Ford Transit Trail
Collaboration With Ford And The First Transit Trail Moov Concept
“The Transit Trail offers a lot of new features to the already proven Transit line of Commercial and Passenger Vehicles,” Vandoit CEO Jared McCauslin says. “Vandoit was forced to take on a lot of new challenges and obstacles. We ventured into product development scopes our company hadn’t been to in a long time. We are using our current knowledge to make our product better and broaden our horizons.” The outcome of this collaboration between Vandoit and Ford was a lot of synergy and an acceleration of product development for both companies.
The all new Ford Transit package–called the Transit Trail–is built on a cargo chassis. This presented an immediate challenge to the Vandoit engineering team, as we are used to building on the Transit passenger chassis. We had established an efficient assembly line approach to upfitting the Transit passenger chassis, so the team had to quickly adapt those processes to this new cargo version. The Vandoit engineering team worked closely with the Ford design team to establish production and quality parameters for the upfit. Ford also communicated their vision for the upfit: The van would contain only the driver and passenger seats in the cabin–no rear passenger seats–and have the ultimate vanlife setup for the couple who wants to wake up next to the beach and be able to prepare a gourmet breakfast from the convenience of their van.
As Vandoit worked through a new design and concept on the first Transit Trail, it opened Vandoit’s eyes to an amazing opportunity that our customers had been asked for. Through many revisions and thoughts on what Vandoit needs to add to its own portfolio like Ford had with the Transit Trail, Vandoit brought the Moov Concept to life.
Collaboration With Ford And The First Transit Trail Moov Concept
“The Transit Trail offers a lot of new features to the already proven Transit line of Commercial and Passenger Vehicles,” Vandoit CEO Jared McCauslin says. “Vandoit was given the opportunity to take on a lot of new challenges and obstacles. We ventured into product development scopes our company hadn’t been to in a long time. We are using our current knowledge to make our product better and broaden our horizons.” The outcome of this collaboration between Vandoit and Ford was a lot of synergy and an acceleration of product development for both companies.
The all new Ford Transit package–called the Transit Trail–is built on a cargo chassis. This presented an immediate challenge to the Vandoit engineering team, as we are used to building on the Transit passenger chassis. We had established an efficient assembly line approach to upfitting the Transit passenger chassis, so the team had to quickly adapt those processes to this new cargo version. The Vandoit engineering team worked closely with the Ford design team to establish production and quality parameters for the upfit. Ford also communicated their vision for the upfit: The van would contain only the driver and passenger seats in the cabin–no rear passenger seats–and have the ultimate vanlife setup for the couple who wants to wake up next to the beach and be able to prepare a gourmet breakfast from the convenience of their van.
As Vandoit worked through a new design and concept on the first Transit Trail, it opened Vandoit’s eyes to an amazing opportunity that our customers had been asking for. Through many revisions and thoughts on what Vandoit needed to add to its own portfolio (just like Ford had with the Transit Trail) Vandoit brought the Moov Concept to life.
The MOOV
You asked, we listened
Power system configurable from 1,500 watts to 3,500 watts of inverting power and battery bank ranging from 1,250 watt hours to 18,000 watt-hours. Variations of solar arrays and charging capabilities.
Offerings of different ride heights, suspension ride quality options, and larger tire size capabilities. Improvements in load control and ride comfort.
Sleeping options expanded to sideways in the rear along with current murphy style folding beds and hydraulic lift beds.
The Vandoit engineering team was inspired
by requests van owners have made over the years:
Adding The Option To Sleep Sideways
The Moov offers a modular foldable Murphy Bed or Hydraulic Bed-Lift Platform that allows for sleeping lengthways in the van. A new option also allows for sleeping sideways. It is built with custom cut and machined walls and a sideways bed platform in the middle that include storage and attachment options.
Creating Airplane-Like
Overhead Storage Above The Bed
The bed is always a prominent feature in any campervan, but storage solutions often require hopping out of bed or climbing underneath it. Having storage within arm’s reach of the bed is a major comfort value-add, so the engineering team created built-in cubbies above both the head and foot of the bed.
Utilizing Removable Kitchen Modules
This goal was easy to accomplish, given that we had recently released our Galley & Kitchen Module lineup. The modules can all be added, rearranged, or removed altogether using simple tools. The kitchen configurations and storage options are nearly endless.
