[Kosarfan]

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!

 

[Michael Ophus]

Photo found somewhere on the Transit Forum.

 

[Michael Ophus]

This subject has come up once before on this forum.

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

 

[going4speed]

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.

 

[dinocarsfast]

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]

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.

 

[surly Bill]

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]

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

 

[mtbmitch2]

A hot rod suspension shop could probably help you out.

 

[GapRunr]

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.

 

[Kosarfan]

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]

Here are the before pics

 

[Kosarfan]

Here are the after

 

[BornAgainBiker55]

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]

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

 

[Kosarfan]

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!