Thank you for the videos. They are very enjoyable. I appreciate your good nature and your skills. I learned a ton about van builds. After watching your team (!) and all 36 (?!) videos, I chiefly learned that there is no way I that I would try a van build.
I need to replace the front struts on my 2020 Transit . Your video is the best one out there, by a mile . It didn’t pop up 2 weeks ago when I searched . Maybe you can add a keyword for the search engine . Thanks for the video , sans the nuts .
@@EXPLORISTlife Another note, when tighing the strut nut to 41 foot pounds, many times just letting the spring pressure go against the plate will hold the rod tight enough for torching.
Thanks! The leaf packs are done in place of airbags. Airbags are good for vehicles where you may have it empty sometimes, or loaded up to max capacity sometimes (think of a truck driving empty; and then hooking up a 5th wheel RV to it). Since our van is always roughly the same weight; leaf packs over airbags is the better solution here.
Lowering the tire pressure & setting the shocks to the soft setting will make the most difference for washboard roads. As for leveling... Maybe? If you had airbags for all 4x corners that were independently controllable, I suppose. During our 4 years of living in our old van we never really had an issue getting the van 'level enough' just by repositioning and/or the strategically placed flat rock.
Thank you for this terrific instruction video! Maybe I missed it, but were you able to fit the bigger tires in the spare tire well? And if so, did you have to do any modification? Thanks again!
We kept the factory spare in there. Should be good enough to limp us to the next tire repair place in a full blowout situation. We carry plugs/compressor for everything else.
This video is awesome. I got the vancompass left kit for my van, but had it installed by a shop. Curious how long you estimate this took for a DIY install?
I'd do it the exact same. It has been great. The literal only problem is accidentally turning the knobs the wrong direction and forgetting which direction (1 vs 3) is for on vs off highway and having to re-look it up in the manual. 😂😅
Hey Nate n Steph, Great video again. Can you please give me an update on the front suspension lift as far as knocking and or sponginess now that you've completed it closer to a year now? I'm heading west to the back country soon and need your best opinion. Thanks so much guys. Mike
Nothing specific. We just installed the suspension system as shown in the video and it has been working great. Were you looking for a more specific recommendation on something in particular?
@@EXPLORISTlife I'm gonna be doing lots of forest access and logging roads. Are you still happy with the Falkens and can you go to full steer without a rub in or out?? Thanks again, Mike
I've done a good bit of off-roading and rock crawling and am now considering a Transit... BUT I'm just looking to hit up some dusty roads, loose rocks, a bit of snow, but not actual "crawl." Do you think an un-lifted AWD Transit with all-season tires and maybe an e-locker would be good enough for most mild-to-moderate trails?
Id say so, but start looking under the chassis, lay down under it measuring the lowest points in the undercarriage like the rear differential-rear shock mounts-exhast pipes and muffler. What will hit first and in which areas in the drive line must you avoid as you pass over a bump on the roads. If your Transit is like the few I've measured, it will ave a 7" or 8" clearance. This is lower than other chassis'. So watch out what you run over.
Great video, Nate! The 2" lift kits can put angle constraints on the axle shaft and other components, leading to premature wear. Some lift kits, like WTD, seem to have addressed this problem. Do you have any comments on this? What would be the best 2" lift kit you would recommend if budget was not an issue? Thanks!
Lift kits, in general, put wear on a vehicle. Period. If you don't want additional wear and tear on your vehicle; don't install a lift kit. I'm probably not the best person to ask about stuff like that because I've live all-but-one vehicle I've ever owned; in spite of various wear and tear; and I assure you that whatever abuse comes as a result of HAVING the lift kit is more wear and tear of the lift kit itself.
Thanks for the video. I’ve been toying with the idea of this upgrade for a while now and I always balk at the cost vs value proposition. It seems the biggest benefit from everything installed is the bigger/grippier tires. With the 245/75/16 do you still need the lift?
