My Van Build from START to FINISH- Ford Transit Connect (easy & cheap)

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Erin Elyse

Erin Elyse

5 ай бұрын

I've had my Ford Transit Connect for awhile now and the build has really taken shape over the years! So I wanted to put it all together, showing the start to the finish!! It was cheap and easy and has helped me make some great memories. I hope you enjoy!
Giveaway is now closed but you can still use code "Erin Elyse" for 12% off on a new portable fridge for your vehicle at: www.setpowerusa.com/collectio...
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@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching everyone!! To enter the GIVEAWAY for your own SetPower FC15 green fridge/freezer: 1. Head over to instagram and give me and SetPower a follow @erin_elyse1 @setpowerusa 2. Like the giveaway post 3. Share the giveaway post on your story **Giveaway starts 1/26 and ends 1/31 and the winner will be announced by @setpowerusa on February 1st via IG story! **Shipping to mainland US only
@tomslick7684
@tomslick7684 5 ай бұрын
For the problem of the bike rack, get a swing away mount. When you stop to get in the back just swing it our and away and open the back up no problem.
@kaitlinemig7719
@kaitlinemig7719 5 ай бұрын
I suggest the Rocky Mounts swing arm rack. It's a van life game changer. I installed it on my truck in the REI parking lot and it made the rest of my trip easy peasy.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Awesome, thanks!! I will look into one!
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Rocky Mounts, thanks for the tip!!
@geneevans2600
@geneevans2600 8 күн бұрын
When you first talked about removing the ladder rack, I was thinking if it were me, I'd try to adapt it to a platform for storage, deck, or even a rooftop tent. I don't have a low awning to limit the space. I enjoyed your video & praise you for "going for it"! Back in the early 70s a lot of our exploration consisted of backpacking & hitchhiking around the country (& Europe)
@michelleh5727
@michelleh5727 5 ай бұрын
Omg... I have a 2013 for transit connect xtl that I use for vanlife and I so NEED that fridge!!!
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Omg I love my little transit connect!! This fridge is the perfect size for it.
@kensmith2839
@kensmith2839 5 ай бұрын
Thanks for the excellent video. I travel in a 2010 transit connect. Subscribed
@longzero
@longzero 5 ай бұрын
Don't know if you use the passenger seat, but maybe it can be removed for extra space for your bike.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Ugh I use it very occasionally. Especially when I'm not traveling and just using it as my everyday vehicle at home. I've always wanted one of those passenger seats that spin around though!!
@justmeEnglandUK
@justmeEnglandUK 3 ай бұрын
UK and euro spec connect vans have a passenger seat that folds forward and completely flat with the rear floor not sure if it was available in the US spec vans . It's a fixed seat with 2 cup holders in the back which didn't have forward or backward adjustment but it's very easy to make your van one or two seat van for extra space next to the driver's seat . I can carry 8x4 sheets of ply with the seat folded down .
@cosysleepsounds
@cosysleepsounds 5 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for sharing your story!!! Your channel is a big reason I took the plunge and just got my first van, a Ford transit connect called Vinni 😊
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
WOW! That means so much to me. Thank you for sharing! Have the best time with Vinni!!!
@RosalindaG298
@RosalindaG298 5 ай бұрын
This fridge is just SO YOU!! It fits your van and your style perfectly. I have to get one for myself ASAP❤❤
@pinkwolfink
@pinkwolfink 5 ай бұрын
Bike rack idea. Consider mounting a ladder to one of your rear doors, then a Lolorack, vertical bike rack, could be attached to the ladder. More expensive route would be to add a trailer hitch, then a swing-out arm to the hitch, then a horizontal bike rack to the swing-out arm. I've never done it, so only an idea to ponder.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
hmmm the ladder idea definitely intrigues me!! Thanks for sharing!
@harrypottah8889
@harrypottah8889 5 ай бұрын
Imagine being this young, creative, and blessed! I’ve so badly wanted a ford transit connect but could never find one within my budget. Recently bought a short skoolie and hope to confer it, wish me luck 🤘🏾
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
That sounds awesome!! Good luck!!
