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Greetings,
I had previously posted a thread asking about several options:
http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/ford-transit-general-discussion/9865-couple-options-questions-4.html#post134945
I discovered there aren't many white or silver Transit cargo vans, medium roof, 148-inch WB, out there in dealer stock, with many options at all, much less the options I wanted, all together. My main goal was to get a lumbar adjust seat, with rear door and slider glass, Ecoboost engine, sync, cruise control. Were I to do a special order, I would have added secondary desires: 220 amp alternator, dual batteries, load area protection package, and a few other items.
I was about ready to do a special order, when I read, here, about the 2015 order cycle being closed. I threw in the towel, and got a van from local dealer stock, which was set up with most of my primary desires -- except that it lacks a lumbar seat. I figure that, if the seat bothers me, I can have an upholstery shop foam-modify the lumbar area of my seat for less than some of the seat or package options I had considered, in pursuit of a lumbar seat.
I'm going to do a light camper van conversion, and use the van as my daily driver.
I expect do do a mod that I'll guess that no one else has done, in order to transport my 14-foot kayak. I will fashion a custom mount for the passenger seat (removing the existing pedestal), such that I pull a lever to swing the seat 6 or 8 inches higher than normal (and a bit rearward), so that the front of the boat will fit underneath. Yes, the side supports will also be further apart, to get boat width under there. No, I won't be able to travel with passenger and boat at the same time! Most of the time, it's just me an my dog.
One thing I noticed at the Ford lot nearly had me quit the purchase. Having test-driven the clean white van 2 days before, I noticed that, since it had rained, darkish runs came down onto the body, from every piece of black plastic or rubber trim. WTF? So, sales guy reassures me that the same runs appear on EVERY new Ford -- its just harder to see on darker colors. WTF, some reassurance! Well, I did see the same runs on every other vehicle on the lot. But, the 9 degrees cooler (Mythbusters reference) is worth it to have a white vehicle. I've had a number of white vehicles, and one dark blue -- I'll never do that again. Now, I'll have to clean my vehicle more than I really want to.
I have questions, starting with a minor curiousity:
1) What's the microfiber cloth in the documentation pack supposed to be for?
2) When kayaking whitewater (other, shorter boats), I've been keeping my old-school vehicle key in the zip pocket of my pfd. Can't keep an electronic key wet like that, and waterproof solutions are clunky, and NOT foolproof. A) Is it possible to get a mill-cut key to open the doors, which would have NO electronics? If so, I suppose such a key would not operate ignition? Or, are the electronics JUST for the remote function, and have no effect on starting the engine? If it could just open the door, I'd strategically hide an original key in the van. B) Similarly, I think I read that we can always add a keyless entry pad -- stick-on, no wires... I think this is the item:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/111161478347?nav=SEARCH
This will work? Again, I'd have to hide an ignition key in the vehicle. Since these pads are entry only, does that imply to a miscreant that there usually IS an ignition key hidden in the vehicle?
3) The Thinsulite/Thinsulate or polyester insulation you camper van people like... I suppose that's too bulky to ship. Any ideas on types of places to look, for local source?
4) Same question about sourcing the corrugated plastic sheeting for interior paneling. One that I think I know of is sign shops. I kind of liked the Ford option panels, which were black. But, I may go white, to help brighten the interior.
5) Another source question: I think I would use plastic push fasteners in the same holes Ford uses on the option panels. Just need to find a source to buy bulk, instead of the expensive poly packs that Lowe's sells (if, indeed, they are appropriate). Ideas?
6) My lot is all out of room for a carport that would meet code. So, may go with a "temporary" fabric covered structure (they make some with 15-year covers), that is not subject to regulation (county lot, no homeowner association, yeah), though I might be able to get it pretty much out of sight. They make these for Class A RV's, and bigger, and, I've seen a couple that seem like they would fit a medium roof Transit. Long shot, but, anyone out there have one, possibly with pics to see fit?
