My New 2014 Transit Connect!

[3PedalMINI]

Nice, is that some kind of outdoor carpet?  I was hoping to see the lighting done, you better get cracking before the snow hits. [tongue]

Ha! Too Late  [mad] already have flurries. With this weeks work it doesnt look like im finishing this weekend  [unsure]

The carpet is the stuff they wrap subwoofers and car accessories in. Its automotive "felt" so it can get wet and withstand the temperature swings. Lighting wont be finished until all the cabinets are in.

You doing anything to stop the sustainers from falling out ?
You say you are going to plywood over the rear windows.  Don't you get the option of no rear windows ?  Also surprised to see no steel bulkhead.  That would be the first thing i install.
Nice looking van though.

The shelving will have lips on them to prevent them from falling out. There is an option for no rear windows but not a single dealer ordered them with that option and i didnt want to wait 4-6 months to order one (i couldnt) the way it is working out im not going to need the plywood on the windows. im just going to order the window screens and black them out.

the steel bulkhead took to much area out of the cargo area. Im building one out of 3/4" plywood with a slidding door so i can still haul 8-10ft lumber between the seats and so i can haul a 65" TV.  all of my cargo is usually low and small so if the worst happened and in an accident it would crack towards the bottom.

 

[Rob Z]

I'm going to have to get another company vehicle soon, and this new Transit Connect looks great.  Are you going to put a rack on the roof?

 

[3PedalMINI]

Got a decent amount done today. Still need to carpet them and build my bulkhead. Since we are getting a bunch of snow ill probably carpet tomorrow and finish the bulkhead next weekend. These next two cabinets were super challenging, alot of careful planning,measuring and scribing.

Managed to fit my sys-Midi in long ways! and 3 boxes of ICE cable which is awesome.



Deep part for the sys-Midi


Box of cable on top


How big it is


Vacuum Cabinet


The systainer above the vacuum will be a First-Aid Systainer as soon as it comes in! Wanted easy access for emergencies





How much space i have with the door closed


First Aid Location


Scribing along the wheel well




Little tray for my mini sys's and sys-lite


Box for random things like hammers, calk,epoxy etc.



How much cargo space I will have!



a ton of work but its coming together really good!

I'm going to have to get another company vehicle soon, and this new Transit Connect looks great.  Are you going to put a rack on the roof?

I plan on getting a ladder rack like this as soon as it comes out, they said 4-6 months  [huh] I want this style so i can haul sheet goods when necessary.

http://www.americanvan.com/ladder-racks/transit-ladder-racks/ford-transit-connect-aluminum-cargo-carrier.html

 

[Rob Z]

Thanks....I saw something in the American Van catalog about "call for information", but hadn't made the call yet to check.

Nice customized fit you have for your gear.

 

[builderbob]

Looks really good!  Way to use the available space!

 

[jmbfestool]

Congrats!  Looking forward to seeing your custom fitup.  I'm really digging my Connect too, although I spent the day in my old F150, no where near as fun to drive.  One thing I don't so much is the gauges are placed too low and too deep for me to see, the top third is cut off from view.  

Raise the steering wheel slightly unless it's too uncomfortable to drive.
What's the load length in these. Fords website just gives the stupid overall load length when the seat are folded of whatever

It's not just the wheel that's in the way, the gauges are way too low and too deep inset.  It's really a stupid design to not allow for taller people (and I'm not all that tall, 6'2"/188cm).  

The load length with the front seats all the way back is roughly 84"/213cm.  That's the US version, the UK version might be a little different.  

I believe the reason is to give you more vision of the outside world by having the dash lower and its  done for everybody tall or short even though shorter people do benefit the most from it.  More and more cars/van are being designed to make the front window screen as big as possible. Lowering the dash board is one way of doing this.

Can't remember what brand it was but they have reduced the steering wheel size which they say is to give people more road vision again.  

Being to deep inset god knows why some companies do that.   I can't see any benefit to that.

 

[jmbfestool]

Nice van!  

Love seeing more European design vans becoming more popular across the pond.

One thing why did you get the back doors with glass?

Is it a security thing?    I know some people have glass so people can see the van is empty so thieves won't bother  breaking in!

Myself (on my old van which had glass in the backdoor) and other people often tend to break the glass because you fill your van up slam the door and then POP! Goes the glass!   Open your door to find you didn't push your timber far enough in.
[embarassed]

Plus if you do leave your tools in its easy to break in.

 

[woodguy7]

He answered that further up if you care to read  [poke] [tongue]

 

[Rob Z]

Is the floor console thingy between the seats removable?  Maybe this has been mentioned somewhere already-if so, I missed it.

 

[3PedalMINI]

Thanks....I saw something in the American Van catalog about "call for information", but hadn't made the call yet to check.

Nice customized fit you have for your gear.

Thanks! really want that lader rack. Im hoping it comes out sooner then later, I have 6 months before my $350 upfit coupon expires from ford.

Looks really good!  Way to use the available space!

Thanks man!

Nice van! 

Love seeing more European design vans becoming more popular across the pond.

One thing why did you get the back doors with glass?

Is it a security thing?    I know some people have glass so people can see the van is empty so thieves won't bother  breaking in!

Myself (on my old van which had glass in the backdoor) and other people often tend to break the glass because you fill your van up slam the door and then POP! Goes the glass!  Open your door to find you didn't push your timber far enough in.
[embarassed]

Plus if you do leave your tools in its easy to break in.

None of the dealers ordered them with out rear windows (which is a mystery) i couldnt wait to order one and receive it in 4-6months. Im just going to black out the windows and put that steel mesh over them incase they did shatter they are not getting in.

Is the floor console thingy between the seats removable?  Maybe this has been mentioned somewhere already-if so, I missed it.