@fredricjulien8738
@fredricjulien8738 5 ай бұрын
Thanks for the Janeway tour and build journey. 😊 Definitely need to insulate for winter as well as summer heat. I know that I've seen swing out bike racks that would attach to the back of Janeway, and you could still open the back doors. 👍 Not sure if this would help solve your dilemma or not. Best of luck to you.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Yeah I didn't even talk about my adventures in the hot desert lol. Maybe some insulation is in the future haha! and yes I'll be looking into a swing out bike rack for sure! Thanks for watching!!
@Nicholas_Hamilton
@Nicholas_Hamilton 5 ай бұрын
Hey Erin, maybe you can try a custom vertical van door bike rack, where the front fork can attach to a mount on top one of the doors, if the dimensions of the van and bike are suitable.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
That would be so sweet!! I really am liking the vertical idea. I'm going to look into it!
@JoeBeech
@JoeBeech 5 ай бұрын
Awesome video and cool name for the van and if you have a towbar fitted to the van you can get a bike rack mounted to that and they can easily be removed when not needed 🙂
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thank you!! Good idea!!
@vladislav_kuznetsov_
@vladislav_kuznetsov_ Ай бұрын
Thanks! I implemented my initial project in the same van, went on my first trip and I'm already thinking about what needs to be fixed. Thank you for the idea of the kitchen and especially the terrace
@RottenlyMoodyChild
@RottenlyMoodyChild 5 ай бұрын
Another great video, Erin 😊 super helpful, informative yet succint for people looking at getting into van life, especially for a Ford Transit Connect. Thanks for sharing! I'm sure the change from semi part time living in the van vs being semi full time in the van was very different and a learning curve. But I think it's smart that you went pretty simple in the beginning and have made changes as you go and start to get a better sense of how you use the space. Let it evolve organically rather than just building in a cookie cutter build for a Transit Connect that may not actually work for you. So many amazing adventures and memories in your time in Janeway (love it!! ❤😂), and many more to come, I'm sure. I know I've been super annoying constantly mentioning possible bike storage and general storage ideas 😅 but I'm glad you're considering it. Just getting the bike off the floor would completely change how you could use the space. My idea is, if you are okay with losing the access and 'sight lines' from one of your sliding doors while the bike is in there, if the bike dimensions fit vertically with the front wheel off then could maybe have a fork mount that you could mount bike to. But I'm not sure how much height you have and what size your bike is. So not sure if that's even helpful. Hope you have a good weekend 😊
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thanks so much!! Yeah I really did try to let it evolve organically, which is why it was so fun to put this video together! Yeah the bike was definitely the killer on this last trip. I'll look into the fork mount! Thanks for sharing and watching!
@_TheDudeAbides_
@_TheDudeAbides_ Ай бұрын
Very cool build, please drill a bunch of holes in your bed because there needs to be ventilation there in the long run or black mold can develop.
@markstevens4264
@markstevens4264 5 ай бұрын
I came here after watching your entertaining Half Dome video. Although I promised myself not to add any new subscriptions this year, the first few of your videos forced me to make an exception. You are awesome. If even 10% of your generation is like you, the USA has a great future. I'm getting ready to convert my new Toyota Highlander to van life. I can afford nice hotels, but I love being outdoors under the stars. Although I traveled most of my career to all 50 states, I still have a lot of places I want to see. I must admit Yosemite is my all-time favorite and I don't see that changing. Thanks for your inspiring videos and your positive attitude Erin! Keep up the good work...
@YSBRYD-CATH
@YSBRYD-CATH 5 ай бұрын
Great video as usual! Enjoyed hearing all about the build as it progressed, and definitely looking forward to the changes to come! Keep up the good work!
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thank you!!! I'm looking forward to them too!
@ronedwards2584
@ronedwards2584 Ай бұрын
Mount a Bike Rack to your front Bumper, like the kind you see on City Transit Buses. that way it would block your back doors.
@janabanana2415
@janabanana2415 5 ай бұрын
You should buy small plastic watering can for a quick wash, collapsible sink, how about tying your bike flat to the deck with a bungee rope. I would not change a thing. It’s beautiful!
@MaceOnTheRoad
@MaceOnTheRoad 3 ай бұрын
Very nice!!! Planning to buildout a ford connect for travelling thoughout europe for about 2 months a year. So your channel was already looking pretty interesting. However as soon as you said who your van is named after, you gained a loyal subscriber in me. Keep up the great work and keep on enjoying life girl!!