The Transit Trail is mounting 245s with a 3.5" lift but it still has a low clearance of 8" so the cost justification is challenge. Watch Brendan at Gone Mobile to hear of his paying Van Compass to install upgrades, trimming wheel well pinch weld areas for clearance of tires. And research Agile Offroad to hear what happens to Sprinters, etc.' components when subjected to off road abuse....expensive proposition either way.
How do you like the falken 245/75 /16's? You have had them for several months. I have the same van, same suspension upgrade running max gvw looking for new tires.
Nate Another Great Job Witch One did you use ? Shock Tune Light / Mid 8500 OR Mid / Heavy Over 8500 Again thanks very much for all your Hard Work !!!!!
At 30:21, I am pressing hard on the lower control arm, but no matter how hard I press down I can't clear enough to insert the ball joint into the hole. Have you come across that issue?
I recall wedging my self into the wheel well and basically bench pressing the breaker bar down, holding it in place with one hand once it was low enough, then manipulating the ball joint. Definitely a pain.
Hi Nate, are the method wheels MR703 van? Do the Tire rack lug nuts have the washer on to tighten to the wheel, like the OEM lug nuts? and lastly are they 90mm off set. That was Discount tires recommendation when I got the Falkens fitted to my OEM steel wheels which were the same as your originals. Sorry for 3 questions in one shot.
I've got 2" lift kit from Van Compass installed by ford dealership and unfortunately I experience bad slams in the front shock when going through any small pot hole. It's no pleasure on the forest roads as it happens constantly. I called Van Compass regarding the issue and they told me they are aware of that but can't help. Pretty upsetting news. Anyways I was wondering if you have any hack how to solve this issue, maybe another brand lift? Would you be able to help? Thank you so much in advance. Mira
Hey Nate, this may be a silly question but did you buy 5 of the wheel sets for a spare? Wondering if the larger setup still fits under the van? I am hoping to not have to mount the spare on the back and keep it underneath. Also trying to keep costs down and if I did not need to buy 5, but was concerned if I did need to change it out driving on the original spare could harm the van. Thanks so much!!
We did not buy a full size spare. It probably wouldn't be good to drive for an extended period of time on a mismatched spare, but personally; I'm fine with limping it to the next tire shop on an undersized tire.
Looking for the tire rack link, but couldn’t find it in the description .. only the lift kit … Vancompass STAGE 4 TOPO 2.0 SYSTEM ($2,600) and Tires … Falcon wildpeak a/t4w 245/75/16 ($820 for 4) and method mr703 van wheels ($1,200 for 4) =$4,600 .. any idea how much it would cost to install lift kit at a mechanic?
I found the estimated shop time (9 hours) and will check with my local mechanic. I can not find the link to tirerack in the video description. When I try going directly, the Falken tires are accepted, but the website says the method rims 703 are not available for 2023 Transit rwd 250T. Which method rims did you choose?
Sorry for the links. I hate when they change those around. We used the 16x6.5 Method MR701 wheels. Note: Our van is the 3500 SRW AWD. Tires are: LT245/75R-16 Falken WildPeak A/T3W E
Excellent video, a question on this model (Ford Transit AWD) even Air Sprig (Air Lift brand) is placed on the Bumper stop, here comes my question, if we install this kit or another Vans compass topo 2.0, is an air spring compatible? I say it because of the height gained
That's probably a better question for Van Compass directly, but I can't imagine why you'd want to do that after installing a high-end suspension system like this. Air bags are a bit of a quick fix that the adjustable shocks & bigger leaf pack handles. Even when we are pulling our heavy horse trailer, it still doesn't sag any more than it should.
Thanks! and with this rear gear from 5 leaf spring the van doesn't get harder in the back, I mean hard as in more rigid? I have the same Camper and I want to install a Van Compass system but I'm not sure whether to install the 2" dowel or the Mini springs.@@EXPLORISTlife
Now that you lifted your Transit, keep a close eye on the passenger side CV axle and check the boot from time to time. I only speak with experience because pinched the boot twice causing it to tear, love my local Ford dealer because they replaced the whole CV axle under warranty.
