madlock Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Because the Transit Connect occupies a rather unique position in Ford's lineup as both a retail passenger vehicle and commercial truck (and not yet particularly well-supported in either), I've discovered, in addition to the need to become my own best advocate when trying to obtain information, the need to avoid presuming where I may (or may not) be able to find information. An interesting document appears on the Ford Commercial Trucks web site. It's part of the "Body Builders" sub-site intended to provide support to those who build-out vehicle bodies from stripped chassis and other cargo fitments. The first link leads to the Ford Body Builder Advisory Service Site: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/ The second link (by clicking on "Body Builder's Layout Book") leads to master model year directory at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html Within the 2010 Model Year Table of Contents is the section dedicated to the Transit Connect at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html The above document section contains several interesting and useful sections. It details exact dimensional measurements and the placement of key structural aspects and an electrical schematic (for those who can make sense of such things). It also includes a diagram noting the cargo floor extension that makes a Van from a Wagon. The direct link to the document is: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html. robertlane 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepper Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 I noticed you mentioned the floor extension part that is added to the wagon to "make" it a van. I am probably going to purchase a wagon, b/c I am going to use this as a daily driver, and need the extra seating, and lower cost of registration (my standard Ford F150 is listed as commercial in CA (for no apparent reason) and costs $425 per year to register). I was wondering if anyone has actually removed the rear seats in their wagon? Is it straight forward or complicated? Has anyone fitted a floor extension, OEM or homemade? I'll be using the connect to haul my race motorcycle and so I need all of that 81" of floor space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REC Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I noticed you mentioned the floor extension part that is added to the wagon to "make" it a van. I am probably going to purchase a wagon, b/c I am going to use this as a daily driver, and need the extra seating, and lower cost of registration (my standard Ford F150 is listed as commercial in CA (for no apparent reason) and costs $425 per year to register). I was wondering if anyone has actually removed the rear seats in their wagon? Is it straight forward or complicated? Has anyone fitted a floor extension, OEM or homemade? I'll be using the connect to haul my race motorcycle and so I need all of that 81" of floor space. Look at Madlock's signature... I think you'll find the seat answer right there. HE knows..... Roland C Happily Transiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madlock Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 You bet I have. A T50 Torx bit and six bolts (plus the one "nut" doing it is all it takes. Had mine out in 10 minutes. Even better, you can remove either section independently. In fact, when I traded in my XLT Wagon, the seats, brackets, and belt mechanisms stayed with me. Most dealers know so little about TC, they didn't even notice. I now pop them in/out of my XLT Cargo at will, but usually leave the right-hand single seat in-place. The other fittings require a T40. It's a shame none of the many upfitters make an aftermaket floor extension plate. It's a $40 piece of steel Ford marks up to $750, and I'm sure that even the right reinforced plastic would suffice. I bet even a reasonable carpenter could fasion something passable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepper Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Oh that is awesome news, especially the part about taking the seat out in sections to make a 3 seater or a four seater. I guess it makes sense as they sell the XL wagon as a four seater. Well my dad has been a carpenter for 40 yrs so he should be capable of making the floor extension rig i need. Thank you for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottacus1100 Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I also remove and replace the seats in my XLT wagon. Its pretty simple and adds a ton of room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I've been taking my rear seats out as well - for camping. Not much harder than if they were designed for quick removal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amigaman68 Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I noticed you mentioned the floor extension part that is added to the wagon to "make" it a van. I am probably going to purchase a wagon, b/c I am going to use this as a daily driver, and need the extra seating, and lower cost of registration (my standard Ford F150 is listed as commercial in CA (for no apparent reason) and costs $425 per year to register). I was wondering if anyone has actually removed the rear seats in their wagon? Is it straight forward or complicated? Has anyone fitted a floor extension, OEM or homemade? I'll be using the connect to haul my race motorcycle and so I need all of that 81" of floor space. I went the other way and made a van into a wagon extremley easily to take out or install seats its just 6 bol, warning they are star bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amigaman68 Posted March 1, 2010 Share Posted March 1, 2010 I noticed you mentioned the floor extension part that is added to the wagon to "make" it a van. I am probably going to purchase a wagon, b/c I am going to use this as a daily driver, and need the extra seating, and lower cost of registration (my standard Ford F150 is listed as commercial in CA (for no apparent reason) and costs $425 per year to register). I was wondering if anyone has actually removed the rear seats in their wagon? Is it straight forward or complicated? Has anyone fitted a floor extension, OEM or homemade? I'll be using the connect to haul my race motorcycle and so I need all of that 81" of floor space. I went the other way and made a van into a wagon extremley easily to take out or install seats its just 6 bol, warning they are star bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MINICooperS Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 Because the Transit Connect occupies a rather unique position in Ford's lineup as both a retail passenger vehicle and commercial truck (and not yet particularly well-supported in either), I've discovered, in addition to the need to become my own best advocate when trying to obtain information, the need to avoid presuming where I may (or may not) be able to find information. An interesting document appears on the Ford Commercial Trucks web site. It's part of the "Body Builders" sub-site intended to provide support to those who build-out vehicle bodies from stripped chassis and other cargo fitments. The first link leads to the Ford Body Builder Advisory Service Site: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/ The second link (by clicking on "Body Builder's Layout Book") leads to master model year directory at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html Within the 2010 Model Year Table of Contents is the section dedicated to the Transit Connect at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html