2018 Ford Transit High Roof

[Trucks192]

I finally got my new work van about two months ago. I haven't had alot of time to build out the inside yet but figured I would share what I have so far. Prior to the new van I was working out of a pickup with a cap which was a disaster.

Currently the passenger side of the van is almost done. The drivers side only has two deviders up to help support my 8ft ladder hanging from the roof. Most of my tools are kept in systainers so the shelves are designed for those. On the drivers side there will be shelves built for a few Milwaukee Packout boxes which I use for larger tools and some of my fasteners as well as more systainer shelves.

The shelves are made from 5/8 and 1/2" sanded plywood from Home Depot. The adjustable shelves sit on 1-1/2" strips of 3/8" plywood screwed to the uprights. There is about 7/8" gap between each strip with stop blocks to lock in the shelves. Everything is bolted to the van using unistrut secured to the factory seatbelt bolt holes. There is a piece of unistrut top and bottom run from the full length of the van on both sides. The uprights then bolt to this using strut 90deg brackets. This makes everything very sturdy and can easily be adjusted in the future.

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[Trucks192]

More Photos

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My old truck

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[ColossusX]

Very nice.  Might steal your systainer shelf system for my van.  I don't like how I currently have mine.  What spacing did you use for the shelf cleats?

 

[Trucks192]

Very nice.  Might steal your systainer shelf system for my van.  I don't like how I currently have mine.  What spacing did you use for the shelf cleats?

Shelf cleats are 3/8" plywood cut to 1-1/2" spaced about 7/8" apart. The little stop blocks on the end are 3/8"x1/4" maple. (I didn't think plywood stops would hold up)

 

[rst]

Can't believe you'd want to give up your pickup...given up masochism huh

 

[Dick Mahany]

Nice fitting in the new truck and looks like it will be super convenient. If I had your old truck, the tool I'd need most would always be on the bottom of the pile as far up in the bed as could be located [wink]

 

[Trucks192]

If I had your old truck, the tool I'd need most would always be on the bottom of the pile as far up in the bed as could be located [wink]

Yup, this is what happened when I needed the table saw which was all the way in the front under everything!  [scared]
There is another pile of stuff that you can't see in the photo

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[goko]

Looks like a good upgrade. Im not sure why it is so popular to drive pickup trucks, with or without hardtop, and then the tooltrailer in the US. I believe ive seen one guy, in my area with that setup. Everyone else drive Ford Transits, Mercedes Vitos, VW Transporters etc. Almost every trade.

Is it tradition, the climate or ? It seems not very practical, but then again, ive never tried.

 

[Trucks192]

Looks like a good upgrade. Im not sure why it is so popular to drive pickup trucks, with or without hardtop, and then the tooltrailer in the US. I believe ive seen one guy, in my area with that setup. Everyone else drive Ford Transits, Mercedes Vitos, VW Transporters etc. Almost every trade.

Is it tradition, the climate or ? It seems not very practical, but then again, ive never tried.

I don't know why vans are not more popular in the US. Having switched to a van i would never want to switch back to the pickup truck. However since this is a company truck and the pickups are cheaper depending on the configuration I'm sure that plays a part. I know for my company I have the only van out of almost 100 vehicles on the road. When the vehicle is free its hard to complain [smile].
From what i have seen working in comercial construction electricians and plumbers are the only ones consistantly using vans over trucks.

In my opinion the only real downside to the van is they are not readily available in 4 wheel drive. There are companies that will convert vans direct from the factory but none of the big manufacturers offer 4x4 vans. I have not had the new van yet for the winter but i have heard from other people with the same van that they are terrible in the snow.

 

[rst]

I've been driving vans for 38 years, 34 of those Ford vans, and have 1,246,000 miles in the Fords.  I drive from central Pa, serviced from Conn to mid VA, west of Pa past State College and east to Delaware.  I carry a lot of tools and materials and have never, other than ice, struggled in the snow.  I run snow tires front and back.  Two vans ago I had a 250 that I only put two exhaust systems and two sets of tires on.  When we retired it at 275,000 miles, I could run my finger in the exhaust and not have to wash my hands,I swear it was the best vehicle ever built.

 

[ColossusX]

What part of PA?  I'm outside Harrisburg. 

When I started my remodel business I knew I wanted a van, so I could carry everything I could need in it.  The Downside is lack of 4wd.  And it's a pain to carry materials at times. I don't know why so many trades and remodelers use trucks or truck/trailers

 

[rst]

Northumberland/Sunbury, my travels were for storefront/automatic door service/installs.  I'm 65 now and trips are much shorter as we do not do that much of that kind of work now.  Still perform a limited amount of automatic door work, mostly locksmithing, steel entrance, and glass now.

 

[Trucks192]

The Mailman dropped off lots of brand new systainers today!! I guess I need to make room in the van

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[ColossusX]

Where are the orange ones from? I need to play an order that size but work has been a little slow lately.

 

[Trucks192]

Where are the orange ones from? I need to play an order that size but work has been a little slow lately.

I ordered everything from vantainer.com.  International shipping costs a good bit for a large order but everything still worked out alittle cheaper.

 

[ColossusX]

That's for the heads up on vantainer.com.  just placed an order for 11 systainers of various sizes.  Including shipping it worked out to about $45/each.  Time to finish my own van now!

 

[Dry1mpact]

[/quote]

I don't know why vans are not more popular in the US. Having switched to a van i would never want to switch back to the pickup truck. However since this is a company truck and the pickups are cheaper depending on the configuration I'm sure that plays a part. I know for my company I have the only van out of almost 100 vehicles on the road. When the vehicle is free its hard to complain [smile].
From what i have seen working in comercial construction electricians and plumbers are the only ones consistantly using vans over trucks.

In my opinion the only real downside to the van is they are not readily available in 4 wheel drive. There are companies that will convert vans direct from the factory but none of the big manufacturers offer 4x4 vans. I have not had the new van yet for the winter but i have heard from other people with the same van that they are terrible in the snow.
[/quote]

Mercedes makes a good 4x4 Sprinter not sure about a Vito
VW got the 4motion(4x4)Transporter and Crafter
Iveco Daily comes in a 4x4
All straight out of the factory pretty good choices

 

[sancho57]

Where are the orange ones from? I need to play an order that size but work has been a little slow lately.

I ordered everything from vantainer.com.  International shipping costs a good bit for a large order but everything still worked out alittle cheaper.

I met the vantainer guys at the D&M show. They are real nice guys and i found they will work with ya to get ya the best deal. I bought a lot of things from them when I lived in the UK

 

[ColossusX]

Where are the orange ones from? I need to play an order that size but work has been a little slow lately.

I ordered everything from vantainer.com.  International shipping costs a good bit for a large order but everything still worked out alittle cheaper.

Do you recall how long it took to handle your order? 12 days and mine still hasnt been shipped.  And that's after they charged me an additional 50 £/$65 for shipping on top of what they charged me when I placed the order

 

[Trucks192]

Do you recall how long it took to handle your order? 12 days and mine still hasnt been shipped.  And that's after they charged me an additional 50 £/$65 for shipping on top of what they charged me when I placed the order

It took several weeks and many emails asking about the status then the delivery just randomly showed up without even being told it had shipped. I did have to pay extra for shipping also but they told me the website was being fixed to charge the proper amount. Even with the extra shipping the boxes were still cheaper then buying in the US. Vantainer also threw in a free sys mini 3 however to offset done of thd hassle which was nice