I guess it doesn't 'have' to be cut; but it hangs down a long way so the high-clearance shock mount fixes this problem and results in higher ground clearance. I guess if increased ground clearance isn't a desired feature, you could leave it as-is; but I don't know why you'd spend the money on a lift kit if you didn't want more ground clearance.
Great video, as always thanks for sharing. Did the shop have any problems with the alignment? I have been considering this lift and the transit OffRoad one as that one has adjustment in the arm? Did you look at that one? Love to hear your thoughts. Hope I am ok to mention another brand😊.
Thanks for watching! We are scheduled to get our alignment tomorrow; so I'll check back in. We live in a small town where we don't have a bunch of access to drop-in alignment shops. We did indeed look at the Transit Offroad kit; but it was (and is) backordered and we couldn't wait for it to come back in stock when the VanCompass lift was in stock and ready to ship. The Transit Offroad kit also just uses lift blocks instead of a full leaf pack addition, so it doesn't actually add any kind of suspension help in the back; just lifts it up. These blocks can also contribute to 'axle wrap' when on snow/sand/mud. Plus... people were asking about the VanCompass lift; so we have to make videos about what people are asking about. 🤣👍
@@EXPLORISTlife yes that is a good point about the back leaf springs. Thanks for your thoughts. Look forward to hearing your experience on the alignment.
Alignment went well. Nothing notable there. Cost $170ish at a local performance truck shop @1-offperformancellc933 Only thing on the alignment is to call ahead and make sure that the shop can do it (height and length of vehicle being the limitations).
Hey Nate and Steph. Good video. I have a question. What are your thoughts on RVIA certification and how you get around to campgrounds that require them? I have been rejected in my campervan because I don’t have this sticker even though my campervan has been built to these codes. Specifically Tiger Run in Dillon.
I've never come across any RV parks that require any kind of certification. I have stayed at Tiger Run for a night back in, probably, 2018ish; but they didn't ask for anything like that. Out of all of the campgrounds we've stayed at, though, that is definitely one of the ones that I could see coming up with some kind of dumbass rule like that. Super pretentious place. You aren't going to run into that much on your travels.
@@EXPLORISTlife Thanks for the info. It really is a dumbass rule that caught me by surprise. I was feeling really discouraged wondering if I would face this issue again and again. As a CO native do ya’ll have any recommended rv parks around that area open during the winter? Really having trouble finding something that’s not tiger run.
RVIA certs are a reality in campgrounds and have been for at least 20 years. I was denied entry around 2004ish in a county park CG for that reason. Ask campground representatives and certified upfitters. Insurance companies also like to deny coverage and claims without RVIA certs. My insurance company had plenty to say on this subject about qualified upfitters and who they trust. Reasons to be excluded like uninspected rigs causing electrical power outages for the whole campground due to shorts, etc. We all know of some sus builds and sus electrical work in life. RVIA prevents a lot if that just as house consruction codes do. I too complain about regulation but the best countries in the world result from it.
So, the 8hrs is a bit misleading. The full kit comes with about 4 different sets of directions; each for it's own individual time-estimate; and the 8hrs was only for the rear lift. In total; for everything shown in this video (rear spring pack install, rear shock install, high clearance shock bracket install, front lift install), budget for it to take a full weekend for the average shade-tree mechanic.
That'll be a question to call Ford Motor Company about. I'm sure their head engineers are available to chat about stuff like that. While you've got em, ask them if they have a fix for my power sliding door still not working. 😂🤷
According to the Ford Factory Manual... Most all the fasteners you have worked on are not to be re used... Why are some bolts one-time use? Most OEMs have at least one example of a one-time-use fastener/part. The reason it is only good for one use can vary. For example, torque-to-yield bolts are designed to stretch during the torquing process. These fasteners cannot be reused because of the excess amount of stress that was caused during installation.Jun 4, 2021
For the Tire Choice; We've had K02's in the past and haven't gotten the life out of them that we wanted; especially with how expensive they are. We have Toyo A/T tires on our daily driver and love them and the Falken tires are comparible.
