Ford transit fit out

[kevin clifford]

After driving my 2006 Ford E350 for the last 9 years and towing a trailer since 2003 it was time for an upgrade. I got a 2019 Ford Transit 350 HD high top extended dual rear wheel Ecoboost v6.
It started with a couple shelves and a headache rack in it. I added a second battery and a set of inverters for onboard power. Then, picked up a bunch of plywood and got to work on the vertical panels.  I knew I wanted the shelves to be adjustable to be able to move tools around as tools change over the years. I wanted to be able to keep materials up off the floors while in transport because the van is 2 feet less space then my current trailer.  Having places to attach straps for materials or whatever else is something that always seems to be an afterthought, and now it is built in. I had these parts all cut on my shapeoko cnc because there were about 30 of each part.
So here she is, set up for me and the way I work. I install plantation shutters for a local manufacturer in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The miter saw runs off 20v batteries and the shop vac is hooked up to the inverter and to a foot switch on the bottom left cabinet.
The front wall has a sliding door with latches on the cargo side that I can open to bring 16 foot materials into the truck and transport them with the rear doors closed.
Its still a work in progress, but thusfar I am very happy!

 

[afish]

Congratulations, on the new vehicle and awesome looking fit out.  Looks well done and thought out.  Can you share how the lumber rack supports work?  They look like they are removable and adjustable. 

 

[Tik Tok]

This is awesome. Looks really well thought through - good job by you sir!!

 

[kevin clifford]

Thank you!  They are not removable,  instead  they slid in between the vertical panels. If I need them, just pull them out. If not, they just stay tucked away. The pieces are about 18 inches deep and that gives me about 9 inches of material shelf when they're pulled out. The hole in the shelf is so I can strap it to the anchor point above it and it can't bounce off while driving.

 

[mkasdin]

Nice work. I like the pull out material holders. Clean organization. Are you planning on putting a security door between the cab and storage?

 

[kevin clifford]

I did put in a rolling door with latches that can only be opened in the cargo area. It is a pretty stout door

 

[Imemiter]

Jealous of all those packing blankets!

 

[mkasdin]

I did put in a rolling door with latches that can only be opened in the cargo area. It is a pretty stout door

the point of entry typically through the cab. The cargo door is a plus

 

[kevin clifford]

I use the packing blankets every day between the shutters, they take up a lot of room but make delivering finished products way easier.
I figure I will do everything I can to keep bad guys out, but if they really want in there isn't much I can do. Beefy locks,, solid door to keep the cargo area secure and a stout door. Locks only keep an honest man honest. Scumbags and thieves will always find a way, sadly.

 

[mkasdin]

I use the packing blankets every day between the shutters, they take up a lot of room but make delivering finished products way easier.
I figure I will do everything I can to keep bad guys out, but if they really want in there isn't much I can do. Beefy locks,, solid door to keep the cargo area secure and a stout door. Locks only keep an honest man honest. Scumbags and thieves will always find a way, sadly.

if you park in a gated side yard, back yard, inside a garage or inside a storage space. Then it’s typically safe. Security camera, flood lights with motion sensor and some (animal shelter) dogs that bark at the slightest notice will keep them away.

 

[notenoughcash]

very nice. all you need to do now is to change the yellow tools for green and black ones [tongue]

in all fareness, i am a makita guy, and am to far invested in their 18v to go compleatly festool 18v or any other brand for that matter, and seeing that you had a far bit of dewalt sitting round, i wouldnt blame you if you dont want another cordless system......

 

[kevin clifford]

Thank you.
  If Festool had enough cordless options, I would be in! Dewalt has a cordless router, blower, inflator, nail guns, miter saws, table saws...and on and on and on.. Makita has even more.  Makita has a coffee maker even!

 

[gunnyr]

Great job on the adjustable transport racks! 

I love my DeWalt 20v MiterSaw.  I use it for small trim and my HKC for the larger, longer stuff.  You can buy an adapter for the 20v Vac to attach to the MiterSaw, but none of the DeWalt adapters will allow the vac to hook up to the DeWalt 60v TableSaw!  Thank God that 3M makes a blue universal adapter material! [big grin] [cool] [crying]

 

[kevin clifford]

The 60v platform is probably my next step. Ill get rid of my table saw and get the cordless one at some point. Its one of the few corded tools I still use regularly.

 

[mkasdin]

very nice. all you need to do now is to change the yellow tools for green and black ones [tongue]

in all fareness, i am a makita guy, and am to far invested in their 18v to go compleatly festool 18v or any other brand for that matter, and seeing that you had a far bit of dewalt sitting round, i wouldnt blame you if you dont want another cordless system......

I’ve got my outdoor Makita cordless tool. The leaf blower. It’s really good. And their small Makita chainsaw I use to cut down the bamboo. I think once your invested in a battery system it’s hard to jump to another brand. I did see that there are a few companies that make adaptors to go from ryobi to Dewalt, Makita to Milwaukee, etc. so if push comes to shove there’s always alternative without reinvesting in xyz battery platform

 

[notenoughcash]

Thank you.
  If Festool had enough cordless options, I would be in! Dewalt has a cordless router, blower, inflator, nail guns, miter saws, table saws...and on and on and on.. Makita has even more.  Makita has a coffee maker even!

at least someone still has a sence of humor these days [big grin] [tongue]

 

[Bob D.]

"You can buy an adapter for the 20v Vac to attach to the MiterSaw"

[member=42009]gunnyr[/member] , do you know the part number for this adapter? I searched the DeWalt site but couldn't find anything that says it is for the DCS361 miter saw.

I don't have the DeWalt vac but if this adapter improves dust collection on this saw I would be interested if it could be used with other hose such as my Festool that I use with the TSC55 or my sanders.

 

[gunnyr]

"You can buy an adapter for the 20v Vac to attach to the MiterSaw"

[member=42009]gunnyr[/member] , do you know the part number for this adapter? I searched the DeWalt site but couldn't find anything that says it is for the DCS361 miter saw.

Bob,

Here's the adapter to connect the Dewalt 20v vac the Dewalt MiterSaw, Sander and others.  They also have some other adapters you can add but I've not yet aquired any of them as I find that 3M Blue Tape is an excellent universal adapter! [smile] [mad] 8)

 

[Bob D.]

Thanks, I think I will get one.

I have used tape but I take the MS in and out of the shop  once or twice
a month so it would be nice to have an easy quick-connect like this.

 

[gunnyr]

Thanks, I think I will get one.

I have used tape but I take the MS in and out of the shop  once or twice
a month so it would be nice to have an easy quick-connect like this.

Most of my work is site based!  My truck and memory is not good enough to carry all the adapters!  You'd think Dewalt could make their tools play nice with each other!  Festool has it figured out (kind of...) If only Festool's SysVac were battery....  I have the Dewalt DCV581H 20v Vac.  It is of only marginal quality as the filter gets clogged LONG before there is much in the way of debris in the canister.  I'd love to have a bag in it just to improve the function.  I've used the Milwaukee and the Ridgid battery vacs.  The main things about the DeWalt vac is that it is dual 120v/20v, and it is very light weight.  It doesn't charge batteries but it's nice to plug it in.