@angeladawn805
@angeladawn805 5 ай бұрын
Unfortunately we have very little choice and options fir fringes in New Zealand. My van is a tad smaller than yours, so I'll be following for tips and ideas. It looks awesome 😊
@JNante
@JNante 3 ай бұрын
Check out lady bugout, she has tons of ideas. She has a red transit that she's retrofitted 2x,
@ekdaufin1485
@ekdaufin1485 5 ай бұрын
I love how you tell us what you changed, why and how. That deck doesn’t look easy to get up on, down from or safe to be on. I would need a ladder and some low key rails.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
It's plenty safe and I have no problem getting up it.
@trudyschneider3060
@trudyschneider3060 5 ай бұрын
Yay! A giveaway!!!
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
hehe yep!!
@holliewhitby6845
@holliewhitby6845 5 ай бұрын
❤ Your uncle John and I keep trying to figure something out for that bike! Great video! 🏞
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Hahahha thank you!!! Uncle John is gonna have to be my next co-star and get featured in a video!
@MrSheckstr
@MrSheckstr 4 ай бұрын
I converted a dodge neon into a one person+one dog camper… unbolted the passenger seat, got a full size spare and put it and the donut on the floor and built a bed platform for the right side … added a yakima roof rack with a bike rack on one side and a cargo pod on the other … removing the bike seat and putting a pole in its place i could build a tepee style tent that covered the entire right side and back of the car when parked ….i drove it completely around the both wet and dry edges of the lower 48
@JimmySlaughter
@JimmySlaughter 5 ай бұрын
Cool van! I also have a Transit Connect, and mine had a desk just like yours. Nice seeing what you did with your build.
@ParadoxdesignsOrg
@ParadoxdesignsOrg 5 ай бұрын
cool van! I'm learning myself to get out camping with a connect. it's such a funky little van and you have to love the extra head space
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thank you!!!
@terrieh5457
@terrieh5457 5 ай бұрын
With you being solo female, traveling and wanting to keep your bike inside… I thought of how you could use storage inside that you already have! The cubby above the driver and passenger seats. You could actually slide the bike tires in. Maybe create a slide out brace from underneath to hold the bulk of the bike when you’re driving .. The things that you store in that space, can be tucked away after making bigger, slide out drawers underneath your bed Let me know if you use the idea and of course make a video! I loved what you did to your van in the simplicity of it keep going loving life
@trudyschneider3060
@trudyschneider3060 5 ай бұрын
Good idea.
@AniMD69
@AniMD69 5 ай бұрын
I am a new subscriber to your KZfaq channel. I was wondering if you knew or not that in Bloomington, Indiana they have a statue of Captain Janeway?? The statue is on Indiana University's campus. You should be able to look it up to see. There are lots of pics of the statue and Kate Mulgrew for the dedication ceremony.
@trudyschneider3060
@trudyschneider3060 5 ай бұрын
Aww. I love Janeway, I’ll have to check it out too.
@rootedremembrance
@rootedremembrance 5 ай бұрын
love Janeway🥰
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
me too 💗💗
@scarlettsutherland5808
@scarlettsutherland5808 5 ай бұрын
Janeway is inspiringly minimal but still so cute. How do you power the fridge?
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thank you!! I plug it in while I'm driving and then I just plug it into my portable battery. It's not ideal but it works and I'm looking to upgrade my power situation soon!
@4tarsus
@4tarsus 3 ай бұрын
@5:09 -- Security courtesy of Louisville Slugger.
@Cornishvandweller
@Cornishvandweller 5 ай бұрын
Super impressed: I'm after a Connect and may well mercilessly steal your ideas 😉
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Go for it!
@shawnlinehan4005
@shawnlinehan4005 4 ай бұрын
You could build a bike rack for the front of the vehicle. Mount A hitch type thing. I know they make bike racks for front of the vehicle look into that maybe.
@DVaccarelli1988
@DVaccarelli1988 3 ай бұрын
Janeway was the captain in Star Trek: Voyager. She was played by Kate Mulgrew.