Not a complaint, but this is the first video of yours that I really had no interest in at all. BUT... I do think it's GREAT that you managed to save 2 lbs by removing those thingybobber dealeos. :)
Yeah, and wait 2-3 years before it comes available... or you could hire an upfitter to build your whole van for you. 😂🤣 Perhaps you are new here, but this is a DIY channel. If you don't like diy projects, this isn't the channel for you.
I don’t really understand why you would put a lift kit on a street van I know it’s all wheel drive but they’re junk. You can’t get them off camber at all. If you’re taking it off anything more than a logging road you’re just asking for a world of problems.
We've done more off Road travel in a fait 500 than most lifted trucks will see in their lifetime. I'm not worried about getting stuck, that's just part of having fun. I will literally off-road anything.
Nate, great job on the video, Really appreciate your time spend documenting this.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the videos. They are very enjoyable. I appreciate your good nature and your skills. I learned a ton about van builds. After watching your team (!) and all 36 (?!) videos, I chiefly learned that there is no way I that I would try a van build.
Great video . I went crazy every time you called a nut a bolt . Went crazy about 30 times .
Well, I guess if that's the biggest frustration you've got going on in life, I'm happy for ya. 🤷😂😁
I need to replace the front struts on my 2020 Transit . Your video is the best one out there, by a mile . It didn’t pop up 2 weeks ago when I searched . Maybe you can add a keyword for the search engine . Thanks for the video , sans the nuts .
Very nice, well done job and video. The finished product STANCE is sweet. Thanks.
What a great video! Did you post a link for the tire and wheel combo from Tire Rack? I'm not finding it. HELP!
You need new gloves...haha Great video for suspension. I watch every weekend..
🤣😂 No doubt! 🤣👍 I got some after this video. Thanks for tuning in!
@@EXPLORISTlife Another note, when tighing the strut nut to 41 foot pounds, many times just letting the spring pressure go against the plate will hold the rod tight enough for torching.
Ahh; yeah; that makes sense!
Awesome video! Now we need to see an Airbag Man install.
Thanks! The leaf packs are done in place of airbags. Airbags are good for vehicles where you may have it empty sometimes, or loaded up to max capacity sometimes (think of a truck driving empty; and then hooking up a 5th wheel RV to it). Since our van is always roughly the same weight; leaf packs over airbags is the better solution here.
@@EXPLORISTlife I was thinking it would smooth out the ride on washboard roads and allow for easy leveling of the van at camp. 🤭🤔
Lowering the tire pressure & setting the shocks to the soft setting will make the most difference for washboard roads. As for leveling... Maybe? If you had airbags for all 4x corners that were independently controllable, I suppose. During our 4 years of living in our old van we never really had an issue getting the van 'level enough' just by repositioning and/or the strategically placed flat rock.
Great video, Thanks
Thanks John!
Nice, good job
Thank you! Cheers!
Excellent video greatly appreciate this. Clear with detailed steps. Cheers
Glad you liked it! Cheers!
Awesome kit, the shock bracket on these vans is awful, glad to see they considered that
terrific job and terrific video, thank you
Thanks! 🙂🙌
Thank you for this terrific instruction video!
Maybe I missed it, but were you able to fit the bigger tires in the spare tire well? And if so, did you have to do any modification?
Thanks again!
We kept the factory spare in there. Should be good enough to limp us to the next tire repair place in a full blowout situation. We carry plugs/compressor for everything else.
This video is awesome. I got the vancompass left kit for my van, but had it installed by a shop. Curious how long you estimate this took for a DIY install?
I'd budget for a full weekend for the average shade tree mechanic if you're doing it by yourself and aren't having to worry about videoing. 🤣
Awesome video! If you had to do it again would you go with the same lift kit and would you make any other additions to the suspension?
I'd do it the exact same. It has been great. The literal only problem is accidentally turning the knobs the wrong direction and forgetting which direction (1 vs 3) is for on vs off highway and having to re-look it up in the manual. 😂😅
I would also say that for towing a trailer, it's also awesome. Even right at max weight capacity of the van/trailer, it's good to go.
