Ford Transit Cab Chassis with Composite Camper

[luthj]

Transits are unibody, so the the cab doesn't float like a cab on frame does.

 

[Victorian]

So the box is bolted to frame and cab with no isolators for shock and flex? but the cab is mounted on rubber isolators so it can flex. What will prevent the front wall from cracking at the sidewall joints?

Our team came to the conclusion that there is close to zero frame flex. The drivers cab does have some type of material between the frame and cab to isolate sounds. The movement within those "rubber" pieces is minimal. Therefore we are not expecting any issues.
Please keep in mind that this vehicle is not designed to be a rock crawler or to compete with a Unimog.... Our Transit (after converted to 4x4) will be ideal for slippery roads (snow, sand, mud). The limited ground clearance will not allow for anything technical. We are actually looking forward to a truck where do don't need to "climb" into it. This is especially important when you have small kids and dogs.

Cheers

 

[sg1]

I had a European AWD Transit with a composite body. It was attached to both frame and cab very much like Victorian describes except it didn´t even have rubber pieces. The rear wall and part of the roof of the cab were removed and the cut outs stiffened with a wood frame. The composite box was glued to the cab and the wood frame. I used the Transit for 9 years and about 100,000 miles in Africa and Latin America often on very bad or no roads and there isn´t a single crack where the cab and the box connect. I can confirm from experience what Victorians team concluded.

 

[Van Meel Bob]

The camper will be bolted through the factory frame mounting holes. These holes will be pre drilled and threads are cut in our factory. In addition the camper will be glued/sealed to the frame rails to prevent dirt and water to get in between. In addition to that the front wall will be bolted to the driverscab ( mainly to speed up assembly) . For a tight seal to the cab, we are using a combination of rubber seals and adhesive.

The camper will be bolted through the factory frame mounting holes. These holes will be pre drilled and threads are cut in our factory. In addition the camper will be glued/sealed to the frame rails to prevent dirt and water to get in between. In addition to that the front wall will be bolted to the driverscab ( mainly to speed up assembly) . For a tight seal to the cab, we are using a combination of rubber seals and adhesive.

I am not agree with that just bolt it on 4 points with ruber spacer I will not glue it on the chassis at all,

 

[Van Meel Bob]

Some fun in the alps

 

[NYON]

The camper will be bolted through the factory frame mounting holes. These holes will be pre drilled and threads are cut in our factory. In addition the camper will be glued/sealed to the frame rails to prevent dirt and water to get in between. In addition to that the front wall will be bolted to the driverscab ( mainly to speed up assembly) . For a tight seal to the cab, we are using a combination of rubber seals and adhesive.

I see, sounds like the cabin is pretty well attached to the Transit chassis. Just checked out your webpage on your Transit Camper and saw there is a "full walkthrough" from the composite cabin into the truck cabin which sounds like a great feature vs. a traditional truck camper with no walkthrough. I'm sure there's pros and cons to both, but having a walkthrough without having to do major surgery on the truck cabin seems like a good feature to have. I guess we'll see in your build if the walkthrough is a door or the full width of the truck cabin. Thanks again for the info on how the composite cabin is attached and weatherproofed!!

 

[Van Meel Bob]

I ad 20 mm high density rubber pads and and also a rubber pad behind the bolts so it act like a small demper.

 

[Victorian]

View attachment 557167

I ad 20 mm high density rubber pads and and also a rubber pad behind the bolts so it act like a small demper.

Your frame looks different than ours ?

 

[Victorian]

Today we finally started adding parts to the truck. First we dry fitted the custom bumper made by a local company. We included recovery points and a hitch receiver for bike racks or cargo baskets. That bumper and other components like brush guards for the camper body will be available with the camper body kit.

 

[Victorian]

Installed some safety locks today.

 

[Victorian]

Pre assembled the planar diesel heater .

 

[Victorian]

Big day today! We started assembling the camper body. I rolled into intercontinental truck body in surrey bc at 1pm and by 3.30 we had the floor panel and wheel wells mounted. At this rate we should have the box together by lunch tomorrow ?

 

[Victorian]

We are 10 hours into the assembly. Everything fits like a glove ?

 

[Victorian]

The empty shell is together and hopefully rain proof! But not done by any means. It took us 16 hours from the moment I rolled into the shop. The adhesive is going to cure overnight and then I’m going to drive it back to our home base on Vancouver island.

 

[Victorian]

Alright ,the truck made it home. Drives way nicer with some weight at the rear. Still plenty of work to do on the outside. But that needs to wait till we have some warmer weather. In the mean time we are going to start with the interior.
Just as I was leaving they drove in the next truck for a total composites camper and subframe.