glennwelch

A few tweaks, these projects are never done. I like these fans for sleeping, added an arm to adjust angle to the back of my head while driving. Nice breeze that way. I added a larger DC-DC charger for my solar batteries and relocated the alt or solar supply switch so reachable while driving. New tires, Michelyn X Ice, better (much) in snow. Also added a switch to stop traction control circuit (open fuse) if spinning. Added trailer lights, pulls my canoe trailer very easily. The little after market outdoor temp and bat voltage display works nicely. Hoping to do a 2nd long road trip this winter...we'll see...the ice maker still works !

Thanks JRM, it worked out pretty well, even after being used. Some older posts (2010) on other forums said this, so seems likely that is what mine is doing. " i have a problem with the odometer of a Ford Transit van 2008, the goes up to 2000 KM then resets itself to zero

Very nice woodwork and a great rear awning. Thanks.

Vonn, just now see I your Aug post. I mounted my panel to a roof rack and ran the wires in through the lexan window I built. I did add a blue tooth auto load shut off. I have not had it kick in yet. I have two deep cycle batteries. I plug in at night at campgrounds. Hoteling it, the batteries run the small frig overnight. I also have a DC to DC "trickle charger" for cloudy days. I will get a bigger amp one for my next trip. The sun never shines in MI. Any questions feel free. No expert, I did it once 2.5 years ago.

Finally I retired and took my 2013 with 24,000 miles on it, on a road trip. MD, up through MI, West across its UP, WI and down MN to the Mississippi Headwaters, then followed its marked Great River Rd. I turned east at Memphis, through AL (Muscle Shoals, fantastic), across Rabun Cty, GA to Asheville and Greensboro. One more VA stop on my way home. Over 4,000 miles, not much interstate. My question. I think my trip odometer resets to 0 at 2000 miles. Might this be a "feature" or a bug ? Thanks.

Had my "old" 2013 smog tested this month, they had me unlock it's gas tank door to say they saw the cap. What was news to me, since I had it garaged for the winter, battery disconnected, even though I drove it 200+ miles over two days before testing it had not yet stored enough data so I was locked out of their system for 9 days and had to bring it back again.

"Funny" when I popped off my 2013 front bumper plug (driver side) only metal under it, but the other, same plug there is the thread. So I had a 50-50 chance and lost. In the end I decided it is not good to tie to for a canoe. I have it secure, but for the front point went through the window around the top of the door-ceiling handles

Now I see this, I will look again.

This threaded eye bolt came in a nice bag with my 2013 FTC. Where does it go / what is its purpose ? Getting a canoe Sat, hoping it's a tie down. Thank you !

I was just looking at Bart's and his bike rack got me thinking trailer hitch, I have no room inside. Quickly found one on line, pics look good, just drop the spare tire (as opposed to the exhaust too), so just ordered it. Now I need a bike and a rack (and to install the hitch), how fun is that ! I also got an ARB awning, very nice. I attached it to my roof rack with some heavy duty angle brackets. Works great. Thanks for the heated seat link...just maybe...but I plan to head south.

I like the kuat rack, I might look into one for one bike...but no hitch yet. Could use a hitch for other stuff, this table is even in a bag that says Ford, but sold out.

What I did for paper towels. I could not fit Jack's idea and my 2013's shelf has round holes, not slots like mrtn's 2015. My shelf's round holes should be good for tissues etc. I went with two paper towel holders, one on the ceiling at the rear door, mounted to wood, fasted to existing holes. The other at the passenger side slider, also an existing plastic floor trim hole attaches a 90 degree bracket to which I screwed a dowel. While at it, I put in a fire extinguisher, there will be cooking and just in case my wiring has any issues .

Very nice build and great road trip plans. Love the paneling, excellent. My road trip is still 18+ months away, but it is a lot of fun working on the van. I did just do my paper towel holder(s), will post.

Sure looks comfortable, looking forward to more pics.

Will do, thanks.

That is a great dispenser. All my stuff might not allow the door to close, but I will investigate further. Thanks !

A few more electrical modifications to my 2013 FTC. I added a 2nd 12V deep cycle solar battery. They weigh 72lbs each, so now more ice making capacity . I also added a small battery charger that charges from the rear power point to the solar batteries (12V dc to 12V dc), for when the sun isn't shining while driving and there is ice to be made later. Therefore I wanted the power point(s) to be ignition switched. I found one unused switched circuit (F144 for taxi block) that now powers the back power point. I put in a toggle switch to charge the batteries with either the solar panel or the power point. I also picked up a small 120V ac to 12V dc charger (for when parked/plugged in), neither take up much room or supply much current, couple of amps as I recall, but thinking enough for my purposes. I ran across ready-made jumpers, so no cutting of wires or making my own. http://www.kawal.net/poweroutlet.htm For the front power point (so far just my GPS/phone) I tapped into the fog lamp circuit (F147), also switched, but they do go off with the high beams. I did not find a 2nd unused switched circuit. Any suggestions for a different switched circuit to use for the front power port, please let me know. Next mod, a paper towel holder...

I can't suggest the best, but what I did for my retirement road trip connect (2013) is build a wood frame of compartments and the battery sits in one. There is a pic, 9th pic down in the link below, the battery sits between the AC and the refrig. I am now thinking to add a second in parallel. I decided to keep all my wiring separate from Ford's (except for the added backup camera). I used the chassis seat belt's mounting hole for grounding my wiring.

I did solar and a small refrig. Mine too I did as a "temporary modification." If I indeed I do make a couple of long trips, that will be it, it all comes out. I have an 8 ft garage door so it pulls right in. The ice maker though is my pride and joy. Pics & some info at:

So far I only viewed on a very overcast day. It'll be a few weeks before using it again. This mirror does at least have a brightness adjustment, so we'll see. Thanks.

One more addition this last weekend. I put in a back up camera, One that has the video display on a center rear view mirror. For now I am keeping the stock radio and a separate GPS unit. The camera comes in a rear license plate lamp housings, has a lamp also. Works well, I think. The lens actually sees the bumper at its ends and directly below sees the ground no more than 1 foot off the bumper.

Excellent welds, very impressive.

Great points and numbers at 300,000km(185k miles:). I put on the hood (bonnet) deflector too. Hoping mine won't see much salt. We'll see. Thanks.

It was said, "IH would dip the Scouts in salt water before painting them." There were very common, predictable locations that they would rust and boy would they. Mine was from Alaska (1977) then CA then out to MD where in 1987 I awoke to the rust. I was not prepared. Anyone seeing problem rust areas on the Connects ? Mine is currently mostly garaged waiting for me to retire. A base model, 4dr manual, 1996 Jeep Cherokee is my daily driver, it has very little rust/almost none, pretty amazing.

Thanks, Plans are to first drive, "The Great River Road" along the Mississippi R. from its MN headwaters. Historically, I am not real keen on long drives, but have never done it on absolutely no schedule, so will do this once retired in 2 yrs, maybe less. Then if that goes OK, the next year I will try for Belize, about 3,000 miles. What I do like is working on the Connect, long drives we'll have to see about. I see your Scout, excellent. I had a '77 Scout II, loved it. Except for the rust it was in great shape :). I sold it a few years ago. I like Uinta's Detour beer (expensive), has a Scout I on the label. I bought it just for the label the first time.