Expanding Vandoit’s
Palette Of Materials And Finishes
On the Moov upfit, we hand-cut wall panels from aluminum paneling rather than the ABS plastic panels used in the Vandoit assembly line, put in honeycomb insulation for the first time, and used new vinyl coated polyester flooring.
Installing The Best Power
System To Suit The Trail
Vandoit has installed the Mastervolt lithium power system in vans for a couple of years now, so using Mastervolt in the Moov was the obvious choice. The power system we built for the Moov is small but powerful–equivalent to the capacity of a typical AGM power system, but with the reliability of lithium technology. The marine grade components provide the durability and ruggedness needed to match the Trail’s profile.
Making Lighting Practical And Versatile
The Vandoit team installed interior zone lighting for the first time on the Trail upfit to accomplish two things: To use lighting to set the mood for every occasion–sleeping, stargazing, reading, relaxing by the campfire, or watching the sunrise. The zone lighting also makes it possible to turn on a light without waking a partner sleeping in bed. The RGB or Million Color Smart LED controls will allow for whatever mood lighting you desire.
Vandoit is currently working to finalize and design what will be considered the all new Vandoit Moov package. What you see above is the concept that Vandoit built alongside Ford with the first Transit Trail. Features listed will all be in consideration for the final design that will be taken into production. It is Vandoit’s goal to use the Moov package to release a vehicle that has all the features that the current LIV and DO models do not give our family of owners. Current timeline for the production release of the Vandoit Moov is early Fall 2023.
If you would like to stay in touch and learn more about the Moov package or be one of the first in line for the new package offered by Vandoit, please fill out the contact form below.
Visit our components page to learn about our component options and van accessories
Check out the all new 2023 Ford Transit Trail up-fitted by Vandoit.
Transit Trail “Scary stuff and creative canvas”
On the new Transit Trail, Ford has “created a canvas and done the scary stuff,” while letting the buyer use their creativity to make the interior exactly what they want. As stated in our website for years, Vandoit is the friend for the DIY minded person. Now, in conjunction with the Transit Trail, it gets even better! Vandoit can do the rest of the scary stuff and at the same time give the buyer additional endless options (additional creative canvas) for more easily creating the exact interior you need for your adventure (called life.) We have been in lockstep with Ford’s “remove the scary, create a canvas” approach and we love the collaboration with Ford! As a multi-purpose van, should your needs change from time to time, our modular system allows you to make additions, subtractions, or simply move components as needed to continue to be creative by changing your interior to meet whatever need you have.
3000 Ford dealers down by the river or near the trail
Transit Trail… We love the name, the van and what it’s all about! TRAIL, –what an exciting version of the Transit van. The Transit Trail is created with the capability of being at a trail in the middle of nowhere or down by the river! With 3000 Ford dealers, there will be a dealer near THAT trail head in the middle of nowhere. That is over 10 times more service locations than its closest competitor, which are located only in largely populated areas.
Vandoit MOOV camper van builds on the new AWD Ford Transit Trail
If you hadn’t seen it, Ford introduced the Transit Trail recently, with factory upgrades that give it a more off-pavement capable spec that seems purpose-built for the Vanlife crowd. And, now, Vandoit is offering a new model on that chassis, giving you overland-ready option without having to modify the suspension or upsize the tires yourself.
VanDOit ‘Moov’ Builds on Adventure-Ready Ford Transit Trail
VanDOit’s one-stop-shop model for custom campervans started with two base models that carried purpose-driven one-word names: the LIV and the DO.
What’s next? Fittingly, the Moov.
Vandoit Moov Camper Highlights the Ford Transit Trail's Outlanding Capabilities
Want to live in a van down by the river? Ford has a new vehicle for that
If you’re not already familiar with Vandoit, it’s a professional van conversion company that specializes in a T-track skeleton and marine-grade modules that fit into popular vans and allow a customizable, modular rig set-up.
Vandoit MOOV Camper Van builds on the new AWD Ford Transit Trail
If you haven’t seen it, Ford recently introduced the Transit Trail, with factory upgrades giving it a more off-pavement-capable spec that seems built specifically for the vanlife crowd. And now Vandoit offers a new model on this chassis that gives you an overland ready option without having to change the suspension or increase the size of the tires themselves.
Ford Embraces #VanLife With the Off-Road Friendly Transit Trail Camper
Ford is ready to start spending more time at the campground.
The Detroit giant has just unveiled a new version of its Transit commercial van called the Trail. The new model is an off-road-friendly bruiser that can easily be turned into your home away from home.