Ford Transit Cab Chassis with Composite Camper

Pinnacle Campers

Chateau spotter
Does Planar not make a gasoline heater?

Also curious about the "T" extrusions question @Alloy asked.
Although it would likely be easy to just make them out of aluminum/composite angle.

I'm dreaming about a box too...
 

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Does Planar not make a gasoline heater?

Also curious about the "T" extrusions question @Alloy asked.
Although it would likely be easy to just make them out of aluminum/composite angle.

I'm dreaming about a box too...

I can't speak for planar, but my understanding is that there is too much liability involved with the gasoline space heaters. Every manufacturer, Planar (autotherm), Webasto, Espar all need to get approval and testing done for every country, every model and components. It's a very costly and long process. Therefore I can see that Autotherm just simply said no thanks. The Chinese knock offs are for sure not tested.... Who knows what kind of wiring, seals and plastics they are using. I honestly would be worried about toxic off casing from plastics and fire danger from faulty wires and seals.

As for the T extrusion: There is no need for that really. You simply let a panel run through and butt joint the other to it. To create a strong structural bond you will need to use angles (FRP or Alu)
 

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Did a little experiment and used clear marker lights we usually put on the exterior of our bodies. Turns out they work fantastic as interior lights! Loving it.
 

Attachments

  • 684F7596-1B08-4820-901B-FB4F3D4E4C64.jpeg
    684F7596-1B08-4820-901B-FB4F3D4E4C64.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 106
  • 32290262-B90A-488D-BD4E-14B173C4149B.jpeg
    32290262-B90A-488D-BD4E-14B173C4149B.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 107

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Hit the road to meet up with a long time waiting customer. It is nice to finally get out and enjoy the rig you put so many hours into. Drove a couple of gravel roads and was actually surprised how well the transit performed in comparison to our last 4x4 sprinter!
 

Attachments

  • 27DFFA3B-F8DB-4F5D-BAB8-0DCAAECA4441.jpeg
    27DFFA3B-F8DB-4F5D-BAB8-0DCAAECA4441.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 150
  • 69AB07B7-9E8D-4357-B810-060B7E623B0A.jpeg
    69AB07B7-9E8D-4357-B810-060B7E623B0A.jpeg
    2.9 MB · Views: 144

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Have been on the road visiting with a couple of customers in B.C. stayed off grid. To be honest, I took a couple of gravel roads that would have made me use the 4x4 in our previous sprinter. the transit went up easier than I thought. Needless to say I was impressed!
 

Attachments

  • 0399D6AB-A972-4689-AB88-BD2F7C980146.jpeg
    0399D6AB-A972-4689-AB88-BD2F7C980146.jpeg
    2.9 MB · Views: 74

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Bunk bed for our 4 year old is finally done. It folds up and away with a simple rope system . The ladder stores under the bed while driving. 686D0D95-3A1C-4A42-929B-E85B1E10D247.jpegD5122CA1-5E84-44F0-9895-134B4F000AE4.jpeg3DC8AAB8-2CED-49A0-A5CA-FDB5DD05A9E3.jpeg23BA39EE-198B-4A32-A077-267D805D47F6.jpeg
 

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
4 day stay in a provincial park. I'm super impressed with our 2X 100Amp/h Lithium Phosphate batteries! We barely got any sun to re charge and still only depleted the battery by 5% by running the fridge, interior lights and charging phones.
thumbnail_IMG-6197.jpg
 

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
Powder coated the bumper and re installed. You can see the main steel structure with recovery points and hitch receiver. Will use the receiver for a bike carrier. The actual bumper is aluminum with integrated tail light mounts.
Will offer this item as part of our Transit camper package.
 

Attachments

  • IMG-6355.jpg
    IMG-6355.jpg
    2.5 MB · Views: 62
  • IMG-6356.jpg
    IMG-6356.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 69
  • IMG-6358.jpg
    IMG-6358.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 70
  • IMG-6369.jpg
    IMG-6369.jpg
    2.2 MB · Views: 77
  • IMG-6361.jpg
    IMG-6361.jpg
    2.2 MB · Views: 73

Alloy

Well-known member
Powder coated the bumper and re installed. You can see the main steel structure with recovery points and hitch receiver. Will use the receiver for a bike carrier. The actual bumper is aluminum with integrated tail light mounts.
Will offer this item as part of our Transit camper package.

Making the receiver tube 8-10" long to catch the second cross pcs will reduced the bounce on bike rack/bikes.
 
Last edited:

Buckstopper

Adventurer
What an awesome build! I've read and re-read this and did a search and I don't think that you mentioned what wheelbase your Transit is. Please let us know. I have been considering moving our Hallmark Flatbed pop up camper to a different chassis and thought the Transit cab chassis (not the cutaway) might be a good solution. Our roof length is about 13' so very similar to your box length. Having a nice flat and stiff chassis is a huge plus but I would still need a flatbed since the camper floor needs support and I like being able to remove the camper and use the flatbed for hauling.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,539
Messages
2,875,664
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top