Fitting transit van windows has become the single nearly all transformative thing you can do for your van, but I'll be the first to admit it's also the most terrifying. There is certainly something inherently wrong-feeling about taking a power tool to the side of a perfectly great vehicle and cutting a massive pit in the metal. However, once that glass is in, your van stops feeling just like a black, cramped delivery package and starts sense like a small home with a view.
If you're staring from the blank metallic walls of your Ford producer Transit and asking yourself where to start, you aren't only. The market for van glass has cracked recently, and you've got more choices than ever before. From simple fixed panes in order to fancy awning-style vents, the correct choice depends completely on how you plan in order to use the area.
Why You Shouldn't Stick with Blank Walls
Let's be genuine for a second: living in the windowless van sounds cool and "stealthy" until you're really sitting in there on a rainy afternoon. Without any kind of transit van windows , it gets dark, stuffy, and a little bit depressing. Beyond just viewing the sunset, windows are your major way to obtain natural light and, more importantly, air flow.
If you are planning upon cooking inside, you absolutely need a way to let steam and smells escape. Actually just sleeping within a van produces a surprising amount of humidity from the breath. With out a window in order to crack open, you'll wake up with "van rain"—condensation leaking from the ceiling on your face. It's not really a great way to start the morning.
Choosing the particular Right Style with regard to Your Build
Not all cup is established equal. Whenever you start searching for transit van windows , you'll generally encounter three main categories. Each has its very own set of advantages and cons, and most people end upward using a mix associated with them depending on exactly where the window is located.
Fixed Windows
These are the easiest and usually probably the most affordable choice. They don't open, so they don't supply any airflow, but they're great for letting in light. The lot of individuals put a huge fixed window around the sliding door. Simply because they don't have moving parts, they're less likely in order to leak or shake over time. As well as, they offer a much cleaner, "factory" look simply because they sit down flush against the entire body of the van.
Half-Slider Windows
If you've ever seen the school bus, you know how these work. One half of the glass glides over the other. These are wonderful for getting a lot of airflow quickly. The downside? They often come with a screen which can be a bit of a pain to wash, plus they aren't always the most wind resistant or quiet whenever you're cruising straight down the highway. These people also tend in order to look a bit more "aftermarket" than the sleek, bonded cup options.
T-Vent and Awning Windows
These are usually the gold standard for a lot of van lifers. Rather than sliding, the bottom part of the particular window tilts out. The huge advantage here is that you can leave them open even when it's raining. Since the particular glass angles lower, the rain simply runs from the outside while fresh air draws into the van. They look extremely sleek and generally follow the organic lines of the particular Ford Transit flawlessly.
The Frightening Part: The Set up Process
I won't sugarcoat it—cutting into your van is a high-stakes DIY project. Yet if you're individual and measure four or five instances, it's totally achievable. Most transit van windows a person buy today are "bonded, " meaning they are glued directly to the particular metal rather compared to being held in by a dense rubber gasket.
The process usually goes something like this: You record off the area to protect your paint, mark your cut line using a template, plus then grit your teeth while you use a jigsaw or a nibbler to cut the hole. When the metal is away, you have to file straight down the sharp sides and—this is the important part—apply a rust inhibitor. If you miss the primer, your van will start decaying from the inside out inside a 12 months or two.
After the prep is usually done, you utilize a thick bead of urethane adhesive. This stuff is usually messy, so put on gloves. You press the window in to place, tape this down so it doesn't slide while the glue remedies, and then wait. It's a long 24 hours of hoping you didn't keep a gap in the sealant.
Privacy and Keeping Things Cool
One thing people often forget in order to at transit van windows is the fact that glass is basically a huge hole in your insulation. Within the summer, the particular sun will bake your interior via those windows. In the winter, the cold will seep right in.
That is why "factory tint" is so popular. Most aftermarket windows arrive with a 15% to 20% hue, which helps a lot with heat plus privacy. During the day, it's nearly impossible for individuals to find out inside, but you can discover out perfectly. At night, however, if a person have your inside lights on, you're basically living in the fishbowl.
To fix this, you'll want to commit in some good permanent magnet window covers. Generally there are companies which make custom-fit covers specifically for transit van windows that possess built-in insulation. They will snap right onto the metal body is to do an entire world of good to continue your van at a comfortable temperature whilst blocking out 100% of the light. If you're on a budget, several Reflectix and material will do the particular trick, though it won't look quite as professional.
Maintenance and Extensive Care
As soon as your windows are in, they don't require a ton of work, but you should maintain an eye on them. The closes on opening windows can eventually obtain dry and cracked if you reside in a really warm climate. A very little bit of silicone spray on the particular rubber every few months keeps all of them supple and guarantees a tight seal.
Also, in the event that you went the particular bonded route, keep an eye upon the urethane. It's incredibly strong, yet if you observe a whistling audio while driving, this might mean the small air distance has formed. Catching it early after some extra sealant is usually way easier than having to reduce the whole window out and begin over.
Could it be Worth the particular Effort?
Whenever someone asks myself if they should bother adding transit van windows to their cargo van, my answer is definitely an unquestionable yes. It's the particular difference between feeling like you're camping out in a wooden shed and feeling like you're in a high-end camper.
The Ford Transit has such great body lines that even a basic windowpane looks like it belongs there. It opens up the ground plan, makes the space feel twice since big, and provides you that "waking up within the mountains" view that makes van life worthwhile in the first place. Just take your time and energy with the dimensions, purchase the best urethane you can find, and maybe have a buddy nearby to assist you contain the glass. You won't repent it once you're parked in a scenic overlook with the breeze blowing through your brand-new vents.