@weeepsalotts723
@weeepsalotts723 5 ай бұрын
Is there enough height to hang the bike vertical behind the driver seat, from the ceiling? It would clear up some floor space. You seemed to prefer to pile things on that side when you did get messy, and it would not obstruct your view quite as much, being directly behind you while driving, rather than on the passenger side. Would still have to remove the tire, but keeping it inside would still allow you to stealth park when needed.
@kristib4394
@kristib4394 2 ай бұрын
Front mount bike rack….think City Bus!
@Louie12673
@Louie12673 5 ай бұрын
Hello… I live in lower Michigan in the Downriver area, and I believe I saw that van on CarGurus. Very nice and solid Van. Enjoy your journeys.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
No way that's crazy! That's about where I got it. Thank you!
@jazziered142
@jazziered142 5 ай бұрын
I dont like my bike out on a rack. Its like a big neon steal me sign..
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thats another concern I've had for sure! That and any storage on the outside...ugh
@francesdouglas333
@francesdouglas333 5 ай бұрын
Can you mount bike on the front and tarpe it ?
@mysurlytrucker7510
@mysurlytrucker7510 5 ай бұрын
Try a folding e bike .
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Ooo that might be something to look into!
@mysurlytrucker7510
@mysurlytrucker7510 5 ай бұрын
@@erin_elyse I have to admit I love my surly long haul trucker, but if I had to have a bike I would think of a e folder bike I would probably go on deck at rear or even back doors , right to e bike company's, tell them your a utube er ,and your looking to give a honest review on a couple of e folding bike's , nothing to loos I bet someone comes up with try this .
@jeanniekartis5916
@jeanniekartis5916 5 ай бұрын
👏👏🚙
@longzero
@longzero 5 ай бұрын
How much noise does your fridge make?
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
It's very quiet!
@WoofDawg486
@WoofDawg486 4 ай бұрын
U need a full size van, like a Ford Econoline E150… just saying.
@BowBurt
@BowBurt 5 ай бұрын
V cool van
@yasmeenchatelle8298
@yasmeenchatelle8298 4 ай бұрын
😍😍😍
@hollydavid69
@hollydavid69 5 ай бұрын
Do you actually live in the van 24/7?
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
For a few months at a time yes!
@lauren7991
@lauren7991 Ай бұрын
What size is this bed when fully extended? Would a queen bed fit in a transit connect?
@bp3145
@bp3145 4 ай бұрын
Swing away trailer hitch bike rack.
@Yu-Gi-OhScotland
@Yu-Gi-OhScotland 14 күн бұрын
Mount the bike to back door
@jamesperry6436
@jamesperry6436 5 ай бұрын
Remove the passenger seat and stow the bike there.
@carmenlo2391
@carmenlo2391 5 ай бұрын
👍🏽💜
@kellypoulos8702
@kellypoulos8702 5 ай бұрын
Swing out bike hitch, problem solved!
@chartmann43
@chartmann43 3 ай бұрын
What year is your van?
@TheKahota
@TheKahota 5 ай бұрын
This gets a like just for the name Janeway!😊
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Haha thank you!!
@jeangray4714
@jeangray4714 2 ай бұрын
"...my van's name is Janeway." **Clicks Like** ^_^
@aidasanchez9565
@aidasanchez9565 5 ай бұрын
😲👏👏👏🇪🇨🇨🇦
@ekdaufin1485
@ekdaufin1485 5 ай бұрын
Toilet? Water? Bathing?
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Nope, cant have it all at this price point and size!
@journeyhome98
@journeyhome98 Ай бұрын
Just a thought: you might want to check the weight of your van and make sure your gvwr isn’t over. I agree w the swing away bike rack.
@Zinny1337
@Zinny1337 4 ай бұрын
If you roll your clothes, they will take up less space. Hope this helps!
@emilcurtis2645
@emilcurtis2645 Ай бұрын
I think it was used by like FBI or police
@susantosi695
@susantosi695 5 ай бұрын
You sure did your build right. Start simple and see what you need or don’t need as you travel. Living in a van with too much stuff is never fun…moving things around all the time, yuck.
@erin_elyse
@erin_elyse 5 ай бұрын
Thank you!! It was definitely a learning process and I had fun along the way!
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