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Showing content with the highest reputation on 10/07/2019 in all areas

  1. I previously did an update at 100k and 150k and I'm happy to say the van is still humming along great. I still change the oil every 5k miles and get the transmission service every year. Just put on my 4th set of tires but otherwise its been very inexpensive to own. The front is definitely getting pretty ate up with rock chips which is to be expected with this many miles and the fact I drive 95% of the time on the highway. Lifetime average MPG is 23.8 but its been improving as I finally learned to just slow down haha! I'm pretty regularly 25-27 with some 28's sprinkled in there. Where I buy the fuel seems to make a big difference too. I had planned on keeping it to 200 and then doing something else but I'll try to get another year or two out of it unless things start going downhill quickly. I'm still on the original brakes and the interior is holding up nicely. Most people are very surprised how many miles are on it when they see it but I keep it really clean so it always looks good. It still drives very tight and the suspension isn't showing signs of needing replaced either. Windshields seem to be a consumable item on these and I'm due for another one unfortunately. Anyways, just wanted to give an up date and post up if you guys have any questions.
    2 points
  2. A couple of months ago, we bought a TC LWB wagon to replace an aging SUV. We test drove just about everything on the market and by a twist of fate, found a perfect TC wagon for sale, used. After much research, we discovered this post that became the inspiration for our build. Here are the requirements for our conversion: We must be able to use it for sleeping and storing all of our gear for various adventures. The bed platform needs to be easy to remove and store. The second-row seats need to remain usable while traveling. The second- and third-row seats can optionally be removed for additional storage space. The sleeping platform needs to be stable enough to be free-standing without anchoring to the van. Here are the photos of the current build: Straight-on rear view with the platform expanded, curtain rod in place, and side window coverings up. Close-up of the side window coverings. They're made with reflectix cut to fit in the windows, then covered on one side with a blackout curtain so they don't reflect through the window if hit by a light. We wanted to be able to stealth anywhere in a "sleep emergency" while traveling. The cab curtain is just a curved shower rod with blackout curtains hanging from it. There's a little bit of a gap at the top that allows in some daylight so you can tell when the sun has come up for the day. The cabin curtain covers enough space that you can't see into the sleeping compartment when walking by the van (unless you bend over or squat-walk past). This photo has the back doors open so any light from behind would be visible in the windshield. The cardboard box resting on the quarter panel contains the window deflectors that haven't been installed yet. This is the best shot of the curtain rod installation that I have. It just stays up on the A posts with a little help from the seatbelt adjustments (as a precaution so the rod doesn't fall on our heads while sleeping). Unlike the inspiration post, I didn't like the idea of supporting the weight of the fore-portion of the sleeping platform on the headrests of the front seats, so it's supported by two legs on the side and one on the center of the front. They're held in place with 1/4" hex bolts into T-nuts on the platform. There's a little bit of shaping and modification to be done on the legs still, but they work pretty well as-is. A majority of the weight is supported by the leg on the front of the platform, the side legs are primarily for stability and to help it stay in place. Here's a close-up of the leg assembly. The platform uses the same slotting mechanism to remain stationary and tight against the rear of the platform. This is what the platform looks like when it's removed and slid on top of the rear platform. The front leg works as a way to prevent it from sliding forward in the event of an accident if the second-row seats are folded down for some extra cargo space. Here's the rear view of the front platform resting on the top of the rear platform. You can also see the easy-up canopy and the curtain rod (on top of the canopy) on the left. On the right are the window coverings. This photo was taken inside the van just before tearing down the platform. It's pretty dark inside on a sunny day. (Continued in the next)
    1 point
  3. i had noted that it (BBFLY obd lead) reports as elm327 v1.5 which is apparently a sure sign of a clone. in reviews https://www.amazon.co.uk/bbflyOBD-VINT-TT55502-ELM327-modificado-FORScan/dp/B06XJ6GQZX/ref=pd_sbs_263_2/258-0210525-4880758?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XJ6GQZX&pd_rd_r=2a413203-28ec-455a-aa58-64e65fe36aea&pd_rd_w=PYxkT&pd_rd_wg=23me0&pf_rd_p=2b420a2f-6593-478e-8b5f-cb43865ff16f&pf_rd_r=RCK7MEM9GTFTVBWY7QCN&psc=1&refRID=RCK7MEM9GTFTVBWY7QCN in the reviews it claims its ok but as i have experienced it throws many errors and dtc's when just one setting is selected. hope this at least helps someone wasting their money like i did.
    1 point
  4. This is what my fronts look like right now. It’s insane how good they look.
    1 point
  5. This probably won't really help you a whole lot since I have my headliner pulled out completely (cargo van, so only had front headliner). But, here's where I have my hammock hooked onto in the van, it goes front-passenger to rear-driver because my hammocks are all 10ft long - a 9ft one would fit a lot better, but I wasn't about to buy one specifically for the van. There's a few things that I have planned that needed the headliner out, so I figure I'll just leave it out and the hammock hanging until I get around to these projects (like custom rails on the roof, insulation inside, etc).
    1 point
  6. I seem to recall noticing "electronic brake distribution" as a feature somewhere in the Ford literature, I suppose it's pretty common these days. I believe that means they apply the rear brakes first during gentle braking, then shift to more and more front brake as braking increases and weight transfers to the front axle. It's a smart strategy to equalize brake wear, but it seems in this case either Ford over-did it on the algorithm... or you brake gradually the majority of the time (not that there's anything wrong with that).
    1 point
  7. When I added cruise control to my van, I found that I had to enable BOTH the cruise control and ASC in order for the CC to work on my 2015. I don't recall having any DTC's from enabling only the CC, like you're seeing, but the CC didn't work until the ASC was also enabled. I also don't have (nor have even heard of) the bbfly adapter you're using, so that could be a culprit? I've heard of lots of cheap knockoff adapters causing issues or not working properly and I think Forscan lists all known good adapters that work properly. Here's the Amazon link for the one I have - I've had zero problems with mine, FWIW.
    1 point
  8. zalienz

    14+ battery longevity

    I'm still on the original battery, it's been 3 years. My experience with lead acid batteries is they last 3-5 years on average. If I close in on the 5 year mark, I will proactively change it for all the reasons Beta Don mentioned. I do the same with hard drives in my computer, after 5 years, ditch them and replace before they die and leave you stressed.
    1 point
  9. tnoll

    Sofa Bed

    If you went to the site, you'll see that this guy doesn't cut the roof structure ie the transverse bracing, he just cuts out some of the sheet metal between the rear-most brace and the back door, creating a sliding hatch to get up into the bed. Thus it isn't a pop top in the normal sense that removes and raises the roof, it's more like a second story. Can't speak to leaks but there's always caulk. Thousands of vanagans can't be wrong. In Europe, you can get a roof-raising pop top installed in a day on a Connect and the cost is of course half what you pay for pop tops here, like on the Metris, and this one. You can have one shipped here, too but then customer support is a little far away and your local top guy probably won't guarantee his work since it isn't his top. That's why this installer in San Diego or Portland has more appeal.
    1 point
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