Right on, nice build.
Thanks!
Could that be installed on a dually ?
Great job you did, thorough. Thanks
Thanks! I do believe there is a dually option of this kit available.
Hey Nate n Steph, Great video again. Can you please give me an update on the front suspension lift as far as knocking and or sponginess now that you've completed it closer to a year now? I'm heading west to the back country soon and need your best opinion. Thanks so much guys. Mike
No issues.
@@EXPLORISTlife Any recommendations Nate??
Nothing specific. We just installed the suspension system as shown in the video and it has been working great. Were you looking for a more specific recommendation on something in particular?
@@EXPLORISTlife I'm gonna be doing lots of forest access and logging roads. Are you still happy with the Falkens and can you go to full steer without a rub in or out?? Thanks again, Mike
Very happy with them, yes. The rub a little at full lock if I hit a bump; which is pretty standard with any lifted vehicle with larger tires.
I've done a good bit of off-roading and rock crawling and am now considering a Transit... BUT I'm just looking to hit up some dusty roads, loose rocks, a bit of snow, but not actual "crawl." Do you think an un-lifted AWD Transit with all-season tires and maybe an e-locker would be good enough for most mild-to-moderate trails?
Id say so, but start looking under the chassis, lay down under it measuring the lowest points in the undercarriage like the rear differential-rear shock mounts-exhast pipes and muffler. What will hit first and in which areas in the drive line must you avoid as you pass over a bump on the roads. If your Transit is like the few I've measured, it will ave a 7" or 8" clearance. This is lower than other chassis'. So watch out what you run over.
Fantastic video. Thank you!!
Glad you liked it! Cheers!
Wowww, loved your video again
Thank you so much 😀
Great video, Nate! The 2" lift kits can put angle constraints on the axle shaft and other components, leading to premature wear. Some lift kits, like WTD, seem to have addressed this problem. Do you have any comments on this? What would be the best 2" lift kit you would recommend if budget was not an issue? Thanks!
Lift kits, in general, put wear on a vehicle. Period. If you don't want additional wear and tear on your vehicle; don't install a lift kit. I'm probably not the best person to ask about stuff like that because I've live all-but-one vehicle I've ever owned; in spite of various wear and tear; and I assure you that whatever abuse comes as a result of HAVING the lift kit is more wear and tear of the lift kit itself.
I like those wheels, what are the specifications?
Thanks for the video. I’ve been toying with the idea of this upgrade for a while now and I always balk at the cost vs value proposition. It seems the biggest benefit from everything installed is the bigger/grippier tires. With the 245/75/16 do you still need the lift?
The Transit Trail is mounting 245s with a 3.5" lift but it still has a low clearance of 8" so the cost justification is challenge. Watch Brendan at Gone Mobile to hear of his paying Van Compass to install upgrades, trimming wheel well pinch weld areas for clearance of tires. And research Agile Offroad to hear what happens to Sprinters, etc.' components when subjected to off road abuse....expensive proposition either way.
How do you like the falken 245/75 /16's? You have had them for several months.
I have the same van, same suspension upgrade running max gvw looking for new tires.
Nate Another Great Job
Witch One did you use ?
Shock Tune Light / Mid 8500 OR Mid / Heavy Over 8500
Again thanks very much for all your Hard Work !!!!!
Heavy. Light/Mid is more for vans that may sometimes run empty (delivery trucks).
Thanks so much !!!!!!!
What color is that on your Transit? Love it.
Would love to know the mileage before and after, would need to run the original tires though.
Headwind vs tailwind and how hard i press the gas is going to matter much more for mileage than tires. 🤣😂
@@EXPLORISTlife the extra lift doesn't count for much?
Some, for sure, but that's just the trade-off for more ground clearance & bigger/more aggressive tires.
