[Blackpointe]

This is a viable roof rack option for all Transit owners. I went with a Front Runner Outfitters roof rack (www.frontrunneroutfitters.com). They offer many modular base rack configurations with room for a solar panel and accessories galore from their catalog. I don't need to climb around on the roof so the Aluminess rack is too much for my needs and tastes. This fit the bill better for my use and it really is coming in handy already with a few camping trips. Strapping gear up top is cake.

The rack mounts are custom built by none other than Hein from this forum. Good dude and these mounts fit spot-on right out of the box. I could not ask for more from a guy who made these from scratch plus they are rather universal for other racks and cross bars as well. The simple assembly makes them universal.

My shots are taken at various times but lets just say I'm a perfectionist for clean color. Blacking out the Maxxfans and the solar panel surround help keep things blended into the roof a little better. I have a black airdam going in next to help the fuel economy factor. I also just mounted some really trick Roto Pax stacking, low profile water and fuel containers, which I have not taken a photo of mounted yet. I will take some shots of the finished product in the near future.

Front Runner Outfitters is a great company. This rack is great and it does not make a sound right now despite the lack of an airdam at the moment. Shape of the Transit front end is likely a big factor.

 

[driley]

Nice. I just mounted two solar panels with brackets from Hein and 80/20. Bolted it all up on the ground and lifted up as an assembly onto the roof. Fit perfect.

https://goo.gl/photos/smYqgrbdYV1DwiTc6?.jpg

 

[orton]

Blacking out the Maxxfans and the solar panel surround help keep things blended into the roof a little better.

What did you use to black out the Maxxair? Looks much better with white covered. Also need to cover the SS feet for my solar panel that was done without a rack.

Picture of feet:

http://www.ortontransit.info/solar.php

 

[BabyBuffy]

Orton, if I interpret correctly you were able to mount solar panels without requiring a roof rack? I have no interest in a roof rack at roughly the cost of another ten Benjamins so just now realizing you apparently mounted yours directly gives me a relief.

 

[Blackpointe]

I have had great success using Eastwood's Plastic Resurfacer to black out the white plastic in Matte Black.

http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=plastic resurfacer



I'm having really good results on exterior plastics and metal surfaces using a simple bed liner two part epoxy product made by Finishmaster in their Smart line of products. I add 10% reducer and spray it through a 2.0 tip automotive paint sprayer and it looks like nicely textured powdercoating or ABS textured plastic. It is working really well and it's tough stuff. I sprayed the entire perimeter frame of my solar panel and it darn near matches my black powdercoated roof rack perfectly. I even sprayed the exterior slider door track with this material and it looks like OEM textured black plastic and ties in with my ultimate goal . I'm going to spray all of the exterior black plastic trim so everything is coated and matching. The plastic on these vans scratches far too easily for me so by using this material I can always recoat as needed if damage occurs. The kits come with four (4) bottles so you can use smaller amounts and not commit to throwing away as much unused product each time you spray.

http://www.finishmaster.com/products/smart-truck-bed-liner-kit-black

 

[Andre Jones]

Orton, if I interpret correctly you were able to mount solar panels without requiring a roof rack? I have no interest in a roof rack at roughly the cost of another ten Benjamins so just now realizing you apparently mounted yours directly gives me a relief.

Driley appears to have as well with Heins bracket $150(?)~ and some 80/20 (i assume less than 60).

 

[orton]

Orton, if I interpret correctly you were able to mount solar panels without requiring a roof rack? I have no interest in a roof rack at roughly the cost of another ten Benjamins so just now realizing you apparently mounted yours directly gives me a relief.

Correct.

I located the feet at the existing mounting hole locations on the single 300 watt panel. Selected a panel with a tube frame. Not any choice on where the panel had to be located on the roof between the high roof sloped "forehead" and the Maxxair vent at the back. That location put the feet between roof ribs on the flimsy Transit roof. In order to reinforce the roof I glued wood stringers between the roof ribs inside the van. Four 5/16" bolts were used through the steel and wood stringers.

Feet consisted of 8 angles. Four 3/16" x 1 1/2" angles 6" long were bolted to the panel. The four 6" long 14 ga. SS feet were bent to slightly more than 90 degrees were bolted between the aluminum angles and the roof to have feet match roof slope. Local fab shop made the SS feet.

 

[Michael Ophus]

Orton, if I interpret correctly you were able to mount solar panels without requiring a roof rack? I have no interest in a roof rack at roughly the cost of another ten Benjamins so just now realizing you apparently mounted yours directly gives me a relief.

a couple of RV mounts, and the home roof and wall mounts could be adapted easy enough http://www.backwoodssolar.com/products/mounts-racking-flashing-trackers

 

[driley]

If you want very low profile and do not mind drilling through the roof, Orton seems to have a very good, economical and solid solution.

If you want to use the factory mount points and not spend a fortune, using Hein's or other after market mount points work well

Note that Grape 160W panels, Hein brackets and 80/20 miraculously match up exactly to some the factory mounting points. It is about as simple as it gets in regards to mounting solar on a camper van as far as I am concerned. You just assembly it all on the ground, get some help lifting the assembly onto the roof and bolt in place.

