My Kayak Hauler / Camper Van has arrived!

30363 Views 71 Replies 19 Participants Last post by RandomJoe, May 27, 2017

RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · Apr 22, 2016

5

I finally got my van!

Time to begin the fun...

So far I seem to have avoided any of the dread problems a few others are experiencing. No drones, no thrums, mileage is good...

I have had to fix one small thing already though - the latch that holds the slider open wouldn't latch! The little loop that's bolted into the channel which the latch grabs was too far to the rear. Unfortunately it doesn't have enough travel on mine, I have it as far forward as it'll go. It'll *sometimes* latch when I slide it open, but to be sure I just have to press gently at the bottom of the door.

Mine won't be built out with a lot of nice gear, it's going to be pretty full with my kayak. I'll have some cabinets up high over the windows to store things, probably a cabinet behind the driver seat for batteries and associated electronics. Some sort of bed/desk that can be folded out of the way.

I can never make up my mind so who knows what I'll wind up with...

A few pics to start with. The first is the Transit beside the S10 it's replacing. The kayak atop the S10 was quickly moved inside the van!

I also mocked up a quick roller system to handle my kayak. It's a sit-on Hobie so quite a bit heavier than most yaks. One sweet capability now, I don't have to unload the yak before loading. Just slide the whole thing inside and go!

I have a set of Yakima Mako saddles to hold the yak, as well as the rollers I can position right at the back edge of the van to help with sliding it in/out.

Still need to decide on how to strap it down, for now just using a couple of the existing tie-downs. Works well enough to get me to the lake!

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RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #41 · Jul 3, 2016

foxharp said:
since you've now had a direct A/B experience: do you find the wind deflectors make driving with the windows down much quieter?

I can't say! It's been so stinking hot and humid lately that I haven't been driving around with the windows down - AC on high!

At any rate, they don't help much (enough?) with the moving wind noise for me. I haven't driven above 35-40 MPH with the windows down since I got a vehicle with AC in it. The noise and buffeting on my ears drive me crazy, can't stand it!

Only reason I got the deflectors was to leave the windows down a bit while it's raining - for which they are very effective.

RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #42 · Jul 3, 2016

EddieZ said:
Well, that's a bummer. I've been noticing that mine have a slight buffet at the lower end, near the mirrors. Each deflector came with a piece of foam down there, apparently to address this; it fills a gap against the plastic "mirror mount panel." I've been worried that this may cause them to eventually loosen, and maybe come off... not so much that the adhesive would fail, but that the VHB foam tape structure would break down from the buffeting.

I will not be happy if my $70 accessory pieces fall off. If one is lucky enough to recover the piece with no damage, I wonder if the VHB will come off without causing further damage. I know that getting VHB off of the painted van surface has been discussed. Don't know about getting it off the deflector plastic.

I first noticed mine was loose coming back from a trip. Saw the lower end wiggling around. When I inspected closer I found the lower end seemed fine but the top/back end was coming unstuck. I should have done something about it right after getting back but being the master procrastinator that I am... Besides, it held on for the whole 2.5 hrs return trip at 65 MPH - surely it'll be OK in town at 40!

The tape on mine doesn't seem to be too much trouble to remove, but perhaps it was just a bad piece... It certainly pulled off the van itself quite cleanly. Only a couple of thin lines where I'll need to clean off some residue. I'm guessing whoever applied mine didn't get it prepped quite right or something...? (It was applied at the dealership before I picked up the van, guess I could email Ryan Matt and see what he says... Though I'm not going to drive 400 miles to have them fix it!

)

foxharp

· #43 · Jul 3, 2016

huh -- just checked my uninstalled set. no pieces of foam.

JP4

· #44 · Jul 4, 2016

foxharp said:
since you've now had a direct A/B experience: do you find the wind deflectors make driving with the windows down much quieter? i'll probably install the set i have for rain deflection when parked, in any case, but i'd love it if they'd remove some of the roar when traveling with the windows down. (i've been delaying installing the deflectors, because i don't like the way they'll add to the view obstruction from the A pillar.)