At 30:21, I am pressing hard on the lower control arm, but no matter how hard I press down I can't clear enough to insert the ball joint into the hole. Have you come across that issue?
lol, yeah; that required a pretty significant amount of pushing and cussing to get it to clear.
I could not do it myself. I had a friend sit on the leverage bar, while we maneuvered the stud into the hole. 🎉
I recall wedging my self into the wheel well and basically bench pressing the breaker bar down, holding it in place with one hand once it was low enough, then manipulating the ball joint. Definitely a pain.
Hi Nate, are the method wheels MR703 van? Do the Tire rack lug nuts have the washer on to tighten to the wheel, like the OEM lug nuts? and lastly are they 90mm off set. That was Discount tires recommendation when I got the Falkens fitted to my OEM steel wheels which were the same as your originals. Sorry for 3 questions in one shot.
I've got 2" lift kit from Van Compass installed by ford dealership and unfortunately I experience bad slams in the front shock when going through any small pot hole. It's no pleasure on the forest roads as it happens constantly. I called Van Compass regarding the issue and they told me they are aware of that but can't help. Pretty upsetting news. Anyways I was wondering if you have any hack how to solve this issue, maybe another brand lift? Would you be able to help? Thank you so much in advance. Mira
Hmm; I haven't heard of or experienced that.
Any news on the lift fix or how its performing today?
Nice! Now I just need to sell my trailer conversion & get a transit
Hey Nate, this may be a silly question but did you buy 5 of the wheel sets for a spare? Wondering if the larger setup still fits under the van? I am hoping to not have to mount the spare on the back and keep it underneath. Also trying to keep costs down and if I did not need to buy 5, but was concerned if I did need to change it out driving on the original spare could harm the van. Thanks so much!!
We did not buy a full size spare. It probably wouldn't be good to drive for an extended period of time on a mismatched spare, but personally; I'm fine with limping it to the next tire shop on an undersized tire.
Thanks so much for your quick reply. Your videos have been such an incredible resource!!
Looking for the tire rack link, but couldn’t find it in the description .. only the lift kit … Vancompass STAGE 4 TOPO 2.0 SYSTEM ($2,600) and Tires … Falcon wildpeak a/t4w 245/75/16 ($820 for 4) and method mr703 van wheels ($1,200 for 4) =$4,600 .. any idea how much it would cost to install lift kit at a mechanic?
I found the estimated shop time (9 hours) and will check with my local mechanic. I can not find the link to tirerack in the video description. When I try going directly, the Falken tires are accepted, but the website says the method rims 703 are not available for 2023 Transit rwd 250T. Which method rims did you choose?
Sorry for the links. I hate when they change those around. We used the 16x6.5 Method MR701 wheels. Note: Our van is the 3500 SRW AWD.
Tires are: LT245/75R-16 Falken WildPeak A/T3W E
Man this is an awesome job. How much does it cost this lift. And where can i order it.
Excellent video, a question on this model (Ford Transit AWD) even Air Sprig (Air Lift brand) is placed on the Bumper stop, here comes my question, if we install this kit or another Vans compass topo 2.0, is an air spring compatible? I say it because of the height gained
That's probably a better question for Van Compass directly, but I can't imagine why you'd want to do that after installing a high-end suspension system like this. Air bags are a bit of a quick fix that the adjustable shocks & bigger leaf pack handles. Even when we are pulling our heavy horse trailer, it still doesn't sag any more than it should.
Thanks! and with this rear gear from 5 leaf spring the van doesn't get harder in the back, I mean hard as in more rigid? I have the same Camper and I want to install a Van Compass system but I'm not sure whether to install the 2" dowel or the Mini springs.@@EXPLORISTlife
What lug nuts did you go with? I was told that currently no aftermarket lugs are made for the Transit.
It is a nice instruction video. Still can't get the idea to go that rugged off road with a fully kitted out camper 😅.
Yeah; we aren't RV park kind of people. 😂
hey, what size wheels are those? are they factory size or bigger? would like to do the same set up as you
Now that you lifted your Transit, keep a close eye on the passenger side CV axle and check the boot from time to time. I only speak with experience because pinched the boot twice causing it to tear, love my local Ford dealer because they replaced the whole CV axle under warranty.
