Matilda’s ride: 2019 Ford transit

[Matildas mate]

After spending about a year studying the CRVL forum, i decided that i would purchase a 130” wheelbase, medium roof Ford Transit cargo van to begin my life on the road. I wanted to buy a new van but at the time Ford’s production year was over and there were no vans to be found with the options i wanted so i placed an order through the local dealership. Eventually i learned that there would be a long wait before the van would be delivered so i began planning the build out.

In this thread i will go through the process of preparing the build and then, when i take possession of the van (scheduled for December 10, 2018 - six months after placing the order), i will post pictures of the build itself.

The build will be a very simple, minimalist affair that i expect will change as time goes on (after i get on the road) and i find that one thing or another needs to be changed or tweaked to make my life more comfortable and in keeping with my personal lifestyle.

I hope this helps someone considering being a full time nomad as much as this forum and the CRVL Youtube channel have helped me.

 

[Matildas mate]

After determining that the dimensions for the 2019 model were the same as the 2018 model, i acquired a diagram of the van’s cargo area and then, using masking tape, created an outline on the floor of my apartment.

 

[travelaround]

I'm planning to buy a Ford Transit also, so I look forward to seeing where you'll go with this.

 

[Matildas mate]

My first project was to build a sleeping platform. I built a frame using 2x3 lumber that is 8’ long and 32” wide. I topped it off using a 4x8 sheet of 3/4” plywood that i had cut lengthwise to 32” wide. This gave me a 16” piece of plywood that i am thinking i may be able to use later for a shelf.

There is a bit more than 24” from the floor to the platform cross members. I thought this would be an ideal height to accomodate storage bins or other storage item(s).

I then cut the platform top in half width-wise and attached each piece to the frame using door hinges with removable pins. Using hinges with removable pins allows me to remove the platform top if need be. The hinges allow me to access whatever i have in storage below and lifting half of the platform top is easier than trying to lift the entire eight feet.

I drilled holes in the platform top for air ventilation.

 

[makenmend]

Must be frustrating waiting on your van, and doing a layout on the floor is a good plan. But have you put any thought into your power requirements,  ventilation, water storage, how/where you will cook. These things may dictate placement of furniture ect.
Also consider the bed East to west, Unless you are very tall. I moved my bed from the same side as you have mocked up to the rear freeing up floor space. Also I highly recommend the swiveling passenger seat.
But your requirements may not be the same as mine, so with your mockup you can move things around before actually building out which is a good plan. Will be following you progress with interest.

best regards

MM

 

[Matildas mate]

But have you put any thought into your power requirements,  ventilation, water storage, how/where you will cook. These things may dictate placement of furniture ect.
Also consider the bed East to west, Unless you are very tall. I moved my bed from the same side as you have mocked up to the rear freeing up floor space. Also I highly recommend the swiveling passenger seat.

Thanks for your suggestions. I’ve considered all of the things you mention. Some of what i have done or planned on may be changed once i get the van and start living in it - i anticipate that this will be the case. Most of my cooking will be outside but i will have a fold down shelf along the side opposite the bed that i can cook on if necessary. 

For ventilation, i plan on a fan mounted as K.C. has done with her van. I can’t get over my paranoia of cutting a hole in the roof. 

 

[Matildas mate]

After building the sleeping platform, i noticed a bit of flex in the design. To correct that i added a couple of 1x3s between the cross members which solved that problem. Doing this provided a small space in which i placed a piece of peg board that i figured could be used for storage of a blanket or two.

 

[makenmend]

Yes my 1st layout worked OK but after a year I moved the bed East to West, hinged it in the middle (21''X21'') to form a couch during the day. I also added 4' long heavy duty drawers under the bed, one accessed from the back (stove,BBQ,shower,hiking, fly fishing stuff) and the other opens inside (clothing, electronics) both can be accessed by moving bedding if required (bad weather) but that got old after e year. Moved my water storage to be accessed from open side door made life easier as well. so trial and error and time are educational for sure.

MM

 

[Matildas mate]

My second project was to build a composting toilet (also referred to as a “Urine-diverting dry toilet.”) For more about this type of toilet, see the Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urine-diverting_dry_toilet.

For an excellent resource about human manure, read the Humanure Handbook at https://humanurehandbook.com/.