Nope, Unfortunately its not removable.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Are you still getting 38 mpg?  And do you have the ecoboost engine?

Can the ladder rack you're going to get handle sheet goods? 

Sorry to pester you, but the ford dealerships down here are useless, and have nothing (and I mean nothing) in stock.

Jon

 

[Brice Burrell]

Are you still getting 38 mpg?  And do you have the ecoboost engine?

Can the ladder rack you're going to get handle sheet goods? 

Sorry to pester you, but the ford dealerships down here are useless, and have nothing (and I mean nothing) in stock.

Jon

I have the regular 2.5L, 4 cylinder engine and I'm not getting very good mileage at all, 16.5 mpg with mixed city/highway. [mad]  I hope it gets better after the engine is broken in. 

I'd guess 3pedal's 38 mpg was a typo.  The standard engine is rated at 21/29mpg and the Ecoboost is 22/30mpg.

 

[RJNeal]

Nice build out.
Just curious what your van will weight out when your done.
Rick

 

[Sean7a]

Nice work.  I was skeptical at first when I saw the van but you did a damn efficient job of getting your tools in there and then leaving a solid amount of miscellaneous cargo space.  Bravo, seriously.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Are you still getting 38 mpg?  And do you have the ecoboost engine?

Can the ladder rack you're going to get handle sheet goods? 

Sorry to pester you, but the ford dealerships down here are useless, and have nothing (and I mean nothing) in stock.

Jon

I have the regular 2.5L, 4 cylinder engine and I'm not getting very good mileage at all, 16.5 mpg with mixed city/highway. [mad]  I hope it gets better after the engine is broken in. 

I'd guess 3pedal's 38 mpg was a typo.  The standard engine is rated at 21/29mpg and the Ecoboost is 22/30mpg.

Brice, that's a bummer since that's the main reason I would even consider getting a Connect.

 

[woodguy7]

My Renault Traffic LWB (much bigger van) is doing on average 30mpg for town running.  High 40's for out of town.  Why is your millage so poor ?  It is a diesel yea ?

 

[Deansocial]

I guess they are petrol engines.

 

[Deansocial]

And us mpg is different to uk mpg so 16.5 us is more like 20. Still piss poor in a van that size. Diesels rule

 

[Rob Z]

Alan, these are gas engines.    And right now is the worst time of the year bc the EPA mandates that gas get re formulated for for the winter months.  It supposedly reduces pollution but it also causes the mpg's to take a big hit. 

 

[3PedalMINI]

Are you still getting 38 mpg?  And do you have the ecoboost engine?

Can the ladder rack you're going to get handle sheet goods? 

Sorry to pester you, but the ford dealerships down here are useless, and have nothing (and I mean nothing) in stock.

Jon

Yup, Sure can; up to 350lbs. Called them again today, possibly may have a first run of racks in two months.

My millage has dropped to around 29-32mpg wit half my tools in there and alot of stop and go. I also drive like a grandpa and never go over 65mph on the freeway and always drive very conservatively. no Ecoboost engine, no point to spend 699 for 1mpg increase  [embarassed]

Are you still getting 38 mpg?  And do you have the ecoboost engine?

Can the ladder rack you're going to get handle sheet goods? 

Sorry to pester you, but the ford dealerships down here are useless, and have nothing (and I mean nothing) in stock.

Jon

I have the regular 2.5L, 4 cylinder engine and I'm not getting very good mileage at all, 16.5 mpg with mixed city/highway. [mad]  I hope it gets better after the engine is broken in. 

I'd guess 3pedal's 38 mpg was a typo.  The standard engine is rated at 21/29mpg and the Ecoboost is 22/30mpg.

Whoa!!  [eek] thats horrible man. how are you driving it? hard? dont get me wrong fords programming of the transmission is absolutely stupid and i think the gearing is totally off. it shouldnt be at 2300 RPM going 65mph..someone missed the ball their in the engineering department.  [blink] winter blend fuel is not helping at all either. I have 800 miles on the clock. I have also found that putting it in manumatic mode helps tremendously with the MPG, especially in city driving. For the most part its obedient but there are times it makes me wonder why ford even bother putting a manual mode in there if it doesnt give you 100% control  [mad] I soo wish we could of got this in a manual diesel here stateside.

Nice work.  I was skeptical at first when I saw the van but you did a darn efficient job of getting your tools in there and then leaving a solid amount of miscellaneous cargo space.  Bravo, seriously.

Thanks Sean! im pretty happy the way it is turning out, tons of space. There is absolutely no way i could of done this without systainers though. Need to order a few more from you actually to fill the empty shelf's  [big grin]

I guess they are petrol engines.

Yup, Fuel the government has dictated diesels are to dirty for america and charge (tax) a huge premium on diesel options in the states...funny thing is you guys across the pond have stricter environmental regulations then US and diesels are the same or sometimes cheaper then gasoline engines in europe.  [blink]

Alan, these are gas engines.    And right now is the worst time of the year bc the EPA mandates that gas get re formulated for for the winter months.  It supposedly reduces pollution but it also causes the mpg's to take a big hit. 

Ugh, this literally makes zero sense. i average a 15% drop in all my vehicles since they starting forcing winterblend fuel. my jeep has the highest hit of 20%. The thing is and i guess the EPA is so blind by all the propaganda is the fuel that is "supposed" to save the environment by using less green house emissions. yet we are using 15-20% MORE fuel....no way that type of hit is the same or better for the environment with this blend then just using the same ole fuel we use in the summer  [mad] And then we also get the HUGE hit we all have taken by the ethonol blend fuel were forced to use.  [mad] Makes NO sense, im convinced the EPA is in bed with all the oil companies.  [blink]