I've had mine installed since October with no issues. I can't tell you if it reduces noise driving with the windows down, but I can say they didn't add any noise with the windows up. The reason I installed them is for rain protection when camping out parked and they are great for that. I can leave the windows down several inches and stay dry.
Visibility is definitely reduced a little, especially at four way stops.
Overall I'm pleased with them.
JP

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #45 · Jul 4, 2016

The solar panels did a fine job on their first day installed. Me, not so much... Got way too hot and tired and dehydrated yesterday, today was pretty lousy! Urgh, I should know better than that...!

Anyway, climbed in the van about 8:30 PM and found the battery bank at 100%!

I'm also trying the MaxxFan on Auto, found it does in fact stop (eventually) when the temp drops below setpoint. Now that it can run directly off solar during the day I may just leave it in auto, it can ramp up as the day warms then shut off at night - or when I start driving and the cool AC air makes it back there.

My roof penetrations also survived the leak test - had a couple rounds of heavy rain early this morning and no water inside. Always a good thing!

Aside from cosmetics (tidying up the wiring in a few spots - primarily need to figure out how I want to conceal the wires dropping beside the drivers seat) all that's left is the AC side of the inverter. Just going to put some outlets on the front and back of the "power pedestal", that should be sufficient.

Still need to finish the bed platform (need to clear enough space in the garage to work on something that large) and finish my window covers, then it should be ready for an overnight stay... Have plenty else I'd like to do of course, primarily some overhead cabinets for storage. They may wait until winter though. I'm ready to be USING the van, not WORKING on it!

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foxharp

· #46 · Jul 6, 2016

foxharp said:
huh -- just checked my uninstalled set. no pieces of foam.

never mind -- the foam pieces are there, already attached to the deflectors. i was looking for separate pieces.

i'm contemplating trimming off most of the "unneeded" section that runs down the A pillar. that'll leave the front end a little unsupported though. like i said -- "contemplating".

foxharp

· #47 · Jul 6, 2016

i got tired of simply contemplating, and did it. we're driving about 900 miles this weekend -- i'll let you know if i don't come back with a matched pair, or if they cause moaning siren-like whistles at any speed over 35.

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Budsky

· #48 · Jul 7, 2016

Please update on how that works- I've thought of the same thing- to me it seems silly to have a "visor" over a non opening window, especially when it increases the blind spot.

jhtransit

· #49 · Jul 7, 2016

I'd opt for the 'visor'. It keeps water from the windshield from coming in the window when the vehicle is moving.

foxharp

· #50 · Jul 12, 2016

Budsky said:
Please update on how that works- I've thought of the same thing- to me it seems silly to have a "visor" over a non opening window, especially when it increases the blind spot.

well, my "shorty" deflectors are still attached after our trip. they worked great keeping the rain out while parked (just as one would expect), and i didn't notice any vibrations or excessive noise while driving. we don't drive much with the windows open, raining or not -- it's just so much quieter with the windows closed -- so i'm not too worried about keeping the rain out while driving. (i'm surprised the lower half of the deflectors would help much, being so far forward from the windows, but airflow around a moving vehicle does odd things.)

paul

Transit_Van_88

· #51 · Jul 12, 2016

Good to know the chopped deflectors are holding up. I'm actually looking for some of the taller/extra wide guards for my transit but have not been able to find any yet.

RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #52 · Aug 6, 2016

Aarrgghh!!!

ARGH!!! The SQUEAKING is DRIVING ME MAD!!! >

When I built my side cabinet / bed platform support pillars I found there was an occasional metallic "ticking" noise from the passenger side wall when that cabinet was fully bolted in. Doesn't sound like metal-on-wood, this sounds like two metal pieces touching / tapping. Strangely, it didn't do it when the front (of three) cabinet mounting bolts was removed. I made some adjustments, it seemed to be okay, I went on.

More recently I got the bed platform ready and mounted it. Nothing fancy, I wanted it removable for bigger loads so it just sits on top of the two side cabinets and gets strapped down with cam-straps. That works fine.

However, the metallic ticking noise came back with a vengeance! ARGH!

This morning I took out the front bolt on the passenger side and the sound is better but not gone.

I'm going to have to enlist some help, maybe get my dad to drive the van while I'm in back hunting for the source, but that's going to be a challenge... The cabinet blocks all the openings in the wall through which I could reach in to find loose metal, and if I take the cabinet out the noise is gone!