Yeah; we check CV joints, brakes, and all other suspension components in all of our vehicles when we rotate our tires in the spring and fall.
If you could mention which Ford dealer, i heard this would void warranties.
Could it be worthwhile to replace the front struts while having it all apart?
If it needs it, sure! Our van had less than 10k miles on it when we tackled this project; so they were still good to go.
Did you change the factory tire already? Maybe I missed that video? But I wonder which tires (or oversized tires) did you go with? Thank you!
Indeed! We did that in this video if you watch until the end.
I'm wondering if you were able to get the new tire size to fit in the spare tire well?
would this increase the cargo weight limit as well?
Not technically, no. It would, though, make it carry a heavy load BETTER when at max capacity, though.
What is the total height of the van now? Gotta make sure the van can clear the garage door after the install... is that in the instructions?😟
To the top of our weboost antenna is 10' 2 1/4" and to the top of the air conditioner 9' 10 1/2"
Very nice. Like your videos. I may have missed it, but what was the torque set?
All of the torque values are listed in the instructions that come with the lift kit.
@@EXPLORISTlife sweet. Thanks.
why does the shock mount have to be cut?maybe later change the suspension. how will he enter?
I guess it doesn't 'have' to be cut; but it hangs down a long way so the high-clearance shock mount fixes this problem and results in higher ground clearance. I guess if increased ground clearance isn't a desired feature, you could leave it as-is; but I don't know why you'd spend the money on a lift kit if you didn't want more ground clearance.
@@EXPLORISTlife ok I understand. with this kit can it be combined with air suspension or is it unnecessary? thanks for great video details
This is a high end suspension upgrade, which makes air suspension unnecessary.
@@EXPLORISTlife I understand. thank you and sorry for my not so good english. warm greetings from Greece. I hope you have wonderful travels. 🙏👍💙😎
Why didn’t you replace the front strut?
The van had like 3,000 miles on it. Didn't need it.
@ Thanks for your reply. I kinda figured that was why. Are there front struts that you prefer? Btw, I really enjoyed the video. Well done. 👍🏻
You may reach out to Van Compass for that question as we haven't yet looked into struts that will specifically work with this lift.
Great video, as always thanks for sharing. Did the shop have any problems with the alignment? I have been considering this lift and the transit OffRoad one as that one has adjustment in the arm? Did you look at that one? Love to hear your thoughts. Hope I am ok to mention another brand😊.
Thanks for watching! We are scheduled to get our alignment tomorrow; so I'll check back in. We live in a small town where we don't have a bunch of access to drop-in alignment shops. We did indeed look at the Transit Offroad kit; but it was (and is) backordered and we couldn't wait for it to come back in stock when the VanCompass lift was in stock and ready to ship. The Transit Offroad kit also just uses lift blocks instead of a full leaf pack addition, so it doesn't actually add any kind of suspension help in the back; just lifts it up. These blocks can also contribute to 'axle wrap' when on snow/sand/mud. Plus... people were asking about the VanCompass lift; so we have to make videos about what people are asking about. 🤣👍
@@EXPLORISTlife yes that is a good point about the back leaf springs. Thanks for your thoughts. Look forward to hearing your experience on the alignment.
Alignment went well. Nothing notable there. Cost $170ish at a local performance truck shop @1-offperformancellc933 Only thing on the alignment is to call ahead and make sure that the shop can do it (height and length of vehicle being the limitations).
@@EXPLORISTlife thanks for the update… good information.
Hey Nate and Steph. Good video. I have a question. What are your thoughts on RVIA certification and how you get around to campgrounds that require them? I have been rejected in my campervan because I don’t have this sticker even though my campervan has been built to these codes. Specifically Tiger Run in Dillon.