Thanks much
I had previously posted a thread asking about several options:
http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/ford-transit-general-discussion/9865-couple-options-questions-4.html#post134945
I discovered there aren't many white or silver Transit cargo vans, medium roof, 148-inch WB, out there in dealer stock, with many options at all, much less the options I wanted, all together. My main goal was to get a lumbar adjust seat, with rear door and slider glass, Ecoboost engine, sync, cruise control. Were I to do a special order, I would have added secondary desires: 220 amp alternator, dual batteries, load area protection package, and a few other items.
I was about ready to do a special order, when I read, here, about the 2015 order cycle being closed. I threw in the towel, and got a van from local dealer stock, which was set up with most of my primary desires -- except that it lacks a lumbar seat. I figure that, if the seat bothers me, I can have an upholstery shop foam-modify the lumbar area of my seat for less than some of the seat or package options I had considered, in pursuit of a lumbar seat.
I'm going to do a light camper van conversion, and use the van as my daily driver.
I expect do do a mod that I'll guess that no one else has done, in order to transport my 14-foot kayak. I will fashion a custom mount for the passenger seat (removing the existing pedestal), such that I pull a lever to swing the seat 6 or 8 inches higher than normal (and a bit rearward), so that the front of the boat will fit underneath. Yes, the side supports will also be further apart, to get boat width under there. No, I won't be able to travel with passenger and boat at the same time! Most of the time, it's just me an my dog.
One thing I noticed at the Ford lot nearly had me quit the purchase. Having test-driven the clean white van 2 days before, I noticed that, since it had rained, darkish runs came down onto the body, from every piece of black plastic or rubber trim. WTF? So, sales guy reassures me that the same runs appear on EVERY new Ford -- its just harder to see on darker colors. WTF, some reassurance! Well, I did see the same runs on every other vehicle on the lot. But, the 9 degrees cooler (Mythbusters reference) is worth it to have a white vehicle. I've had a number of white vehicles, and one dark blue -- I'll never do that again. Now, I'll have to clean my vehicle more than I really want to.
I have questions, starting with a minor curiousity:
1) What's the microfiber cloth in the documentation pack supposed to be for?
2) When kayaking whitewater (other, shorter boats), I've been keeping my old-school vehicle key in the zip pocket of my pfd. Can't keep an electronic key wet like that, and waterproof solutions are clunky, and NOT foolproof. A) Is it possible to get a mill-cut key to open the doors, which would have NO electronics? If so, I suppose such a key would not operate ignition? Or, are the electronics JUST for the remote function, and have no effect on starting the engine? If it could just open the door, I'd strategically hide an original key in the van. B) Similarly, I think I read that we can always add a keyless entry pad -- stick-on, no wires... I think this is the item:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/111161478347?nav=SEARCH
This will work? Again, I'd have to hide an ignition key in the vehicle. Since these pads are entry only, does that imply to a miscreant that there usually IS an ignition key hidden in the vehicle?
3) The Thinsulite/Thinsulate or polyester insulation you camper van people like... I suppose that's too bulky to ship. Any ideas on types of places to look, for local source?
4) Same question about sourcing the corrugated plastic sheeting for interior paneling. One that I think I know of is sign shops. I kind of liked the Ford option panels, which were black. But, I may go white, to help brighten the interior.
5) Another source question: I think I would use plastic push fasteners in the same holes Ford uses on the option panels. Just need to find a source to buy bulk, instead of the expensive poly packs that Lowe's sells (if, indeed, they are appropriate). Ideas?
6) My lot is all out of room for a carport that would meet code. So, may go with a "temporary" fabric covered structure (they make some with 15-year covers), that is not subject to regulation (county lot, no homeowner association, yeah), though I might be able to get it pretty much out of sight. They make these for Class A RV's, and bigger, and, I've seen a couple that seem like they would fit a medium roof Transit. Long shot, but, anyone out there have one, possibly with pics to see fit?
Thanks much