With limited skills and tools (i refer to myself as a “woodbutcher” rather than a woodworker) i sought out a local woodworker who works out of his house. He built me a plywood box with a removable top. He built it for me for $20 (i supplied the lumber) including cutting the hole in the top panel.

The urine diverter was purchased from a company based in the UK called WE-PEE. Their website can be found at http://www.we-pee.com/.

Here are some pictures of the toilet build...









The last step was to add swilvel casters and a drawer pull so i can easily move the toilet out from under the sleeping platform.

 

[Babz]

How are your, Ford Transitees or Transitors or ??, tying into the battery system -- power for auxiliary batteries?

The Smart Isolator or the Ford kit to expand the CCP power?

I just bought my Ford Transit 2018, 138, med roof -- already have 850 miles on it!!  

Wanting to get power to the roof fan and some lights soon.
Thanks
Babz

 

[Matildas mate]

How are your, Ford Transitees or Transitors or ??, tying into the battery system -- power for auxiliary batteries?

The Smart Isolator or the Ford kit to expand the CCP power?

I just bought my Ford Transit 2018, 138, med roof -- already have 850 miles on it!!  

Wanting to get power to the roof fan and some lights soon.
Thanks
Babz

Hi Babz. I haven’t a clue about how to proceed with my battery power. I did order the dual battery thinking that this will safely provide me with enough power to charge up an iPhone, iPad and a laptop. That’s about all of my electrical needs right now though i am thinking about a Webasto heater that i understand draws some (minimal?) power from the battery on start up. 

I did buy a suitcase solar panel (Zamp 140 watt) to top off my Transit batteries if  they begin to show signs of running down. Hopefully i can keep my batteries charged through the alternator while moving locations.

I am not familiar with the Ford Kit to expand the CCP power nor a Smart Isolator (except what i saw recently in one of Bob’s videos showing an isolator install). I was hoping that the dual battery system had some way to isolate the second battery from the main battery but from what i am reading that isn’t the case. 

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this issue and any recommendations you may have since our vehicles are identical.

By the way, congratulations on buying your Transit!

 

[makenmend]

For just the small loads you have you should be fine, but be aware just alternator charging will most likely never get your batteries to 100 percent state of charge, most likely 80 percent. Using the suitcase solar should then be able to complete the charge, thus prolonging the life of your batteries.

With a separate house battery bank, a Voltage Sensing Relay Isolator will provide the benefit of charging both house and vehicle batteries whilst driving and then when ignition off the solar will provide power to both vehicle and house batteries when the house battery reaches ( in my case ) 13.2 volts.  Should the voltage of the vehicle battery fall to 12.9 volts the relay will disconnect to ensure protection from low voltage of the starter battery.
I hope this makes sense.

MM

 

[makenmend]

On the CCP this gives you a constant 12 volts unlike all other power points/lights that are on a timer after ignition OFF.
There are 3 connections at 60 amps, most vehicles only have one live terminal the kit which is inexpensive enables all 3 terminals for a total of 180 amps. All of this info is on the http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/forumindex.php site which has a lot of really good information on our Transits.

 

[Matildas mate]

All of this info is on the http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/forumindex.php  site which has a lot of really good information on our Transits.

Thanks again MM. I signed up to participate in the forum.

 

[highdesertranger]

what's the CCP? Chinese Communist Party? critical control point? or maybe one of the 40+ here,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCP.

highdesertranger

 

[Matildas mate]

what's the CCP?

When i first saw the Ford term CCP i thought - since it referred to a vehicle’s electrical system - it meant “cold cranking power.” In this case, it means “Customer Connection Point.” Here’s something on adding CCPs to a Ford Transit cargo van conversion...

https://moreysintransit.com/ford-transit-customer-connection-points/

 

[tav-2020]

congrats on the van! thanks for posing pics, really enjoy seeing your progress and reasoning.
tav

 

[highdesertranger]

my whole point was to get a definition. please when you use abbreviations make sure to give a definition. highdesertranger

 

[Matildas mate]

my whole point was to get a definition.  please when you use abbreviations make sure to give a definition.  highdesertranger

Yes i will. I didn’t introduce the term CCP to this thread but i agree that these types of definitions should be defined and i will do so in the future.

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks, highdesertranger