Cost for my setup, before solar panels is still much more than what Orton is doing. But worst case on mine is about $450.

 

[orton]

driley: good summary.

I spent $80 (that was fab shops minimum charge) for the SS feet but had a lot more of my labor required.

One reason for not using 80/20 as I did on my sold Sprinter was the desire to be as stealth as possible by staying away from the roof edges of the van so less could be seen from the street.

 

[belloinsella]

This is a viable roof rack option for all Transit owners. I went with a Front Runner Outfitters roof rack (www.frontrunneroutfitters.com). They offer many modular base rack configurations with room for a solar panel and accessories galore from their .

Do you know which rack you bought? I'm having trouble finding something that I can use to attach an awning and maybe a water tank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[COASTSIDE]

I ordered the mounts on Ebay for the roof rack and spoke to Hein on the phone. He seemed informative but the company does not at all. I asked the seller ( IMPACTPRODUCTS ) what platform from frontrunner to use for my 130" wheelbase Low roof Transit and they replied, "We don't have personal experience with the platforms. Good question for the transit forum". I'm thinking that I need to return these before going through the trouble of putting these on my van to support thousands of dollars worth of bikes across the country and the person selling them doesn't even have any experience with them.

Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

 

[Ruadhrigh]

@Blackpointe what size Frontrunner rack did you use?

 

[Acerbis]

Any word on what frontrunner rack to use? Looks like their website doesn't know.

 

[Islandr]

Nice. I just mounted two solar panels with brackets from Hein and 80/20. Bolted it all up on the ground and lifted up as an assembly onto the roof. Fit perfect.

New photo by Devin Riley

Can someone please provide a link to the brackets, I haven't seen these on the impact ebay store

 

[Hein]

Here are the 8020 towers at DIYvan.com. And here is same product at our ebay store.
We are currently out of stock of the heavier towers for rack platforms. More in production.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

 

[Brianmcgaha]

Here are the 8020 towers at DIYvan.com. And here is same product at our ebay store.
We are currently out of stock of the heavier towers for rack platforms. More in production.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

Sweet! DIYvan has a website now!

 

[Islandr]

Here are the 8020 towers at DIYvan.com. And here is same product at our ebay store.
We are currently out of stock of the heavier towers for rack platforms. More in production.

All the best,
Hein
DIYvan

Thanks for the links

Trying to decide what the most versatile racks mount are as I haven't purchased solar panels yet.

 

[gmletizia]

This is a viable roof rack option for all Transit owners. I went with a Front Runner Outfitters roof rack (www.frontrunneroutfitters.com). They offer many modular base rack configurations with room for a solar panel and accessories galore from their catalog. I don't need to climb around on the roof so the Aluminess rack is too much for my needs and tastes. This fit the bill better for my use and it really is coming in handy already with a few camping trips. Strapping gear up top is cake.

The rack mounts are custom built by none other than Hein from this forum. Good dude and these mounts fit spot-on right out of the box. I could not ask for more from a guy who made these from scratch plus they are rather universal for other racks and cross bars as well. The simple assembly makes them universal.

My shots are taken at various times but lets just say I'm a perfectionist for clean color. Blacking out the Maxxfans and the solar panel surround help keep things blended into the roof a little better. I have a black airdam going in next to help the fuel economy factor. I also just mounted some really trick Roto Pax stacking, low profile water and fuel containers, which I have not taken a photo of mounted yet. I will take some shots of the finished product in the near future.

Front Runner Outfitters is a great company. This rack is great and it does not make a sound right now despite the lack of an airdam at the moment. Shape of the Transit front end is likely a big factor.

This is a viable roof rack option for all Transit owners. I went with a Front Runner Outfitters roof rack (www.frontrunneroutfitters.com). They offer many modular base rack configurations with room for a solar panel and accessories galore from their catalog. I don't need to climb around on the roof so the Aluminess rack is too much for my needs and tastes. This fit the bill better for my use and it really is coming in handy already with a few camping trips. Strapping gear up top is cake.

The rack mounts are custom built by none other than Hein from this forum. Good dude and these mounts fit spot-on right out of the box. I could not ask for more from a guy who made these from scratch plus they are rather universal for other racks and cross bars as well. The simple assembly makes them universal.

My shots are taken at various times but lets just say I'm a perfectionist for clean color. Blacking out the Maxxfans and the solar panel surround help keep things blended into the roof a little better. I have a black airdam going in next to help the fuel economy factor. I also just mounted some really trick Roto Pax stacking, low profile water and fuel containers, which I have not taken a photo of mounted yet. I will take some shots of the finished product in the near future.

Front Runner Outfitters is a great company. This rack is great and it does not make a sound right now despite the lack of an airdam at the moment. Shape of the Transit front end is likely a big factor.

I love this! I've been looking a roof rack that I can mount my solar panels, cargo box, and a kayak. Do you think that would work with these? Looks like a great basic, functional setup.
Thanks!

 

[emoon20]

Nice. I just mounted two solar panels with brackets from Hein and 80/20. Bolted it all up on the ground and lifted up as an assembly onto the roof. Fit perfect.

New photo by Devin Riley

this looks amazing! any chance you can send the parts that you used & links? also, any chance you know if it clears the antenna height wise?