Grumble....

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RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #53 · Aug 20, 2016

6

When moving forward sometimes it's good to take a look back...

One of my kayaks is actually a trimaran sailing kayak (Hobie Tandem Island). At 18.5 feet long it is definitely NOT fitting inside the van! But it's not very large other than length. When sitting on its trailer it's low and narrow. I was worried I'd have trouble seeing it behind the Transit.

I finally got around to trying it out the other day. Pulled it out of the garage, hitched it to the van, climbed in... And I couldn't see it *AT ALL*, no matter how much I leaned or twisted! Ooh...

After some thought I decided to go ahead and order one of the 3rd brake light replacement systems. It came down to Rear View Safety or Tadi Brothers. I had actually settled on Tadi due to a number of recommendations on various forums - and they were a bit cheaper. But their website wouldn't let me order! No matter what I tried when I clicked "buy" and it went to my shopping cart nothing was there. Couple that with the rather spotty documentation (lots of contradictory or irrelevant information) and I just went with RVS.

The Transit "kit" comes with the camera / backup light, a 7" screen of your choice (defaults to one that clips over the rearview mirror, I selected a standalone one), the 3-input multiplexer and plenty of cabling. I just needed to add a little power wire. I paid $375 ordering from their website directly. Their Amazon store is a bit cheaper on the parts but doesn't have the Transit kit.

Don't think it'd matter on the camera itself, their replacement light/cameras look virtually identical! Probably the same company molding them...

In retrospect I think I like the RVS system a bit better anyway, there's just the single cable running up to the screen so nice and tidy there. The "control box" allows up to three cameras so I could add side cameras later if desired - or even use the provided pigtail to use the screen as a (really tiny!) monitor. Guess I could connect an old video game controller to it on a rained-out day camping...

Anyway, it showed up this afternoon and I installed it. Goes in pretty quickly, though the gasket provided is lacking. I think water would leak in the top edge if I just put it in as-is, it was loose in the socket. A more fastidious person would probably have gotten gasket material and made a better one, I just opted for some silicone across the top/sides leaving the bottom "dry" in case any water does get in.

Removing the existing light is actually pretty easy. Just pull off the wire mold right above the door and there's a big hole to reach in and depress the clips holding it in. A couple of them were a bit too far for my fat hand/arm to reach, but a long screwdriver did the trick.

It was getting dark as I drove off to try it out. Didn't hook up the TI, I'll do that this weekend. The screen works fine, the picture is very nice. Haven't even adjusted it and had a nearly ideal image. Can just see the hitch ball at one edge of the screen, the other edge is pretty much straight down the road.

The two pics as I backed into the driveway probably aren't too fair. The Ford screen isn't fuzzy! But it gives a good comparison of the view angles.

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RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #54 · Aug 20, 2016

2

I've never been particularly good at backing a trailer but I feel REALLY bad at it in the Transit!

Heck, I still have to fairly often pull forward to correct when backing just the *van* into my driveway! (Thus why I make a point of pulling through in parking lots whenever possible.)

Took the TI for a test-drive this morning. Of course moving forward is just fine - aside from the loud clunking coming from the darn hitch receiver! The ball hitch I bought (Reese 3-way) is loose in the receiver, it was banging as it bounced all by itself when I first bought it. I wrapped several layers of duct tape around it in the area that slides into the receiver and it was quiet. With the trailer attached it still bangs (or something does) every time the trailer hits a bump! (My S10 just had a ball screwed to the bumper, never had any noise at all from that.)

Anyway... Drove up to an empty church parking lot, laid a couple of items on the ground for my "driveway", and proceeded to practice. I could probably have sold footage to Funniest Home Videos if I'd been recording it...

The first (not-so-funny) realization: I'm going to be EXTREMELY dependent on that rear-view camera, especially if trying to back into a space on my right. The Ford backup camera is utterly useless with the trailer attached, I only have a closeup view of the bow of the boat! And I can just *barely* see the tail end of the 19 foot long trailer in the rearmost passenger-side window as I back. (Glad I got "all-around windows"!)

I can, of course, see the end of the trailer in the side mirrors while turning but I can't see where I'm going (it may be there but really small at the edge of the convex mirror).

