2017 Ford Transit custom

[Transit]

Hi
I have just bought a ford transit and my plans are to convert it in the style of a VW California Ocean. I know you can buy the furniture packs that are similar style. I have never converted a van before so just wondered am I being over ambitious or should I just get a pro to do it !! I imagine the most daunting jobs are electrics (euro6), windows etc

TBH apart from cleaning it out it all seems a bit daunting !

I have been considering getting it professionally converted (no roof) and was wondering if total cost including van (10k mileage) came up to 29k what would that be worth ? Not that I am going to sell it but just helps figuring it out whether its worth it or not ? Van cost 17k and qoute for conversion was 12k

 

[mfw]

Tha transit is an easily nickable van so probably not popular to buy as converted camper the insurers dont like them either whatever you do make sure you fit some decent security devices

 

[GreenHell]

Depends on the quality of the conversion, spec/mileage of the van too etc.

 

[andy63]

Not sure about the new transits but even the mk7 vans are imo not the best vans for converting... the van sides vary in width from floor to roof to much..
If its bought for converting it would be handy if it came with the ford svo (special vehicle option ) of the auxillary fuse box but few are unless specified at order... it allows wiring in additional features without having to mess with any of the vehicle electrics..
I have converted a mk7 dont reckon i could recoup my money on it... everything i fitted was new , and very much to my spec at the time.. a bit of a one off and some of the work like installing bunk bed was a bit unusual in that type of van conversion..
You dont sound overly confident about taking on the conversion ...and if its your first conversion it would be a steep learning curve...
Plenty of advice available on here ..
Heres a piccy of mine..
Good luck with yours..
Andy

 

[mfw]

Not sure about the new transits but even the mk7 vans are imo not the best vans for converting... the van sides vary in width from floor to roof to much..
If its bought for converting it would be handy if it came with the ford svo (special vehicle option ) of the auxillary fuse box but few are unless specified at order... it allows wiring in additional features without having to mess with any of the vehicle electrics..
I have converted a mk7 dont reckon i could recoup my money on it... everything i fitted was new , and very much to my spec at the time.. a bit of a one off and some of the work like installing bunk bed was a bit unusual in that type of van conversion..
You dont sound overly confident about taking on the conversion ...and if its your first conversion it would be a steep learning curve...
Plenty of advice available on here ..
Heres a piccy of mine..
Good luck with yours..
Andy
View attachment 275996

I have a mk7 transit van what about some pics of the inside

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[Nasher]

I suggest you have a look at vans for sale that are similar to what your converted van would be like - that would indicate the price differential and whether it is a financially viable

Converting yourself would save money, but you will need to consider whether you have the skills, tools, time, etc to do it.

I restore classic racing motobikes for fun, find electrics simple to understand, have loads of tools and I'm retired, so have the time. But I can't cut anything straight! As a result, unsurprisingly, I choose to use a converter.

One option, depending on your skill set, could be to have have some jobs (for example, electrics, window fitting, lining...) done professionally and do the rest yourself.

My van owes me around 17 grand and, when first converted, I would have probably got a bit more for it than it costs. Three years on, I dont know or care what it's worth - I just use it!

Another option is to spend 29 grand on a secondhand Moho

 

[andy63]

I have a mk7 transit van what about some pics of the inside

Is yours converted or going to be converted..
Heres a few more photos as requested , but this aint my thread so that will be it

 

[mfw]

Is yours converted or going to be converted..
Heres a few more photos as requested , but this aint my thread so that will be it
View attachment 276000 View attachment 276001 View attachment 276002 View attachment 276003 View attachment 276004

Had to take mine off road due to wife having problems with hip and not being able to drive hip replaced a month ago her car being only 2yrs old it £0 tax was logical thing to do transit is £140 a year
Anyway my transit is the LWB T350 with RWD which i prefer and it is easier to work on than FWD if things need doing so thinking about doing something fairly easy with it and maybe get a donor to salvage parts from and modify as need be

 

[SpeedyDux]

What it is worth to you is quite different from market value. At the end of the day what matters is that you are happy with the end result and you believe you have created a bespoke campervan to suit your requirements.

The cheapest source of interior furniture would be from salvage, either a written off similar van or a complete caravan, assuming you have the skills.

 

[andy63]

What it is worth to you is quite different from market value. At the end of the day what matters is that you are happy with the end result and you believe you have created a bespoke campervan to suit your requirements.

