desert_connect

I bought it from Van Windows Direct in California. https://vanwindowsdirect.com/collections/am-auto-van-windows-ama-van-windows

SOLD......FS: Camper Van flip over bed pod and table for 2014-up Ford Transit Connect Cargo. Well built, 3/4" 9 ply Birch plywood, 3” cushions, converts into a bed in seconds. One person can install or remove the pod in 3-4 minutes held in with two turn buckles and hinged table bolts into existing holes. Includes; bed pod, cushions, fold down table, 155 watt/hr battery/gen/charger, Caframo Bora 12v Marine low watt fan, butane cook stove w/10 bottles, 2 kitchen totes, 50 qt ice chest, 6 x 8 and 10 x 12 rip stop nylon awning tarps, 2 telescoping awning poles with ropes and stakes, two rechargeable lights, 4 gal water jug. $350 In the Tucson, Arizona area.

Sorry to hear. Been there done that while camping in the summer of 2018. And guess where the mice got the nest material, Ford installed it 3' away for their convenience and then gave them a path to the inside the van.

SOLD Just tossing this out to the forum members: I am moving overseas next month so I will be selling my 17' Transit Connect XLT. It has been trouble free with just under 36,000mi and all oil changes at 6k. I bought it new in July of 2017, a few normal rock chips but no fender benders not even a single door ding, it is in very good condition. I will be asking KBB average private party price and the long list of accessories and camping equipment is included. I am looking for an interested person that wants to use the camping conversion and I will work with them for a sale. I live 25 minutes south of Tucson Arizona and I will be leaving sometime between December 1 and January 8th, if all goes as planned (?) Serous inquiries please feel free to contact me. Thanks, Ernie

Thanks, MLB. I chose this window primarily for the opening window. So the other factors were of less importance to me. It does not leak or create any wind noise that I have noticed and seems to operate well. I only use it while parked and camping for air ventilation otherwise it remains closed. I suppose it could be considered less secure but face it if anyone wants in all they have to do is knick an edge on the glass with or without the opening window and it will crumble into chips. Even though I was a truck driver for 40 years I have to admit having the window in the R slider does make the van easier to drive in this fast paced world.

My stock cargo light was in the wrong spot for me and the van computer shut it off 10 minutes after shutting the ignition off. I removed it completely and added two small RV style LED lights hard wired into the rear 12v outlet so I now can turn them on or off independently without interference from the van computer. I also added 2 magnetic hanging rechargeable lights that can be moved about similar to jrm223. You can see them in my thread here;

I have the AMA sliding window from Vans Windows Direct. You can see my panel removal and the installation here on page 2;

I have the AMA sliding window from Van Windows Direct in my 2017 TC XLT. It works perfectly, no issues at all. You can look at my installation on page 2 of my simple camper thread here;

A roof vent would be great no doubt, but is it necessary is the real question. Your van already has several opening windows which puts you way ahead of the non window cargo vans like I have. I added one opening window in the R slider which also solved a blind spot issue. Then using screens and a fan I solved my problem with condensation issues inside from overnight sleeping. I am not knocking a roof vent because it would work great. I did however solve my venting issues without cutting a big hole in the roof. Here is the link to my simple camper van:

I had a similar problem and it was two mice. You can read all about it here:

Thanks, Robin. I did lot of searching to find an opening window. I finally found and purchased the window through Van Windows Direct in southern CA. https://www.vanwindowsdirect.com/collections/vanwindowsdirect-van-windows/products/passenger-sliding-door-half-slider-window-ford-transit-connect-2014-2020

I didn't paint mine I removed them for a clean look.

I am in southern Arizona. The build date is about one month before (Nov. xx 2016) the BCM update. So, the first dealer updated the BCM but could not turn off the P lights. The second dealer confirmed the first did intact update the BCM but also could not turn off the P lights. I bought a ForScan and worked on it myself, toggling it on/off several times first following procedures posted by others and also several more times following other reasonable possibilities and finally gave up. If I am camping I open my drivers door before shutting off the ignition, or flash the hi/low beams after opening all the doors. Then I never fully close the doors, only 1/2 latched. This will keep the P lights off as long as I do not deviate from that procedure. The interior lights are useless for camping also because after 10 minutes the power to them is shut off so I installed my own with live power. I also totally shut off the interior lights and I NEVER use them at all because they don't operate the way I want use them. I have never been so disgusted with a vehicle in all of my life. If this is progress, I am not looking forward to the future.

I've had my 17' TC to the deal twice to change the perimeter lighting issue and also played with it myself a dozen times with ForScan. Guess what, they are still on!

Without a doubt jrm223 is correct that many more TC's are used in a commercial application than private which brings me to my question. Why don't the perimeter lights illuminate when the engine is running? Many deliveries are made w/o shutting off the engine. I have never understand the logic from all perspectives.

You are correct, GBL.

There are two different camera view angles. Your screen is probably in the striaght down view that helps hooking up a trailer. You can change it in the menu.

Welcome.......looks like you are about ready to load up and hit the road! My brother and I are talking about heading over to Parker for the "Van Build". It's only a 200 mi drive from home. Me in my 17' Connect and him in a 95' Ford E350 ambulance conversion. Hope to see you there.

My experience has been there are far more right hand open spots at the filling station than left.

Thanks.......there is a window similar in size to the you described on Amazon for 113$ w/free shipping https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q87QHF2/ref=dp_cerb_1. Vintage Technologies RV, Cargo, Teardrop Trailer Horizontal Window 22" x 12" x 1-1/2" Wall Thickness, Black Frame, Radius Corners

Thanks, windguy. Thanks, jrm223. The window is frameless itself but does have the metal door frame around the window inside. An inside screen and magnets could work I'll give that some thought, thanks.

We have returned from 12 more days of van camping, this totals up more than 50 nights in two years. The new sliding door window worked out great for extra ventilation along with the lithium gen/batt powered fan and our new little dog likes it too. As a temporary solution for this trip I gorilla taped a piece of fiberglass screen over the outside of the window and cracked the front door windows an inch when parked. Light rain was no problem and the air moving in though the side window and out the front windows seemed to keep the bugs out. Even with 99% humidity inside, according to the meter, the van roof and walls remained completely dry, no dripping like in the past. I will find a better solution for the screen and tweak the fan placement but overall this arrangement was a success.

I am not using the IOLM other than to turn it off when it tells me to change the oil. I am changing oil every 6k because it gets dirty and starts using a small amount of oil so it needs a change in my opinion. The IOLM on my 17' TC van has told me to change oil at 10, 2xx, both times so far and I am at 27,900mi now. I drive about 95%+ highway/freeway and the other few % around town.

LOL.....yes, the crooked backing parkers are the ones that do not know how to use mirrors. The positive side of backing into any situation at time of arrival is the driver has the most control of and a birds eye view of the whole situation before doing so. Whereas backing afterwards the driver is somewhat blind of whats around them with less control of the situation and with todays high speed drivers a situation can change less than a second. Backing at arrival is in all "defensive driving and truck/equipment driving safety classes". If it were up to me ALL drivers would have to watch a defensive driving video to get their drivers license renewed primarily for on road etiquette and safety........something that seems to have been lost and traded for saving time in todays go fast world.

I should have also mentioned that along with the higher temps is very low humidity. The low humidity is probably a larger factor than the higher temps.