The above document section contains several interesting and useful sections. It details exact dimensional measurements and the placement of key structural aspects and an electrical schematic (for those who can make sense of such things). It also includes a diagram noting the cargo floor extension that makes a Van from a Wagon. The direct link to the document is: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html. Excellent info! I've been looking high and low for these drawings. Thanks! Speaking of seats, has anyone come across a swivel base or seats for the TC so you can turn the front seats 180 degrees at night while camping, ala the full size vans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunno Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Just out of curiosity, does the floor extension attachment hardware pick up on the holes that the wagon's rear seats would attach to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madlock Posted March 25, 2010 Author Share Posted March 25, 2010 Just out of curiosity, does the floor extension attachment hardware pick up on the holes that the wagon's rear seats would attach to? Yip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sworpr Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Excellent info! I've been looking high and low for these drawings. Thanks! Speaking of seats, has anyone come across a swivel base or seats for the TC so you can turn the front seats 180 degrees at night while camping, ala the full size vans? I've been wondering the same thing about swivel seat, and have had no luck locating anything so far. Also, any one have any ideas for more ventilation? Only the front windows open, but maybe there is some after market window for that rear quarter panel? Or a sunroof or roof vent? We camp in ours and would like a little more air in the rear area while parked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longyard Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Because the Transit Connect occupies a rather unique position in Ford's lineup as both a retail passenger vehicle and commercial truck (and not yet particularly well-supported in either), I've discovered, in addition to the need to become my own best advocate when trying to obtain information, the need to avoid presuming where I may (or may not) be able to find information. An interesting document appears on the Ford Commercial Trucks web site. It's part of the "Body Builders" sub-site intended to provide support to those who build-out vehicle bodies from stripped chassis and other cargo fitments. The first link leads to the Ford Body Builder Advisory Service Site: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/ The second link (by clicking on "Body Builder's Layout Book") leads to master model year directory at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html Within the 2010 Model Year Table of Contents is the section dedicated to the Transit Connect at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html Thanks for sharing that! Those diagrams and electrical schematics are priceless! Bill L. The above document section contains several interesting and useful sections. It details exact dimensional measurements and the placement of key structural aspects and an electrical schematic (for those who can make sense of such things). It also includes a diagram noting the cargo floor extension that makes a Van from a Wagon. The direct link to the document is: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/bodybuild.html. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craziebob Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I have not seen a pop out window other then fix windows, but a camper conversion shop will have slider or pop out window you can chose the best fit look. There is roof vent pop ups that fit I think and not thru rain groove about 4" x 6". Walmart has window vent fans house type. I have tent ext for rear camping. Mine is cargo van $86 year road tax. http://www.vannin.com/showvans/events/2011Nationals/Ford/pages/IMG_3894.htm http://www.vannin.com/showvans/events/2011Nationals/Ford/pages/IMG_3895.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George_97220 Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 (edited) Speaking of seats, has anyone come across a swivel base or seats for the TC so you can turn the front seats 180 degrees at night while camping, ala the full size vans? I've been wondering the same thing about swivel seat, and have had no luck locating anything so far. Me, either. Somebody's got to be coming out with one, though. If there's a demand. A couple of thoughts: Ford sells a fold-down passenger seat in other countries. http://www.ford.de/N...ct/ImUeberblick (Scroll down and click on "Beifahrer-Space-Sitz") Or: http://www.ford.de/c...7150&blobkey=id http://www.ford.co.u...5806&blobkey=id Screw the safety cage. However, the pics don't show the passenger seat clearly. The manual describes it. Unfortunately, you can't just take a fold-down rear US seat and use it. In the European design, the seat cushion folds to the dash, the headrest folds forward (it doesn't remove like the US version), then the seatback folds down. So if it wasn't for that darned console, you could just turn and step over it, without scraping your shins too badly. I wonder why there are so many differences in the interiors of the "foreign" models. The armrest. The seat adjustments. The headrests on the rear seats. Wierd. Edited June 8, 2012 by George_97220 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bvz2000 Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Cool info, thanks. I am looking into buying myself a TC and making it into a mini RV. I like the size (I live in a city, so parking and maneuverability are key) and I like the fact that it can become my daily driver as well (It will eventually replace my other car and become my primary vehicle). Once question I have is about load weights on the roof. I want to get a roof top tent (something like: http://www.cascadiatents.com/index.php?m=94&s=594&c=&id=118). The document from ford lists a maximum weight of about 220 pounds on the roof. That is hardly enough to cover the weight of the tent plus one person. I have also heard that there is a difference between a dynamic load vs. a static load and that the numbers that automakers quote for their roof racks is dynamic load (and that static loads can be much higher). Can anyone confirm (or crush my hopes ) that the roof could support more than 220 pounds of static load (i.e. two people plus the weight of the pop up tent)? Thanks! P.S. This is kind of what I am planning on doing to the inside: http://www.tinyhousetalk.com/kangoo-tiny-camper-slash-motorhome/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrousity Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 It's a shame none of the many upfitters make an aftermaket floor extension plate. It's a $40 piece of steel Ford marks up to $750, and I'm sure that even the right reinforced plastic would suffice. I bet even a reasonable carpenter could fasion something passable. I am going to fabricate one for myself, I'll post some pictures when I'm done, and If it all goes according to plan I am sure I can make more for anyone who is interested, for far less than $750... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertlane Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 This topic contains a lot of very useful information for new and current Transit Connect owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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