Thats exactly the way i was thinking when i did the conversion in 2010... it suited my needs ..was a project that kept me busy and i didnt skimp in the stuff i fitted..
The heating and hot water side alone was around £2500... everything fitted new..
Used it extensively for a number of years touring spain portugal norway and the uk..
Ended up falling into the trap of wanting a bit more luxury in form of seperate bathroom toilet etc and bought a coachbuilt...
Now ive got two vans..and cant bear to part with the camper for what i would most probably get for it
The kids use it more than me now..but its still me that has to maintain and keep it
Andy.

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[Stealaway]

Saw this one last year - the insides looked pretty good too.
Transit Bandit

 

[mfw]

Is yours converted or going to be converted..
Heres a few more photos as requested , but this aint my thread so that will be it
View attachment 276000 View attachment 276001 View attachment 276002 View attachment 276003 View attachment 276004

Ok Andy my transit at moment on 16in wheels and the rack on top is 8ft long with a rear ladder built in just thought i'd show what i have got - not been cleaned for over a year and still got some shine but no mot i think it is worth playing with

 

[andy63]

Ok Andy my transit at moment on 16in wheels and the rack on top is 8ft long with a rear ladder built in just thought i'd show what i have got - not been cleaned for over a year and still got some shine but no mot i think it is worth playing with

Nice and would make a good project... wish id picked up a lwb instead of a mwb... i would have had the room for a bathroom /toilet but didnt see that as a priority at the time..
Yours looks to be a semi high roof i think , and if its rear wheel drive that will cut down on your headroom... i made my mind up a high top was a must... even though im a short ass i did want to be able to stand up... and in a rwd that ment it had to be a high roof van..
I think at the time , if i had got a fwd van a semi high roof would have allowed me the headroom as the floor is lower , not having to accommodate a prop shaft...but the rwd vans feel so much nicer to drive imo..
Anyhows things for you to be thinking on before you decide whether its the right van for a conversion..
Andy..

 

[Transit]

Thanks for all the replies. I have done research but not via a forum. I have checked insurance and whether its because I am retired it was very reasonable. I only ask about value because it wouldn't make sense if buying vehicle and then having it converted is more expensive than buying equivalent already done. Research tells me that it is cheaper my way even if I have it professionally done.

The quotes I have had seem to range from 6k - 12k. This is without roof which I can't have due to car port.

If I was to do the job myself do you have to have electric or gas fittings inspected similar to corgi or whatever its called now!!??

Would the order of work be - flooring, windows, electrics then insulation/lining, kitchen, bed ? if the bed is having seat belts and being tested could that still be installed once flooring is done or should the mounts/bolts be put in before flooring is carried out

 

[Transit]

Quality work on those vans you have posted btw

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[andy63]

If I was to do the job myself do you have to have electric or gas fittings inspected similar to corgi or whatever its called now!!??

Generally speaking no .... no requirement to have that done but insurance for self builds is a bit of a minefield and they may insist on some sort of checks..

The order of work is really just common sense.. strip out and start with the insulation and boarding out but running in services at the same time... it about having a good idea of what and where you want stuff , so it pays to accumulate all the main items before you start..
If you are looking to get someone to do the job get in touch with terry a member on here who knows all there is to know about converting vans... @Terry

Andy

 

[Transit]

Good advice, cheers. I think I will prepare the inside, maybe try a window see how I feel after that !! I was going to go for two side windows (1 opening) and two for the rear barn doors !

 

[mitzimad]

do one in a door first not so expensive if you get it wrong

 

[andy63]

I was going to go for two side windows (1 opening) and two for the rear barn doors

On the subject of fitting windows especially on the transits whose sides are not flat but rather convex ... if you just try and fit a seitz type window into the side wall without making up a timber frame to counter the curve you do stand a good chance of creasing the body panel when you fit the window.....
The roof is also heavily ribbed and requires a bit more work to fit a skylight...
Not trying to put you off , but just remembering the various issues i had..
Andy

 

[Transit]

On the subject of fitting windows especially on the transits whose sides are not flat but rather convex ... if you just try and fit a seitz type window into the side wall without making up a timber frame to counter the curve you do stand a good chance of creasing the body panel when you fit the window.....
The roof is also heavily ribbed and requires a bit more work to fit a skylight...
Not trying to put you off , but just remembering the various issues i had..
Andy

Andy cheers for the heads up. And yes you have put me off !! Are the sides flatter on newer models or do they still have the same problem ? The one I have bought is a 2017 model

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[Transit]

Or are there alternative windows I could use without the need for the timber frame...

 

[Transit]

Apologies just looked those windows up and I won't be using those types, I am going for the tinted windows that are flush with the panel. Hopefully not the same problem !!??