Dunno how you people with windowless vans do it...!

Second realization is that the van has the same problem my pickup does, it's possible to get into a turn I can't straighten up. I have to pull forward to straighten. Maybe that's normal, dunno... I believe shorter-wheelbase tow vehicles make this easier? (Of course the Transit is even longer than my S10 was.)

But hey, all's well that ends well. Made it home and got it back in the driveway without running off the drive or hitting the company van beside it...

Now to head to the lake and go sailing! (Tomorrow... It's actually a bit TOO windy at the moment!)

On the two pictures: I found it interesting that the overall image is good - but the TI has all those lines!

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suitcase

· #55 · Aug 21, 2016

A longer wheelbase tow vehicle should be easier to backup with trailer.

driley

· #56 · Aug 21, 2016

RandomJoe said:
I've never been particularly good at backing a trailer but I feel REALLY bad at it in the Transit! Heck, I still have to fairly often pull forward to correct when backing just the *van* into my driveway! (Thus why I make a point of pulling through in parking lots whenever possible.)

Took the TI for a test-drive this morning. Of course moving forward is just fine - aside from the loud clunking coming from the darn hitch receiver! The ball hitch I bought (Reese 3-way) is loose in the receiver, it was banging as it bounced all by itself when I first bought it. I wrapped several layers of duct tape around it in the area that slides into the receiver and it was quiet. With the trailer attached it still bangs (or something does) every time the trailer hits a bump! (My S10 just had a ball screwed to the bumper, never had any noise at all from that.)

Anyway... Drove up to an empty church parking lot, laid a couple of items on the ground for my "driveway", and proceeded to practice. I could probably have sold footage to Funniest Home Videos if I'd been recording it...

The first (not-so-funny) realization: I'm going to be EXTREMELY dependent on that rear-view camera, especially if trying to back into a space on my right. The Ford backup camera is utterly useless with the trailer attached, I only have a closeup view of the bow of the boat! And I can just *barely* see the tail end of the 19 foot long trailer in the rearmost passenger-side window as I back. (Glad I got "all-around windows"!)

I can, of course, see the end of the trailer in the side mirrors while turning but I can't see where I'm going (it may be there but really small at the edge of the convex mirror).

Dunno how you people with windowless vans do it...!

Second realization is that the van has the same problem my pickup does, it's possible to get into a turn I can't straighten up. I have to pull forward to straighten. Maybe that's normal, dunno... I believe shorter-wheelbase tow vehicles make this easier? (Of course the Transit is even longer than my S10 was.)

But hey, all's well that ends well. Made it home and got it back in the driveway without running off the drive or hitting the company van beside it... Now to head to the lake and go sailing! (Tomorrow... It's actually a bit TOO windy at the moment!)

On the two pictures: I found it interesting that the overall image is good - but the TI has all those lines!

How is that monitor mounted?

RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #57 · Aug 21, 2016

The monitor comes with a little stand with flat base. The base has 3M tape on it. I attached the base to the windshield nearly at the top edge and just to the right of the black cover above the rearview mirror.

Here's a pic showing more of the windshield.

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driley

· #58 · Aug 21, 2016

RandomJoe said:
The monitor comes with a little stand with flat base. The base has 3M tape on it. I attached the base to the windshield nearly at the top edge and just to the right of the black cover above the rearview mirror.

Here's a pic showing more of the windshield.

Thanks!

wgc

· #59 · Aug 21, 2016

RandomJoe
First time I had my trailer hooked to the Transit I thought the trailer dropped off due to the amount of slop on the trailer hitch. I purchased one of these and the banging is gone- http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Acces...tml?feed=npn&gclid=CLq-rfiD084CFQooaQodmPwHDw a little expensive but it took out the banging and was worth it to me.

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RandomJoe

Discussion Starter · #60 · Aug 21, 2016

Excellent, I was just coming here to ask if something could be done - towed the TI to the lake this morning. The main road I use is asphalt over an old concrete road. The divots at each tar joint are noticeable. The hitch BANGED loudly on every single one!

I'll order one of those and see how it does. My ball hitch is a 3-way as I need 1-7/8" and 2", not sure if the immobilizer will work in any position or needs to be on the bottom. Might have to just buy two separate hitches if that's the case...

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