Transit Cargo 250 and brought it home to see if it fit in my garage. It was too high by at least 1". I have...

www.fordtransitusaforum.com

www.fordtransitusaforum.com

going4speed

· #4 · Nov 30, 2020

If it's just barely scratching I'd be talking to a contractor about changing the trim around the garage and tweaks to the door. Might actually be easier and cheaper. Worth a look.

Reactions: 1

dinocarsfast

· #5 · Dec 1, 2020

You could put 1000 lbs of sand bags in the van.
But the link that you attached is for a transit custom, it’s a smaller and different van than what we have in the US

1x1_Speed_Craig

· #6 · Dec 1, 2020

going4speed said:
If it's just barely scratching I'd be talking to a contractor about changing the trim around the garage and tweaks to the door. Might actually be easier and cheaper. Worth a look.

I'll second this option.

Reactions: 1

surly Bill

· #7 · Dec 1, 2020

If the ceiling is tall enough, it's not too difficult or expensive to raise the height of the opening and mount the opener higher. For a straight-forward solution: some kind of LVL beam to take the place of the likely solid wood sandwich header. That would take 3-4" off the opening height while having the same strength for the span. More invasive door surgery could result in the opening being nearly level with the ceiling. Don't know how you'd tackle the door/opener then. I'd just have swinging barn doors.

Campervan Man

· #8 · Dec 1, 2020

surly Bill said:
If the ceiling is tall enough, it's not too difficult or expensive to raise the height of the opening and mount the opener higher. For a straight-forward solution: some kind of LVL beam to take the place of the likely solid wood sandwich header. That would take 3-4" off the opening height while having the same strength for the span. More invasive door surgery could result in the opening being nearly level with the ceiling. Don't know how you'd tackle the door/opener then. I'd just have swinging barn doors.

Homemade "Carriage House" Garage Doors : 14 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables

Reactions: 1

mtbmitch2

· #9 · Dec 4, 2020

A hot rod suspension shop could probably help you out.

GapRunr

· #10 · Dec 4, 2020

There are wall mount garage door openers that work even better than ceiling mount ones. If you can enlarge the opening by reducing the height of the header you could also make the garage door closer to the ceiling and use a low clearance track that allows the garage door to literally hug the ceiling.

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Kosarfan

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 21, 2021

1x1_Speed_Craig said:
I'll second this option.

This worked! Just took delivery of our transit XLT 350 AWD (albeit 6mo late!) this week. Ripped out a 2X6 and 2X4 trim pieces and gave me the clearance I needed!

Kosarfan

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 21, 2021

Here are the before pics

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Kosarfan

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 21, 2021

Here are the after

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BornAgainBiker55

· #14 · Aug 21, 2021

I'd replace the seal to the door, personally.

I've been looking at mine and I'm trimmed out with 5/4 composite board and the door seal. I believe that removing the 5/4 and installing a ripped piece of 1/4" OSB and replacing the door seals I will have clearance. But my van isn't due to produce until next month and I want to see it in person next to the garage before I start another project

AzB

· #15 · Aug 21, 2021

Let some air out of the tires. Reinflate after pulling out of the garage.

Reactions: 1

Kosarfan

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 21, 2021

My opening is now about exactly 84”….was at about 82” before. The seal will go back up after painting everything white. Really happy with this solution!

Reactions: 2

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