I've never come across any RV parks that require any kind of certification. I have stayed at Tiger Run for a night back in, probably, 2018ish; but they didn't ask for anything like that. Out of all of the campgrounds we've stayed at, though, that is definitely one of the ones that I could see coming up with some kind of dumbass rule like that. Super pretentious place. You aren't going to run into that much on your travels.
@@EXPLORISTlife Thanks for the info. It really is a dumbass rule that caught me by surprise. I was feeling really discouraged wondering if I would face this issue again and again. As a CO native do ya’ll have any recommended rv parks around that area open during the winter? Really having trouble finding something that’s not tiger run.
KOA in Steamboat stays open over the winter. Red mountain rv park in Kremling does too. Pretty much nothing in summit does.
RVIA certs are a reality in campgrounds and have been for at least 20 years. I was denied entry around 2004ish in a county park CG for that reason. Ask campground representatives and certified upfitters. Insurance companies also like to deny coverage and claims without RVIA certs. My insurance company had plenty to say on this subject about qualified upfitters and who they trust. Reasons to be excluded like uninspected rigs causing electrical power outages for the whole campground due to shorts, etc. We all know of some sus builds and sus electrical work in life. RVIA prevents a lot if that just as house consruction codes do. I too complain about regulation but the best countries in the world result from it.
How many hours would you say you spent on this list install? 10-14hrs? I ask because their website says 8hrs.
So, the 8hrs is a bit misleading. The full kit comes with about 4 different sets of directions; each for it's own individual time-estimate; and the 8hrs was only for the rear lift. In total; for everything shown in this video (rear spring pack install, rear shock install, high clearance shock bracket install, front lift install), budget for it to take a full weekend for the average shade-tree mechanic.
Any trimming to get those 245/75/16 on? Rubbing?
A little
In the video you said you didn't have to trim!
Makes you wonder that if, over time, I found that I eventually was rubbing and, perhaps, needed to trim? 🤷🏻🧐
Seems like a pretty flimsy frame member holding that shock at the top. These vans can go to 11,000 gvw. How does that not flex/bend?
That'll be a question to call Ford Motor Company about. I'm sure their head engineers are available to chat about stuff like that. While you've got em, ask them if they have a fix for my power sliding door still not working. 😂🤷
According to the Ford Factory Manual...
Most all the fasteners you have worked on are not to be re used...
Why are some bolts one-time use?
Most OEMs have at least one example of a one-time-use fastener/part. The reason it is only good for one use can vary. For example, torque-to-yield bolts are designed to stretch during the torquing process. These fasteners cannot be reused because of the excess amount of stress that was caused during installation.Jun 4, 2021
Yeah, vehicle manufacturers also doesn’t want people installing aftermarket lift kits either, but here I am never having had a non-lifted vehicle. 😆
Why a Falcon and nor the BFG KO2?
For the Tire Choice; We've had K02's in the past and haven't gotten the life out of them that we wanted; especially with how expensive they are. We have Toyo A/T tires on our daily driver and love them and the Falken tires are comparible.
❤🙌
Not a complaint, but this is the first video of yours that I really had no interest in at all. BUT... I do think it's GREAT that you managed to save 2 lbs by removing those thingybobber dealeos. :)
Or you could order/buy a Transit Trail and let the factory do all that for you.
Yeah, and wait 2-3 years before it comes available... or you could hire an upfitter to build your whole van for you. 😂🤣 Perhaps you are new here, but this is a DIY channel. If you don't like diy projects, this isn't the channel for you.
Not to mention the crazy price of the trail package.
I don’t really understand why you would put a lift kit on a street van I know it’s all wheel drive but they’re junk. You can’t get them off camber at all. If you’re taking it off anything more than a logging road you’re just asking for a world of problems.
I mean... if you only use yours on the street, that's your deal. 🤣😂🫣
@@EXPLORISTlife i guess I’m smarter then the average 🐻
Don’t forget to put a winch on you will need it 😀
We've done more off Road travel in a fait 500 than most lifted trucks will see in their lifetime. I'm not worried about getting stuck, that's just part of having fun. I will literally off-road anything.
I've taken my mustang off road so...