sKiZo Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 Saw a 2011 Transit Connect XLT for sale, test drove it, and thought "this could be nice!" - drove it home that day. High hopes for converting it into an overnite camper - I've seen some interesting plans and pics here and there that lead me to believe it could work for me. It's a panel van (no rear glass) and it already has a 1000 watt inverter and dual battery system installed. As is, I expect I could just jam my Aerobed in the back and do take out until I get further along in the build. Final results (hopefully) will include a convertible couch/bed, storage, and a mini kitchen with water and stove, as well as a porta potty for emergencies. Install slider windows in the rear doors and sides for ventilation, and a fan-tastic fan in the roof. The inverter is already rigged for solar, so a couple panels for keeping the batteries topped off as well. And speaking of roofs - already looking into popping the top for additional headroom. Should be a fun project! Transit Connect Guide 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Transit Connect Guide Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 16 hours ago, sKiZo said: Saw a 2011 Transit Connect XLT for sale, test drove it, and thought "this could be nice!" - drove it home that day. High hopes for converting it into an overnite camper - I've seen some interesting plans and pics here and there that lead me to believe it could work for me. It's a panel van (no rear glass) and it already has a 1000 watt inverter and dual battery system installed. As is, I expect I could just jam my Aerobed in the back and do take out until I get further along in the build. Final results (hopefully) will include a convertible couch/bed, storage, and a mini kitchen with water and stove, as well as a porta potty for emergencies. Install slider windows in the rear doors and sides for ventilation, and a fan-tastic fan in the roof. The inverter is already rigged for solar, so a couple panels for keeping the batteries topped off as well. And speaking of roofs - already looking into popping the top for additional headroom. Should be a fun project! Welcome to the Transit Connect Forum! We'd love to follow your project, so please post up some stories and photos of your journey and progress along the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sKiZo Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 OK - I'm done! (In photoshop anyway) <G> Exterior mods will (hopefully) include a raised roof, steps for the side doors, and some slider windows for ventilation. Solar panels and a FanTastic fan on top. Interior is still up for debate, but I got a good idea how I want that to go ... Bill Jackson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 There are plenty of top notch (pun not intended) conversions here, spend some hours browsing. You can get sliding side windows from taxi scrapyards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Jackson Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 How did you get the raised roof done? It looks really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 On 4/27/2019 at 8:22 AM, Bill Jackson said: How did you get the raised roof done? It looks really good. Look below his picture, he said it's done in Photoshop ? But that top is from Fiberine - supposed to be great stuff, but talk about $$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 (edited) With Fiberine, the problem is not the roof, it's the installation. Roof will be great. You can imagine all the things that could go wrong with a bad roof mod. Edited April 30, 2019 by Fifty150 jrm223 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herb Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 That 1st generation looks clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 It's PhotoShop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sKiZo Posted June 7, 2019 Author Share Posted June 7, 2019 (edited) Old thread, and you're all right. The original pic IS photoshop, but I've had the body work done now. Hard part was finding someone to do it - all the pros said "oh nos - liability!! Wot happens if it blows off in traffic? And I told them how about if I tie myself to the roof and if it lets loose I'll be the first to know. Anyway - friend of a friend of a friend does custom work on racecars, and said he'd never done anything like that ... come on down! Did a fabulous job I think, inside and out. I still gotta do some trim and such, but even now it doesn't look half bad. Few questions about the windows - I got those from a fairly local dealer along with the roof fan. https://www.teardroptrailerparts.com/ ** Also got the top fan and stereo upgrades installed. Kind of on hold right now while I'm working on a couple other projects. Oh, and the hubcaps came off Amazon for $25 ... ;-} Edited June 7, 2019 by sKiZo mrtn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 The real deal looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sKiZo Posted June 7, 2019 Author Share Posted June 7, 2019 I like it. Got a nice easy fold away bed for it too. That converts easily into a lounge chair and just fits front to back. Half the width of the van, so I can still build some storage for the other wall and still have room to shuffle about. PS ... haven't sworn off photoshop though - it's real handy for trying out ideas. Here's my latest tweak with some custom decals (since ordered and awaiting installation): (the decals harken back to the bad old daze driving my VW campers around. The Dawn Patrol rides again! Hiyo silver!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 Well, there goes your ability to blend right in to the fleet of white vans downtown. Now you'll stand out. If you rob a bank or something, you won't get away with it. Which is why every pickup I've ever owned was white. When the cops are chasing me, I could always pull into a Home Depot parking lot, full of white trucks, and they won't know which is the truck I was driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 5 hours ago, Fifty150 said: When the cops are chasing me, I could always pull into a Home Depot parking lot, full of white trucks, and they won't know which is the truck I was driving. Here's a gear idea for such event: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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